*Image above of the ultra-chic Victoria K.L. and her precious girls, whose enchanting style in no small part inspired by obsession with houndstooth this season. She managed to snag a pair of ultra-coveted and sold-out-the-world-over Chanel combat boots (and that Chanel houndsooth bag — OMG), but I’ve shared some similar finds below.
A lot of you are in the market for boots and everyday footwear for the fall and winter season. This post is a roundup of all my favorites across all categories…happy shopping for happy feet!
I have to be honest that a few pairs of combat boots have turned my head this year, though I’m usually more in the ladylike footwear camp. My picks below are what I would term “combat-lite”:
THESE SCHUTZES (THE EDGIEST OF THE GROUP, BUT I LIKE THE SLIM PROFILE AND THE TIE AROUND THE BACK — IMAGINE PAIRING WITH BLACK TIGHTS AND A TWEED DRESS)
It started with Le Monde Beryl’s velvet mules — I’ve had my eye on these for months now. I also like this pair in the rust velvet from Margaux (perfect fall color) and these ($79!) in the cherry red are pretty much the perfect holiday shoe.
I just bought Hill these adorable knit gloves in the ecru / foggy blue color combination to pair with his navy Patagonia fleece and had to share because they are on sale for $12 this weekend and you can ship them free with code FAMILY! (Also love the floral knit pair for a little girl!). Love that they come with the string to prevent mitten loss. This is the kind of no-brainer purchase I make while walking briskly back from my run in Central Park. I think Hanna Andersson’s quality is exceptional!
Also! The Patagonia beanies I’ve been eyeing are on sale for $23 here!
And, unrelated — just look at these fun chinoiserie pumpkins! I have one large and one small in my cart even though they wouldn’t arrive in time for this Halloween…but perfect for next year alongside some white pumpkins?! So fun.
One of my favorite ways to add interest to my winter wardrobe last season was by layering a pair of black Gucci logo tights under the dresses I’d worn the season prior. These tights are now very difficult to get a hold of, but SSENSE still has a few pairs in the ivory colorway, which I just snagged to pair with some of my favorite LBDs and skirts this fall and winter. I usually like to pair them with a conservative-looking dress like this to balance out their volume.
P.S. If you like the idea of a patterned tight but aren’t into the logos, these bow print ones are darling!
+A great eye primer that I honestly use more often as the only thing on my eyelid. Evens things out and looks natural!
+You need this headband (on super sale). Pair with basically anything in your closet (ivory, denim, brown, black, maroon, olive) for the perfect fall accessory.
+Cute tie-waist cords. I like how they’re styled on the site with chic sneaks (love these in the tie-dye print, on sale for $130!).
Weekend Musings: Emily in Paris, Storm King Art Center, and the Architecture of Cultural Difference.
I sat down to write about the Netflix show “Emily in Paris” (not for you, mom and dad) and the outrage it has incited among Parisians — some of it, frankly, sniffy and some of it rightful, as caricatures and oversimplifications abound in the show. In fact, were it not for Emily’s bright consciousness around gender politics, parts of the show might feel as though they could have been penned in the 1990s. But what I instead found myself wanting to write about is the way architecture can often reflect, or reify, or construct culture (and our manifold interpretations of it). And not for any particular scene or situation in the show — just, the whole of it. For example, the classic Haussman-style buildings (example seen in photo at top) spotted in the show, with their sandstone facades, continuous balconies, enormous windows, and mansard roofs have always felt distinctly French to me: their emphasis on immaculate style and decoration, their invitation for spectatorship (lived out through broad windows and balconies from which to watch pedestrians below), their intimidating height and breadth. They are beautiful to look at, but they always make me feel as though I’m being looked down upon: their windows like discerning eyes, their slanted roofs somehow like a frown. This, of course, is all personal projection. (Can you tell I felt like an outsider among the French?) Or is it? I recall a French professor (in Lyon) lecturing as though it were fact that “the French are obsessed with shutters and doors, hedges, and inward-facing courtyards,” and that these architectural and stylistic details were a direct reflection of the French’s proclivity toward privacy. “In America, everything hangs out,” he said, dismissively. “Tout en plein air.” (“Everything out in the open.”) I never forgot the point he was making — or the attitude with which he delivered it.
