Historically, I’ve tended to avoid sweater dresses because I often found they added bulk to my frame, but this season has some spectacular, flattering pieces on offer. At the tippy top of my current shopping list is this Staud bustier dress. You can get a similar bustier look for less with this (under $100). I would style either of these with suede tall boots, but it would look equally chic with suede mules (look for less with these), clogs (look for less with these), or — for my more fashion-forward ladies — lug sole boots (look for less with these).
P.S. A close friend replied privately to this post with some thought-provoking feedback: “Have you considered that you were being respectful and considerate of your child by letting her play? That does conflict with respect to the person you’ll be late for. But sometimes it is a balance. What if you were late because you were respectful to yourself — you were upset by something and needed to collect yourself?”
P.P.S. Ignore the morbid tone of this query, but what would be your last meal?
P.P.P.S. Read anything good lately? If you’re not in the mood to read, check out this list of movies I’ll watch over and over again. (Comments are a gold mine!)
By: Jen Shoop
My Latest Snag: Thanksgiving Outfits for the Littles.
After snagging one of Hill House’s new Jasmine velvet nap dresses for myself for Thanksgiving, I bought mini this La Coqueta dress to pair with burgundy tights, a burgundy velvet hair bow, and these black velvet bow shoes (such a good Amazon find!!!). BTW, LaCoqueta also just launched their Christmas collection and I think our holiday looks are set — this tartan dress for mini and this coordinating dungarees for micro. I can’t deal with the details — love those leather knot buttons on the overalls!! Micro will wearing this Foque set (I couldn’t handle the sweater and plaid shorts…so beyond adorable) with knee socks and these adorable loafers. Have I talked your ear off on the loafers already? I honestly can’t believe the price. $20 and they are so well-made and so thoughtfully designed — love that the top opens up as a velcro. Easy for us to get on and off! Strongly recommend, especially if you are looking for dressier shoes your son will only wear to a handful of formal occasions this season. (However, I’ve been pairing them with his tiny dark-wash jeans — he has this exact pair — and a button-down and he looks beyond adorable in it.)
Next on my shopping list for littles: winter boots. I’m thinking these classics in navy for micro. He had them in black last year!
You’re Soooo Popular: The Empire Waist Midi.
The most popular items on le blog this week:
+This empire waist midi. Sort of like SEA and Ulla had a less expensive baby.
+This crewneck sweatshirt. Perfect slouchy shape for layering over Aligns for a “cool mom on the go” morning.
+These Halloween fidget toys were a big hit — I shared that I was giving them away to micro’s play group for Halloween as a sweet treat alternative and tied them in cellophane bags with personalized tags. (You can see how they turned out here.). The toys also come in a Christmas motif that could be adorable to give out to classmates, neighbors, etc and this is the PERFECT gift tag to attach given the clever phrasing (“hope your Christmas is poppin — these are literally POP toys!). Another cute option: attach these tags to individual boxes of crayons or tubs of green play-doh paired with a plastic holiday cookie cutter.
+The best cableknit tights for littles. Such a good value! Super thick and well-constructed. Mini wore these all last year and I just bought a new three pack in ivory. (More great little girl Amazon accessory finds here.)
Do you know the Nat King Cole song “I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons)”? My Dad used to play this song when I was growing up and I grew even more attached to it after it appeared on the soundtrack for one of my all-time favorite movies, “As Good As It Gets,” where it plays during a pivotal plot point. For, well, sentimental reasons, I recently added it to a “Cozy” playlist I have, which features the kind of mildly cheesy, cinematic songs that make me swell with love and nostalgia. (Think Van Morrison’s “Out in the Cold Again” and Natalie Merchant’s “One Fine Day.”) As I was driving towards my parents’ house listening to it the other week, I had the out-of-body sense that I would forever connect that song to the hygge of moving home this year and being close to my parents again and navigating these roads that I have known for so long. And it all tracked — I love this town for sentimental reasons.
But it occurred to me then: is there any kind of love that’s not sentimental? I’ve never known a love that’s not tender-hearted and dewy-eyed and in part steeped in nostalgia. I feel as though love builds around shared experiences, leverages memories. For me, love does not emerge in isolated, sudden bursts. Love has a long tail. Perhaps the thinking is that some love — especially among family members — is instinctual, predestined. For example, love for a sibling or parent or a newborn is almost beyond sentimentality. And perhaps there are some difficult relationships we nurture out of love but not necessarily with the kind of droopy-hearted affection Cole conjures. And maybe there are brand-new loves that feel exhilarating rather than soft-hearted. Still. I don’t know — are there really different kinds of love? Love can express itself in myriad ways, but at its core, it all feels the same to me — the same kind of tugging, backward-looking warmth.
What do you think?
Post-Scripts.
+Many of my loyal Magpies have been raving about Madewell denim for years. I finally took the plunge and ordered this pair, which I think might be an even better answer to the Magpie who recently asked for “The perfect fall jeans — modern yet classic, not trendy.” I don’t love the frayed hem and it does come in other washes without that hem, but I was obsessed with the color the frayed pair came in. Will report back! Very excited about these. Have been looking for a new pair of everyday denim to pair with basics like turtlenecks, cardigans, etc.
+Have heard so many good things about this holiday candle. Ordering for our home this winter as an alternative to “old faithful,” Diptyque’s “Feu De Bois.”
+I can’t stop buying knitwear — this gorgeous $30 style is currently in my cart. Lots of other great affordable sweaters here.
+This personalized sweater for a little lady…swoon! The pearls!
+Thinking of buying some of these gorgeous candles as a stocking stuffer for my mom and MIL. Will do an entire post on gifts/stocking stuffers under $20 but these are a good starting point!
+Just ordered these pillows for our guest bedroom after multiple bloggers I trust raved about them. They are different from the memory foam ones I’ve used in our own bed for years and years, but also much less expensive (currently $40 for 2 plus 40% off!!!) and with lots of praise. I was sold!
+In the interim, this new J. Crew coat style is VERY chic and comes in great colors.
+Has everyone else known about Bona’s microfiber mop for years and not said anything?! This is the best for a quick dust of the hardwood floor, and it also has an attachment you can use with their cleaning solution. It is fantastic!!! Our new housekeeper introduced me to this!
