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If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I fell, and hard, for Leset’s pointelle tees last year (you can get the look for a little less with this PerfectWhiteTee). I own multiples of them and adore them for layering beneath oversized knits. There’s something interesting about the texture and overall sweetness of the design — it can introduce contrast/tension to whatever you’re wearing, and also feels divine against the skin. I’ve been seeing a lot of pointelle this season, too, and have been stocking up on alternative styles and shapes. I’m especially excited about this Tuckernuck turtleneck and this Madewell scoopneck, both of which I ordered last week. A few other great pointelle finds for fall:
01. This cherry red cashmere cardi. Kill two birds with one stone — the pop of red trend and the pointelle! I like the idea of wearing this on its own (nothing beneath) with a pair of great jeans. I own the white Leset cardi (I truly went all in on Leset last fall – wearing mine above) and she’s fetching paired with light wash jeans and bare feet. You can get the look for less with this $34 steal.
02. This baby tee. I like the idea of pairing this with the trending utility pants, like the La Ligne Duntons, and a more sophisticated top layer — navy cashmere cardigan, oversized wool stripe sweater around the shoulders, maybe a riviere.
03. For casual daywear, I love these pointelle pants. I own the ones from Leset, but you can find similar from Donni and Gap. These are true loungewear to me, but I may have convinced myself to venture out with them if I pair with an oversized button-down, loafers, and a grown up bag…
On the intimates/loungewear front, pointelle is peak fall hygge to me. I can’t wait to get my hands on this pointelle set from Negative. Planning to pack for our trip to Italy as a post-excursion hotel room outfit. I love Negative because everything is comfortable but sexy! And how sweet are the pointelle bralettes from Zara and Free People? I love the idea of layering these beneath button-downs this fall/winter. Polkadot London has some very sweet pajamas in this material, too.
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Image via Olympia Marie, J. Crew’s goddess-like creative director.
This morning, bringing all of the different trends I’ve been noticing this season into one place — and adding my top picks for each product category.
01. Barn Jacket. Options abound this season. I went with this denim style (only a few sizes left) — it felt cool and different, and I’m even thinking about how amazing it would be with a slip skirt/slip dress. The contrast! J. Crew has a similar style currently available for under $100 here. If I really dig, I realize my proclivity towards a denim version of this look stems from Loewe’s denim swing jacket from last season. My runner up (which I was too late to jump on anyhow) was Alex Mill’s waxed cotton style — wowza! The red is so fabulous. Sign up for the waitlist notification. Other favorite picks: J. Crew’s retro-cool long version (really digging the idea of this with a kitten heel pump — very Alfred Hithcock heroine), Prada’s $$$$ offering, Everlane’s canvas variation, this sleek Rag & Bone (saw this on someone and it looks very expensive IRL), this Mango, and this affordable Old Navy.
02. Brown suede boots. I shared all my top picks recently, but I have my sights set on the Paris Texas Mid-Calf style (will probably pull the trigger this week — worried they will sell out). For a tall boot option, I love Reformation; for an ankle boot, I love J. Crew. For a big statement, Aquazzura.
03. Barrel jeans. I went with Mother’s Half Pipe in ecru and also ordered Madewell’s nearly viral darted option to test.
04. Loafers. I’m in LOVE with my Freda Salvadors, but would be lying if I didn’t say I also envy the cool girls who got their hands on Jamie Hallers this season. And always love a Weejun!
05. Pointelle layering tees.Leset — I have multiples in white but now want all the other colors, too. I will be publishing a guide to all my favorite pointelle pieces for the season soon!
08. Brown suede handbag and/or bucket bag. So many fabulous options out this season. On the suede front: I love my Parker Thatch Charlie and my beyond spectacular new VB Dash bag. They are yin and yang in terms of styling — Charlie makes things look easier, slouchier, more lowkey; VB adds instant polish and structure to a casual look. I also love all of the Little Liffner suede options, but especially the Mega Sprout. On the bucket bag front, you can kill two birds with one stone with the brown suede bucket options from J. Crew and Madewell. Both are under $200 and very “quiet luxury.” For more of an investment (and neither are suede), I’m still not over this Toteme and have become mildly fixated upon this Mansur Gavriel in seaweed green.
09. Riviere necklace. I love all of Dorsey’s Riviere styles, but their James bezel necklace is so incredibly chic layered with knits, slip dresses, and even t-shirts and jeans this season. Will not be taking mine off. Get the look for less with this.
10. Utility pants. So many ultra-chic options out right now. It started with these Ullas and these La Lignes. Also love the look of this pair from Joe’s Jeans (in trending espresso brown!) and these Old Navys (really good colors and detail). The key is pairing with luxe pieces, like a smart striped button-down, a cashmere sweater, captoe flats, a cropped blazer…!
Also a heads up that HHH is launching its fall 2024 collection today at 12 EST and I am eyeing a few items…specifically, there is a brown plaid mini dress called The Rennie that turned my head, and I’d also like to take a closer look at some of the cute outerwear and knitwear. They brought back their equestrian toile pattern from last fall — which sold out in a FLASH last go around!
I find myself reaching for more sweaters as the days get cooler — specifically my Noah cardigan from Goop (pictured above — it’s such a great layer for chilly mornings with hot afternoons). Below are some options for the fall featuring a range of price points, textures, and styles.
