A couple of lovely items with compelling price breaks:

+Klorane Dry Shampoo (le best le BEST and a full review here) is on sale in the jumbo (5.4 oz) size for $20 (usually $29).

+This CRZ Yoga top, which is a dead ringer for Lululemon’s Back in Action tee, is on sale for $16 in select colors.

+Select items at Net-A-Porter are marked down 25% off. That includes these ultra-coveted Tory Burch tie dye leggings (now $88 — discount appears once in cart), a bunch of socks by Falke, which I have been influenced to buy thanks to this post by Martha Stewart, and some gorgeous current-season fall pieces:

THIS SLEEPER DRESS IS A PERFECT AUTUMN HUE AND IDEAL FOR AN EXPECTING OR NEW MOM; I OWN THIS STYLE IN A DIFFERENT PRINT AND WORE IT ALL SUMMER INTO THE FALL

THIS STUNNING FALL TOILE

SEA MAGIC (COULD BE WORN WITH BOOTS FOR THANKSGIVING/FALL AFFAIR)

SEVERAL ITEMS FROM MY FALL FOOTWEAR ROUNDUP, INCLUDING THESE TO DIE FOR JIMMY CHOOS, THESE TALL BOOTS, AND THE KIRKWOOD CASATI BOOTS

PRINTED MIDI DRESS

Happy shopping!

P.S. Small luxuries for home and thoughts on living in New York in 2020.

*Image above featuring Isabel Marant’s Gabrion coat, currently available in a different colorway and wildly coveted. (Look for less.)

There were so many inquiries about statement coats in my “what are you shopping for” posts. Today, rounding up my top picks in one place:

Shearling/Sherpa/Teddy Coats for Fall/Winter 2020.

THIS MAJOR ULLA BUY

BELTED PLAID TEDDY COAT

THIS SHEARLING AND SUEDE BEAUTY (IMAGINE WITH TALL BROWN BOOTS — WOWZA)

SHEARLING SHACKET (RUNS VERY LARGE)

Puffer Coats for Fall/Winter 2020.

ADORE THIS MIDNIGHT BLUE CROPPED STYLE — WOULD LOOK AMAZING WITH TROUSERS OR OVER A CHIC LONG DRESS (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS)

THIS UNDER-$70 STEAL IN THE UNEXPECTED KHAKI COLOR

ADORE THIS GAP STYLE (ESPECIALLY THE RIBBED CUFFS — SO FLATTERING AND ATHLETIC)

THIS AMAZING REVERSIBLE PUFFER

Plaid Statement Coats and Shackets for Fall/Winter 2020.

THIS ISABEL MARANT SHACKET IS ON EVERYONE’S LUST LIST (LOOK FOR LESS)

THIS HOUNDSTOOTH STYLE (THE SLEEVES ARE AMAZING…AND YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL ABOUT HOUNDSTOOTH)

THIS GORGEOUS TRENCH (I OWN!)

THIS BOLD RED AND BROWN PLAID STYLEJ’ADORE

THIS INCREDIBLE GLEN PLAID (PAIR WITH SKINNY BLACK JEANS AND TALL BLACK BOOTS — WOW WOW WOW)

THIS BLACK WATCH TARTAN STYLE

Punchy Solid-Colored Coats for Fall/Winter 2020.

THIS PERFECT MAUVE COAT

LADYLIKE ICE BLUE (COLLAR ON POINT — ACTUALLY HAS A VERY SUBTLE PLAID BUT LOOKS ALMOST SOLID-COLORED)

THIS WOOL TOPCOAT IN BRICK RED IS SUCH A COOL STATEMENT (ALL THE COOL GIRLS LAYER THEIRS OVER CASHMERE HOODIES)

P.S. More casual outerwear picks here and great transitional outerwear (think lightweight quilted styles and barn coats) here.

P.P.S. If you need a total escape from the day.

P.P.P.S. Learnings from an undergrad class I took almost 20 years ago. (Well, sixteen years ago, but wow.)