+A Magpie asked me for tartan midi/maxi skirts and I shared some great options in the comments section here, but this gorgeous Etsy find was too good not to re-share here! Pair with a black cashmere sweater and pumps. So chic! Dondolo also just launched a gorgeous tartan maxi skirt in a surprising colorway. J’adore! Your little one can match, too!
+Love the LL Bean vibes of this $30 canvas wood carrier, if you have a wood burning fireplace!
+I’ve been hearing good things about these “no B.S.” black pants. They’re kind of a dressier legging perfect for layering underneath a shacket or turtleneck tunic sweater.
+Great ribbed leggings in a fab color for a little lady.
By: Jen Shoop
A lot of you loved the styling at the top of this post! As much as I love statement pieces, there is definitely something to be said for investing in basics in solid colors that you can mix and match for seasons and seasons to come in endless permutations. Alongside all the glitzy bejeweled pieces I’ve been giddy over, I have found myself buying a lot of navy, gray, and brown this fall, perhaps anticipating that I will be wearing them for seasons to come. I’m especially drawn to navy at the moment. It feels elegant, timeless, and somehow super fresh. I love the navy Manolo flats above (look for less here, here, and here) paired with mid-wash straight-leg jeans and a white blouse.
Below, some other favorite finds in this effortlessly chic vein:
P.S. This cardi has been very popular on le blog this week — love it in that mushroom brown color! I’m so into creating looks with lots of different textures at the moment, and the cardi would afford great contrast with a poplin blouse or denim.
P.P.S. Studio McGee’s holiday collection with Target has also been really popular. My top picks from their collab and other great holiday finds from Target and beyond here.
On the whole, I feel more peaceful and situated than I can ever recall being. Life hangs looser, as I wrote here. But on further reflection, I am not sure this is so much specific to Bethesda (versus New York, Chicago, D.C. proper) as it is a corollary to our life stage and our roots in the D.C. area, in that we moved here with the intention of not leaving for a long while, and D.C. is terra firma, where we enjoy deep roots and the comfort of the familiar. This has afforded us a feeling of security we’ve never felt in our married lives, when we understood — anticipated! — that we would move cities a couple of times and were never fully certain where we’d land. In fact, we nearly moved to San Francisco and contemplated an opportunity in Boston in between Chicago and New York. And there were many periods of time living in both Chicago and New York where we’d ask ourselves both “what’s next?” and “could this be it?” All the while, we were hard at work figuring out our new hometowns, building new networks of friends and ferreting out new favorite haunts. Looking back, there was a lot of emotional labor happening in the background. I now see that living in these cities with the vague specter of an imminent uprooting left us feeling subconsciously unsettled. I remember having conversations about furniture, cars, window treatments, even toys for the children filtered through the possibility of an upcoming move. “Nah, that’s too idiosyncratic of a piece, let’s buy something that will be more configurable…” or “Let’s just wait.” Towards the end of our tenure in NYC, decisions about schools were beginning to hover unpleasantly close. There was a brief period where we contemplated moving closer to mini’s school in Flatiron, but that begged the question: “Where will she go after, and should we move closer to that school?” And so there was some backwards accounting in terms of the exmissions record from her Montessori and all that jazz. (I.e., could we reliably expect she would get in to X school? Were we willing to take the risk of moving based on that arithmetic?)
I mean, such is life. Many of us — many of you! — will continue to move from place to place and acquit yourselves with grace and openness to the vagaries and conditions of life in new cities. We are resilient. We make things work until they can’t, and then we find a new way. If we lucky, we have the opportunity to decide to move when we determine that life might be simpler, better, richer elsewhere. If we are very lucky, we move through all of these complicated decisions with a partner at our side who makes it feel more like an adventure than an ordeal.
Sometimes, I find myself telling friends that I think we were called home for reasons I can’t yet make out, as though the past many years were a winding path towards something we must do here in the D.C. area. At the same time, I resist the notion that the past ten years in Chicago and then New York were precursors, ante-rooms, pit-stops. Those years form the backbone of my adult life: a decade of living to the fullest, and two fabulous cities made all of that living possible in that they provided us with job opportunities, favorite restaurants and lookouts, homes, friends, reasons to stretch ourselves. Chicago brought me Emory and New York brought me Hill and I feel a tremendous weepy attachment to both of those cities in which I made and re-made myself a mother. Nothing about those years was preamble.
Other times, I feel that friends ask me whether I miss New York because many of us view it as The Ultimate — the most sophisticated, prestigious, high-brow place in the world. Right after we first moved here, many of my friends were quick to denigrate the D.C. restaurant and fashion scenes in my company — “I mean, it’s not New York, but–” And this is true in one sense and not true in another. There is only one New York and it is fabulous and operates on its own tier, and the delta between the fashion and food in New York and the fashion and food in Bethesda is noticeable. But unless you are spectacularly wealthy, you cannot walk out your door in Manhattan and feel the earth beneath your bare feet and pluck a handful of raspberries from the branch in your garden and watch your children sprint through the sprinkler. For the most part, you cannot choose to grab a lowkey dinner at the bar without waiting in line, or making a reservation. You cannot walk your dog or take your daughter to school without the possibility of encountering something disturbing. You cannot find a reasonably-priced apartment, full-stop. It is all a tradeoff. We did not move here for the food or the fashion or the proximity to cultural institutions. We moved here for family, and that’s where our chips belong at the moment.
So I resist, too, the notion that New York was somehow the apotheosis of our lives as young adults, young parents, young professionals.
Anyhow, I digress, but I feel that a lot of the peace I am currently enjoying as a result of this move is more related to life stage and its fit with (or ill-fit with) these cities than the cities themselves. (“It’s me, not you, New York.”)
But coming back around to the question at hand — I do miss New York, in the particular. And there is something specific I miss about living there that has been difficult for me to articulate, but I will try here:
I miss the feeling of walking outside of my apartment building by myself.