01. This Gap sweater has gone viral — great price and 100% cotton. A few colors have sold out and restocked. Hurry before they’re gone again!
02. I love the lady jacket trend — this sweater version by Alex Mill is perfection; I own her in blue. J. Crew also has phenomenal options at reasonable price points. See here.
03. Pops of red are trending, but I think a red sweater is a classic piece to hang onto for years. Try this slightly cropped sweater or this Good American crew neck — you can’t go wrong with a good turtleneck.
04. Stripes: anything La Ligne, but I just picked up this one. Looks for less from Rails, ZSupply, and J. Crew — all staple fall and winter pieces.
06. Short sleeved knits. I love this microtrend for winter, especially as a top layer over cocktail attire (imagine paired with slip dresses / slip skirts!)
07. I’ve amassed quite a collection of Sezane knitwear. The silhouettes and colors are always interesting, and the quality is strong relative to price. Love this Sezane cardigan and this one too! Both in staple fall colors.
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Heads up: this God of the Woods book review contains spoilers! Do not read if you intend to read and be surprised!
Liz Moore’s literary mystery The God of the Woods left me with a pounding book hangover — I was captivated to the point that I would wake up in the middle of the night and read it until my eyes were too leaden to keep open, and once woke myself up early in the morning to give myself a window of time in which to enjoy it before my day started.
As a mystery, GOTW earns top marks for its whondunit mechanics. I was genuinely surprised by what happened to Bear Van Laar, and fell for many of the book’s red herrings — I thought Sluiter was too obvious to be true, but seriously contemplated Peter Van Laar II and even the grief-struck groundskeeper. (Had the groundskeeper been so inside out with the loss of his own son that he’d done something misguided? The carved bear!) What I find fascinating, and indicative of the book’s sophistication, is that although I kept suspecting foul play, in the end, we find a blundering cover-up for an accident, but an accident that could have been avoided if…well, if multiple generations’ worth of the Van Laar family’s wrongs were righted. There is a quote in the book where the captain investigating the crime comments: “I’m just saying — when you hear hoofbeats, don’t look for a zebra.” The sentiment is that the obvious answer is often the right one. And in this case, Moore gives us so many examples of the Van Laar family’s superciliousness, its imposition, its punching down, its self-obsession, its nefariousness that — well, why wouldn’t we assume it’s the family to blame? Their hoofbeats are clearest and most consistent. Interestingly, if you try to isolate one true villain responsible for Bear’s death and disappearance, you keep going upstream and find instead the book’s many villains, or rather the Van Laar family’s shared history of villainy. It is difficult to point your finger at any one culprit; instead, his death is at the hands of the toxic family “firm.”
Put differently, at its core, the mystery is — what happened to Bear Van Laar? The answer is: his mother, Alice, was so inebriated that she fell asleep instead of accompanying her son on their planned boating excursion, and he drowned. But instead of admitting this tragedy, the Van Laars secretly buried his body and lied to Alice. This was not done so much to coddle or shield Alice (arguably, the lack of resolution was an even crueler punishment than the truth, as she would spend the rest of her life in unsettled, heavily-drugged agony) as it was to preserve and protect the family’s name, and more specifically, their business interests. And Alice would arguably not have been drinking herself into a routine stupor if it weren’t for a) her husband’s infidelity with her sister Delphine (wowza), and b) the stifling and self-abnegating marriage she was more or less forced to accept, and in which she was constantly condescended to, and dismissed. There’s a fantastic line where Moore writes: “Delphine was ashamed, too, thought Alice; for the opposite reason that Alice was. For knowing too much, rather than too little. For a woman, neither was an acceptable way to be.” And so there is also a gender commentary here: one in which the bored, rich woman can find no acceptable way to live, and is instead trapped by her own circumstances. Alice seemed to me like the mythical minotaur: born to be lost in the Van Laar labyrinth. And yet she is the least sympathetic of victims, isn’t she? Her substance abuse, and her neglect of her second-born, are blood on her hands.
Moore’s indictment of the family takes on deeper meaning within the class politics that govern the book. Though the book is rife with clever misdirection, on this point Moore is crystal clear: there are the earnest and self-reliant locals, and then there are the imperious but needy Van Laars. It is difficult to find a single moment in the book in which we learn anything favorable about them, but we grow to appreciate the hardiness and self-reliance of the blue collar families that populate the novel, even with their various foibles. In the end, the only thing that breaks the Van Laar cycle is — well, new blood. Moore seems to be optimistic that younger generations can reject inherited ills and escape by listening to and learning from the people their families have historically taken advantage of. Barbara learns how to look out for herself thanks to TJ, and is able to abscond from the family because of the self-reliance she cultivates under her direction. Interestingly, though, Barbara’s complete escape is at the hands of another local — Judyta, who sacrifices her own chance at vainglory in order to protect Barbara. I found that parallel between the two “missing” Van Laar children particularly interesting. The Van Laars are able to hide their son’s death by soliciting the help of TJ’s father in burying him in the local terrain; Barbara is able to hide herself by making TJ and a young “local” investigator complicit in her own disappearance. While one cover-up damns the family, the other releases its youngest — but all would be impossible were it not for the intercession of the poorer locals who have served the Van Laars for generations.