Every morning on our way to school, mini and I walk by a home decor shop that has boasted Halloween decorations in its windows for the last couple of weeks. I know this because mini insists we stop in front of it every single day. This Tuesday, with no forewarning, and two weeks in advance of Halloween, the skeletons and witches disappeared and Santas and snowmen cropped up in their stead. I was fleetingly irritated by the pre-emptiveness of all of this but — you know what? It’s been a long year and we are all spending a lot of time at home and so I have a strong sense that most of us are going to go all out on the home decorations this year.

So, bring it.

This might explain why I was thrilled that The Beaufort Bonnet Company just started releasing their adorable holiday night-nights today (still waiting for this print to launch). These nearly always sell out quickly, so I’m standing in virtual line, and I am also buying mini these gingerbread print pajamas from Gap as well as this wreath print nightgown!

And, is it wrong to be grateful to Target for sharing so many adorable holiday finds already? A few can’t-miss pieces:

THIS WOVEN TREE COLLAR (ALREADY SOLD OUT ONLINE IN THE BROWN COLOR, BUT THIS TREE BASKET IS SIMILAR)

THESE WHITE DECORATIVE HOUSES (I BOUGHT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT STYLES IN WHITE, BUT THEY ALSO COME IN BLACK)

CHIC GIFT WRAP (STILL SOME AVAILABLE FROM THE SUGAR PAPER X TARGET COLLAB)

CABLEKNIT STOCKINGS — LOVE WHEN PEOPLE DO NEUTRAL HOLIDAY DECORATING!

THESE THERMAL PAJAMAS IN THE HOLLY PRINT!!!

STOCKING HOLDERS

FAUX PINE TREE WITH CRAFT PAPER WRAP — INEXPENSIVE DECOR FOR AN OUTDOOR / SOCIALLY-DISTANCED HOLIDAY AFFAIR?

Last but not least, I’ve seen Tuckernuck release this top in so many prints and colors, but I really must have this plaid one. Absolutely perfect for the holidays!

P.S. More tartan finds for everyone in the family here.

P.P.S. More first hints of holiday here.

*Image above via Loeffler Randall.

So many of us lived in SZ Blockprint caftans and Amazon’s famous $30 “nightgown dress” this past summer (Mr. Magpie referred to it as “muumuu season” and he’s not wrong), and several of you asked: “How do I transition the look into fall?” I hear you — those dresses were so easy to wear, breathable, and comfortable! Lucky for us, there are a bunch of fall-ready dresses in a similar vein just waiting to be paired with your favorite pair of suede boots or booties…

THIS STUNNING LIMITED EDITION NUMBER FROM DONDOLO (WOULD WORK WITH BUMP IF WORN SANS BELT)

THIS IN THE “TANGERINE” COLOR

THIS GORGEOUS CLEOBELLA (OR THIS ONE, ON SALE!)

THIS LR DRESS — CURRENTLY SOLD OUT, BUT I ADDED MY NAME TO THE WAITLIST WITH OPTIMISM

THIS DOEN

THIS MORE TAILORED ULLA

THIS SPENDY BUT AMAZING LA DOUBLE J

THIS SPLASHY MARIGOLD-HUED ZARA SCORE

I like the idea of any of these dresses with these boots and a chunky knit cardigan like this, this, or this.

And this vibe would be a great option for Thanksgiving — you could dress up by swapping out the boots for suede heels or add additional interest with a textured headband. (More Thanksgiving outfit ideas here and more holiday card family portrait outfit ideas here.)

Finally, I know the retailer is unexpected here, but this top is serving up major Ulla Johnson vibes for $28, and I had to buy it. So chic tucked into black skinnies with my No 6 boots (look for less with these)!

P.S. Many incredible and insightful comments on grief coming in on this post.

P.P.S. Who doesn’t love Liberty London florals? My favorite score of the lot was this set of hair clips for mini! Love the way they add a little pop of pattern if she’s wearing solids.