In those first few steps out from the awning, I routinely experienced a vertigo peculiar to the city, where I would feel at once erased and reified. I would paradoxically brace myself and open myself up, because New York demands both and simultaneously. There is so much to drink in, and yet you must never lollygag in wonder — you must always be guarded, always move with purpose. You are nothing and everything in New York. You are a dot among thousands, anonymous and insignificant, and yet you are also entitled to be there — you live there, goddamn it! — and you must do so with elbows out. It is exhilarating. And I find it affords many New Yorkers a combination of “eh, what are you gonna do?” down-to-earthness and self-assurance. That is — even Hank Azaria and Sting step in dog poop in Central Park, and dodge unsightliness as they walk through Columbus Circle. We know this because they lived in the building next to ours on Central Park West and saw Azaria on multiple occasions (and Sting’s security detail on others).
I miss that particular element of living in New York because it reminded me to negotiate with my own sense of self on a daily basis. It made me feel alive, and electric, and connected to bigger things.
Here in Bethesda, there are different, quieter nudges toward self-awareness — the presence of neighbors being utmost in this category. Of course we had neighbors in New York (too many, to be honest), but there is something very different about neighboring homeowners here. It feels much more like a community. Perhaps people experience that in New York (and we did have some lovely neighbors there, by the way), but it has been entirely new for us here, where part of the responsibility of home ownership is discussing what we’re going to plant in the shared cul de sac center, and how we’re going to run trick-or-treating this year, and who’s bringing what to the neighborhood chili cook-off. And so still there are negotiations with self and community on a daily basis, but it’s as though I’ve turned down the volume.
Anyhow, I do miss those first few steps from the awning in New York. And I do miss the restaurants, and the fashion, and the pace, and the interesting things we would see and do on a daily basis, and running through Central Park, and the movie-set-like beauty of the brownstones on the Upper West Side. In a strange way, I sometimes even miss the coziness of our tiny apartment, how you’d come through the lintel and shed the world and feel cosseted from its perils.
I apologize that I can only answer this question about New York with inconsistencies and riddles. I can love New York and leave it; I can grow disillusioned with New York and miss it. Yes and no, yes but no, yes or no. I can’t even decide on the correct operator in these equations. But again, such is life, where the most worthwhile things demand coziness with contradiction.
+I’m not sure I was accurate in my prediction about what I’d miss most about living in NYC. In some ways, I’m more likely to make last-minute plans here, where we can just jump in our car and go.
+This affordable watch has a Cartier vibe to it. The navy croc is fun and unexpected!
+Will be sharing a roundup of stylish sweater dresses soon, but had to share this one today since it’s currently 40% off and SO GOOD. Navy! Button front! Love the vibe with tall boots like these, these, or these.
+I wore this exact SEA dress last Thanksgiving and have worn it countless times since, including in a recent series of Instastories. I can’t believe it’s on sale for under $160 now! Your little can twin with you in this.
+More Thanksgiving outfit ideas here. My Thanksgiving dress arrived and j’adore!!! I took an XXS and it fits great — I have other nap dresses in an XS that fit well, too, so personally I think this particular style is sort of accommodating (i.e,. if you are usually an S but there is only XS left, I would give the XS a try). The smocking is nice and stretchy and the velvet is uber-soft.
+Thanks to the reader who alerted me to the fact that these napkins were restocked!!! Perfect for a Thanksgiving table. I was going to use these for Thanksgiving, but then my mom bought this Julia Amory tablecloth and coordinating napkins and offered to let me borrow them for the occasion (we are hosting everyone here!). I’m going to buy another live garland for the centerpiece. Last year I did magnolia and this year I think I’m going to do this olive leaf and myrtle mix. The great thing about these is that they last a really long time so you have a dramatic centerpiece for the entire season. They gradually brown/dry, but I like the look! These will definitely last through the holidays and add a nice lushness. You can always relocate to a mantle or sideboard if you want to do a different centerpiece in the interim, too.
+More fall tabletop finds here, and more chic home finds here.
+This belted shirtdress is just the kind of thing I have been wearing on a daily basis recently, and it is on serious sale in certain colors.
+Slowly realizing I think I need a pair of lug sole boots. These are my favorites.
+I’ve been seeing some trendy chic peas wearing scrunchies — they’re back! — and these velvet ones are fun.
+Adorable wooden tool set for a little one. Great addition to my gift list here.
+Contemplating adding this floor mirror to my office, which is nice and bright but small. This would make the area even larger and give me a nice spot to evaluate my outfits in the morning (and snap selfies — ha!)
+Cannot live without these claw clips! (2 for $10!)
+Oo now this dress is fabulous — would work for a more conservative holiday event (i.e., with colleagues, at a club, etc.). Along similar lines, love this knit style from Sandro! Would pair with Gucci tights!
+On the heels of this post on praying for others, a reader shared this beautiful prayer bowl (which comes with cards on which to write the names of others). This company also sells ones oriented towards children that would be a sweet gift at First Communion, Confirmation, or just as a godparent in general.
+We have a couple of Inge-Glas ornaments and they are my absolute favorite. I have a couple of birds already but am eyeing a few more of them this year.
I know many of you are celebrating your first holiday season with a new one this year. Truly nothing makes the holidays more special than children. Below, I’m sharing some favorite gifts for children under two. Honestly, you can get away with getting baby gear (i.e., footmuff or bike seat) or clothing or even room decor at under a year. They mainly like to play with the wrapping paper anyway! But it is fun to have a few actual toys for them, too.
Holiday Gifts for Babies Under 1 Year.
STACKING CUPS — MY CHILDREN STILL LOVE THESE…THEY HAVE A NICE LIGHTWEIGHT TO THEM SO EVEN TINY ONES WON’T DROP THEM ON THEIR FACES WHEN STILL ON THEIR BACKS
BABY SWING — SO HE/SHE CAN JOIN THE BIG KIDS OUTSIDE…LOVE THE STYLING
PEEKABOO MIRROR PUZZLE — BABIES LOVE TO SEE THEMSELVES, AND THE SURPRISE BEHIND THE KNOB WILL BE SO EXCITING FOR THEM; THERE IS ALSO A CUTE ONE WHERE YOU CAN PUT PICTURES OF FAMILY MEMBERS IN IT!