There are many repetitions and multiplicities like this throughout the novel — the two families that live on the preserve (TJs and the Van Laars); the two sisters (who “share” a husband); the two children of Alice Van Laar, both of whom “go missing”); the multiple Peter Van Laars; the morning in which not only Barbara but her bunkmate go missing; etc. Most of these doublings seem to be in service of our misdirection as mystery readers: there are lots of ways in and out; lots of possibilities and forkings. Moore creates a 3D maze with multiple generations, across multiple years, embroiled in multiple evils. She brilliantly carries this out on a syntactical level through Bear’s name. Bear is actually named Peter Van Laar IV, but he breaks tradition (in many ways — he also seems to be universally loved and adored by all the characters unlike everyone else in his family) and goes by “Bear.” There is a moment in the book in which Alice comments on the multivalence of her son’s name. It’s the noun for an animal, but it’s also the verb for many other things — to carry, to bring, to support, to sustain, to assume responsibility for, to give birth to, to produce, to endure. Even on the narrowest point of his name, Bear becomes a site for mystery, for reading and misreading.
One big question I had was about the title — who or what is the god of the woods? We have the brief story at the beginning about the word panic, and how “it came from the Greek god Pan: the god of the woods. He liked to trick people, to confuse and disorient them until they lost heir bearings, and their minds. To panic was to make an enemy of the forest. To stay calm was to be its friend.” I kept revisiting this and thinking how Moore (the author) is the true god of the woods, and how the concept didn’t really play out clearly in the novel otherwise, but perhaps I’m misreading it.
+I’ve picked up and stopped several books since finishing God of the Woods. I can’t get over it! A girlfriend said she also loved the literary mystery All the Colors of the Dark as something similar to GOTW but possibly better in her opinion (?!) so I might go there next. Any other recs?
+ICYMI: J. Crew released a long barn coat that people are loving.
+Pointelle pants! I’m obsessed with the idea of pairing these with an oversized button-down and ballet flats. Also pointelle: love this long sleeve tee.
+Fun statement pants for fall. I own in the brown. Run just shy of TTS — a tad snug but totally wearable. I’d go up a size only if you’re really between sizes. (15% off with JEN-15).
+Blame it on my 90s/early aughts coming of age, but I’m drawn to these velour pants. Juicy 2.0. Actually intrigued by the entire new-to-me line…very chic silhouettes and mixable, upgraded basics.
+Have heard such good things about this children’s shampoo. I also need to take a minute to re-plug this $10 brush. It is SO GOOD at detangling and corraling all of her hair (she has a lot of it). We have four at this point — one in my daughter’s room, one in the bathroom, one she keeps in her backpack, one downstairs where I often do her hair before school.
+Cesta is offering 30% off its summer collection with code CARRYON. I own and love one of their lunchpail bags. It always feels like just the right thing when you’re going out to eat — whether a midday lunch with your mom, a glass of wine with a girlfriend, a dinner date with your spouse! It’s always exactly right.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
This past weekend, Landon and I took the children to a Renaissance Fair. I’d never been to one before, but our neighbors have taken their two daughters the past few years and sold us on it as a great event for younger children on a slow weekend. The Fair was fascinating — one of those situations where you realize how enormous the world is, and how little you know about it. It was a cross-section of dozens of fringe (or maybe, as I’ll elaborate in a second, not-fringe) cultures: gaming, anti-tech, cosplay, LARP, history buffs, paleophiles, and what I can only classify, and I don’t mean this derisively, as nerdcore? I arrived in Agolde jean shorts and Sambas and felt like a total square. The sensation of outsidership made me think a lot. Here is a place where ambient trends are “out,” where dressing to fit in with the present retail context is “uncool.” You are meant to show up in Renaissance garb (defined very, very liberally), and if you don’t, you feel marked as an observer rather than a participant. Not that anyone is unkind, or that there aren’t hundreds of other people dressed in “normal” streetwear — but most people dress up, and there is a distinct sensation of collective performance, so if you don’t, you feel as though you’re the audience of an audience. In literature, there is this concept of the “mise en abime,” where there might be a play in a play (a la “Hamlet”) or a novel in a novel (a la My Brilliant Friend). The effect normally draws us to a meta-textual place: we think about the novel/play/artwork as a whole, as a form. It is self-aware art. The same held true at the Ren Fair: I kept thinking about what it means to perform, what it means to watch. And if the Ren Fair wasn’t in some way an elaborate art installation…
Anyway, the event was fun for the children, who had their faces painted, watched various performances (my son was obsessed with a glass blower?), ate french fries, ogled at all the costumes, etc. It was a great way to pass a day doing something completely different together, even as I found myself unexpectedly walloped by theories of mise en abime and masking on a Sunday morning.
Later in the week, my Dad dropped off an article he’d torn out of The American Scholar on Seamus Heaney’s new book of letters (seen above), with my name underlined at the top. (This is a habit of his, and one of his 10 I Love Yous.) I am an enormous fan of Heaney. He read some of his poems at the University of Virginia in maybe 2004, in a hot, standing-room-only church on Rugby Road, and you could have heard a pin drop. Mesmerizing, incantatory — one of the most profound cultural experiences of my life, and not only because of his way of reading, or the brilliance of the poetry itself, but because here were hundreds of college students packed in like sardines to hear the bard speak, and I thought to myself: “people care about art, they care about poetry.” This was at a time when I was fluid with my life ambitions and self-conscious about my interest in writing, and the movement of feet on Rugby Road reassured me. Something I loved about UVA was that there was no culture of nerd-shaming; in fact, there was real reverence for those who lived on the Lawn. (At least when I attended, you had to apply to live in one of the historic rooms along the school’s Lawn, which basically meant you had to be academically gifted and heavily involved in the school’s self-governance and extracurriculars.) Still, there was a vague pecking order between the schools. It was cooler to be in The Comm School (business) than it was in the College of Arts and Sciences. Engineering was for the really smart people, and Architecture school was for self-flagellants (and we respected them, too, even as they worked hundred hour weeks in the library). But seeing all of those peers listen, in awed silence, to Heaney made me think differently about my own interests, reified my self-direction.