P.P.P.S. Musings on turning 36.

Fall is in full swing. I’ve featured so many incredible fall pieces in the past few weeks (there is so much great stuff out right now!) but here are a few peak fall pieces not to miss:

1 // HEAVY-WEIGHT SHORTS: LOVE THIS PLAID PAIR, THIS LEATHER PAIR, AND THIS CHANEL-ESQUE TEXTURED PAIR

2 // EXAGGERATED COLLAR BLOUSE: LOVE THE IDEA OF PAIRING THOSE SHORTS WITH THIS (LOOK FOR LESS — OR TRY THIS TRICK)

3 // CHUNKY KNIT: OBSESSED WITH THE IDEA OF LAYERING THIS (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS OR THIS) OVER A FLOATY FALL DRESS LIKE THIS (GET THE ULLA LOOK FOR LESS WITH THIS)

4 // BOHO MINI: I LIKE THIS OR THIS WITH TALL BOOTS

5 // ACCESSORY #GOALZ: DREAM BAG, DREAM FLATS, DREAM BOOTS

6 // FUN FALL SHADES: LOVE THESE — ALSO INTO THESE GREEN ONES (LOOK FOR LESS WITH THESE, WHICH COMES IN A COOL GREEN AS WELL)

7 // DRAMATIC CARDIGAN: ANY AND ALL OF THE CARDIGANS FROM VITA GRACE ARE CALLING MY NAME, PAIRED WITH WITH SKINNY JEANS AND A TUCKED-IN TURTLENECK

8 // FALL FLORAL SHOWPIECE: HORROR VACUI TOP, DOEN DRESS, OR THIS BYTIMO — OR, OF COURSE ANYTHING FROM THE LIBERTY LONDON X GUCCI COLLECTION

9 // A FALL FACE MASK: LOVE THIS DARK FLORAL AND THIS NAVY HOUNDSTOOTH

P.S. A reader favorite and an often urgently-needed reminder to myself: pressure is a choice.

P.P.S. I hope I am this kind of parent.

P.P.P.S. More fall finds here and here.

It is no exaggeration to say that Myriam Sandler saved me and my sanity through the early months of quarantine, when mini was out of school and we only ventured out of our apartment to walk the dog and stretch our legs for an hour or so in Central Park. If you don’t know Myriam, she is the creative and loving spirit behind Mother Could, a resource for parents seeking at-home activities and sensory play ideas for their children.

Though I wish I were, I am not “a Pinterest mom.” I often come up short in the at-home activity area of parenting. Myriam has provided me with dozens of (approachable! doable! practical!) ideas for projects and at-home play that mini loves, most of which call for materials I already have on hand–she is brilliant at recycling common household items and transforming them into tools for play (who knew babies liked putting things into and pulling things out of empty tissue boxes?!) In short, her ideas sustained us through the darkest days of quarantine, and continue to enthusiastically punctuate our weekends at home together. (And I shared many of them in the roundup here.)

Myriam is a genius not only because she provides countless tutorials on how to entertain your children with wholesome (often self-directed, sensory-focused) activities and play, but because she is down-to-earth and reassuring to us parents in the process. She is one of the warmest and most encouraging souls I’ve crossed paths with on the Internet, and if you follow her on Instagram, you will immediately understand why. (And why she has nearly 500,000 followers!) She is deeply empathetic, non-judgmental, and light-hearted in every thing she does, and that ethos has led Mothercould to become (in her words) “a global community of parents and educators connected by their desire to positively affect the development of children.”

Today, I am honored to introduce you to Myriam (or invite you to get to know her better). Myriam was born in Venezuela and raised in Miami, FL. Prior to founding MotherCould, Myriam worked for The Salvation Army homeless shelter of Miami, in the women and children’s division, where she assisted families as they navigated out of homelessness. She now runs her incredible business while raising two precious daughters in Florida. Below, her answers to my Woman of Substance Questionnaire:

Your favorite qualities in a woman.
Empathy and loyalty. As a mother and head of household, I find those qualities to be the most meaningful to me. The ability to understand others who are living a different experience is a powerful tool for growth and connection. Fierce loyalty and commitment to family and friends is one of the most attractive qualities in a woman.    

