I’m loving all of the interesting winter textures this season, from on-trend sherpa to timeless velvet. Below, a few of my favorite finds to add dimension to your winter wardrobe:
P.P.P.S. Now eyeing this pair of corduroys in the fun green color as an addition to my non-denim rotation. Interesting modern silhouette (the crop flare has been so big for the last season or two)!
By: Jen Shoop
*Image above via Britt Bromley. Amazing floor-to-ceiling David Hicks wallpapering and a reminder to have fun (both in decorating and in life).
Mini slept for a long time with a pink floral baby quilt we’d bought at Land of Nod (RIP) and then all of the sudden I noticed that her toes stuck out an inch or two beneath the bottom hem. I started layering her with blankets at bedtime, aware that the solution felt a little ragged, but wanting to make sure those little tootsies were covered. Then, recently, after one of only two nighttime accidents she’s had in her whole life, I dragged out a spare queen-sized duvet (no cover on it) in the middle of the night and she loved it and has refused to sleep with anything else since. So we have an enormous queen-sized duvet devouring her tiny toddler bed (converted from her crib), and I have been in the market for a better solution. I think for now I will buy her a twin sized duvet even though it’s technically too big for the bed and just roll it up at the foot of the bed in the morning so it’s at least a little more appropriately-sized (and can be repurposed in the future), and here are a few of my top contenders:
Will add a monogram boudoir pillow like this or this to match.
Though we won’t be ready for a transition to a big girl bed or room for awhile, the entire thought exercise led me wandering down “big girl room” inspiration lane, so I thought I’d share a few other finds fit for a princess:
First, everybody’s favorite Aesop hand soap is currently on sale for a rare 15% off (it is one of my absolute favorite scented hand soaps), as is their incredible hand balm. I bought the latter the day before I went in for my c-section with micro as a random treat to myself and it is unbelievably moisturizing and beautifully scented — like an herbal citrus woodsy heaven. (I promise you won’t be able to stop smelling your hands.) Both of these would make luxe gifts / stocking stuffers!
Second, another early Black Friday: up to 50% off some absolute gems at Madewell, including…
Below, my top picks for children roughly between the ages of 2-5, though some might work for younger children or slightly older ones. I’ve organized by price-point as I imagine many of us have budgets or at least a general sense of what we want to spend depending on our relationship with the recipient. I will have separate posts for babies and older children soon!
Big-Ticket Gifts for Toddlers and Young Children ($100+).
OUR BIG GIFT FOR MINI THIS YEAR WILL BE A BALANCE BIKE — I’M DYING OVER THIS ONE FROM BANWOOD, ALTHOUGH THIS VERY SIMILAR STYLE IS HALF THE PRICE (AND THERE ARE OTHERS IN THE NEXT CATEGORY DOWN FOR LESS)
P.P.P.S. I can’t read this without tearing up: “When I pluck you out of your crib after a nap, you settle into my arms and rest your head on my shoulder, and we sway in the still-dark quiet of the nursery for a few minutes before easing open the blinds and hushing the sound machine, deferring the real world and its routines and cacophonies in favor of a quiet embrace, just the two of us. I have wiped away many happy tears in this posture over the past few weeks, your cheek against mine, your chubby fingers clutching my shirt, the world outside your door immaterial.”
By: Jen Shoop
For the past few years, I have absolutely lived in jeans between the months of September and April, and every year, I vow to dig myself out of the rut. There is more to my fashion life than denim! I tell myself. This year, I’m actually doing it. It’s required ordering and returning a lot of options but it has made getting dressed in the morning even more fun. Below, my favorite finds, all of them under $125 and several under $58:
+These cropped flares are technically described as “jeans” but I bought them in the ecru color, so I don’t think it counts…? I plan on pairing with chunky knits like this.
+I joined the waitlist for these corduroy pants in the dark olive colorway, though I’m intrigued by the tan, too. I have no idea if the shape/dimensions will work on me, but I love the way they are styled with ballet flats and a striped button-down in the olive color — preppy with a twist. Just different!
+I may also order this pair of corduroy pants (in the oregano color), which has been one of the most popular items I’ve featured on the blog this fall, and just see which pair are more flattering. I love the green! Would be really fun for an informal holiday gathering (Thanksgiving, Christmas, whatever) with an ivory sweater, or paired with blush pink as seen in the photo. And if both of the above-two fits are too “out there” for you, these classic skinny-fit corduroys are chic, especially in the dusty pink color.
+For at-home, but I saw these wide-leg knit pants (in camel) and thought I might be able to rock them with a coordinating camel textured knit sweater — this would be #goalz, and this is adorable, too.