In the article my Dad dropped off, the author talks a bit about Heaney’s self-awareness about his own celebrity. The article cites a letter in which Heaney writes: “Maybe it can be survived, but I’m not sure. The lookalike who goes to the platforms and the camera-calls has been robbed of much of himself.” Later, he talks about a childhood spot on the Moyola River as “one of the few places where I am not haunted or hounded by the mask of S.H.”
Of course, Heaney’s mask is quite different from the one most of us wear. None of us (I am guessing) are Nobel Laureates; we are not reading our massively popular poetry on the dais. But between the Ren Fair and the Heaney’s concept of “the lookalike” version of us who, say, leads a meeting at work or makes smalltalk with other moms at school pick-up or baby music class, I have been thinking a lot about the ways we perform, and why we do so, and how?
My guess is that most of us feel most “unmasked” when we are at home with our families. But what are the other contexts? Where and with whom do you feel most like yourself?
And onward, Magpies, into the week —
Forcing Mr. Magpie to hang art in our newly appointed living room — his most-dreaded chore. This experience made its way into this week’s musing on marriage. Haha.
Fall outfits loading for my children. This J. Crew barn coat is beyond adorable, as are these Pehr boots and quilted jackets! (20% off at Pehr with JEN-20). As I type this, I’m about to pick my children up from school and take them to the mall (yes, the mall!) to buy them new jeans for fall. My daughter is picky and the sizing can be weird, so I want her to make her choices. We’re going to Gap and J. Crew — will share what my tiny trend-setter picks. She also just picked a bunch of items from Bisby herself (!): this turtleneck, this skirt, this denim jacket, these floral pants!
We had friends over for dinner on Saturday. In the spirit of trying to cut back on other things in order to accommodate our life without (or with much less) childcare, we decided to order in the meal and just provide bar snacks, drinks, desserts. It was still a lot of errands and work (why do I make even simple things so complex?) but easier than if we’d made the entire menu. We ordered noodles, dumplings, wantons, scallion pancakes, pig ear, pickles, and a few other sides from A+J in Rockville for dinner and plated everything up on huge white platters. Before, we served a gin-citrus-aperol-bitters punch from Death & Co’s excellent cocktail book. A punch is the only way to serve a crowd cocktails without being stuck behind the bar for a long portion of the night, and their book has many options! Bar snacks included a wasabi snack mix, fancy corn nut mix (Spanish, not really on theme, but addictive), and butter/cheese straws (also no on theme, but addictive). For dessert, I made lime-coconut cookies from my favorite cookie book, and one of our guests went back for thirds. They were really, really outrageously good.
Quince has some fab new arrivals, including this Kule-like striped polo sweater and this Toteme-inspired whipstitch-trim “scoat.” // Meanwhile, Toteme released a longer version of its Instagram-popular OG. // Victoria Beckham released a concealer with Augustinus Bader that is generating some buzz. // I have this cinch-waist sweatshirt from Old Navy that I probably paid $15 for 10 years ago that I love and cherish. I find the cinch waist so flattering paired with leggings — you can adjust where you want it to hit on your body. I just saw Lulu has a similar item and ordered immediately. // Tuckernuck re-issued our favorite blouse in a great seasonal oxblood color. // My son’s fall boots (20% off with JEN-20). // I did end up ordering this denim barn coat I mentioned in yesterday’s post. Run! Selling fast! (Your little can twin with you in this.) // J. Crew’s bucket bag in the portobello color OR brown suede are perfection — and well-priced. My upgrade bucket bag picks: Mansur Gavriel (the seaweed color is so interesting and unexpected – reminds me of a color that Celine does) and Toteme. // I just started using UBeauty’s Resurfacing Compound — stay tuned for thoughts. This product has a lot of hype! 20% off with JENSHOOP.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image above from a vintage J. Crew catalog.
+GO LIGHTLY:Sarah Tucker shared this quote from Aldous Huxley a few days ago and I’ve been reaching for it all week: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them. I was so preposterously serious in those days… Lightly, lightly – it’s the best advice ever given me…So throw away your baggage and go forward. There are quicksands all about you, sucking at your feet, trying to suck you down into fear and self-pity and despair. That’s why you must walk so lightly. Lightly my darling…”
I’m taking this phrase on as my mantra for the season: go lightly.
+NEW SALLY ROONEY BOOK ALERT: Put out the lanterns; Sally Rooney has a book coming out September 24th that I’ve already pre-ordered. I absolutely loved Conversations with Friends and Normal People (review of the latter here) and am hoping this fits a similar bill. Read with me so we can discuss in the comments?