KNIT STROLLER TOY — THE PRETTIEST ONES I’VE EVER SEEN…FUN FOR BABY TO LOOK AT WHEN TINY AND THEN REACH OUT TO GRAB WHILE IN THE SUPERMARKET
ZUTANO BABY SLIPPERS — JUST THE BEST…THE ONLY ONES THAT STAYED ON MY BABIES’ FEET! THE SNAP REALLY CINCHES THEM IN PLACE
SQUARE ACTIVITY CHAIR — FOR BABIES ONCE SITTING UP (5 MO+) — I SO WISH I’D HAD THIS! WE USED A BUMBO SEAT BUT THIS LOOKS SO MUCH COMFIER AND MORE INTERESTING!
BABY RAINBOOTS FOR GIRLS OR BOYS — MIND WILL BE BLOWN WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF STROLLER AND LET THEM DIP THEIR FEET IN A PUDDLE, EVEN IF THEY AREN’T STANDING ON THEIR OWN YET!
BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT (THESE ARE JUST DARLING!)…PAIR WITH A TIMELESS STEIFF TEDDY
OLI & CAROL TEETHERS — BABIES CAN WEAR THESE ON THEIR WRISTS LIKE BRACELETS TO GUM ON…MICRO HAD THE ZEBRA!
Not seen above but fabulous options…
PAT THE BUNNY BOOK — JUST THE BEST FOR A TINY HAND…LOTS TO FEEL, HEAR, SEE! GREAT INTERACTIVE BOOK
FISHER PRICE ACTIVITY GYM — HATE TO SAY IT, BUT YOUR BABY WILL LOVE THIS FLASHY, BRIGHT EYESORE…I WANTED ONE OF THE PRETTIER NEUTRAL PALETTE ONES BUT THIS ONE IS THE BEES KNEES TO A BABY
DOLL PRAM OR STROLLER + BABY COROLLE DOLL (I INCLUDE THIS DOLL EVERY YEAR…MINI FLIPPED OUT WHEN SHE SAW THE MINI SIZE LINKED HERE AT AROUND A YEAR OF AGE…IT’S A TINY, PERFECT SIZE FOR TINY, PERFECT HANDS)
DISNEY DRESS UP SLIPPERS — DE RIGUEUR…WE HAD THESE GROWING UP
WOODEN CLEANING SET — STRANGE HOW MUCH MY CHILDREN LOVE TO *PRETEND* TO CLEAN…
BUNNY SLIPPERS, TEDDY SLIPPERS, OR (YOU KNOW HE’LL LOVE IT) ELMO SLIPPERS — CHILDREN JUST LOVE THEM! MY KIDS LOVE TO PUT THESE ON IN THE MORNINGS
OOLY PAINT STICKS — MENTION THESE ALL THE TIME BUT EASY ENOUGH FOR A 1-2 YEAR OLD TO USE!
LEARNING TOWER — I WISH WE’D HAD THIS WHEN MY CHILDREN WERE YOUNGER…PERFECT SO THEY CAN HELP WITH COOKING/OBSERVE WHAT YOU’RE DOING IN THE KITCHEN, BUT WE LACKED SPACE IN NYC!
CROCODILE CREEK KICKBALL — LOVE THE DESIGN, AND IT’S A PERFECT SMALL SIZE FOR A LITTLE ONE
BEAR GLOCKENSPIEL — WE LOVE TO GIVE MUSICAL GIFTS TO THE LITTLE ONES…THIS IS ADORABLE
NAME STOOL — MY MOM GAVE THESE TO MY CHILDREN AND WE USE DAILY AT SINK; LETTER PUZZLE HELPS WITH NAME RECOGNITION
We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.
Last Christmas Eve, Mr. Magpie and I stayed up until 1 a.m. assembling the children’s gifts on the floor of our Manhattan bedroom, boxes and styrofoam piling up in unwieldy mounds and little shreds of wrapping paper and ribbon dotting the carpet. We drank way too many La Bomba Daiquiris out of champagne coupes that night, which will now forever be my “Christmas Eve Cocktail,” even though — come to think of it — it’s not particularly seasonally appropriate. But it is red! And it is delicious, with a pleasant tartness. I thought I’d share it here today in case you want to up the ante before Thanksgiving dinner or your next dinner party with friends, period. It’s a refreshing delight and it looks charming in a vintage-style coupe with the lime wheel on the rim. The note on this cocktail recipe, designed by Joaquin Simo in 2008, reads: “Here’s a great example of a fruity drink that’s not all sweet. Its name is a play on the French word for pomegranate — grenade.”
LA BOMBA DAIQUIRI, OR THE MAGPIE CHRISTMAS EVE COCKTAIL
5 raspberries
2 ounces Barbancourt white rum
3/4 ounces fresh lime juice
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses (you can buy this online if difficult to find at your grocery)
GARNISH: 1 lime wheel and raspberry flag
In a shaker, gently muddle the raspberries. Add the remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Double strain into a coupe. Garnish with the lime wheel and raspberry flag.
Some helpful equipment for this, and other cocktail-making adventures…
+I love my coupes for champagne or cocktails served up. They are by Zafferano but appear to now be sold out in the clear crystal I have. I actually bought them as a “gift” for Mr. Magpie but clearly it was a self-serving offering. Haha. These are very similar and ultra chic, too. (And a better price!). I also love the colored glass ones from Estelle, this vintage-inspired set, and these modern/sexy ones.
+These are the best jiggers for measuring cocktail ingredients because you can see how much you’ve poured from the top (without lifting it to eye level). We have two on hand! You’ll also need a cocktail shaker, strainer, and muddler. If you don’t have these things, the lot of them would make an excellent holiday bundle gift along with a cocktail book. (This one is Mr. Magpie’s bible.)
+When they say “flag” they simply mean a few raspberries skewered on a pick. I like the look of these bamboo ones with the knot at the end. Garnish is essential for this drink! Don’t neglect!
+Mr. Magpie makes syrups (including simple syrup, needed above) in big batches and stores them in these squeeze bottles in our fridge.
+Chic SEA inspired dress for under $150. Would work for any fall gathering — and would work with a bump, too.
+Adore the personalization on these simple burlap stockings. Use code magpie10 for 10% off! This Etsy seller is adorable and also makes the most beautiful personalized hair bows for littles, like this holiday one. I love these statement bows because they totally transform a solid-colored dress into the perfect holiday look.
+These $20 toddler jammies are beyond precious and look much higher end than their price tag suggests.
+These remain my favorite pens of all time. I have minuscule handwriting and these have an ultra-fine tip. The blue ink is nice and punchy and bright, too. More great desk accessories here, and WFH essentials here.
+This bed pillow would be a fun gift for a teen. Honestly, I want one.
+Sweet, reasonably priced tartan holiday dress for a little one. (You can coordinate in a similar tartan — lots of picks here, but don’t miss this stunner, currently on sale!)
+I swear by henleys during super cold days — my favorites are by J. Crew and Old Navy and I love the options they have out right now!
+I almost want this palette just for the packaging. So spectacular!
+Why am I so drawn to these Ritz accessories from Frame? A few girlfriends and I have been ambitiously talking about possibly taking a trip to Paris next fall…
+A pretty gift to give at a Christening. Also love these hand-painted, personalized ones.
By: Jen Shoop
A few favorite finds (Mr. Magpie, don’t look…) for the men in your life this holiday season:
+AMI SWEATSHIRT. Give your man street cred in the carpool dropoff line. I gave Mr. Magpie a sweatshirt from Maison Kitsune last year and he looked at me askance at first but then realized the value of a high-end sweatshirt: he often layered it over collared shirts for a polished but “trendier” vibe. These sweatshirts look so much more high-end because they are tailored/snug and well-constructed. I’m eyeing AMI this year — I like to find little ways to introduce some edge into his wardrobe.
+GROVEMADE MACBOOK STAND. This site has the handsomest desktop accessories, including the macbook stand above or this monitor stand. With so much WFH happening, these are chic and functional ways to elevate his workspace.
+AURELIEN DRIVING SHOES. I thought these were incredibly handsome. Come in other colors, too!
+SERIES 7 APPLE WATCH. This was at the top of my list for Mr. Magpie this year, but we went ahead and bought it for him already. I love (!) the exact combo shown above, which is what we selected for Mr. Magpie — the green watch trim with the green/brown leather band.
+PECAN SMOKING CHIPS. For the grilling/smoking enthusiast. Mr. Magpie just discovered these and was brimming with excitement when they arrived — he’d never used pecan to grill with before.
+ALEX MILL CASHMERE CABLEKNIT BEANIE. I always include a beanie on my shopping lists for dudes. Every man looks great in one! This specific one in the heathered olive would look so handsome on Mr. Magpie, who has hazel eyes.
+YETI BEER CAN INSULATOR. Can’t think of a man in my life who wouldn’t love this. Already dog-eared as part of a gift if I draw one of my brothers-in-law for our Secret Santa this year.
+SIMPLE HUMAN COMPOSTING BIN. We’ve been contemplating starting a composting bin in our new home — this one is sleek and compact.
+ULTIMATE EARS BLUETOOTH SPEAKER. I had been eyeing a less expensive bluetooth speaker for Mr. Magpie to take with him when he’s doing gardening/yardwork, but this one caught my eye — nearly 6,300 5 star reviews and under $100.
+BILLYKIRK LEATHER VALET. Does your man come home and empty his pockets onto the kitchen counter, or on top of his desk? I was just thinking this leather catchall would be so chic on Mr. Magpie’s desk as a place to store the wallet, keys, sunglasses, pocket knife he’s always divesting.
+WYZE SMART PLUGS. A good stocking stuffer, but this will sync with his smart home pod so he can say: “Siri, turn off the fan” or “Siri, turn off the Christmas tree lights” without leaving his perch.
+TRACKSMITH BASE LAYER. I have this exact style for running and it is THE BEST in cool weather. It somehow insulates but is also breathable? Mr. Magpie is not a runner but was thinking this would still be nice for outdoor activities — even walking the dog on chilly mornings. Love the colors it comes in, too.
+OXO LAPTOP CLEANER. I’ll do a separate post on stocking stuffers, but this was too good not to include, especially if you’re gifting your man a piece of technology (iPad, the laptop stand above, etc).
+LEAF SCOOPS. Another good stocking stuffer. Mr. Magpie was thrilled when he discovered these little leaf gathering tools earlier this year. Great for the man who runs a tight ship in his front yard game.
+CUCKOO RICE COOKER. You’ll know if you’re a family that will value this tool. We use it constantly — probably once or twice a week — and this one is the BMW of rice cookers. We own this exact model and it makes the most delicious, fluffy rice with the press of a button.
MAGNETIC KNIFE RACK — MR. MAGPIE HAS ALWAYS WANTED ONE OF THESE…FUNCTIONAL AND MORE SANITARY THAN A KNIFE BLOCK
EERO WIFI EXTENDER — I THINK THIS WAS ON MY LIST LAST YEAR, BUT FOR ANY MAN WHO CONSISTENTLY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE WIFI SIGNAL…YOU’RE WELCOME! YOU WILL TOTALLY IMPRESS HIM WITH THIS
HEDLEY & BENNETT APRON — BOUGHT MR. MAGPIE ONE OF THESE LAST YEAR AND HE NEVER COOKS WITHOUT IT…THIS IS THE BRAND ENDORSED BY MICHELIN STARRED CHEFS
Q: Classic but tastefully on trend looks for my mom. 60ish. Age-appropriate but fresh.
A: This is such a thoughtful query — I love it. I feel like shirtdresses are my answer to everything, but they are en vogue right now and suitable for any age. I would look for ones in on-trend patterns or textures (i.e., blockprint or corduroy), are a midi- or maxi-length (versus knee-length), and/or have on-trend details like tiers or puffed sleeves to keep the look “fresh.”
For more casual wear, I’d look at ankle-length straight-leg jeans or cords (also like these in the olive) or even velvet pants and encourage her to have fun with the top — love interesting shapes like this, this, this, this, or this.
Last — I always feel like older women look fantastic in dramatic coats, like this ivory one or this wrap style. They have the gravitas to pull it off!
Q: Casual clothes that still look put together for school drop off.
A: I shared some “dressed up” athleisure looks here that might be what you’re after — otherwise, I have been finding it super easy to pair my favorite shirtdresses/midi dresses (many by the brands listed above) with my flats from Chanel, Vibi Venezia, and Talbots. I have five or six dresses I have been wearing at least once a week the last few weeks I feel like. Another easy formula is exhibited beautifully by the chic pea at the top — invest in a few pairs of comfortable, on-trend pants — think wide-leg crop jeans — and then pairing with basic white tees and your favorite flats. Go with basic colors — black, brown, white, navy — and just mix and match. Last but not least, one sneaky workaround is to buy a statement coat you love and a pair of trendy flats or boots (look for less with these) and a smart crossbody — in the winter, you’ll rarely be seen sans coat! All of those pieces can be worn over your secret daily uniform of Lululemon leggings and sweatshirts or Kule turtlenecks with no problem!
A: I love a statement glove. (In fact, when I studied abroad, I purchased a beautiful pair from a small leather boutique in Venice that were pale pink with elegant dot detailing on the topside.) A few current favorites: Gucci gloves ($$$), Surell, more Gucci, Barbour, Marcus Adler (under $20), Ugg, and cableknit cashmere RL. For hats, I love these Acne ones — such great colors! — and this customizable Ralph Lauren one (love with the athletic letter in front) and have always been a sucker for earmuffs (I don’t know why no one is making them anymore — you can still score some of those adorable Burberry ones gently used). For scarves, I love this colorblocked Boden, a classic cashmere, an oversized ACNE, this ACNE-inspired Zara, Barbour-esque plaid from MANGO, an actual Barbour.
Last but not least, this bejeweled beanie and gloves set brings me joy!
Q: Low heel boots!
A: High-end picks: Isabel Marant Dernee, Alexandre Birman Kittie, and Paris Texas snakeskins (I own both of the last two pairs). More reasonable and more versatile: Talbots Iona and J. Crew. Casual: No 6.
Q: Black tie dress for a December event. No sleeveless or strapless, please!
A: I shared a bunch of my favorite fall footwear finds here, but have been totally living in these furlanes and these drivers on an everyday basis.
Q: The perfect fall jeans — modern yet classic, not trendy.
A: Hm – I think you might be a home in Levi’s or Agoldes in a mid wash. These brands feel relevant and fresh but the styles have been around for a long time.
Q: African safari outfits that I can repurpose.
A: Wow — trip of a lifetime! I would turn to my girlfriend Mackenzie, who went on a safari on her honeymoon, or do a deep dive in Bradley Agather’s Instagram (I know she’s been on a safari in the past and always looks impeccable) for inspo. I do think proper footwear is a must, and I’ve wanted Danner boots with the red laces forever. These Sorels are also cool. Both are chic enough to repurpose back home in cold weather! I would also prioritize a good field jacket — J. Crew always has fabulous ones at reasonable prices and you can for sure wear these back home!
A: Unusual food/gourmet gifts go a long way with this crowd (see some ideas here) — maybe some oysters and a few oyster knives? I also personally adore (am obsessed with) the champagne coupes I bought last year. I use them constantly, for cocktails or a weeknight glass of cava. These are so pretty. Bundle with a bottle of champagne. Or maybe buy them a personalized tote (love this holiday tartan one) and fill with your favorite fancy snacks — truffle chips, bottle of lambrusco, pimento cheese dip, etc.
Q: 3/4 sleeve shirts.
A: Love the fit of this top, and then a lot of breton stripe tees are meant to hit at 3/4 length, including this chic striped J. Crew one!
By: Jen Shoop
Tis sweater season! Today, I’m sharing all of my favorite knits, all under $150. The MVP of this post is this J. Crew cardigan, which will be so versatile — layer over winter nap dresses, pair with a slip skirt, or throw on with jeans. A few others I adore:
ADORE THE DETAILS ON THIS TARGET SCORE — HIGH COLLAR, SLIGHT PUFF SLEEVE, INTERESTING DETAIL! — I ACTUALLY THINK THE PINK MIGHT BE MY FAVORITE…V ULLA J!
SLIM-FIT ROLLNECK TURTLENECK — I’M ALWAYS SURPRISED AT HOW MUCH MILEAGE I GET OUT OF TURTLENECKS IN THIS SILHOUETTE; GREAT FOR TUCKING INTO WINTER SKIRTS OR PAIRING WITH WIDE-LEG TROUSERS
HAVE BEEN GETTING SO MUCH USE OUT OF A FAIR ISLE CREW SIMILAR TO THIS THIS SEASON
The other day, I had the other-worldly experience of stumbling upon a recording of myself pitching my technology business at a start-up event in Chicago several years ago. I had my entire spiel down. I could pitch my business in my sleep, and it was studded with the start-up patois of the time — “on-demand,” “real-time,” “micro-feedback,” “lightweight,” “cloud-based,” etc. I was so accustomed to answering customer and investor questions that sometimes I felt as though I was floating above my own body, listening to myself speak with conviction the same rehearsed lines to the same common questions, and I would simultaneously be wondering or worrying about something else — what were we going to do about the bug in the latest release? I really need to close that account!
It was not always that way, with the phrases sanded down smooth as glass.
The start of it all is physically painful to remember, gritty and uneven as it was. Telling friends and family that we were leaving our well-regarded, salaried jobs to pursue something entirely different left me gray with nerves. I didn’t yet have the words to explain what we were doing succinctly, or with eloquence, or with the passion I later learned to project. I would stammer. My first few pitches were loose and messy, javelins flung blindly.
Over time, the operation tightened. I learned to anticipate and often pre-empt questions and, later, objections. I became more sophisticated in understanding what would resonate with each stakeholder in a given pitch — that is, we had our investor pitch, our customer pitch, our generic start-up pitch, and then within each stakeholder category, there were further striations. In the customer category, we had a pitch for executives, a pitch for HR people, a pitch for end users, and we had strong opinions on who we’d prefer to pitch to from the lens of whether we would be able to close the account. We even further honed the customer pitch by industry, hitting on different elements when presenting ourselves to small businesses vs. non-profits vs. start-ups vs. enterprise-level organizations. It was like plucking chords on a guitar. I’d assess the audience and set myself up in the right key.
At some point during this period, a college friend of ours visited and we brought him with us to 1871, the co-working space from which we ran our company. He had business to tend to that morning and so did we. I remember heading into that work session with something like dread that, as we passed through the turnstiles, began to rust into steely determination. I was anxious about him overhearing me in my presentation to a new potential customer. It felt like a high-stakes performance. Here was my opportunity to prove to someone close to us, who may have doubted our ambition, that we were serious business people! That we were out there, selling meaningful solutions to real businesses! In some ways, he was a stand-in for the critics I imagined snickering at us behind our backs.
I know now that no one was snickering. Or — I doubt very much that anyone was. Or — if they were, I forgive or dismiss or ignore that naysaying because there was nothing laughable about the effort we put in. No, the discomfort and defensiveness was born and bred by yours truly. I was on an imaginary tightrope I’d conjured entirely myself.
I took a deep breath and jumped on the call and nailed the pitch. I knew my friend was in earshot the entire time, and I could tell he was eavesdropping. But when I was done, he said nothing, and neither did I, and the day unfolded and eventually we dismissed ourselves for happy hour drinks, at which point he said, “You were awesome today. I listened to you. I’m so impressed.”
It felt lovely, to earn that imprimatur. But I was startled by the fact that I already knew I’d earned it, even without him ever saying anything, or letting on that he cared. I realized that when I’d shut my laptop earlier that day, I’d assessed myself and emerged satisfied.
I guess I’ve been thinking a lot about beginnings and endings and renewals this year. About how even as I have moved towards more and more stability in every category of my life over the past few years, how many times I have also started again. How often I have looked, bare-faced, at myself and found myself wanting or — put more gently — in development. How often I have seen myself as a novitiate, even in things I have done before, like becoming a parent for the second time, or renting a second apartment in NYC, or buying a house for the second time, or running a business for the second time. Some stuff sticks. I find myself better equipped to identify bad actors and shady opportunities, for example, or perhaps just more willing to trust my instinct. As a result, I am far less likely to be taken advantage of. Perhaps I was more inclined to intellectualize my way out of spot-on intuitions the first go around, more prone to say, for example, “This agent feels weird to me, and I can’t put my finger on why, but…he must be good! He works for a reputable firm!” The second time around: “Something is off, let’s cut bait.” Ditto in parenting matters. I am far more likely to advocate for my children now if I think something is off, first opinion be damned.
In some ways, the principal gift of experience is realizing how little you actually know and how much you must rely on gut feel to make your way through. And that humility is a good thing. I often tell Mr. Magpie that the older I get, the less I know for sure, and I think that makes me circumspect about my own perspectives in a positive way.
So just a line out there, for any of my Magpies at the start of something, in the throes of self-transformation, feeling insecure or uncertain or overwhelmed: there will be a day where you will find yourself in a groove, where the words will tumble out easily, or where you will simply realize that you’re doing your best and that it is enough. And there will be another day where you find yourself back at the start of the path, in slow and steady ascent. Hang in there. The only way out is through.
+This mini dress is currently in my cart. J’adore! With tall black boots?!
+When I first started working, I saved up for a DVF wrap dress and then bought several over the course of my more professional tenure. They are still in my closet and I bring them out every season. Timeless, flattering, ageless! Outnet has one of them on sale in a fantastic fall print here. Boss lady vibes!
+Just bought Tilly some new dog shampoo. Didn’t know Ouai catered to our furry friends!
+Speaking of Ouai, I still swear by their texturizing spray if you do a beachy wave. My hair is on the longer side right now (getting it cut on Friday!), and I’ve been wearing it in loose waves a lot lately. That means I’ve been taking a temporary break from my beloved one-step and instead washing my hair at night, letting it air-dry as I sleep, and then curling with my Hot Tools 3/4″ curling iron before finishing with the Ouai spray. It really works so well!
+Fantastic toddler Target find – love a shawl collar on a little boy!
+My girlfriend works at Marc Jacobs and is bringing me this ultra-chic crossbody when she visits from New York this weekend! ZOMG. Will be wearing all fall.
+This Ulla dress would be so chic with tall boots — and currently 50% off!
+Mango is offering 30% off a bunch of their fall pieces — top picks are this SEA lookalike and virtually all of their on-trend knitwear, including this fair isle and this herringbone vest.
+I have a fair isle sweater from years and years ago similar to this under-$50 score that I have been wearing a TON this season — usually just tying around my shoulders for a little pop of pattern! Looks so cute against olive green in particular.
+Isabel Marant shacket vibes for about half the price.
+Clever collapsible silicon coffee cup — stocking stuffer for a busy traveler?
+These heart earrings are so chic and nostalgia-inducing for some reason. It reminds me of my beloved Elizabeth Coda Callen locket book. (Did anyone else collect those books?)
+These flats are absurdly fun. Sort of like a printed version of my velvet furlanes.
By: Jen Shoop
*This post is not sponsored by Pam Munson but she did gift me the bag seen above, and I have to say I am one of her biggest fans. I wrote about her as a Woman of Substance years ago, and then had occasion to cross paths with her while living in New York, and she is The Real Article: elegant, bright, compassionate, hard-working, kind. I love supporting women entrepreneurs like her.
I have been wearing a lot of gingham pieces this fall season — I love that this print can transition so easily from summer to fall with the right accessories! — and was absolutely floored when the talented Pam gifted me her gorgeous Gardner tote in blue gingham. I immediately trotted it out with my tiered gingham maxi skirt (few sizes left, but very similar here and here), a tissue turtleneck, my go-to navy drivers, and this gray sweater over my shoulders (seen above). I wish I’d had this dramatic SEA cardigan in navy instead to throw over my shoulders, but I ordered it and it was just way too big on my frame. Below, some additional styling options that jumped out at me…
I also immediately imagined pairing the bag with a copper-toned dress like this or this or this and some velvet flats in a similar color like these or these, and maybe a cableknit cardigan on top, finished with a leather headband to tie in with the leather trim of the bag.
And of course it would look fabulous with jeans — I have been wearing these Agoldes a lot lately — and imagine with this pearl sweater and clog boots or sherpa clogs or brown suede pumps (which are currently in my cart). I have been contemplating purchasing a knit gilet/vest like this or this to layer over white blouses like this, finished with cords…the gingham bag would add just the right amount of interest/pattern to the look!