+Last but not least — and these I am thinking of for Saturday morning walks with the family through Central Park — so many of you have raved about the Lululemon Align Jogger! I adorethe align leggings so I’m intrigued by these! (I should also note that this similar $16 pair has nearly 22,000 five star reviews on Amazon…)
I went above and beyond this year attempting to make Halloween special, as mini has been very into the holiday this year and I don’t quite know how to respond when she talks about saying “trick or treat to everyone.” (She has already told me what she wants to be for next Halloween: Spiderman. Ha!) She lost her mind when I surprised her with a second pair of Halloween pajamas (these — and, now is a good time to buy a pair or two for next year, while they are only $22 plus free shipping with code FAMILY) and went wild when she came out of her bedroom to find these bats all over the windows (the spider version is still in stock and can be delivered by Halloween!) I was surprised that micro was very into the bats as well! Multiple times a day, he runs over to them, points at them, and says: “Ooooohhhhh!” The final few additions to my Halloween surprise train:
PLASTIC SPIDERS TO TOP CUPCAKES (I’M GOING TO FROST THEM WITH CHOCOLATE WITH MINI AND THEN PIPE ON WHITE TO CREATE A WEB DESIGN)
And, for Hill, I bought him this Batman Little People set after realizing I have all these little goodies (bath bomb, sticker books, slippers — all details here) for mini but only a book for him. Ah, second children. Anyway, he will love opening and closing the car and he’s always clutching a few Little People in his hands! Still available for delivery in time for the holiday if you order in the next day or two…
I loved this post on Cup of Jo about being your loved one’s “Bodega Santa” — that is, “a member of your household who goes to the bodega for something you need and comes back with a variety of random/unnecessary treats.” I have to say, I am the queen of buying “random and unnecessary treats.” While “words of affirmation” is definitely my own love language (some well-timed praise from Mr. Magpie can entirely transform my week), I for sure communicate love to other people by showering them with gifts and treats, and during this pandemic, that has meant a freezer that is never without ice cream bars. Klondikes, Turkey Hill ice cream sandwiches, Haagen Dazs squares, Wegman’s house-brand chocolate peanut butter sundae bars, Snickers ice cream bars — you name it, I’ve bought it, much to the delight of Mr. Magpie, who would never purchase such indulgences for himself but will optimistically root around in the freezer after dinner.
What about you? When was the last time you played bodega santa in your household?
An early Black Friday sale: 50% off almost everything at J. Crew (60% off their sale selection!) with code FRIDAY. I’m mainly interested in stocking up on in-season staples for my children:
Also! Extra 40% off sale clothing at Anthro. This is in my cart…you know i love a good stripe. Easy weekday look with black skinnies and my clog boots. Would look beyond amazing under this sweater cardigan jacket dream, also on sale (at Nordstrom).
Oo la la, just ahead of Sephora’s annual tiered sale (starts for VIB Rouge on 10/30), Credo jumps in with a compelling 20% off. I made my first order at Credo a couple of months ago because they permit returns (including for gently-used products) within 30 days, which is a *must* when trying new skincare/colors/etc. They are also seriously committed as a company to clean beauty — all brands on their site avoid using the ingredients on The Dirty List (all 2700+ of them). So if you are looking to “clean” your beauty routine, Credo is a good place to start.
For the sale, items not to miss (and that rarely go on sale!)…
TATA HARPER REGENERATING CLEANSER (BOUGHT THIS FOR MYSELF — THIS IS MY RIDE-OR-DIE FAVORITE CLEANSER AND HAVE USED IT EXCLUSIVELY FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, THOUGH I ALSO LIKE INDIE LEE’S FORMULA, WHICH I PACK WHEN TRAVELING)
Unrelated to this sale but in the beauty category, I recently polled my Magpies on Instagram about their favorite non-prescription retinoids. (My dermatologist suggested starting with a retinoid and then upgrading to a prescription if I like it and am interested — retinoids are basically a step below / less intense and irritating that retinol.) The top answer by a landslide (like, by multiples) was Differin, which contains adapalene, which is a retinoid. The gel is marketed for acne but it promotes turnover in skin and therefore also offers the anti-aging benefits we have come to associate with retinoids/retinol. Bonus: it’s $13. The second most upvoted brand was The Ordinary, which carries a bunch of different retinoids at different intensities for like $6/bottle. So refreshing to find inexpensive beauty products that people love!
P.S. Full review of Westman Atelier’s hyped foundation stick here (verdict: it’s awesome) and my full daily beauty/skincare regimen here.
