Several of you reached out asking after the smaller fabric bins shown in the photo at the top of this post. Sadly, Target no longer seems to be making them in that blue floral print, but you can still find them in gray in a quarter size and a half size. Just the perfect dimensions for a linen closet. My mother was less than enthused about the gray color, so I did some recon for alternatively colored/patterned fabric storage bins, and here’s what I sent her:
Or you could go in the direction seen above, with woven/seagrass/hyacinth baskets lined with fabric like these, these, and these.
And if you’re trying to wrangle more of a utility closet situation, I love these inexpensive white bins, which I use for things like lightbulbs, dog gear, batteries, and label with my beloved labelmaker.
Photo and sweet fall romper above from Canvas House.
We are planning to send mini back to school in just two weeks. I know this is a fraught topic; we are all trying to make a perfect decision with imperfect information and horrifying risks on the table. I have close friends and siblings that have come, very carefully and agonizingly, to different decisions on this matter and I respect and (as illogical as this sounds) agree with them all. My brother, for example, is keeping his children home in no small part because he is living with an aging loved one and does not want to put her at risk. Were we in a similar situation, my calculus would be different, too. Anyway, this is tough stuff and, unfortunately, there is no OSFA. (And if you need a laugh on the subject, watch this.)
But.
Whether you are sending your children in or keeping them at home, they can still wear cute clothes for the occasion. Below, some of the school outfits I’ve selected for mini this fall (P.S. – this is what she’s wearing on her first day, and here are some other precious options):
I’VE MENTIONED THIS LES GAMINS SMOCK DRESS COUNTLESS TIMES, BUT IT IS SO DARLING ON — I PAIR IT WITH RIBBED TIGHTS IN COOLER WEATHER AND EVEN LEGGINGS WHEN IT’S A LITTLE TOO SMALL
Separately, mini’s school asks I send her in with a few spare outfits for spills/accidents, and they specifically requested short sleeved tee shirts and leggings. I’m sure it won’t be a surprise to anyone, but mini literally did not own a single tee shirt — everything she has bears a collar! I did some hunting around and found these precious and inexpensive ($5!!!) tees that I’ll be sending her in with. For spare socks, I love the turn-cuff ones at H&M, though I also bought her a pack of these well-reviewed ankle ones to wear with her Vejas.
P.S. I feel like I haven’t written anything meaningful on parenting in a long while. To be honest, between March and August, it felt like we were treading water, just trying to make it through the day as we balanced full-time jobs with full-time parenting and no childcare. It was exhausting and I don’t think I was at my best as a mother — but I was trying. Since bringing a lovely caregiver on board two weeks ago, I have finally had time to breathe and re-center myself. Sending so much love to the many parents out there still navigating this time without help and without breaks. It is tough.
P.P.P.S. Tory Burch’s private sale is running right now, and this gorgeous smocked dress (which has been a Magpie Reader favorite all summer) is now 50% off. More of my favorite picks here, but this is in my cart RN. I probably will have convinced myself to buy it by the time you read this.
By: Jen Shoop
I’m thinking Halloween as we traditionally know it will be more or less canceled this year due to COVID. My sister has already very thoughtfully suggested that she and my brother-in-law come by and we set up trick or treating in different rooms of our apartment, and the vignette is both sweet and sad. But dress up we will, and with all the bells and whistles on (and hopefully a few bottles of wine open). Mini changes her mind about what she wants to be for the occasion every third day; currently, she’s interested in being “Bo Peep” from Toy Story, with micro as Woody and — offensively enough — me as Bullseye the Horse (ha!). I have a feeling I’ll be purchasing her costume closer to the actual day, though, as she has also mentioned wanting to be a ghost and an astronaut and Ariel from The Little Mermaid.
However, Halloween pajamas are something I bought this week because do you know how quickly they sell out?! I have missed out on cute Halloween pajamas two years in a row by not acting early enough, which is mainly a demonstration of the impressiveness of the minds of so many other mothers who dutifully plan ahead and snag those pajamas when they first go live in late July.
