An Instagram follower said the outfit above was “giving Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing” and I AM LIVING for the reference. She’s not wrong.
A Perfect Everyday Dress.
The top is a t-shirt material! The bottom is loose, not-sheer poplin! I took a size down in this and find it very forgiving thanks to the drawstring waist.
In my opinion, nothing tops JA’s Betty! This is my second dress in this silhouette. The material is a really heavy cotton that falls beautifully and holds its shape very well.
I had been hanging onto this embroidered Fanm Mon dress for a special occasion but actually broke it out for Sunday Mass. Sometimes the dress is the occasion? The embroidery is so gorgeous! I layered it beneath this Minnow stripe sweater to tone things down a bit.
SPANX LEGGINGS AND HALF-ZIP (SECOND PICTURE IS OLD BUT GIVES A BETTER VIEW OF THE OUTFIT; MY COLOR IS SOLD OUT BUT THEY HAVE SO MANY GREAT OPTIONS NOW!)
PISTOLA UTILITY PANTS (SOOO GOOD — SORRY THE PHOTO IS NOT MORE INSPIRING BUT THESE ARE INCREDIBLY COMFORTABLE AND FLATTERING ON THE LEG; RUN A BIT BIG BUT I’D STILL ADVISE TAKING YOUR TRUE SIZE) // JULIA AMORY BUTTON-DOWN
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By: Jen Shoop
What would the audience be yelling at the screen right now?
What would the score sound like?
How would you describe the tone? (Comedic, dramatic, elegiac…?)
***
Landon and I watched the 2020 French film “The Taste of Things” (“La Passion de Dodin Bouffant”) over the weekend and were taken by its quiet poetry. It is a movie that shows and does not tell, gently looking at the mysteries of different seasons of love and desire. At its heart, the movie curls up around the quote: “Happiness is continuing to desire what you already have,” which, I think, is as perfect an expression of gratitude and mindfulness and living where your feet are as any. The goal, really?
It is also a movie for food-worshippers: the first 30 minutes of the film feature virtually no dialogue, and instead track the careful preparation of an elaborate Sunday feast in a breathtaking French chateau kitchen. The film’s reverence for food and its meticulous preparation verge on the religious.
We, of course, loved it.
Afterward, I told Landon that while I have mentally dedicated my 40s to my own writing ambitions, I want our 50s to be “our French chateau” era. Not that we would move to France, or live in a chateau — but that I would like for some portion of my life to be lived with a broad, squat kitchen with an open door that lets the garden air in and the sleepy dogs out, a robust potager, a long drive separating us from the world, and, above all, proximity to true depths of nature: meadows, lakes, trees, mountains. I almost don’t care where it is, but I would like that living experience, absconded from the world. I trust the fruit-bearing of this aspiration because when I think about my childhood summers in Colorado, I feel an automatic inner quiet descend; it has always been easiest for me to find peace, and God, in the Rockies, even when solely a visitation with its memory. When I returned in person to Colorado at 30 and 40, I reclaimed again the same settling hush, the pleasant self-erasure and then reconstitution borne of seeing oneself as simultaneously insignificant and part of the universe’s great stretch. As Elizabeth Bishop put it in one of my favorite poems: “The world is a mist. And then the world isminute and vast and clear. The tide is higher or lower. [She] couldn’t tell you which.”
The morning after we watched the movie, Landon went down to his own tiered garden beds to collect some herbs, and as I looked out at our backyard here in suburban Maryland, it occurred to me that we really aren’t that far off the mark. Maybe “French chateau era” is a little bit of a state of mind. Because we have the garden beds, and the fruiting trees, and the kiwi vines interwining around the railings, and Landon has been slowly hardening off his seedlings this past week, with our children observing the sprouts daily: “that one came up, Dada!” They together labeled the different varieties with blue painter’s tape, and Landon permitted them to letter the varietals in their own wobbly hands. Beyond this, we have neighbors close by, but they are erased when need be by the green screen of tall arbor vitae; we can sit happily unobserved in our backyard. So, maybe I can gently remove the thumb tack from the “Jen’s 50s: the decade of the French chateau” card. Maybe my own inner audience is screaming: You are missing nothing. Tu ne manques de rien.