I chased an adjacent nest of thoughts the other day while visiting Storm King Art Center, an outdoor art gallery in the Hudson Valley whose very design leaves you thinking about the lines between the manmade and the natural, and some of those lines read very distinct (large red structures jutting out of the earth) and others blurrier (the exquisite maintenance of the grounds, mowed and groomed with precision, as though by a dextrous barber, the set of copper relief artworks molded onto unassuming trees and rocks, meant to be “discovered” (with no curatorial signage to aid!) by visitors traipsing through the wooded area on the northside of the campus). In any case, I left wondering about the way in which these creations can both reflect and diverge (sometimes at the same time) from what is “natural” or “true.” Nowhere was this clearer than in Maya Lin’s wavefields on the grounds (note: Lin designed the controversial Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in D.C.), which are more less a series of undulating hills. Lin made the pattern, but the materials she used were earth and grass and nothing more. I had read about the installation a few years ago, and the sole thing I remember from that reading was that some of the design borrowed from the Native American practice of burying their dead above ground versus beneath it, and the conversation led to some introspection about the way we enshrine our cultural and spiritual beliefs in the structures we build.
No profound end point here, just some field notes that might jangle with something on your mind today. Comments, as always, encouraged!
P.S. I did very much like “Emily in Paris.” It is cheesy and the clothes are garish (I don’t care if Patricia Field did them — the berets! ahhh) but the plot is fun and some of the writing is exceptionally clever.
+I had been looking for the perfect piggy bank for Hill and I am totally swooning over this sweet bunny in blue or this polished elephant! Too sweet. Either would make a precious and unexpected baby gift.
+I am constantly struggling to keep on top of mini’s prolific artistry — she is always painting, drawing, creating cards, etc. I am pretty good at restricting the number of masterpieces we keep for the long haul, but there are always a few piles around our apartment because I cannot bring myself to immediately chuck her art as soon as it’s complete (especially under her watchful eye — she has more than once fished her own work out of the garbage). I just ordered this tray to keep on top of her dresser as a purgatory.
+I just bought my Lego-loving godson one of these Advent calendars. I know it’s not religious but the concept was just too cute. I think he’ll get a kick out of it.
More answers to your burning October 2020 shopping questions (first installment here), and so many of them around practical pieces for every day wear this fall, from flats to sweaters and comfortable work-from-home knits. (Love the unfussy look above on Didem for weekday uniform — she’s wearing this Zara tee and Toteme jeans). There were so many submissions this go around, I’ve had to split this post into thirds and will answer the final questions early next week!
Q: I’m wondering if you will recommend a planner? I need a week on each page and very detailed.
A: I have liked the ones from Day Designer in the past — especially the hard cover styles because I like to keep receipts/invitations between the pages and it’s easier to write on. More recently, I have been using this undated weekly pad — I find it’s a super simple and unfussy way to keep on top of my to-dos. But for 2021, I am thinking about one of these customizable agendas from Papier. So gorgeous!
Q: For newborn photos, I’d like a wrap dress — preferably not jersey or at least not super clingy (c-section lump — in a color that goes with baby pink but isn’t baby pink – so a darker pink, purple, burgundy maybe even navy?(My son and husband are wearing navy.)
A: Would you consider a print? How darling would this pink polka dot wrap dress be with a pink-swaddled baby girl in your arms? Alternately, this is a little on the trendier/louder side, but this boho print wrap dress is incredibly chic and would look great with navy-clad men and a pink-clad baby. Also adore this navy broderie anglaise style (here is a knee-length variation) if you want something solid, or this in the solid maroon color, which has such fun sleeves — I love the way it looks paired with tall boots as shown in the picture.
If you change your mind and want to coordinate with your daughter in pale pink, this is so elegant.
Q: Shoes to wear with a brown leather skirt.
A: Chic! If it’s pleated leather like this, I would pair with a pointed toe flat like this (#goalz), this, or this. If it’s short, I would wear with brown suede tall boots like these.
Q: Christmas outfits for my 3.5 year old and 6 month old boys.
A: Cute! Love that you’re planning ahead. If you’re into plaid/tartan, there are some adorable ideas here, but here are a few specific pairings:
IF YOU LIKE STILL DRESS YOUR OLDER ONE IN JON JONS, THESE FOR BOTH
Q: A cream colored off-the-shoulder sweater for engagement photos.