+PREP IS BACK: This seems (from afar!) to be a major theme of NYFW, and fall fashion more generally, this year. Between J. Crew relaunching its iconic catalogues from the 90s and the return of classic styles like rugby shirts, barn jackets, and rollneck cotton sweaters, our (millennial to boomer) version of preppy (not the gen z one — that’s something entirely different) is here. (I’ve also been spotting trendsetters like Tinx sporting these shrunken RL cableknit cardis in different and interesting ways that go beyond the pearls-and-loafers conversation.) This week, I absolutely loved what Claire Rose said in the caption of her reel capturing what people wore to Ralph Lauren’s recent fashion show: “Ralph Lauren just looks exquisite on everyone.” Isn’t it the truth?!
Over at J. Crew, you can get “prepcore” with pieces like this rollneck, this long barn coat…! As an aside, as I was reading the coverage about J. Crew catalogue return this week, I kept thinking about that scene from “Best in Show” where Parker Posey’s character talks about receiving the new J. Crew catalogue and giving her husband a few minutes to flip through it to figure out what’s new. Posey’s character ends the scene with: “We are so lucky to be raised among catalogues.” One of my best friends from high school — an absolutely brilliant culture analyst, even as a teen — LOVED this line. I can still remember her cackling about it.
+NICOLE IS NIGH: Nicole Kidman is everywhere these days! Netflix just this week released an adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s Perfect Couple book with Kidman cast as the main character (I can’t wait to watch!), and I’m highly intrigued by the hype around her erotic thriller “Babygirl,” set for release in December 2024. Vulture had some high praise for it (“the year’s hottest movie”) and I read that it enjoyed an eight minute standing ovation at a recent film festival. You may recall that Landon and I watched a string of the films in this category from the 80s and 90s last summer — “Body Heat,” “9 1/2 Weeks,” “Basic Instinct,” etc — guided by the brilliant podcast “You Must Remember This,” which delves into the film history, cast dynamics, and, most impressively, gender politics of these movies. I’m interested to trace the lineage into this new iteration of the genre.
+VERONICA BEARD DASH BAG: Veronica Beard hosted a big party around the launch of its CHIC “Dash” bag this past week (you can see a few snapshots here) and I was drooling from afar. It has a Birkin-esque vibe to it (structure, ladylike shape, “belt”), but the hardware and clean lines and especially the materials they chose for this season read new. I thought the styling and concept of the party during NYFW was so clever and chic!
+POINTELLE EVERYTHING: As you know, I love my Leset pointelle tees. I lived in them last winter — always my first base layer beneath knits. I am seeing a ton of pointelle pieces from different brands this season and I love the cozy/rustic vibe. A few favorites: J. Crew cardigan, Doen turtleneck, Madewell scoopneck, this Negative lounge set (en route to me now), and this Tuckernuck turtleneck (also en route to me).
+BESTSELLERS: This week, you all were loving J. Crew’s suede boots — both the tall and ankle Stevies — and this AYR “Early Morning tee,” which is also a favorite of mine. I wore it yesterday over leggings and Birks when I was sprinting around doing carpool, etc!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
Q: Hi Jen hope you’re well! I am seeing camel and red for fall. Can you help me find cardigan/ shirt styles that hit the mark? Especially looking for a modern camel cardigan for dresses and jeans.
A: Hi! Obsessed with a red cardigan. Pops of red are calling to me today; see Cassandra deliver the look with aplomb here. A few options I like that feel fresh: Sezane’s Emile, BA&SH’s Gaspard, J. Crew’s cashmere pointelle (pointelle is trending again, as it was last season), Gap’s Khaite-esque pocket cardigan. I also love the cropped proportions of this more traditional cashmere cardi paired with on-trend denim.
A: I’ve been seeing a lot of these cute pointelle ones this season — love this Doen and this Tuckernuck. I also just bought these in navy and white and might go back for the black. $15/pop!
Q: A tan suede shirt or oversized shirt style jacket that works for petites.
A: I’m thinking about this, too, after seeing M.G. in one. I like Sezane’s offerings in this category ATM — this, this. For a splurge: Toteme. Make sure you keep the other components of your outfit slim/trim or the silhouette will eat you up as a petite. I’m personally daydreaming about interpreting this trend in the form of a cropped suede jacket — splurge: VB; more reasonable: Talbots or Mango; budget: Nordstrom.
Q: Best postpartum PJs/robes/clothes for October.
A: I think we’ve all collectively established that Lake Pajamas are a big RWI (regrettably worth it) situation. So soft, and lots of dedicated nursing options available, but you could also get one or two of their dreamy-soft kimono sets and keep for post-nursing days. I say buy a few pairs of those as a treat for yourself. If you’re more of a boho lass, try the nightgown options from Doen and If Only If. Layer beneath a big oversized cozy cardigan and imagine yourself living in some beautiful English cottage on a heath with wildflowers in the backyard and a baby in a little straw cot.
Q: A light layer to wear over formal/cocktail wear. Prefer a coat but open to sweaters.
A: This is always a tricky one. I hunted for a coat but really couldn’t find anything I liked with the exception of this Cinq a Sept, but I think it might only work for more of a cocktail attire situation — feels too dressed-down for a formal gown. Will keep my eyes out for options. I love these cashmere wraps from Alice Walk for more formal affairs. Another option would be one of those short-sleeved sweaters I’ve been eyeing — the luxe version from Khaite or the more reasonable one from Doen. I styled a dressy look with one of these sweaters here.
Q: Fall jacket that’s good for rain.
A: Love Everlane’s new anorak and Stutterheim’s Moseback. I’d been eyeing the latter for years and finally bought one while on sale! If you want something less explicitly “rain jacket,” try a classic trench. For something in between, a timeless Barbour! Go up a size in the latter – I think they look better really boxy, as if you’ve borrowed from your husband. Mango has a solid look for less.
Q: Autumn wedding in Chicago. Sleeves and under $300 would be perfect.
A: I love this (the contrast green sash!) and this!
Q: A dress to wear to a black tie wedding on NYE in London. Ideally under $500.
Q: Small round or rectangular lady watch under $1K.
A: I feel like a broken record, but March Hare! I have the double wrap style, but others are available. Under $500 but Cartier vibes. Use code MAGPIE20 for 20% off. Alternately, TRR often has great pre-loved Hermes styles, like this or this. (You can always replace the strap!)
Q: Inexpensive, slim fit jogger sweats for little boys. No logos.
A: I wouldn’t call them inexpensive, but you can sometimes get these J. Crew Factory ones on super sale. My son has a few pairs of them. These might also fit the bill, but can’t speak to quality!
Q: Wide leg jeans for tall girls.
A: Agolde Dames! (Note model is 5’9 and wearing heels.)
Q: Mary Janes built for city walking.
A: Go with Loeffler Randall. Supremely comfortable and wonderfully made.
Q: Large catch all purse to go with carry on for plane.
A: I like the idea of a RDV — has structure and slides right under seat so you can easily grab what you need. I also have to say that the Dagne Dover Landon tote is a great travel day bag. It counts as a personal item but holds a lot and fits under seat, has an interior sleeve/pocket for your laptop, and has the zippered top, which is handy.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
A smattering of launches, new arrivals, and right now discoveries —
01. I’ve been a longtime fan of female-run small clothing brand Mille, and I absolutely adore their latest collection — especially the items in this fabulous paisley/bandana-inspired pattern. I have this top on its way to me. Their editorial photography for this collection was absolutely jaw-dropping (seen below). You can get 15% off sitewide with code JEN15. Also adore this sweater!
02. A week or two ago, I mentioned that Free People Movement had partnered with On to release two ultra-fun sneakers. I managed to get my hands on a pair of the Cloudmonsters from the collection before they sold out and I love them (the Cloudnovas are still in stock!). I’ve been using them for my speed-walks around the neighborhood (often in the company of a good girlfriend). Every detail sparks such joy — the colors, the floral liner on the interior! — and of course they are built for comfort. Grab a pair of the Cloudnovas before they sell out, too! Great way to motivate yourself to get out there for a short walk in the mornings as the temperatures begin to drop.
03. Freda Salvador released its second fall drop yesterday morning. You know my (effusive) thoughts on their chic suede loafers, now available in a gorgeous dark chocolate, but these cobalt ballet flats also turned my head after I spotted the color via footage of a couple of early fall fashion week shows, including Proenza Schouler. Fun alternative to red as a highlight color. Meanwhile, these intrecciato boots are nearly sold out! Great statement for fall. (Reminder that MAGPIE15 gets you 15% off your first order at FS.)
04. I saw Donni’s new cropped silk athleisure pants last week and immediately thought, “The Adidas pants that were my entire personality in 1998 have grown up!” So fun for school drop off / at-home lounge / probably could be dressed up in interesting ways I’ve not yet considered — saw them on Arielle (below) this week and loved the way she styled them. Donni also just released a great white tee and sent me one to test. It’s featherweight and ultra-soft, with a casual, lived-in, 90s vibe to me.
05. I’ve been testing RMS Beauty’s new SPF-spiked skin tint and it is wonderful. You apply like foundation but it wears like skin (and offers sun protection). Very impressed. They say you can apply with your fingers but I found the consistency easier to blend with a brush. Offers a surprising amount of coverage for this type of product. (Jen20 gets you 20% off.)
06. Our favorite children’s brand Minnow just launched a bunch of great knits for fall. One of my favorite outfits my son had last fall was this sweater paired with these knit pants. I got my daughter one of these striped cardis (in navy/cream) this summer and much to my surprise she has worn it constantly. It is the cutest thing – she dresses just like a little me! Her go-to summer uniform has been jean shorts, a white tank top, her Minnow sweater, and a pair of rose gold Birkenstocks.
07. OMG this Toteme bag just dropped (or I just discovered it) and I’m swooning. Toteme bags aren’t inexpensive, but they look like they should cost 3-4x their price IMO. Love every detail about this bag.
08. Just ordered these $15 turtlenecks in white and navy. (Should I have also gotten the black, I wonder aloud?) Sometimes it is so hard to find a simple, slim-fit knit like this. I have this one black turtleneck I bought from Gap over a decade ago that is basically the only one I ever want to wear. It is thin, stretchy, fitted, and I’m devastated that it finally seems to be on its last legs. Sometimes the inexpensive basics can be hard to find!
P.S. A friend of mine just texted me and said that when she was searching for book reviews of Barbara Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead, mine was the top search result! What?! I’m blown away! Next book review I’m working on: Liz Moore’s God of the Woods, which I loved.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
At some point over the past year, social media mega-influencer Tinx shared the concept of “the best beer.” She wasn’t talking about brand or style, but context — I think the first example she gave was: “the best beer is the first beer you have with your friends when you are getting ready to go out.” I mentioned this to Mr. Magpie, and he said two “best beers” are 1) after a hot day of manual labor — e.g., moving boxes or doing yard work, and 2) just after he’s showered off a beach day.
I love the concept and wanted to ask for your input on…
01) What is the best book?
02) What is the best bed?
03) What is the best meal?
04) What is the best outfit?
The best book is the one I put myself to bed early to read. I’m talking 8 p.m., favorite pajamas on, fully reclined and ready for a solid two hours of reading. Recently, this was God of the Woods for me. NPR’s Maureen Corrigan captured it well when reviewing GOTW: “I was so thoroughly submerged in a rich fictional world, that for hours I barely came up for air.” The other book that springs to mind on this front is Liane Moriarty’s What Alice Forgot. The way I tore through that book! I could not put it down. My answers to this prompt surprised me because I intuitively thought about the most delicious reading experiences versus criteria for the text itself (e.g., I wasn’t evaluating based on most literary, most meaningful, most artful).
The best bed is my own, currently, because as I age, I become more and more persnickety about being able to sleep well anywhere else. But a close second: my childhood bed when I was home from college. There was, simply, nothing like it after the disruptions of communal college living and sleeping on cheap mattresses with scratchy sheets. I loved the familiar sounds, the specific lay of light in the morning, the clang of the radiator, the crystal doorknob handle I’d open in the middle of the night to pee. (The home I grew up in was built in 1920.)
The best meal is the one shared with best friends — the kind that leaves us lingering around the table with the candles burning low as we fare la scarpetta and pour an extra glass of wine. Could be takeout pizza, could be an elaborate feast Mr. Magpie has dreamt up. The company is the crux.
The best outfit. My mind ran in two separate directions for this one. On the one hand, I thought about outfits that make me feel empowered and pulled-together — an on-trend pair of jeans and a great blazer; a killer dress (this Rixo recently made me feel like a million bucks). On the other hand, I thought about the clothes I put on after a long day. I’m thinking specifically of the day you’ve moved apartments, or after a long road trip, a grueling exam, or even a fun but full day at the beach, theme park, etc. I love the sensory experience of showering to wash the day off and then climbing into soft clothes. The Alice Walk gauze pants and a tank top were it for me this summer — the thing I wanted to wear after swimming in the Lake, hiking in Aspen, sweating at the pool, chasing the kids. (So N.B., make sure you pack a “post long day outfit” next time you’re on vacation.)
What about you? Any thoughts on the best beer, the best book, the best bed, the best meal, the best outfit? Please share!
+Gap has come out with a chic barrel style pair of jeans for under $80, in case you skipped the Madewells. (BTW, I’m still waiting for mine to arrive?! Will style when they get here!)
+Love Everlane’s new wear-with-anything anorak. It has a fashion-consciousness to it. Also liking the look of their new off-duty sweats and hoodies, and I’m always a sucker for a knit polo sweater. Love the neckline.
+A very chic knit dress. You could wear now with sandals, or pair with a little cropped jacket and suede boots in the fall.
+If you’re after a pop of color this fall, red is the obvious answer but also I’ve been seeing a lot of cornflower blue? Love this little Ann Mashburn bag in the hue.
+Dreaming of this coat. Look for less with this or this.
+Soccer Saturday moms: one of the parents on my daughter’s team had one of these collapsible sideline benches. It was so thoughtful of her to bring — the kids not playing could sit there while waiting. (This would be good if you’re sitting there for multiple games!). And this is what I’d wear.
A few Magpies have asked for something along the lines of a fall capsule wardrobe. I’ve never dressed this way, or approached my closet in this way, but the prompt was interesting as it forced me to pick “just one” across a range of different product categories, and to think about how they’d play with other items. I found this a rewarding exercise in that I am wearing more separates now than I ever have in my entire life. I can’t tell if this is age, current trends, present lifestyle? But I find myself wearing a lot more tops and bottoms that I mix and match. Below, my take on a capsule wardrobe. I’ve tried to include looks for less in the headnotes.
Knitwear: I like a thinner weight knit (especially love the sexiness of a henley or polo sweater) to tuck into pants/jeans/skirts, a cardigan that can go over everything (also love my G Label Noah for this; neutral vibe for less with this), and a big chunky stripe (look for less).
Denim: Barrel and gaucho jeans are having a moment, and I love the fit of this pair from Mother. A little more approachable than some of the more dramatic styles. Madewell and Gap also have great options for less. A pair of classic fit straight-leg jeans will always have a place in a wardrobe — and are also necessary for tucking into tall boots, if you’re in the mood. These Totemes have a great dark wash, but you can’t beat Levi 501s in this department. Wide legs are also trending this season. You could go with the Agolde Dames for an of-the-moment, buzzed-about pair, or try these SLVRLAKES in an on-trend brown/taupe wash. Finally, utility (almost cargo-style) jeans in brown are at the top of my lust list at the moment. Ulla has a pair people are raving about, and these La Ligne Duntons keep selling out!
Outerwear: A dressy wool coat that can be worn for day or night; this CO is beyond. Get the look for less with this Aritzia. Barn coats are the casual style du jour; this Doen is perfect. Get the look for less with this Velvet, this Everlane, or Old Navy. Finally, a blazer (vibe for less with this) is perfect with jeans or a dark wash denim skirt.