+Love Mille’s latest collection, especially the red and white striped pieces — this top; this dress. But you know I live in my Saffron dresses. So easy-breezy for barefoot summer! This brand runs really big; go a size down. I still find myself swimming in their XXS pieces but love the effortless/voluminous vibe anyway. I think my code JEN15 still gets us 15% off!
+I periodically stock up on activity books for my kids for travel, rainy days, day excursions, etc. A few items I ordered: travel journals (the Lonely Planet one was excellent; my daughter loved it! but she’s already filled it out completely), Usborne stickers for Easter basket, drawing prompts for kids, this drawing game, paint by sticker books, and this travel brain teaser game.
+Dr. Diamond Metacine just launched a small discovery set that is a perfect way to try these heavily-hyped products without buying them all in full size. I really love their plasma and in fact was just mourning the fact that I’d gone through two bottles of it and have not had it on hand for awhile. I use this in lieu of a serum in AM/PM when I have it.
+Ordered this cute paper garland and melamine plates for Easter. Rifle has so many sweet little desktop/paper/home gifts for teachers, mothers, etc. This notepad set is so precious, and I treated myself to this spiral-top notebook — first, the pattern! and second — fellow lefties will understand the gift of no right-side binding! Will spark such joy as my next hand drafting notepad.
+I really like notebooks with gridded or dotted pages (vs lined), though – these are so appealing to me. And these pens are the absolute BEST. The tip is so fine — like a tiny laser. I am obsessed with them.
+Phillip Lim just relaunched its sample sale, and it includes one of my favorite everyday hangbags — the small soleil. I have it in a light brown color no longer available, but the shape and quality are fabulous, and I’ve literally never seen it on anyone else. The larger size is also very chic and I believe it fits over your shoulder (smaller one has to be held over the wrist / by the hand, which I know is a disincentive for some of you, but I really love this bag for little excursions, coffee dates, etc!)
+One of my top tips for entertaining at home — have lots of nibbles in little bowls scattered throughout the area you’ll be entertaining: on side tables, coffee tables, at the bar. People love a little nibble! Bowls like these are perfect for this use case. Fill with little bites like cheez-its, Virginia peanuts, wasabi peas, sesame sticks, etc. (Lots of easy but elegant happy hour snack ideas here, btw.)
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By: Jen Shoop
This yellow set (top, skirt) from Significant Other sang out at me when I laid eyes on it. It actually made me nostalgic for the bridesmaid dresses at our wedding — strapless sunshine yellow numbers that offset the deep blue and purple hydrangea that spilled out of every vessel on every table. The set runs true to size, but the skirt is fairly long if you’re petite like myself; I must wear with heels. I have this mentally tagged for a trip to Bermuda to celebrate one of our best friend’s birthdays this summer! Playful, happy, unexpected! The fact that it’s a two-piece makes it feel different. I am styling here with my embroidered Pam Munson clutch, which is one of the absolute treasures of my wardrobe. Both pieces are on sale as a part of Shopbop’s tiered promotion, which ends tonight at midnight! More picks from the sale here.
01. I haven’t bought from Hill House in a minute, but I picked up two things from their April capsule that launched earlier this week: 1) this floral, which I will admit is mildly to majorly influenced by the show Outlander, which Landon and I have been binging; I couldn’t resist the corset! 2) this striped Cosima. I already have this dress in a different print and find it so versatile and flattering! I know from past launches that they tend to sell out of their Cosimas quickly, so I had to snag. I went down to an XXS in both of these dresses; I find the Cosima too big in my regular size and I took a gamble with the floral, too.
You can see me in the Cosima in a different, past-season print below!
02. OK, not sure if this qualifies as “fun,” but I ordered a weighted vest on the rec of many Magpies! I read up on the matter, and you are supposed to aim for a weight that is 10% of your body weight, but Magpies reported that it’s *tough* to start with that much weight, and that they found it easier to work up to a heavier weight. Most Magpies started with 8-12 lb vests. I decided to order an 8 lb one and see how that felt. (ICYMI, many doctors say that the most important thing for women of my age — weighted workouts! This helps protect your bones / prevent bone density loss.)