A: This one is elegant with the pearl detail! This one ($69!) is also interesting/architectural.
Q: Long-sleeved dresses I can wear while teaching.
A: So much love and gratitude for you and all the teachers making it happen every day. A few dresses I like that have long sleeves, allow for movement, and manage to be both comfortable and chic:
A: I actually went down this rabbit hole not long ago and I ended up loving the prints and varieties at Ballard Design, especially in the modern drum shape. Reasonably priced, too!
Q: Mirrored dresser.
A: I love mirrored furniture! We have mirrored bedside tables very similar to these in our master that reflect light and make the space brighter and bigger. I love the clean lines on this mirrored dresser (on sale!) and this is elegant, too, though I might replace the drawer pulls with something else.
Q: A cute belt bag that is reasonably priced and doesn’t look like an athletic fanny pack.
Q: Cute neutral mules! Preferably pointed toe and under $350.
A: My immediate thought was Nicholas Kirkwood’s Beya mule, which are crazy chic but above your price range unless you are willing to go bold with splashy orange! (Let your shoes do the talking! I have bent boldly colored/patterned shoes into my everyday wardrobe countless times…)
A: I shared some initial thoughts here, but the short story is that I think you can make a huge impact through holiday greenery in your home tied with enormous striped grosgrain or velvet bows (note that the ribbon colors I picked are not necessarily traditionally associated with Christmas, but if you tie it around mini boxwood wreaths hung over the backs of chairs or in windows, you will achieve a smashing and classy Christmas look. A few other holiday greenery pieces you might consider for the center of your dining room table, your mantel, your sideboard, etc:
MINI ROSEMARY PLANTS — BUY IN BOTH SIZES AND PLACE ALONGSIDE ONE ANOTHER TO PLACE ON A FOYER TABLE/CONSOLE, WRAPPING THE BASE WITH A RIBBON
Q: A long camel coat at various price points please.
A: I love a long camel coat. Obsessed with this, this, and this for a traditional/timeless look.
Q: My 30th birthday celebration — it’ll be outside in early November — the theme is plaid and fur.
A: Happy birthday! This is so fun. How timely, too — I shared a bunch of darling plaid pieces for women earlier today. But mainly — is this not the most fabulous thing you’ve ever seen? I first saw it on fashion plate (and founder of Hill House Home) Nellie Diamond last year and I was dead.
On the fur side, a few fun accessories to consider…
A: I have only been using Busy Bees Kids’ face masks with mini because we love them, but they are pricey. I have heard really good things about Gap’s face masks for the entire family — I like these solid-colored ones, and they are reasonably priced.
Q: A chic winter outfit (coat, mittens/gloves, etc) to pair with my new No. 6 clog boots.
Q: I’m 5 feet tall, but want an almost duster-like winter coat with a little structure (not a wrap style), preferably in tan. I’m fine with anything up to $1,000.
Mango has a lot of great cozy knits designed to be layered out right now — including this dress (almost a nightgown!), this knit jumpsuit, and these joggers (spotted on Katie Holmes!)
*Image above via Ralph Lauren, my sartorial touchstone. When in doubt, go to RL for inspiration.
**A quick headnote that CPC Kids is back on Zulily — and they have a few darling tartan longalls left as well as these duck embroidered longalls (perfect for Thanksgiving) and Christmas print ones, both of which Hill owns! Note that though other pieces of CPC Kids I have purchased in the past run small, these longalls run big. I would size down if you want for current season.
Do you send a family portrait out with your holiday cards? We have never done this ourselves though I have talked on and off about wanting to do it. I had big plans to make it happen this year but with COVID, it just fell right out of my priorities. Next year…! I know I will one day kick myself for missing the opportunity to document our life as a family in this way. I must make it happen!
Anyway — I often receive questions about what to wear for family portraits, and what I am daydreaming of right now is a Ralph Lauren-inspired tartan look for the family. (And I love the idea of having your little one tote a Steiff puppy for the portrait — my parents-in-law gave mini a vintage Steiff airedale stuffed animal when she was born, and it’s one of our family’s treasured possessions.) Below, some amazing tartan finds for the entire family:
I have seen a fun little microtrend cropping up on Instagram: sweaters worn around shoulders or even diagonally across torso as an embellishment or accessory, and I love it.