I have to confess that last year, I waited a little too long to order my holiday gifts (very unlike me!) and I vowed not to let that happen this go around, especially in light of COVID, which continues to interrupt shipping times and occasionally spur frenzy-buying. We are now less than 70 days away from Christmas, so I’m making my list, checking it twice, etc. Below, my top picks for gifts for loved ones this fall, mostly oriented towards women. (There will be a dedicated men’s post later.) Per usual, I favor gifts that are under $100 and many have been thoroughly vetted by yours truly…!
+Hedley & Bennett Apron. This apron gets incredibly high reviews and would be a luxurious and appreciated upgrade for a discerning home cook. Alternately, this printed one from La Double J would be the most delicious surprise for a fashion-oriented home cook. (I also love the copywriting on the description: “You’ll look so good no one will care if you can cook!” Ha!)
+The HHH Caroline Nap Dress. I am obsessed with this confection. I own several HHH nap dresses in different styles, but nothing tops the Caroline. I love to slip it on after a shower or in the pocket of time between the children’s bedtime and my own. It is so comfortable and so elegant and I would love to bestow one on a sister or close friend.
+The Revlon One-Step. Fantastic gift for any lady in your life with longer-than-shoulder-length hair. I’ve written far too much about this already but it is truly a life-changing contraption and I can’t/won’t stop evangelizing about it. Add on: Davines Oi hair milk. This combination of products has given me extra pep in my step for the entirety of 2020.
+Artis Brush. One of my favorite beauty investments this year. I use this daily and it comes in great packaging that any cosmetics-lover will enjoy. (Sometimes, giving cosmetics feels so underwhelming because of the packaging — but these come in a big, sturdy box that will be fun to wrap and open.)
+Gucci Logo Socks. A bit above budget, but so extra and unexpected for the fashion plate in your family who has a taste for the finer things.
+Prime Cut shearling pouch (also love this neutral one). A few Christmases ago, a girlfriend of mine gave me a gray sherpa pouch almost identical to this and I have used it every winter since as a fun alternative for nights out. Highly on-trend right now. If the texture isn’t your vibe, this python MZ Wallace pouch/clutch would make an excellent alternative.
+Cashmere slippers. Perfect for literally any woman in your life. Who wouldn’t want to float around her home on cashmere pillows?
+Champagne coupes. These are an absolutely gorgeous, hand-blown whimsy of a gift made by a woman-owned business!
+Casetify iPhone Sling. I have seen these worn with aplomb by both downtown Manhattan moms living a hands-free life with small children and Vogue editors. You can personalize the case and wear the phone almost like a purse. So cool.
+Standing wireless iPhone charger. We also have a few of the flat charging pads throughout our apartment, but I love this for my bedside. Ultimate in luxury/laziness and a great tech contraption for that brother-in-law who always stumps you from a gift-giving standpoint…
+A Billie Razor Subscription. The kind of thing you can only give to a sister or very close female friend but I am so in love with this subscription service — one less thing to worry about! And so cute and well-packaged! Cheaper than the corner pharmacy! Trust me when I say that any woman will appreciate this unexpected and indulgent gift.
+Roop Furoshiki Bag (<<just restocked, run! Available in a few other colors, too.) This is one of my favorite frivolous purchases of 2020. Just the happiest little satin handbag, handmade by a female entrepreneur, and it gives me major The Row vibes for under $100. Would be so fun for a fellow fashion-loving friend or sister!
+A Teddy Liner Jacket. Who doesn’t love a cozy jacket in a modern shape (and great color) like this for winter?
+La Double J Dessert Plates. Perfection for the discerning doyenne of interiors — this brand is *chef’s kiss.*
+Melamine Dinnerware Set. Amazing gift for a young family with a backyard dining area — could be use for al fresco dinner or simply to stave off shattering plates with smaller children. LOVE the design!
+Colugo Baby Carrier. For a mom friend. Such a fun option in the gingham print! We still loved our Baby Bjorn Mini more than any baby carrier we’ve ever used but the Colugo has been a good fit for Hill now that he’s outgrown the mini — and this is the kind of thing you don’t think of when you have a newborn (i.e., that you might soon need to upgrade to a bigger size).
+Hunt Slonem Bunnies Dish. Love this trinket tray featuring Slonem’s now-iconic bunny! Could be thoughtful for a recently-engaged friend as a ring dish of sorts.
+Catbird Key Charm. I love the itty bitty dimensions of this precious charm, which can be engraved with something meaningful for a roommate, sibling, or spouse — perhaps your shared address number, or a favorite vacation destination, or the zip code of your home city together. Or maybe just initials! So precious. (They carry a few other very sweet charms here.)