At any rate, I ended up buying micro these and mini these. I spent a lot of time selecting them. Some might say too much time. I had seriously considered these from Kissy Kissy and these from Magnolia Baby but — while I am wont to impracticality when it comes to children’s clothing — kept balking at the idea of spending $80 (for both of them) on Halloween pajamas that will only be worn for such a short period of time. A few others I thought were cute, most at similarly reasonable prices:
While we’re on this topic, now’s a good time to order personalized Halloween baskets. I also already ordered this Usborne sticker book as a surprise for the day-of (she LOVES these sticker books, and they take a long time to ship). Every year, we affix these Martha Stewart bats to our windows and walls on the eve of Halloween and mini goes crazy for them when she wakes up! Such a fun tradition.
Last year, I didn’t buy mini a specific Halloween day outfit as she wore her costume to school but I have to say that this and this are pretty sweet (and this is absolutely beyond). I am already planning to take her to a pumpkin patch so it could double for that occasion as well. For micro — something like this or this.
+I’ve mentioned this before, but I have used Target’s collapsible fabric storage cubes (seen above) for closet storage for years and years now. I find they are ideal for sliding onto hard-to-reach shelves in the closet for out-of-season clothing storage — and they are also inexpensive (storage solutions can be so pricey!) and streamlined-looking. If you line up a bunch on the top or base of your closet, it almost looks like a row of shelving. They also collapse and fold flat if not needed, which is convenient. About a year ago, Target released their cubes in this pretty faded blue floral that we all went wild over. Now they have some great new alternative patterns: this fun cobalt blue coral pattern, this beachy stripe, and this blush botanical. Happy organizing!
+This rattan accent table is INCREDIBLE for the price! Gives me a Serena and Lily vibe. (Speaking of, you must check out their bedroom sale if you’ve been stalking a piece of furniture from them — my beloved dresser AND bed are on sale.)
+Anyone else a Spindrift lover?! I’ve never tried pineapple before!
+This Hearth & Hand area rug is such a good value! Rugs can be so expensive (I shared several of my favorite rugs here). I love this classic neutral for a coastal-style living space!
+These are the absolute best baking sheets — they are super thick and do not warp with time. I love that this comes with a two-pack in different sizes; I use the small size sheet CONSTANTLY.
+Pretty food storage. I prefer glass storage for leftovers as it lasts longer, does not discolor, and can be placed directly in microwave or oven. The pastel tops are a bonus!
+Finally ordered this well-priced eye cream after many rave reviews. I have dark circles under my eyes (made darker by 2020…). Stay tuned for review!
+I’ve fielded questions about office/paper organization many times. My solution is to shred almost everything as soon as I receive it, as so much is available in duplicate online (and I have spent entire afternoons trying to ask various businesses to stop sending me paper mail!), but for things we do need to hang onto, I use a hanging file folder sorter with labeled file folders (a medical folder for each family member; finances; vendors; etc.) for the duration of a calendar year. I sort all paper documents in the appropriate file folder. Then, at the end of the year/at tax time, I go through the folder and shred whatever we no longer need and move anything we do need to a big box we keep at the top of one of our closets. But the through-line here is that if you don’t have a shredder, BUY ONE. The Wirecutter recommends this specific one. We were burned back when we lived in Chicago: people were sorting through our garbage and giving our information to telemarketers and creepy scam artists. I received so many random solicitations and shams over the phone! The minute we bought a shredder, all of that stopped. Do it!
+Speaking of storage, I recently bought a big sterilite bin to store mini’s special artwork. She is a prolific artist and I have to be very choosy about what I keep or our entire apartment would be cluttered with it. I like the idea of keeping some of her smaller handiwork (the little sketches on napkins and beaded bracelets) in these pretty envelopes, labeled by year.
+One of my favorite Target finds – I use this to organize my week.
+Finally, and most importantly, Target is one of the only online places I can still find Bounty select-a-size paper towels and sanitizer! My mom and I were just saying how difficult it’s become to find paper towels at a reasonable price for delivery, and, out of an abundance of caution, I am still having nearly all of our groceries delivered. I think I’ve only set foot in a grocery store twice in the past few months!
+I don’t think I will ever be able to stop laundering my children’s clothing in this baby detergent. I know it’s not necessary, but it smells like heaven.
By: Jen Shoop
Run — there is an extra 72% off J. Crew sale items with code 3DAYS, meaning that I scored a cashmere tee for like $23. The tee I bought has since sold out, but I went back and got this cashmere too for $33. And what about this SEA-esque top? $16.80 and perfect for fall in that bronzed ochre color with the ivory jeans I’ve been eyeing (more trendy jeans for fall here) and some suede booties. Or in white. Or in both colors! Also worth a look:
P.S. These deals are the perfect accoutrement to an evening cocktail, n’est-ce pas?!
By: Jen Shoop
It’s been a minute since my last Woman of Substance profile, but I am thrilled to re-launch the series, which was designed to feature brave, bright woman across a range of disciplines. This month’s woman of substance is Lauren Napier, CEO and founder of Lauren Napier Beauty. You may recognize the name because I have featured her amazing beauty wipes in several earlier posts. Lauren was a celebrity makeup artist for many years before launching her eponymous skincare line, which prioritizes all-natural ingredients and on-the-go convenience. Her facial wipes have earned a deserved cult following, of which I am a part: I now keep her wipes stashed in all of my bags — they are perfect for travel and (whenever we return to them) the gym, as they come individually wiped and loaded with ingredients that not only cleanse but treat your skin. When I asked her why she founded her beauty business, she had this to say:
“Lauren Napier Beauty was created to make life easy and empower women. There is a ceremony associated with applying makeup. The same is not true for the removal. I find beauty in individuality and informality. I believe it is important to embrace the beauty and freedom of bearing our natural skin. A healthy beauty psychology leads to self confidence. In a culture obsessed with perfection, “there is beauty in taking it off.””
Below, Lauren took the time to answer my modified Proust Questionnaire. Read on to get to know her better!
Your favorite qualities in a woman. Genuine kindness. Confidence. Gumption.
Your favorite heroine. The spunky crusader.
Your main fault. I’ve been doing a lot of reflection and therapy these days. I have learned so much about myself. My new fault is over analyzing my reactions.
Your greatest strength. Persistence.
Your idea of happiness. Beaches, sand, sun, and delicious food.
Your idea of misery. I can only imagine but empathy tells me fleeing danger, then being held against my will, separated from my children, during a pandemic on the U.S. border is probably the one of the deepest forms of misery. I think of the trauma the US government is causing generations of people and it sickens me.
Currently at the top of your shopping lust list. Furniture! I am obsessed with home decor since we are not only working from home but “living at work.” I am cultivating a space that is cozy, functional, and livable.
Desert island beauty product. Coconut scented sunscreen.
Last thing you bought. Coloring book for my niece and nephew.
I feel most empowered wearing…My hair slicked back in a tight bun. It highlights every bit of my face, skin, and bone structure. I’ve inherited my features and spirit from my ancestors. I am living their wildest dreams. When I slick my hair back in a bun, I carry their legacy with me, on full display. I believe in their legacy; it is a powerful and motivating factor. It gives me a deep pride to know I am a descendant of such a fierce, loving, aspirational people.
I have had the joy of following Lauren on Instagram for a couple of months now and I have gotten a sense for her style there — and have also found myself hungry following her stories, as she is am ambitious and talented at-home cook. Below, a few picks that reminded me of Lauren’s slick, luxe aesthetic.
I may be featuring a lot of fall pieces, but we’re still in the sticky-slow heat of the end of summer, and I’m still reaching for my airiest whites on a daily basis. Below, a few favorite finds:
Also loving the look of a linen top paired with linen trousers, a la Kara Thoms or Faithfull — or a white skirt/white top combo, a la Reformation (on sale!)
My grandfather kept Brachs spiced gumdrops in a Waterford crystal glass jar in his library. I preferred the green ones, but I’d take whatever flavor he’d deposit into my hand, even the unsavory licorice ones, because he was Grandad and — while among the gentlest and most compassionate of souls I have ever met — he was also exquisitely formal. You knew instinctively not to run in their grandly appointed apartment, and you also knew not to touch anything.
Their apartment was a hush.
If he wore anything besides a suit, I cannot recall it. He must have, I know: he played golf and there is a fleeting vision of him in short sleeves by the Adirondack chairs at Chevy Chase Club, but it disappears as quickly as it materializes, a soap bubble of a mirage.
His suits were beautifully tailored, purchased from haberdasheries in London, a favorite destination of he and my grandmother’s, and he often wore hats — the kind gentlemen wore back in the 30s and 40s that would have seemed costume-like on just about anyone else. Each of the sons-in-law in my immediate family would eventually inherit one of his many hats, and we now keep a jaunty straw boater of his perched on the bookshelves of our Manhattan apartment, a diminitive homage to his still-remembered style.
I often recall him in the pews of Church. He was a devout Catholic, attending Mass daily, always formally dressed. He once wrote a slim book about the Mass for his grandchildren, fearing, I think, an erosion in the seriousness which which it was observed by youth at the time and determined to shore at least his grandchildren up in the face of such decline. The book, though, is only partly admonition. Much of it is theology, reminding us why we stand and sit and kneel at particular points and articulating the symbolic beauty of its rituals. He loved the Mass, and he loved his faith, and he loved his God.
When he visited us at my childhood home, we all sat in the formal living room — off-limits save for special guests like him. We’d perch on the uncomfortable antique furniture in there, waiting to be spoken to, or dismissed, and I’d watch in wait for him to look over at me, furtively, at some point in the midst of an adult conversation unintelligible to me and make his hand into a little gun, pointer finger extended and thumb pressing down atop it, winking at me, a sly smile on his face. I laughed every time.
He had close to twenty grand-children, and most of us lived within driving distance of where he lived in Chevy Chase. And yet I can recall him pulling up the driveway of my childhood home in his silver gray Cadillac, vanity plate PATSY — his nickname for my discerning and elegant grandmother, who was “Mia” to her grandchildren, “Mother” to her five sons and two daughters, and “Mrs. Abell” to everybody else — and parking in the cul de sac to fetch me and take me out to lunch. Just me. Out of nearly twenty grandchildren, seven children (and their respective spouses), and the seeming thousands of adoring friends who would one day line the pews of Blessed Sacrament Church to pay their respects to him after he passed away.
He made me feel special, gallantly taking the time to park his car and retrieve me from inside my house when I was more accustomed to a few sharp honks of the horn and a “Jennifer! Hurry up!” as I’d race out the door. At lunch, he listened to what I had to say. He ate slowly and attentively, never rushing to order as soon as the menus were placed in our hands, and always taking the time to acknowledge the server by name–and he knew most of them very well, as he routinely ate at either Chevy Chase Club or Columbia Country Club, the only two venues for our tete-a-tete lunches. He let me choose whatever I wanted to eat with the exception of caesar salad, which, he said, Mia would not have permitted because it had raw egg in it. I never pressed the matter; though I was curious about the prohibition, if Mia said no, then it was a no. Beyond that, I found it equal parts endearing and strange that Grandad would cow to anyone else’s preferences, including those of my grandmother. At the age of seven or eight, it seemed that adults could do whatever they wanted to do. This miniature deference to his wife stuck with me as proof of the deep respect my grandfather had for my grandmother, and gave shape to an aspirational kind of solidarity I hoped to one day cultivate with my own spouse: a united front against raw egg–and whatever other threats lurked outside.
I especially enjoyed the fact that he permitted me to order dessert, a rarity in dining experiences with my immediate family, and I always asked for the same thing: peppermint ice cream served up in a coupe with a pirouette cookie. He’d let me eat every last spoonful, never rushing me or performing that faux-patience I’d observed in other adults, when they’d clutch their purse or keys in their lap, ready to spring out of their chairs. We often lingered at the table after I’d finished, too–a peculiar luxury.
I wish I could remember more of the substance of our conversations, but there is only this: an education in iambic pentameter, during which he taught me how to count poetic feet using my fingers, and the extraordinary interest he took in me as a child, which, I think, in part, has contributed to the successes I have enjoyed thus far in my life. You matter was the subtext.
Writing for me is a rejection of the inevitable erosion of memory. It is a refusal of death. I sit here in my 14th floor apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan and I feel my grandfather walk quietly down the carpeted corridor of his Chevy Chase home in his trim gray suit, sit next to me on the ivory leather of his Cadillac as my black patent Mary Janes stick straight out in front of me, wink at me from the floral upholstered sofa in the living room of the stone house in which I grew up. He is here, in the don’t-eat-the-caesar-salad and the unfussy gold wedding band on his finger and the word haberdashery and the scansion of a Shakespearean couplet (I still use my fingers to count) and the sliver of the pocket doors through which I watched my mother cry into my father’s shirt in the den after he had passed away. And he is here in the walls of this apartment, and in the boater hat on the top shelf in our living room, and in the way I have always known that I matter.
He is not here, I know, but the writing can make it so.
+If you have a little boy: Ralph Lauren polos are on sale for $13!!! Stocking up for next summer in all the pastels they have!
+This elegant upholstered bench sells out every time they re-release it. LOVE. Great for an entryway or at the foot of a bed — or even as a dining bench.
+One of my girlfriends has been decorating her soon-to-be-born daughter’s nursery, and she has been lusting after this Caitlin Wilson rug for it. She asked whether I could find something comparable at a lower price point — ET VOILA!
+This pineapple dress makes me happy. This is the kind of lightweight, easy-to-throw-on piece I live in during the summer and I especially like (as a busy mom!) that it would not entail any adjusting. I am so over having to adjust straps, keep an eye on cleavage, worry about the length in bending over — !! These types of breezy maxis are just my speed.
+Just ordered a pair of these inexpensive, Valentino-inspired flip flops in the nude color to keep by the door. I always need something to slip into to run the trash out / drop things off in the lobby / etc. Perfect!
+These wet/dry bags are the absolute best! I have used them to keep my children’s items separate in my diaper bag forever. Genius as — if needed — they can contain soiled/wet clothes and then you just wipe out the interior.
+Hill House founder Nellie Diamond described the ethos of her nap dress as borderline “victorian ghost.” I love that descriptor — it also captures the vibe of this on-trend Doen blouse, which is sure to sell out. Pair with trendy jeans or get the look for less with this epic H&M score.
+Sephora is running $15 off $75 and $20 off $100 for Beauty Insiders with code WELCOMEBACK. The promo couldn’t have come at a better time as I just ran out of my beloved facial cleanser (which ain’t cheap!) and my favorite powder, which I like to swipe all over my face in the “ethereal light” color. It is magical.
+Shopbop is running an extra 25% off select sale items by specific designers, including two featured in my post earlier today: Sea and Ulla. Use code TAKE25 to score this Sea beauty for under $100 and this on-trend Ulla for under $300. And this Retrofete NYE score (with code) is only $80 (originally $535).
+Pam Munson’s sale section is an extra 25% off with code SUMMER25. I wear my Isla Bahia tote close to daily in the summer. I might need to add this pearled beauty to my Pam Munson collection…and how cute is this (only $67 with code)?!
Image above featuring Paris Texas snakeskin boots (currently on sale for about 50% off in the colorway above; look for less with these), which I absolutely drooled over all last winter. Finally snagged a pair for myself and can’t wait to trot them out this fall.
Believe it or not, Mr. Magpie and I have been talking about Thanksgiving plans lately. Last year, his parents came up to us for the occasion, but so much is up in the air thanks to COVID-19 that we’ll just have to wait and see what’s feasible. I keep tossing out the idea of renting a house upstate for the holiday and inviting my sister-in-law and his parents to come out with us, but we shall see…
Regardless, the conversation has left me with visions of fall foliage, crisp air, and, inevitably, a wardrobe to accommodate the change in seasons. In no small part inspired by Ulla Johnson’s last cool weather collection, I’m especially into the idea of wearing patterned fall dresses with boots this season. Below, some chic dresses for the cooler temps…
I would wear any and all of the above with a suede boot, and this $225 find is PERFECT. Love the low heel, the height, the slouch. Other options I’m into:
I feel like a broken record talking about this, but the Natori Contours bra (part of the Nordstrom Anniversary sale) is my absolute favorite undergarment. It is supremely comfortable and supremely pretty — I own it in multiple colors and wear daily. In my 20s, I wore only Victoria’s Secret clearance section bras or La Perla investment pieces. Then I tried Natori and realized how uncomfortable I’d been for a full decade of my life — it was the first underwired bra I ever wore without feeling like I was wearing a metal cage around my chest! It moves and it breathes. God bless it.
I know that not everyone wants/needs padding in an everyday bra, and have heard many women rave about this convertible style from True&Co. (Target carries their diffusion line for about half the price!) I would 100% try that brand if my undergarment needs were different.