03. I’ve been eyeing these TWP “ex” shirts since my girlfriend Inslee wore one when I visited her in Raleigh. The fit was so cool on her. I ended up snagging this interesting one in brown/white stripe — I have nothing like it in my closet and feel it will look so cool with white jeans and tortoise shades.
04. These fun Bottega-inspired key rings. (Compare with the real deal — $390 per.) I don’t know about you, but I have my house keys, and then all these other miscellaneous ones that I don’t need with me at all times — keys for my parents’, my PO box, etc. I feel like these will keep those sets isolated, and I can just grab whichever set I need. All my latest Amazon finds here, and seen below in collage form…
05. So many of you have raved about K18 so many times (one of you wrote that it had completely transformed your hair!) and I’m fully on board now. I actually follow Julia Amory’s method versus the instructions on the back of the bottle and find it works for my fine hair better than the recommended process. You are supposed to squeeze moisture out of your hair after you shampoo, work a few pumps in, and leave it (do not rinse out) but, even though it left my hair ultra-touchable and soft, I found it weighed my hair down. When I use this, I now shampoo, rinse, then apply K18 plus a layer of Lolavie restorative conditioner. Then I get out of the shower and go about my business for 30 minutes before rinsing out. Then let hair air-dry most of the way and finish with the AirWrap. It reallllly leaves my hair soft and shiny; I don’t even use any other product on it when blow-drying/styling. This is what I did in the photos above! No product except the K18! I think the difference is noticeable. I just bought a bigger bottle of this using Sephora’s promotion; I like that it’s available in a travel size so you can test without a huge commitment. Not a huge price break for me (I’m just an insider) but I’ll take it, since I was already planning to buy! I also picked up another bottle of this Biossance Vitamin C while 10% off. (All my Sephora picks here.)
06. New spring bras from Negative — this pink and this blue! This is my favorite undergarment brand; I live in these whipped bralettes. I realized over this past winter that in the cold months, I almost can’t bear to wear anything but cotton against my skin when I’m cold. I swear I wore this bralette with this pointelle tee 90% of the winter. I almost regret trying their whipped underwear because they are so $$$ but they are the only thing I will sleep in. Ultra comfortable but still pretty. I own in most of the colors at this point. They hold up well though! And don’t get me started on their whipped track pants. So, so comfortable. I advise going up one size in the pants; I find the elastic a little too snug in my true size in these.
07. I can’t explain why I’m so excited about these little magnetic travel cosmetic pods. I am going away with Landon for just the night and this is what’s getting my jazzed about packing — ha! How lame?! But they’re so cute and cleverly designed! I got with the “parcel” carrier case that came in this bundle. Cadence is currently offering 20% off sitewide — discount appears in cart. I have also been waiting for JA to release a new set of toiletry bags in a fun new design (I LOVE THESE — so well-designed, with lined interiors and the sweetest prints!), because my current set were stained with an oil that spilled on our last trip. I think I am going to get this chic brown ticking stripe set.
08. Playful new sunnies from a new-to-me brand! I’m in the mood for more color and fun now that we’re edging towards warmer weather, and these just made me smile.
A: This Freda Salvador! I’m obsessed with the raffia but there are also great solid colors. We have early access to their sale starting today — 20% off with code FREDAFRIEND. Sale opens up to wider public on 4/14! Look for less with these.
A: This Betty dress, this Tuckernuck, and linen separates — you know my thoughts on Frank and Eileen, but lots of more reasonably priced pieces here. (And/or raid J. Crew’s linen collection while 40% off — this top, these pants, this dress! Gap also has great picks.). I also thrive in easy everyday dresses — would pack pieces like this, this, this that you can dress up or down; you could pair any of them with dressy sneakers, leather sandals, or a heel for dinner. Have the BEST time.
Q: Outfit for 8-month old boy to wear to a wedding.
A: Depending on how formal – I’d do something like this or this. Petit prince!
Q: Dress for son’s first communion dress under $250.
A: Congrats to your little guy! I like something elegant like this. This is a little over budget but you’ll get a ton of wear out of this dress and she’d be perfect too with a little kitten heel and basket bag. My code JEN-15 brings it down to $253!
Q: Anything for a Nantucket honeymoon in early June.
A: Ancient Greek Eleftherias and these jellies from Anthro! I own and love both and find them both comfortable.