Your favorite heroine. There are so many powerful female icons that I look up to, but recently I have been most inspired by the community of women that follow my content and I have the honor of connecting with on a day to day basis. I can’t tell you how much I’ve learned and grown from incredible individuals that inspire me. 

Your main fault.I tend to over-analyze, which engenders doubt and unnecessary stress in certain situations.  

Your greatest strength. Creativity and the ability to turn ordinary items into useful tools for fun and learning. 

Your idea of happiness. True happiness comes from self acceptance and the compilation of small moments of joy.   

Your idea of misery. Solitude. I need my family and friends to feel like myself.  

Currently at the top of your shopping lust list. The upcoming iPhone. Everything I do on Mothercould is done on my iPhone so I cant wait for the next upgrade.  

Desert island beauty product. Mascara. Makes me look and feel alive! 

Last thing you bought. New face creams. Trying to up my beauty regime game.

I feel most empowered wearing…Athletic wear. It’s become my go-to uniform of choice and there is no way to beat the comfort will running around with the kids.  

Favorite Magpie post. Slow burn toys. The focus on open-ended toys that spark imagination resonates with me and fits the content that I like to see and share. 

P.S. Adorable and affordable clothing finds for little girls and little boys.

P.P.S. Musings on mom guilt.

P.P.P.S. There’s still time to make Halloween 2020 special. Some Magpie favorites still deliverable by Halloween are this mini waffle maker (creates pumpkin or skull shaped waffles — mini is obsessed with these!) and Halloween pajamas (now marked down to 40% off).

*Image above of these flats, one of the most popular items on my blog for weeks on end — now marked down to $75.

Everything (!) is (!) 25% (!) off (!) at (!) Anthropologie (!). The promotion is automatically applied at checkout, but there are some seriously amazing scores on products that rarely show discounts, including:

MY BELOVED MASON PEARSON BRUSH, BRINGING THE PRICE TO UNDER $150

ALWAYS-SOLD-OUT BALA WRIST WEIGHTS

COCOFLOSS AND MARVIS TOOTHPASTE (GREAT STOCKING STUFFERS / LINEN CLOSET BACKSTOCK)

ROLLER RABBIT JAMMIES

And a few amazing clothing/footwear finds…

THESE VELVET BALLET FLATS (SEEN ABOVE) HAVE BEEN A BEST-SELLER ON MY BLOG FOR WEEKS…NOW $75!

THIS GORGEOUS TIERED MAXI IN THE NAVY (!!)

THIS AMAZING KNIT CAPE

CORDUROY TRIMMED SHERPA JACKET

CORDUROY BALL CAP (LOVE)

Happy shopping! So many of these items would make excellent gifts for a loved one…!

P.S. Madewell is also running a promotion today — 20% or 30% off orders over $200. A great time to snag a fun coat, like this on-trend shacket, or pair of boots, like these clog style ones (similar to my No. 6 ones but less expensive!)

*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!

The Clog Trend.

I’ve been all over this trend. I bought these clog boots (look for less with these) but also love this streamlined pair from Everlane, this unexpected (and heavily discounted) white pair, and this unexpected and wonderfully-priced pair from Etsy (the floral reads “Gucci” to me — perfect to keep at the back door for quick errands outside).

P.S. You know a trend is cool when Isabel Marant is doing it.

The Combat Boot Trend.

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”:

THIS TWEED METALLIC PAIR

MARC FISHER’S QUILTED, PYTHON, OR SHEARLING-LINED STYLES

THESE TWEED TORY BURCH BOOTS

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)

THESE QUILTED BALMAINS (SIMILAR TO VICTORIA’S ABOVE)

The Everyday Black Boot/Booties.

These are black boots to wear every day, all season long: these kitten heeled lovelies, these waterproof flat boots ($200!), these ruched suede slouchy boots, these suede Isabel Marants, and these Nicholas Kirkwoods (yes, the pearl is a big statement, but I would live in these).

The Sneaker Trend.

I am loving these Vejas and either the floral or tie-dye pair from Loeffler Randall.

The Velvet Mule Trend.

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.

The Everyday Flat.

My favorite buys for wearing round-the-clock this season: these velvet ballet flats ($100 — the colors are fun but the yellow in particular feels like a near-neutral with all the ivory, denim, gray, brown we wear in fall), these knotted slides (so elegant and look far more expensive than their pricetag), these Python ballet flats (under $100), these pointed toe python flats (OBSESSED), these pebbled leather pointed toe flats (amazing price), and these Mansur Gavriels.

The Croc Trend.

Self-explanatory chic-ness here. My top picks:

THESE TODS LOAFERS

THESE POLISHED TALL BOOTS (A FOREVER INVESTMENT — I SWEAR THE SHAPE AND STYLE WILL ALWAYS BE IN VOGUE)

PERFECT JIMMY CHOO FLATS

THIS PAIR OF BOOTS FROM STAUD — THE HEEL IS VERY ON-TREND RN

VERONICA BEARD LOAFERS

Just for Fun.

Frivolous and indulgent because that’s how I like my shoes…

THESE VELVET BOW-TOED STATEMENTS (AAAAHHHH!)

GUCCI DEVAS

EMBELLISHED SUEDE MULES (UNDER $100)

STAUD FEATHER EVENING SANDALS

WHITE BOOTS

SHEARLING MULES ($130!!!)

P.S. Great bags and chic transitional coats for fall.

P.P.S. The raincoat we’ve all been dying over for years is on sale for 25% off here and here!

P.P.P.S. 9 things that surprised me about having a c-section.

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 a good time to snag some of their popular holiday pajamas — I love this train set and this skiier set for a little boy, and the vintage village Scandi print for both genders. And don’t miss these darling ribbed knit leggings! Perfect for pairing with a sweet sweater.

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.

P.S. My favorite products for my three year old daughter.

P.P.S. And some things I love about her, too.

My Latest Snag: Gucci Tights.

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!

You’re Sooooo Popular: A Festive Dress.

The most popular items on le blog this week:

+Gorgeous festive dress in amazing colors.

+My favorite waffle tee for layering underneath sweatshirts/sweaters.

+Adorable bunny slippers for a little one.

+High-rise, wide-leg white denim.

+My current favorite long-sleeved running tee — in great colors this season. I like that the back of the top hangs a little lower to cover the rear.

+Three-pack of cableknit tights for a little lady in the best colors.

+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!).

+Adorable Liberty London hair clips for a little girl.

+$23 puffer for a baby.

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.

Post-Scripts: The Ganni Dress.

+This fun Ganni dress is on sale for under $100!

+Love my community of Magpie moms.

+If you are expecting, you must buy this classic cableknit sweater! On super sale at the moment!

+I am absolutely swooning over this jacquard dress! Great for a COVID bride or a holiday gathering.

+I am all about the cashmere tee. So incredibly chic with your favorite jeans and smart loafers.

+Have you ever experienced “flow”?

+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 have bought many a cool memento from John Derian, so I was thrilled by his latest collaboration with Target. I had to buy these creepy appetizer plates — mini will flip and they are so fun for Halloween.

+Adore this plaid puff sleeved top ($25!), which reminds me of a Veronica Beard blouse!

+Chic Gap dress — looks like it could be SEA or Ulla.

+Cheery fall gingham dress.

+The holidays are coming!

+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.

+Fall home finds.

*Image above via ByDidem.

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:

THESE PANTS AND THIS SWEATER (3.5 YO) AND THIS BODYSUIT WITH THESE SHORTALLS (6 MONTH OLD)

SHORTS WITH COLLARED SHIRT AND SWEATER (3.5 YO) AND SHORTALLS (6 MONTH OLD) WITH MATCHING COLLARED SHIRT

I LOVE THE LOOK OF THESE DUNGAREES (FOR BOTH!) WITH A COLLARLESS SHIRT UNDERNEATH — CHRISTMAS, BUT NOT OVER THE TOP

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:

THIS SWEATER DRESS

THIS CHIC FIT AND FLARE TURTLENECK DRESS

FASHION FORWARD AND CONSERVATIVE AT THE SAME TIME

FUN GIRAFFE PRINT SHIRTDRESS

ADORE THIS LONG-SLEEVED DRESS IN THE CHECK PRINT!

THIS DENIM DRESS!

Q: Lampshades.

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.

A: I wear my leather State Bags fanny pack more than I ever would have expected. So chic! This classic leather style also looks much more expensive than it is — could be Tod’s or something?

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…)

I also love these loafer mules and can I convince you that the rust or leopard colorways of this pointed toe mule are “neutrals”???

Q: Tasteful, non-garish Christmas decor.

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

THESE MOSS “TREES” FLANKING THE ENDS OF A MANTEL

WREATH FOR YOUR DOOR WITH A BIG VELVET BOW

ENORMOUS BOXWOOD GARLAND FOR AROUND A DOORFRAME OR BANISTER

MORE WHIMSICAL, BUT THESE FEATHER TREES (I BOUGHT IN ALL THREE SIZES) TO CLUSTER ON A MANTEL OR COFFEE TABLE SCAPE

MINI BOXWOODS TIED UP WITH RED VELVET RIBBON

Q: A replacement for my favorite (discontinued) Hudson Horrigan booties with a 1.5 inch heel.

A: I feel like you might like the wildly popular Isabel Marant Dicker bootie, or maybe take a plunge with me and snap up a pair of on-trend clog boots.

Q: Vintage furniture and home goods.

A: We have had great luck at Jayson Home, which we first discovered in our Chicago neighborhood, but which ships everywhere. How incredible is this double file cabinet?! Stunning. If you have a good sense of what you’re looking for, Etsy is a treasure trove. (I mean, this vintage peacock chair?!) And One King’s Lane always has an enormous vintage section with one-of-a-kind pieces like this regency-style nightstand.

Mintwood Home also sells beautiful pieces, like this drawered side table, that have a vintage quality to them, though they are all brand-new.

Q: High-rise, wide-leg black velvet pants for holiday.

A: So fun. LOVE a trouser for the holidays — I wore a pair of black watch tartan trousers last Christmas that I loved. Below, some velvet wonders:

D&G

BLACK MAGIC BY SLEEPING WITH JACQUES

ASOS SCORE (LOVE THE TIE WAIST)

NAVY INSTEAD OF BLACK, BUT I LOVE THE FIT/WAIST ON THESE

FOR THOSE OF YOU LOOKING FOR A MORE TAILORED FIT — CHIC!

Q: Everyday gold jewelry.

A: I shared some beautiful everyday options here, but I would add to this list the dainty layering pieces from Jennifer Zeuner (I love this delicate cross) and Dana Rebecca.

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…

THIS STOLE

THIS GLAMOROUS QUILTED JACKET

EARMUFFS

Q: Adjustable/affordable kids’ masks!

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.

A: I’ve seen them styled very stylishly with skinny jeans tucked into them and big sweaters (love) as well as with cropped denim to show a bit of leg between the top of the boot and the cuff of the pant, finished with a slimmer-fit knit. I will probably wear them most consistently with skinny jeans, chunky knits or sweatshirts, and my favorite transitional coat.

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.

A: Love this Gap topcoat style (comes in petite sizes, which may be worth exploring) and this double-breasted Mango reminds of Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. And then this Rag & Bone is tailored perfection, though not sure how you feel about the neckline.

Q: Comfy work from home clothes.

A: I hear you! My daily uniform is J. Brand photoready jeans (stretchy but flattering) and a statement sweatshirt or supersoft waffle knit sweaters in cashmere or cotton.

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!)

Finally, a trendy sherpa overshirt (look for less) with leggings.

Q: Rain boots for toddlers.

A: I love a classic Hunter rainboot in green or yellow, but this $20 pair comes in great colors too (love the pale pink). Also — don’t miss this darling $30 raincoat!

*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:

Tartan Finds for Little Girls.

THIS TARTAN-SASHED CORDUROY DRESS

TRADITIONAL TAFFETA

CHEERY RED COAT (WOULD LOOK PRECIOUS TO HAVE A PLAID DRESS PEEKING OUT UNDERNEATH)

RED VELVET ROMPER (IN CASE EVERYONE ELSE IS DECKED OUT IN PLAID — GOOD TO BALANCE WITH A FEW SOLIDS)

TARTAN BLOUSE (CUTE WITH DENIM IF GOING THE CASUAL ROUTE)

OVERSIZED HAIRBOW

THE ABSOLUTE PERFECT BLACK WATCH DRESS — ALSO ADORE THIS DARLING CHRISTMAS PLAID DRESS

SWEETEST CHRISTMAS SHOES

THIS $10 RUFFLE-TRIM DRESS (PRECIOUS WITH CABLEKNIT TIGHTS)

Tartan Finds for Little Boys.

THIS TARTAN BUBBLE (MATCHES SISTER’S SASH)

THIS CHRISTMAS PLAID SHORTALL (MATCHES SISTER’S DRESS)

WOOL BOW TIE (TO PAIR WITH NAVY BLAZER, WHITE SHIRT, KHAKIS)

WOOL TROUSERS (GREAT WITH A SHAWL COLLAR SWEATER — AND MATCHES SISTER)

BLACK WATCH BUTTON-DOWN (OR BODYSUIT IF ITTY BITTY, PERFECT UNDER THIS VELOUR SHORTALL SET) OR RED PLAID BUTTON DOWN

TARTAN JON JON

CUTE FLANNEL SHIRT FOR A DRESSED DOWN LOOK

Tartan Finds for Her.

I MEAN, THIS IS RIDICULOUS BUT CAN YOU EVEN?!

PLAID TOP KNOT HEADBAND OR SLIM PROFILE HEADBAND — GREAT WAY TO TIE IN WITH THE KIDS IF YOU END UP WEARING A SOLID DRESS

THIS PLEATED SKIRT COULD LOOK AMAZING WITH A MORE CONTEMPORARY-LEANING SWEATER, LIKE THIS ON-TREND CHUNKY KNIT OR THIS SCULPTURED MOCK NECK — OR EVEN THIS AVANT-GARDE BOW SWEATSHIRT

THIS TOPCOAT (FINAL DAY TO BUY ON SALE TODAY!) LAYERED OVER TROUSERS AND A SWEATER

THIS ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TEXTURED BLAZER WITH SKINNY JEANS (EVOCATIVE OF BALMAIN BUT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE)

THIS PLAID PONCHO

A MAJOR SPLURGE, BUT I’M IN LOVE WITH THIS SMART TOP — IT WILL NEVER GO OUT OF VOGUE, AND THE SHAPE WORKS FOR ANY AGE

TARTAN BOOTIES!!! AMAZING WAY TO TIE IN WITH THE FAMILY

TARTAN TWEED SKIRT

Tartan Finds for Him.

WOOL TIE

THIS PLAID VELVET SUIT IS SO DELIGHTFULLY EXTRA — I’M DEAD OVER IT

FOR A MORE CASUAL LOOK (AMAZING WITH DARK DENIM)

TARTAN SMOKING LOAFERS (SO COOL IF THE REST OF THE OUTFIT IS TONED DOWN — DARK DENIM, A SIMPLE IVORY SWEATER)

PLAID SCARF

TARTAN SPORT SHIRT

P.S. And for the dog!

P.P.S. More first hints of holiday

P.P.P.S. What to wear to Thanksgiving and the prayer that represents the holiday best for me.