One way to get the look? Double up on a sweater you love — I have several of Everlane’s $100 cashmere crewnecks in different colors, and now I am thinking of adding a second in a colorway I already own. (Note: for those who have experienced pilling with these sweaters, you must purchase one of these fabric shavers. They make old sweaters like-new!)
And, as shown in the photo at the top of this post, I love the idea of breathing new life into a white button-down by tying a crewneck (in the heather flax, preferably) on.
Finally, you can always let the designer do the work for you: this tie-detailed wool sweater from new-to-me label Le 17 Septembre is crazy chic.
*Above image is The Bullfighter, by Juan Gris, but I saw some visual resonance with the book that I found compelling.
There has been serious buzz around Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half, which has been likened to Toni Morrison’s first novel (!). The book follows the stories of twin sisters born in a Southern Black community. One of them runs away and secretly passes as white. The other escapes an abusive relationship and brings her daughter — who is much darker than her mother, and for whom passing would never be an option — back to the town she once tried to escape.
The novel is a rich and deftly textured pastiche of doubles, mistaken and forged identities, echoes, and othernesses. We explore multiple vignettes in which we see splits, halves, “others,” some of them inevitable and others shaped at the hands of willful characters. For example, we have sisters born as twins and the inherited racial characteristics (i.e., color of skin) of the characters in this novel — that is, facts of biology that cannot be tampered with. And then we have the decision of Stella to pass as white, Reese’s gender reassignment, and Kennedy’s acting career, in which she is often publicly confused with the character she portrays in a popular soap opera. There are so many doubles and identity changes that the novel feels nearly Shakespearean. (Doubles of all kinds abound in Shakespeare — “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” is a play in a play and full of mistaken/swapped identities in particular — and there is an entire body of critical literature on the functional practice of “doubling” in Shakespearean theatre, by which actors played multiple roles, a strategic move that often enabled the audience to glean thematic connections between separate plot-lines.) But we have the sense in Bennett’s book that these doubles are not strategem but substance, so intense is her focus on the logistics of “splitting.” We look closely at the complications of passing as someone else (even the offhanded slips in tongue where Stella’s past life is unwittingly revealed), the pain of undergoing gender reassignment (from the risk and cost of testosterone-riddled concoctions purchased by Reese in back alleys to the recovery from surgery and, of course, the emotional toll all has taken), the agony of erasing a past in pursuit of a new identity. The focus on these logistics of transition are further signaled by the title: the vanishing half, not the vanished half. We are drawn to the messy metamorphosis itself, not the befores and afters. The title further calls into question the permanence of these evolutions: are the characters ever able to fully escape their first identities? Are they always in a state of vanishing but never fully vanished? This is perhaps a matter of perspective: many characters meet Reese and never know that he was once a woman, just as many never know that Stella is passing as white. But many of the characters closest in, the ones who knew the “befores,” appear perpetually engaged in the act of hunting, tracing, tracking, unearthing the “former” version of their loved ones.
If it’s not yet clear, I was flat out astounded by Bennett’s dexterity in constructing a text that felt as though it rippled with doubles and echoes. The narrative was tautly-written in that sense, though the prose at times belied that complexity in its accessibility and seeming straight-forwardness, itself a feat. It was an easy read, the story moving quickly and compellingly in approachable prose–but the meat will stick with me for some time.
+Audibooks I’ve particularly enjoyed recently: Ruth Reichl’s Save Me the Plums and Bess Kalb’s Nobody Will Tell You This But Me. I love listening to memoirs narrated by the authors themselves — their voices, intonations, expressions give so much away! It took me a minute to warm up to Reichl, but my God is her food-writing transcendent. I could listen to her talk about French food forever. It’s absolutely sensational, in every sense of the word–you see and taste the food with her artful language, which is both (paradoxically!) precise and imaginative. Unbelievable. I learned a lot, technique-wise, listening to her talk about food. Kalb’s book is basically a love story between herself and her deceased grandmother, and it is heartbreaking and tender and has a message that bears repeating in 2020: “If the earth is cracking behind you, you put one foot in front of the other.“
+These woven accent tables would be such a chic and inexpensive way to outfit a guest bedroom with two bedside tables — see how they’ve done that in the second picture? When Mr. Magpie and I were outfitting our home in Chicago, we de-prioritized the guest room, investing in high-traffic, heavy-use areas like our living spaces and mini’s nursery. This would be such an affordable way to “finish” a guest bedroom and make visitors comfortable.