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By: Jen Shoop
I’ve been in a big shop mode for my children the last few weeks — turn of the seasons, and several big events incoming. I absolutely had to get my son this adorable quarter zip and shorts set from Lewis; I am guessing this might be the final year he enjoys wearing clothing with cute animals on it — although he’s not my toughest shopping critic. I showed my daughter no fewer than twenty dress options for Easter Sunday and, on the 20th attempt, when I was beginning to wonder if we’d ever find something suiting her preferences, she determined she liked this one. (Her requests: “nothing poufy or frilly.” Reader, I obliged! 90% of the offerings fit this bill! I felt certain she’d be taken with this, this, or this, all of which earned definitive snubs.) I bought her this cardigan/jacket and these mary janes to finish the look — it’s often chilly on Easter morning!
As I’ve been shopping away, I wanted to share a couple of adorable children’s finds —
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By: Jen Shoop
Last week, I made a few hats available for purchase here on my blog; a small thing, an “inside baseball” buy for us Magpies. Mr. Magpie wore his hat all week — to school drop off; to pick up steak at the butcher; to weed in the garden. MAGPIE BIRDING CLUB, everywhere he went. I watched him move through his week, doing all the normal things–only it wasn’t normal at all, not to me. There he was, quietly pinning my universe in place.
This morning, a small token of gratitude for his unwavering support: a republishing of this essay asking him when, exactly, he found the time to light up the sky?
****
When did you hang the moon?
Was it the day we met, swatting mosquitoes in the crepuscular weight of August in the Midatlantic, the fixed stars hidden in the swollen heat?
Or that time we crossed paths that night at Scott Stadium, the world a dim blur as I floated silently out into galaxies beyond?
I was too busy noticing you, and the way you rolled your oxfords up your forearms, and smiled at me as if in appreciation, and widened your stance when we’d talk, planting yourself for proper conversation, to see that you were also lighting up the universe —
Or maybe they’re the same thing: the details of you as luminous and giving as the stellar sum.
I know only this —
There was that night at the bonfire in the Appalachians, shivering in the October chill, and the Milky Way glittered so close I felt I could reach out and touch its stars. And yet next to you, they appeared the unremarkable beige of a waiting room, and, like everything else, dissolved into white noise and atmospheric clutter. Funny, how love can do that: put everything else on mute. “We were together — I forget the rest.” Etcetera.
That night, you were doing nothing at all. Just standing next to me, taking my hand, loaning me your sweatshirt, making smalltalk with my girlfriends. And I saw that you must have tacked up the moon some time in the months prior, as unassumingly as you now replace the lightbulbs and switch the air filters. Oh, no big deal, you’d have said. Just changing the constellations.
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!
Shopping Break.
+New in at Tuckernuck: this great dress. Giving major La Double J vibes. I ended up ordering this striped skirt — so good, so easy!
+REALLY good new arrivals at Gap, too: this linen dress, this gauze set, these barrel gauze pants, this Doen-esque dress, and these shorts for girls.
+Rhone just launched their “Stance line” of athletic wear, which is perfect for tennis, golf, pickleball. I got my hands on this athletic skirt and it’s both highly functional and chic! (And already selling out in certain sizes.) I have this tentatively planned for one of my three Disney days. You can pair with the matching tank or their court-to-course quarter zip for a finished look. I own and LOVE that quarter-zip — it has a great slightly swingy silhouette so it sort of skims over your shorts instead of snagging at the waist / looking fitted at the waist. Really flattering with bike shorts, leggings, etc. While you’re there, how cute is this gingham bra? My code SHOOP20 gets you 20% off.
+Loro Piana…drool. Speaking of LP, I just bought a few items for Mr. Magpie from the European brand Aurelien, which, while not cheap, has major LP energy for much less $$. I’m loving the styled looks like this, and this. European royalty vibes — ha. I especially like their footwear. I bought Mr. Magpie these “yacht loafers,” which look a lot like the styles from Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli, but are about half as expensive. (Get the look for even less with these.)
+I have been LOVING everything I’ve tried from Sarah Creal, but especially her undereye concealer (does NOT settle into fine lines — it is magic) and eye cream (slightly tinted so it offers a little bit of color correction); cannot wait to try their new bronzer. This beauty line is specifically formulated for “mature skin.”