A few weeks ago, we hosted an old family friend at our home. Amidst playful jabs and walks down memory lane, he asked after Mr. Magpie’s family, and Mr. Magpie — who typically tends toward the taciturn on family matters — shared that his aunt had been unwell for some time and that his mother had been tending to her with the kind of selflessness only possible in a saint or a sister. Our friend was rummaging through his pockets as his listened. I sat on tenter-hooks. It was so unlike Mr. Magpie to open up like this, and I worried his candor would be permanently shunted in the shadow of this apparent indifference. But our friend retrieved a small pad of paper and a pen.
“What’s her name?” he asked. Mr. Magpie blinked. “I’ve made it a habit of praying for people by name.”
I think often of the fact that the nuns of the Visitation have prayed for me since my birth. Not necessarily by name, but as a future, then current, then former student of their school. I think also of the intercessions read out in Churches across the globe every single day at Mass. Often, without our ever knowing it, we are included in those supplications, as congregations routinely pray in aggregate for those in any kind of need, whether those in grief, those struggling with addiction or mental illness, those caring for loved ones, those alone or forsaken, those in a rough spot of any kind.
Neither of us could answer our friend for a beat. We were overwhelmed by the gesture, by the goodness. I feel the same way when I realize that there are absolute strangers praying for my well-being on any given Sunday. I was thinking of this the other day as I talked to my sister, who is navigating (beautifully!) the first few weeks of motherhood. I was remembering how, sometimes out of nowhere, amidst a day of postpartum exhaustion and nerves and emotion, a wave of calm would wash over me. I would be looking at mini, then micro, and I would think: “This is all I need. I want for nothing. Sleep will come. I am OK. I am OK!” At the time, I attributed these swells of tranquility to motherhood in the sense that I thought to myself, “Ah, here is that motherly instinct kicking in. I’m in a good place, doing what is natural. All the noise and nerves are quiet. Mother and child, as it should be, as it has been since the dawn of time.” I distinctly remember those thoughts because I took the picture above while experiencing them exactly seven days after my son was born so that I would never forget. The other day, as I spoke with my sister, I was hoping that she would experience those same pockets of peace looking at her own baby, because it is a lot being a new mom. It feels like being asked to perform a complicated athletic feat while injured and simultaneously calculating complex math equations with numbers that constantly change — and all the while, your entire emotional world is upside-down. But it occurred to me then that maybe those lifts I experienced during those bleary and beautiful early days of parenthood were prayer. A shopkeeper in Barcelona, a farmer in Cajamarca, or a businesswoman in Nyanza might have prayed “for new moms everywhere” at that moment, and across the globe, I pocketed that energy.
Every morning, my mother, sister, and I participate in a digital prayer group. If you have a loved one who is a new or expecting mom, know I’ll be thinking of her during our virtual daily prayer this week. If you’re so inclined, email me or leave a comment with her name — I was so moved by my friend’s insistence on this matter that I am compelled to do the same.
+Our carseat was just restocked in the popular gray color. These can be strangely hard to find/on back-order. The main thing I will tell you: you can throw the entire carseat cushion into the washing machine. I was sold when I discovered that. (Mini is prone to carsickness.). I also love the sleek styling. We got ours in solid black (one for each child) and it looks fantastic with the black interior of our SUV.
+If you need to do 3 carseats across — well, first, God bless you — but second, people rave about these Cleks. Narrow enough to fit three across and I think I might prefer the styling to the Nuna. So chic! (However, in my case, function trumped fashion — I just needed something washable.)
+For travel or if you need an extra car seat for grandparents/caregiver use on occasion, these inexpensive travel carseats are AMAZING. They get really good reviews for safety but are extremely lightweight and therefore easy to carry through an airport. We have two.
+These adorable and reasonably-priced earrings are back in stock. The pink are SO good.
+More great velvet hairbows for you or your little one in the best fall colors.
+I am seriously contemplating a silk slip skirt ATM to pair with cashmere crewnecks. I have heard good things about the ones from Vince, but I love the colors from L’Agence (some of which are on sale — that gold color would be so, so chic for holidays) and the pricepoint at Madewell.
+I feel like I’ve been seeing a lot of feather clutches out there this holiday season. This one is reasonably priced! So chic with one of the silk slip skirts above and a cashmere sweater for a night out.
+Drinking coffee out of these beautiful mugs would bring me such joy. Another possible candidate for a “collector” type gift recipient.
+My son recently wore a plaid fair isle vest (from Ralph Lauren, no longer available) and it was absolutely adorable. This one is super similar. I layered it over this RL oxford in white and paired with these green cords and his beloved yellow rain boots.
+More of his exact fall wardrobe here, but I neglected to mention I am about to buy him some boots for winter, and I think I am going with classic Sperry Saltwaters in navy/brown. These look adorable paired with any outfit, in any fall/winter weather (not just snow/rain), including the everyday overalls looks I shared here.
+I’m thinking this ribbed tube scarf is amazing, especially for my Chicago/Boston Magpies. Layer underneath your puffer. Chic and functional, too!
+This illuminating primer is in my cart. I love this brand’s clear (literally, no tint) highlighter for adding a little “glow” on cheeks, brow bone, cupid’s bow, etc.
+Personalized roadie cups. Fun for a big birthday celebration/weekend getaway/etc.
+This plaid dress is nearly out of stock but SO adorable for a fall festivity.
+Just a reminder that this dress exists. (!!!!). My top rec for a winter wedding.
+This maxi skirt sold out in like one day last time it was released. Absolutely gorgeous with a white blouse, denim button-down, sweater, etc. I am so into the maxi skirt at the moment!
+This boat tote with plaid lettering is ADORABLE. I’m thinking through my gift list — would be a good gift for a family with small children, or a newlywed, or as a dramatic “wrap” for some holiday treats (i.e., fill with wine, tin of popcorn, etc.)
+I know I’ve mentioned this dress before, but I keep coming back to it. I need it. It is so saucy and chic.
+Cute Christmas-themed Peter Pan collar top for a little man.
+Sweet shawl-collared sweater for a baby boy (on sale!)