+I’m bowled over by some of the new designs at CB2 — this lacquered linen console table and this pedestal table (daydreaming of this in a formal entryway — wow wow wow) belong in the pages of Architectural Digest! Wow!
+Small things, like lucite napkin holders to contain my cocktail napkins (always obsessed with Caspari brand), bring me joy.
+This knit vest totally caught me off guard: it’s again not even my style, really, but I gravitated towards the coffee brown immediately, imagining myself pairing it with a crisp white shirt or layering over another knit.
Has Black Friday come early this year?! So many insane sales this week!
First, a little note to let you know I updated my Amazon/Target Deal Day post, as some items had sold out and I found a few extra amazing scores — namely:
THE REVLON ONE-STEP SOLD OUT AT TARGET, BUT AMAZON PRICE-MATCHED AND IT IS STILL AVAILABLE HERE FOR UNDER $30
And, not on sale, but Amazon just re-stocked some Nintendo Switch consoles, which is pretty much the ultimate Christmas gift for kids/teens. (They have been sold out everywhere!)
Two other sales you need to know about: J. Crew has marked down some of its current-season outerwear to ~50% off…
Last but not least, COS Bar is running a Friends & Family promotion: $15 off $100; $40 off $200, $100 off $400, and on up. This is a perfect time to score a little break on rarely-on-sale beauty brands like Westman Atelier (I adore their foundation stick), Cle De Peau (you know I’m in a committed relationship with their concealer — just the best), and Augustinus Bader.
Gucci’s recent Liberty collaboration has alighted the hearts of grandmillennials everywhere, especially in the form of the crossbody above (I’ll take these shoes, pls and thank you). Below, sharing some favorite fall floral finds either featuring Liberty London textiles, or Liberty-esque prints:
*Image above of supermodel Adut Akech Bior, looking impossibly chic while possibly pausing to lock in an Amazon Prime deal, which today includes a discount on the Apple Airpods she’s wearing above.
**ED NOTE: This post has been updated on October 14th to remove items sold out or no longer available as a deal.
Mainly, I’m here to say that my beloved Revlon One-Step Volumizer and Dryer is on sale for all-time low of $29. You can read a full review here, but — hand to the heavens — I swear it has been one of my chief coping tools throughout this pandemic: I always have beautifully blow-dried hair on its account. I will be buried with this thing. Ha!
The BEST curling iron is also on sale at Target for $27. It comes in different barrel sizes (and I own several), but I like the 1.5″ for the beachy waves I usually use the iron to achieve. My mother turned me onto this brand when I was in my teens and I have owned my curling irons now for TWENTY YEARS and they never fail. They heat up quickly, are easy to maneuver, and just workforever.
And speaking of hair care, I also added one of their Pantene Pro V shampoo and conditioner bundles to my cart — extra 25% off!!! I love Pantene Pro V. It is my second favorite haircare brand behind Oribe (which is $$$$, but the Gold Lust Repair formula is currently on sale as a part of Amazon’s Prime Day!; I haven’t tried this formula but I’ve tried several others and especially like their “Magnificent Volume” collection). So I often toggle between using fancy Oribe (which smells like heaven) and Pantene Pro V to assuage my guilt — ha! Anyhow, added this set to my cart to keep in our linen closet. Can’t resist the discount.
Target also has some toys and games on sale for 25% off: I just bought mini this Hungry Hippo game for Christmas, kinetic sand is a fun idea if your children have never used it before, and — of course — what toddler girl doesn’t love a Frozen doll? I know there is a great debate over Barbies (a few moms I respect will not permit them in their houses!), but I fall on the pro-Barb side. My sisters and I used them to create elaborate stories in our youth and I see mini doing the same. I consider them a slow-burn toy.
Over at Amazon, a few discounted items to know about:
1 // Boos Block. (ED NOTE: This is no longer on sale as of 10/14 but still an incredible investment/gift idea.) This is the BEST cutting board and would make a great gift for your meat-loving, cooking-obsessed husband (or wife). We own a few Boos blocks but this one is wonderful because of the groove around the edge, which catches any drippings from the meat (Mr. Magpie always lets his meat rest on this specific board for that reason) and also prevents your mise en place from rolling off the edge! Truly one of our most-used items in the kitchen. Great investment in your cooking life, and amazing gift. Plus — they are beautiful!