+Lake Pajamas. I know that pajamas might sound boring at first brush but these are deliciously soft and come in the loveliest colors (and, if you are reading this in the lead up to Black Friday / Cyber Week, on rare sale!) Plus, there is nothing nicer than receiving a splurge-y set of jammies. The maternity styles are a great option for new/expecting mamas!
Big Ticket Items.
In case you’re looking to splurge on someone this year, a few pricier items that would be extravagant surprises:
+Bearaby Weighted Blanket. Extremely well-reviewed, including by both my sister and brother-in-law who cannot stop raving about it. (Also like the knit look!)
+Boll & Branch Waffle Bed Blanket. (I may or may not have bought this for Mr. Magpie as a gift this year — he has been complaining about our quilted coverlet for the better part of a year and this gets RAVE reviews.). I have also been totally blown away by the quality of B&B sheets — the softest we’ve ever owned. Note that you can score anything for 20% off through the end of October with code 20MACKENZIE (thanks to my girl Mackenzie for it!)
BILLIE WIPES — I DON’T KNOW IF YOU CAN ORDER THESE A LA CARTE (IT SEEMS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH SUBSCRIPTION?!) BUT IF I COULD, I WOULD BUY THESE FOR EVERY WOMAN IN MY LIFE
PERSONALIZED CANVAS POUCH (SHIPPING IS PRICY GIVEN THAT IT’S MADE OVERSEAS, BUT IF YOU BOUGHT ONE FOR ALL YOUR GIRLFRIENDS/SISTERS AND SHIPPED TOGETHER…)
I will be coming out with more gift guides — one more focused on men (though several items above would work for either gender!) and several for children.
Let me know if you’re in the market for something specific — I love personal shopping for you! (Email me at jennifer@thefashionmagpie.com).
*Image above via Linda Tol — can you even deal with her chic, pregnant self?! She’s also nailing a bunch of the trends we’ve been talking about recently, from chunky tube socks to clogs to a fantastic sweater, and it’s all working. Even the hair tuck!
Q: An outfit for mom and dad in family Christmas photos.
A: If you like plaid/tartan, I shared a bunch of cute ideas here. If you’re looking for something else, I say be selfish and pick a dress you love and will look forward to wearing this season and then have your husband coordinate with you. Ha! For example, I love this Dondolo dress, which features festive green and red but does not hit you over the head as a Christmas explosion. Hubby could coordinate with corduroy trousers in the emerald green or maybe burgundy (?) and an ivory shawl collar sweater. I also am swooning over this velvet number — an investment but WOW. He could coordinate with a wool suit and burgundy smoking slippers!
Q: Blush (not pink) sweatshirts or sweaters.
A: I think I know what you want — more in the mauve/dusty color palette versus on-the-nose pink. A few I love:
Q: Maternity clothes for months of working from home!
A: Congratulations! I shared some great maternity finds at the bottom of the post here, but if I were you, I would live in great leggings (these are the absolute BEST), Gap maternity tees, and long/dramatic cardigans that you can then use while nursing and in future seasons — I love…
Even if you aren’t going anywhere or seeing anybody, it always makes me feel happy to be wearing something special and it elevates the pregnancy wardrobe.
Q: Chic nursing friendly shirts (buttons!) in non-fussy fabrics for messy baby.
A: I loved Ralph Lauren oxfords! Pair great with jeans, stay in vogue forever, and if you pluck them right out of the dryer, you can get away without ironing. (At least, much moreso than a poplin top.)
Q: A rug for playroom, toy storage, suede boots, and fall block prints for women.
A: OK, let’s see. For rugs, I shared a bunch of great options here. For a playroom, I love the idea of one of these, which are affordable and chic and 100% cotton (therefore you can more reasonably spot clean it — some of our fancy rugs are totally impossible to clean). I also think the pattern is not too baby-ish and would sufficiently disguise the inevitable stain/spill. Less practical perhaps, but I adore this striped style!
For toy storage, I can’t recommend IKEA’s inexpensive Kallax system enough. It comes in all different sizes, but we use it in mini’s room with these bins (which fit perfectly inside the cubbies) along the bottom row to organize loose/small toys and then the rest of the cubbies are filled with books and wooden toys/stacks of games that we like to display. It’s inexpensive and it does a great job of making all of the children’s toys accessible to them! We also use these in the medium size to store different building toys under mini’s bed (i.e., one for duplos, one for blocks, one for magnatiles). Finally, I just started “decanting” (a word another Magpie recommended — love it) toy sets with lots of small parts or pieces in these bags. Makes it so much easier to pull out all of mini’s calico critters, or toy cars, or puzzle pieces rather than sifting through the bottomless pit we used to have.
For boots: there are some amazing options here, but let me highlight my favorite suede ones: these go great with floaty boho dresses for fall, these are classic and currently on sale for 60% off, and these are just the dreamiest.
Finally, several amazing fall blockprint finds here!
Q: A white terrycloth robe for my MIL for under $100.
Q: A dress for an outdoor wedding party in late October. Something with boots?
A: One of the chic dresses in this roundup — maybe this one?! Autumnal, festive, and works with boots! There are also some super chic options here.
Q: Brown riding boots!
A: These are harder to find nowadays — it used to be all you’d see! These Guccis are amazing, and the kind of boots that will last you a lifetime. These are a little trendier than a classic riding boot, but I adore these waterproof ones (well priced at $200).
Q: Christmas gifts for a two-year-old boy.
A: I will be publishing a full gift post on this subject soon, but a few of the top items I’m considering for micro (who will be just shy of two this winter):
A: I am almost positive it is an Hermes Kelly, which is like the investment of a lifetime…or a few lifetimes. Tory Burch has some great handbags with a similar vibe at a more attainable pricepoint — love this.
Q: Comfy pants that look put-together, preferably stretchy-waisted!
A: I so hear you – I think we are all testing the limits of athleisure during this extended period of time at home. Check out Mango’s Comfy Collection — I like the way they are layering knits and encouraging monochrome looks that afford a bit more sophistication than your typical sweatsuit look might, as with this camel jumpsuit. I also like the way Everlane styles these pants in the sage color, with a silk button-down. Finally, cashmere joggers always look a bit dressier than other sets might. Pair with suede-trim Vejas and a coordinating hoodie or chunky knit sweater.
Q: Wall decor for our office. Couch/rug are navy blue and red.
P.S. More of what you’re shopping for here and here.
By: Jen Shoop
This morning, I want you to think of a woman you admire. What do you consider her greatest strength?
Now think of a man you admire. What do you consider his greatest strength?
I’m asking this pair of questions to explore a hypothesis that took shape late one night while re-visiting your responses to my prompt “What are you secretly good at?” I want to be careful about how I write this next observation so as not to diminish or undermine the legitimate achievements and talents shared, but I couldn’t help but note that most of us (myself included) offered up socio-emotional strengths like listening, caring for others, resolving conflicts, and gift-giving. The density of responses in this category struck me. A fleet of possible explanations skittered through my mind, the first being that the phenomenon did not surprise me because so many of the Magpies in this community have proven themselves to be unbelievably empathetic women of substance over the course of writing this blog. But it also occurred to me that the majority of our strengths fall in line with the gender norm of women as nurturers. Do we feel more comfortable tooting our own horns if those skills are traditionally associated with our gender? Are we uncomfortable with or blind to some of our more technical and professional strengths? Do we shrink ourselves (to borrow language from a recent interview with a Magpie Woman of Substance) in certain areas so as not to appear strident or unbecoming?
I asked the two questions at the outset of this post because it occurred to me that maybe it is easier to flaunt the technical/professional talents of other women instead of ourselves — and maybe it is easier to identify and applaud those types of strengths in men, full-stop. I was probably too inside my own head and my own thinking on this subject to yield a hyper-accurate result, but I drew up a list of men and women I admired and I have to say that I was surprised to find many of the same strengths appeared in both columns. For example, both my father and RBG had “civil but steely determination” and “astounding intellect” listed among their chief strengths. And I found it easy to list out the technical skills of the women on my list, though perhaps that was because I found myself principally listing female authors who I know through the gift of their artwork. (Mindy Kaling: “ebullient, multivalent creativity that mixes high and low, convention with originality, etc”.) My mom was a notable exception: “purity of heart and intention” and “willingness to give others the benefit of the doubt” were at the top of her long litany of saint-like strengths.
At any rate, I’m not sure my “test” proved or disproved anything, but it has certainly seeded interesting food for thought. For example, how often do I celebrate physical skills in my daughter? Do I do it more or less than I might with my son? More generally, how often do I take the time to let a friend know when she is good at something?
What did you think of this prompt? Any insights from this foggy chain of musings?
(And, if you are willing to share, what is something outside of the socio-emotional category that you are secretly good at?)
Post-Scripts: Fall/Winter Accessories.
We’ve covered chic handbags, footwear, and statement outerwear for fall/winter 2020, but what about the little accessories that take an outfit to the next level? Below, my favorite accessories for the season…