I have not yet ever ever ever in my life worn a comfortable strapless bra (torture devices, all), so I am intrigued by the strong reviews of this no-wire (!!) Lively bra that I just ordered. Will report back!
The Most Comfortable Nursing Bra.
For nursing, I swore by Bravado. I tried probably six or eight brands while nursing my two children and these were always my absolute favorites–to the degree that I’d actually look forward to pulling them out of the wash! “It’s a Bravado day!”
And if you are pregnant or post-partum (especially after a c-section), PLEASE consider these insanely soft and stretchy ones from Kindred Bravely. To be honest, I had to forcibly remove them from my underwear drawer a few months after giving birth to Hill — I did not need them anymore but they were so, so comfortable.
My Latest Snag: The R Vivimos Doen-Inspired Dress.
I already own this dress in black, but I had to have it in white when it was restocked in all sizes. This dress is so comfortable, romantic, and lightweight — honestly, dangerously close to a nightgown! I adore it. I plan on wearing it in white with a blue and white gingham headband (look for less with this) and flat sandals.
On the topic of must-own dresses, I am currently twiddling my thumbs waiting for a promotion that works on this dress. (I know J. Crew will mark it down, just have to wait. It is SO GOOD in the navy and the yellow!)
I have long equated “toughness” with a stiff upper lip. Can I muscle through this moment without dissolving into tears? Can I demonstrate strength by exuding calm and composure?
The truth is, though, I am a crier by nature–and so I have always thought of myself as “a softie.” I am easily moved and often the first to dab away tears as a bride walks down the aisle, or a loved one issues an unexpectedly tender admission, or Jonathan Van Ness gently reminds a man obsessed with appearing younger than he is that it is, in fact, a privilege to age. Don’t even get me started about my Dad giving a toast, whether it be at an informal gathering or the black tie wedding of one of his daughters: he stands and taps his glass–and I promptly weep. In short, the word “tough” would never spring to mind when asked to describe myself.
Earlier this year, navigating an emotional situation, I mentioned to Mr. Magpie that I was trying to be tough in front of and for my sister, but that I kept getting choked up. He surprised me by saying:
“You are tough. Being tough isn’t about crying or not crying.”
What is it then? What does it mean to be strong for other people? What does it mean to be tough as a woman?
I think about my mother, who is tough in the sense that she is, quite simply, always there and always herself. She is reassuring, positive, and forever ready to distract me when I need her to. She is my true blue. The world could be in shambles (safe to say 2020 feels that way) and she remains her unflustered self: that is to say, she is the consistent, gentle energy that holds all of us up no matter what we’re going through.
I think about my sister Elizabeth, who is tough in her willingness to go there with me, to even the darkest moments, to even the most heart-rending truths. I can say to her the things I am afraid to say to myself. And she will stand there with me, shouldering the fear.
I think about my sister Christina, who is tough in her seemingly endless capacity to listen and take on the burdens of others while also quietly and uncomplainingly shouldering her own. Hers is the discreet and understanding ear into which I (and countless others) have poured every last fleeting nothing that weighs on my heart. The depths of her empathy and loyalty know no bounds. She is my first and last phone call, and she always picks up, no matter what she is enduring on her own.
And I think about my sister Eleanor, who is tough in her emotional resiliency and determined fair-mindedness. When she was young, she was bullied by classmates, and yet she has not let that despicable cruelty change the openness and tenderness of her heart. She is the last to judge and the first to offer an alternative perspective: “Well, maybe she just intended to say…” She is the first person I go to when I find myself unsure of how to articulate something sensitive without causing undue offense. She navigates those situations with astounding confidence and consideration.
Though I have shed tears alongside each of them, these extraordinary women have re-defined what it means to be tough.
+I didn’t even know Kitchenaid made such pretty bowls for their stand mixers! I usually keep mine “hidden” with one of these dust covers, but that hobnail bowl would make me want to show it off!
+Speaking of pretty kitchen gear, I didn’t know can openers could be cute! And this set of covered bowls is such a good value ($12 for a set of 4 in such a great color).
+Mini is now at an age where she is less keen on having a huge 6″ bow (<<one of my favorite bow sources) worn jauntily on the right side of her head; we are really into Elsa braids, high ponytails, and pigtails at the moment. I just ordered a set of these “long tail” bows for ponytails this fall.