2 // Stasher Bags. Not a fantastic price break, but I use these all the time with my children (and myself, too), and the discount was compelling enough for me to add a few more to my cart. A weird thing I love: the colors are great and they help me quickly grab the correct snack for the correct child from my diaper bag. We toss them in the dishwasher to clean (“draping” them over some of the prongs on the top rack to keep them open) and then leave them to dry inverted on Boon drying grass.
3 // Nuk Learner Cups. These are, in my opinion, the best cups for the transition from bottle to sippy cup.
4 // Zutano Booties. Another baby must-have I’ve documented countless times on le blog. These are the only cozy baby booties that truly stay on and stay put! Love that they are easy to launder and they hold up well. Select colors/sizes marked down to $15.
5 // Apple Airpods. I mean, these transformed my daily life. I’m not kidding! I love to use these when I’m making calls to schedule appointments, reservations, etc, because I can sit at my computer and work with my hands-free and without having the conversation blasted on speaker in my apartment. I also use these whenever I run errands or walk Tilly to listen to audiobooks — never a wasted moment! A great gift for yourself or a loved one. (This + an Audible subscription for Christmas = *chef’s kiss.*)
6 // Legos and Picasso Tiles. Forever favorite holiday gifts — especially the Legos! My two oldest nephews are Lego-obsessed, and they are considerably less expensive than usual right now.
7 // Schwinn Balance Bike. Mr. Magpie and I are planning to get mini a bike for Christmas, and this Schwinn in pink is currently marked down to $70…
Ed. note: This post was accidentally published yesterday morning — apologies for its disappearance and now phantom like reappearance today, its original intended publication date.
********
The Uses of Sorrow
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
–Mary Oliver
This poem is difficult. Sometimes I think that I try too hard to assign meaning to the sorrows of life, as if grief must have a purpose. I am forever chastened by a reader who once wrote that she had given birth to a stillborn child, and that she could not — would not — allow that God had intended that. Some things just happen, she said. And what to say? The only possible human response was to sit in grief with that reader, and not say all the things that I usually say to buoy myself and my Magpies. To nod, and to cry, and to listen — to make dignified space for the breadth of her loss.
But then I creep back, peering my head around the corner, finding umbrage in the promise that we survive 100% of our bad days and that I believe there is a plan — even sometimes if that plan feels self-constructed — and that it is too difficult and despairing to live otherwise. So though I bristled at first at Mary Oliver’s words, thinking singularly of my friend E., rejecting the idea that her passing could in any way be “a gift,” I think I will let them hang with me for a minute.
A bit dark to share on a Tuesday morning, but —
Just to say, in case you need permission, that it is OK to feel your way through things, to find yourself landing on different sides of the coin, to live in a semi-permanent state of ambivalence. If it took the brilliant Mary Oliver “years” to understand the contours of her own sorrow, it is sure to take me a lifetime.
P.S. More reflections on Mary Oliver here and here.
I asked you over Instagram what you were shopping for and loved all the replies! It sounds like many of us are in the market for winter coats and boots, and who doesn’t love a classic camel (as seen above — get the look with this, this, or this, which is on my longtime lust list, and pair with a fun red sweater). At any rate, I had so much fun shopping for you. Below, my answers. If you don’t see your question answered, more coming in Part II in a few days!
Q: Patterned/plaid wool coat — polished silhouette but fun pattern.
THIS WILL BE MY THIRD WINTER GETTING A TON OF USE OUT OF A GANNI LEOPARD SMOCKED MAXI (CURRENT SEASON STYLE HERE) — EASY AND COMFORTABLE AND CHIC, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE BOOTIES
Q: Black suede booties — feminine but practical for everyday.
A: I absolutely love a kitten heeled suede bootie — so delicate and chic. I own this pair from Alexandre Birman in a different color and it is THE BEST. (50% off!). I own multiple pairs of Birman shoes and the quality is exceptional. This J. Crew pair is similar but only available in suede in a cypress green color (very chic too!). I also love the profile and heel height of these slouchy ones from Aquatalia (on super sale, and I know a lot of Magpies LOVE this brand). If you like a chunkier heel, these Acne ones are slick.
Q: A dress for family photos like this McQueen that isn’t $2000!