+Shopbop sale still going strong! Realized after I compiled this roundup of my picks that the sale also included Agolde Parker shorts — the best. There’s been some debate in the comments here about whether or not denim shorts are a good idea for Disney but these are what I’m planning to wear, with this airy top. The sale also includes one of my favorite sweaters from La Ligne: this stripe! Also available in navy.
+See an everyday outfit look inspired by a few of the items I just mentioned here. Everything up to 25% off!
+I actually used the sale to buy a few things for Mr. Magpie: these classic khakis, this SSBD (he’s literally never owned an SSBD in his life, so we’ll see what he thinks…he always resists a little at first and then tells me later “you’re keeping me fresh”), and two pairs of shorts to pair the SSBD with. (The other pair of shorts are these — which are a little loud but I think will look amazing with a white terry polo or button-down.) Will look so good with his new loafers and his Garrett Leight sunglasses, which I unabashedly bought him because Brad Pitt wore them. Hehe. A little moodboard of my best finds for him here.
+Cute gifts for a little lady: this umbrella, this pouch. Both Target finds!
+I have been wearing this turquoise bracelet in my daily stack for weeks now. So unexpected and so chic! It was just restocked after being out of stock for months. A fabulous piece to work into your daily wardrobe, especially in the summer!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
I’ve been drawn to pastel lately, but there is something undeniably chic about grounding your spring wardrobe in rich, chocolate brown and warm, earthy tones. These colors feel elevated, sophisticated, and unexpected this time of year. Above, I’m wearing the greatest everyday dress: the top is a t-shirt material and the bottom is a full and airy poplin. If you’re a new customer, you can get 10% off with MAGPIE10. I went a size down in this (took an xxs) and the fit is perfect, I think because of the drawstring waist. I layered beneath my favorite cashmere cardigan and accessorized with a Lizzie Fortunato necklace (sold out, similar here), these Mango flats, and my new beloved handbag: Tory Burch’s Lee Radziwill. I later further completed the neutral look with my new favorite lip product: The Outset’s lip oasis in dune (nude).
Brown and Neutral Favorites for Spring.
Some other standout items that have caught my eye in this palette: Banana’s patterned linin mini, Julia Amory’s Betty Dress (an absolute stunner that can be dressed up or dressed down — see me in mine below; use code JEN-15 for 15% off), and these Angie Crop Trousers from Splendid.
Some other gorgeous chocolate, neutral, and earth tone finds for the season:
*Flagging this ultra-chic silhouette because HHH just launched a spring capsule this morning at 9 a.m. with this style in a new green-and-white stripe that I’m hoping to get my hands on!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
“A devoted runner!” the crossing guard called to me as she parted the traffic in driving 45-degree rain, Moses of suburbia. I expressed something half-formed, midway between a smile and a “hm!”, as I ran by. This, my perennial problem: l’esprit de l’escalier. I am slow on my feet, in running but also unexpected encouragement or discouragement; I need at least a mile to mull. So, after the moment had passed, I thought: Only I’m not.I’m sporadic and slow, untuned and untimed. A begrudging runner if anything; a laggard in leggings. After all, it had taken me thirty minutes to work up the nerve to brave the cold rain that morning. I kept waiting for a break that did not come, and had to reach for other attenuations: “There’s no such thing as bad weather,” I repeated to myself, as I pulled on my parka and gloves and stared into the poolings on the pavestone. And again when my shoes soaked through within sixty seconds of leaving the cosset of my home: There’s no such thing as bad weather. This time with a current of causticity. But after I’d run through all the reasons I could not be considered “a devoted runner,” I ran lightly with the guard’s encouragement nonetheless: a little bird surprised by happenstance nourishment.
I thought: How little it takes to spur myself on — only a stray word from a stranger!
And yet — I was out there with the rain and the birds and the sodden feet before her encouragement, too. And I would do well to praise myself for this determination, whether I consider myself a runner or not.
I thought then, as I often do, of how life’s tiniest moments read like metaphors for writing, and vice versa, because —
I am accustomed to the unseen feeling: most writing reads in a silent room; the creative routinely shares to no response. This is a common misconception about writing, I think: you don’t write to be heard, to be listened to, certainly not to be praised; you write to reveal form. I think sometimes of the artist as a plumber. You are working with the pipes downstairs. You may never know that the work you did last week drew a warm and welcome bath for a tired body. You are in fact completely unaware of where it ends up, and what the water looks like to the waiting woman upstairs. You are just tightening and connecting; swapping out copper pieces, often in the dark, sometimes with a little unwelcome mud or grit or water, tapping into the subterranean, tinkering your way to an unblocked flow.
And so when you receive a word of encouragement, you feel lit-up and unalone, and yet you know — you must know — you will continue to create, even in the silence; mainly in the silence.
I write this today thinking of a friend of mine who gave up on writing because she felt she had been turned down too many times. She wanted to publish a book, and had a few “we regret to inform you…” letters, maybe one with helpful criticism, but mainly heard nothing at all. I of course wanted to comfort her; to build her up. To howl against the short-sightedness of the agents and publishers. But I also wanted to say: most of us create in silence. This is I think the condition of it. Most of the time, we are running alone in the rain, inventing any number of secret rationales and mantras to keep ourselves in motion. Anything to keep the speed. Anything to form one bright streak through the squall. When we are lucky, some god calls out: “I see you in your devotions!” and you think how lucky and light your feet feel, but this is the exception rather than the rule.
So onward!, as we say. Keep going, even in the quiet, the rain, the dark. Especially in those conditions. Write into it.
+Some great new markdowns at Nordstrom: my favorite cropped sweatpants, a great terry pullover (I own in multiple colors), and chic jelly sandals for pool days!
+I’m not sure when it will go live this morning, but Doen is dropping a final spring capsule today! They sent me a sneak peek and I had to have this ethereal little white top called the Nera top!
+I’m in love with vitamin c for my skin – I think a lot of us are. It’s the first, unmovable step in my skincare process in the morning. I’ve often likened it to “turning the lights on” in my skin — immediate, visible change. My two longtime favorite vit c products: Biossance oil (light, quick to absorb) and Goop. (I know many readers are devotees of Skinceuticals but there are enough reports of its offputting smell to deter me. Plus, it’s much more expensive!). What are your thoughts?
+I just received these red gauze pants ($39!) and am obsessed with them. Super soft and the tomato red color is so fun! This is the kind of thing I like to throw on with a striped sweater for easy everyday wear.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
iNothing says “effortless chic” like linen for spring and summer — the perfect balance of breezy and refined. Very Nancy Meyers FMC. I could not wait to break in this new linen set from Frank and Eileen (which I also own in white), but you can easily recreate the look for less with these Quince pants and the matching shirt, or Gap’s take, which I’m LOVING in the tomato red (top, bottom).
Shopbop is running its biggest promotion of the season: 15% off orders of $200+, 20% off orders of $500+, and 25% off orders of $800. Use code: STYLE. I know a lot of Magpies use this promotion to build out the basics of a spring and early summer wardrobe! A few great buys below…
First, this white top will be a staple of your spring to summer wardrobe. Tuck into white, colored, light, or dark wash denim (or denim shorts) and re-style infinity ways.
Second, use the promo to snag a Frank and Eileen sweatset in a great spring/summer color — top, bottoms.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
By: Jen Shoop
In these books, there are fingerprints and water stains. Prefaces and TOCs. Dog-eared pages and half-ripped ones. My self at fourteen, my self at forty. Notes in the margins, and annotations in the back matter; cracked spines and old covers faded by sun and the vacation smells of spilt sunscreen and saltwater. Published by on such-and-such date. To Jen Love Dad, September 1998. At least twelve different readings of Jo March, or Elizabeth Bennett, or Anne Shirley — together, a logbook of a heart making its way a life.
Each time I dip in, I am the kingfisher. I find something new. Or, maybe, the text is the kingfisher, and I am the fish waiting to be found somewhere in the vast blue, storm-tossed by sea change or still in the shallows, depending on the day.
When I’d fish with my Dad in Colorado, I would see the rainbow trout inches beneath the clear mountain water, their sleek sliver bodies appearing stuck in situ. They were skittish, though, and we took care lest our shadows spook them off. I imagine myself trout-like now, waiting or whatever they were doing. Do they sleep like that, fins against the current? What a way to live.
In any case, they made for easy prey, eye-visible and hungry, as do I now. I imagine the text throwing out an easy line, landing on the fragile surface of the water, nearly nothing between it and my heart.
In any case, I want to be caught by the word. And I want to catch it, too.
Sunday Shopping.
ICYMI, we have Magpie hats! You can buy them here. (Below: real men wear “bad book girl” hats. While dry-brining steak for dinner no less.). I am completely charmed by all your notes about these hats — several of you are buying to wear to your book clubs!
Also had a few piquant shopping notes for you today:
+I’m newly obsessed with this nude color of The Outset’s lip oasis. They sent me the full run of their tinted glosses and I LOVE THIS NUDE. It’s such a great product — hydrating, plumping, keeps lips glossy for a LONG time, but not tacky. I love it. Try the nude!
+Rag and Bone’s excellent Maxine button-down is on sale for $100 (!) in this great taupe/white colorway. I’ve never seen such a steep discount and the color is so good! This is A Really Good Shirt. I own in blue and I love it so much — has a silky, drapey feel to it. Looks super polished IRL.
+I can’t keep myself away from a pair of utility pants; these are en route to me now. I really like to write in pants like these (movement, have a utilitarian workhorse vibe that puts me in a good headspace — “I will be productive in these”) and I thought the drawstring and pocket details were cool. Also come in white. Did I mention they’re under $160, and they have this Nili Lotan vibe going on? Love. Also, my code JEN15 brings them down to $134.
+Not shopping, but really enjoying the new AppleTV+ show The Studio! A lot of stirring questions about the intersection between art and business.
+BREADCRUMBS VS. FIVE YEAR PLANS: I related deeply to this post by podcaster Cathy Heller. I believe in pointing yourself towards big goals — you need the north star — but everything transpires in tiny, fine-grained instances of intuition and opportunity. (There are no big breaks — lots of micro-breaks!)
+MAGGIE SMITH BOOK TOUR: I had the pleasure of attending an event with poet Maggie Smith this week; she’s just released a new book called Dear Writer, which is ostensibly about craft but really about living a rich creative life, rooted in noticing and wonderment. If you have a chance to see her on her book tour, you should; she is witty, wise, dynamic on stage, and I guarantee you’ll leave learning something. I was personally struck by her conversation about “hot” vs “cool” writing, in which she explained that sometimes it’s helpful to write the stuff that’s really hard to write about in the third person, or past tense, so that it’s a little cooler to work with. (Powerful, coming from a memoirist who wrote about the intimate details of her divorce!) She made the point that you can always bring it back to first person present when you’re comfortable with the material. A reminder of the fluidity of writing, its accommodations. The page is not a container! At the event, I watched a young woman take a full page of notes while listening to Smith, and it felt like the most bare-faced, optimistic act I’ve seen in a long time — I was so touched. Major ice cream moment.
+ALL JUDGMENT IS CONFESSION: Wow, this quote by Nikolai Tesla: “When you understand that every opinion is a vision loaded with personal history, you will begin to understand that all judgment is a confession.” I’ve heard this sentiment worded a bit differently elsewhere: “When you realize how often people cope by projecting, you learn to take nothing personally.” Extremely helpful footholds when you’re in the throes of unfair criticism.
+NON-PHYSICAL COMPLIMENTS: I loved this list of non-physical compliments to pay loved ones. I found it a helpful audit for myself with my children, too. What kinds of things am I praising in them? What do the patterns suggest about what we value? This reminded me of one of my daughter’s Montessori school teachers, who was always so thoughtful about encouraging the children in the classroom. I noticed she’d frequently say, “Wow, you worked so hard on that,” and “I love the colors you chose!” and “It’s so interesting you picked this shape!” Lots of little words of encouragement focused on their effort versus their output.
+EYEING + BUYING: Can you tell I’m ready for spring break?!
*Lots of incredible finds at J. Crew Factory for kids right now. Everything I like for boys here.
+RONNI NICOLE PLASTER ART: I can’t get over these beautiful plaster “wall candies” by Ronni Nicole. I just signed up for her newsletter in the hopes of getting my hands on one of her limited edition releases this spring. I also find her an interesting follow on Instagram — her thoughts on creative process and the business side of art reveal a beautiful curiosity.
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