Shoes, part I: A great pair of flats to wear with everything. These Tuckernucks have been a best seller among Magpies this week; they are giving Loro Piana, or Le Monde Beryl, but under $200. And when it comes to fall sneakers, consider these chic and unexpected Hogans. I’ve not seen them worn anywhere but they look high end and different and come in great colors. (Also like these VBs and these Dolce Vitas.)
Shoes, part II: I’d pick up a pair of ankle or mid-shaft boots as well as tall boots. I did a full roundup of my favorite fall boot picks here, but the ones seen below are J. Crew and Reformation. Then we need some great loafers. I own and love these Freda Salvadors; all the it girls are wearing Jamie Haller, if you can get your hands on a pair.
Dresses: A casual (love this popover stripe; look for less with this or this); something that could be more casual beneath a cardigan and more dressy with heels, like this Doen; and something formal, like this Norma Kamali (under $300!!)
Skirts: I am loving a denim midi or maxi skirt. This VB is such a good get while on super discount, but sizing is limited. You might also consider this Philosophy or this Gap. Also obsessed with slip skirts for the season. This Vince is the perfect color; Quince also does a great look for less.
Accessories: A great leather watch. I love my March Hare! And a belt with interesting hardware. I own and love this Aureum, and am also intrigued by new-to-me label Dehanche. Look for less pick: Madewell.
Athleisure: You know my (effusive) thoughts on Frank and Eileen. This navy set is particularly chic, and you can wear the top with jeans easily for a polished look. (But I’ve even worn these sweats with Chanel flats — it works!) Everlane has a cool navy set worth considering for something with a little less structure — pants here, sweatshirt here. I’ve also been finding myself drawn to the look of a plain gray sweatshirt layered beneath a trench or wool coat, paired with dark wash denim and/or skirts! This Gap is simple and chic; upgrade pick: Jamie Haller.
These pieces go together in infinity ways, but a few top of mind looks:
P.S. The above photo is from my time in NYC. I published a photo diary documenting a few of my 200 runs through Central Park during that time. I always loved running Jackie O. in autumn.
In a recent guest post on Cup of Jo, freelance writer Abby Mallet said: “I feel like relationships are 80% routine things.” It was a throwaway comment, sandwiched between tender and sweet examples of how she and her spouse care for one another, but it made me think. What is a relationship made of? More specifically, what is a marriage made of?
Marriage is —
leaving the light on, in ways literal and figurative
correctly anticipating what your husband will say but letting him say it anyway
sometimes being wrong about what you anticipate your husband will say, and finding joy in realizing he can still surprise you
exchanging knowing looks
indulging in hours-long debriefs after social gatherings
shouldering life’s burdens together, and letting him carry more than you, and vice versa, when needed
collaborating on the same, routine airing of grievances over small things you hate, like the Whole Foods parking lot on River Road, the left hand turn out of your children’s school, and imprecise invitations (nothing more stress-inducing than: “are you guys around next weekend?” — what is the invitation?!)
calling your husband, saying nothing, and having him know immediately how to calm you down
fighting over the getting the Christmas tree into its stand and hanging art on the walls
carrying Benadryl around in your purse because he is allergic to cats but would never carry it himself
faux sparring about the way he presses his feet onto your legs at bedtime, knowing that one day you will give anything for his feet against your legs
assuming the best of intentions
making gasping noises and grabbing the handle of your door while he is driving
crying without inhibition, and having him comfort you without question
not answering your phone when he is running an errand for you, and then receiving snarky comments about it for the next week
being his loudest cheerleader, in any venue, with or without him present
making hard decisions, but not by yourself
asking how he played golf, and what’s growing in his garden, and who won the game even if it goes in one ear and out the other
finding idiosyncratic things about him undescribably, irrationally attractive — the way he looks after mowing the lawn, the way he holds his beer between his fingers, the wide stance he takes when in conversation
holding hands and then not holding hands across the car console in wordless agreement as to when to start and stop
+Chic wide leg cords to pair with those brown suede boots.
+Just added this striped popover dress to my fall wardrobe. I know I’ll get so, so much wear out of it. I can’t wait to style with my FS loafers. You can get the look for less (on the dress) with this or this.
+If you’re looking for fall sneaks that aren’t Adidas, Golden Goose, Veja — consider these Hogans, these Dolce Vitas, and these Veronica Beards. Brown is it!!
+Emily Ley just offered to send me one of their day planners for 2025 (just released)! I have actually used these in the past and really liked them, but they are bulky/heavy and therefore didn’t work well when I was in NYC and sort of perching wherever I could (including in various co-working spots and coffee shops) to get work done. Nowadays, I keep my planner at my deskside in my studio, so think it will be a better fit. Like my cheap Amazon planner, it has ample space to create a to-do list against each calendar day, but it also has an hour by hour section — which I often find myself doodling onto notepads as I am trying to figure out how to get everything done before 3 p.m. pickup. I can’t wait to use! I also picked out this gorgeous linen notebook (gridded!). Their acrylic wall calendar also looks like a brilliant solution for keeping the family organized.
+So specific, but these are my favorite gen-z-approved athletic socks. Also really specific: if clean, I will wear this tank to run / exercise / etc. It’s featherweight and the fit is perfect.
+I own this bag in a past-season orange croc trim — she is a perfect everyday bag that transitions from summer to fall. The shape and size is perfect for everyday wear.