A: Ooh – love its elegance and simplicity. This Stella McCartney is similar in structure (different neckline) and marked down to almost 70% off. I also love this elegant COS style, though its in a seersucker fabric that may not be right for the scene you are setting (since you were drawn to that McQueen in wool!)
Q: What are your suggestions for a cotton-loving second grade teacher heading back to school? (Thermal long-sleeves? Trousers? Shoes/boots to teach in?) I am a woman of substance. I do believe that I am not the only one.
A: God bless you! Hoping for a smooth transition back.
For wardrobe, I would buy a few favorite pairs of pants that fit super well in different silhouettes in basic colors: I own and love these in ivory frost, these pixie pants are like dressed-up leggings, and then these bow-front cords are super fun, and if jeans are permissible (I’m not sure how you feel about them as a teacher!), a pair you love. Then mix in a few lightweight layering pieces, a classic button-down or two, and some statement sweaters and mix and match. For shoes, I think a great everyday mule like this, this, or this (so fun) or this would be dreamy for comfort and could go with any of the pants above.
P.S. One way I love to breathe new life into pieces I already own — add on-trend accessories like a wool headband or statement collar.
Q: A dress for my son’s Baptism in an outdoor garden Church ceremony.
A: Ooh, congratulations! #Goalz would be a boucle coat dress like this, which you could pair with tights (Gucci would be extra) and heels and layer under a wool coat if necessary (J. Crew always does great classic styles like their Lady Day for winter, although this in the ivory/beige color is amazing for the price). Alternately, a structured knit dress like this is gorgeous, or an on-trend houndstooth shift (alternately, this), which could be worn with elegant tall boots. Finally, Sandro always does fantastic ladylike-but-not-too-prim dresses, like this beauty. Stunning!
Q: A birthday gift for my 30-something sister.
A: Ooo! Happy birthday to her! A few fun presents at $130 or under:
For something with a little more flare to it, this Little Liffner bag is amazing — sophisticated but fun — and if you won’t need to carry a laptop, any of the Lee Radziwill bags from TB are ultra-covetable.
Q: A bag that can fit a laptop that also closes.
A: Cuyana’s zip top tote! I used mine for work a lot. Fits your entire world. Only downside is that it’s not structured. Depending on the size of your laptop, this Clare Vivier could also work (love the bag strap). And then Stoney Clover’s totes (newly available in seasonal corduroy) come in fun colors and can be personalized with letters/patches.
Another reader asked for the same thing, at all price points, so here are a few on the high-end side that I love: these Loeffler Randalls and these from Paris Texas.
Q: A dress for my sister’s rehearsal dinner in November in the Midwest.
A: Yay! Congratulations to your sister. Depending on the dress code, some of the dresses here might work. If not, here are a few others I love, at varying degrees of dressiness:
Q: I remember you wearing a long-sleeved blush shift dress with Gucci tights to a shower while pregnant. I’m also expecting and would love to recreate the look. Where was the dress from?
A: So flattered by this inquiry! The dress was from Banana Republic (non-maternity, but fit worked with bum) but a few years old. You can recreate the look with this sweet puff-sleeved dress (such a steal and so pretty). I might size up one size just to be safe, or order both your true size and one size up to compare and ship back whichever doesn’t work. I wore black Gucci logo tights but they appear to be sold out now — would also have worn these ivory ones! Would look precious!
Q: Gifts for my mom/mother-in-law for helping with our upcoming pandemic mini-wedding.
A: I love to give Herend pieces as special thank yous / mementos of particular occasions, if your mother/mother-in-law might appreciate that kind of thing. (I know it’s not for everyone.) This XO set is so sweet, as is this bow box. I also love the idea of gifting a set of coupes to “toast” the celebration (also love these), or a pair of special pearl earrings or a cashmere wrap you could give them to wear on the day.
Q: A chic backpack that fits a computer. (Does that even exist?)
A: I love my quilted MZ Wallace backpack. Use it more often than I thought I would and it definitely fits a computer. I like to wear it when I’m wearing basically all black everything else. I have also heard good things about Senreve, and I believe you could fit a laptop in there. Finally, I love this canvas and copper style!
Q: A cute clutch to carry to weddings (eventually).
A: OMG where have you been all my life. I am constantly almost buying clutches with nowhere to go. Below, clutches I am drooling over:
