I thought I’d share a couple of gifts I’m eyeing for or have already given to loved ones — all of which are ~$100 or less. (Sorry if this ruins a few surprises!)
A HEREND BABY SHOE for a soon-to-be mother or grandmother. I gave my mother one of these a few years ago after mini was born and it was such a beautiful keepsake and way to say thank you for all of her care and concern. (A small Herendtrinket box would also be lovely if you are at a different lifestage.)
STACK OF APPETIZER PLATES and a favorite cookbook focused on entertaining. I use these little plates all.the.time — the perfect size for an afternoon snack, a makeshift spoon rest, a pat of butter and slice of bread. My MIL gave me this exact set for Christmas maybe six or seven years ago and I still consider it one of the most functional and delightful gifts I’ve ever received!
PIMA PAJAMAS. I know — pajamas feels like a bit of a trite gift but the quality of these pajamas are insane! I would love another set. A maternity pair would be lovely for an expecting or new mother.
A MONOGRAMMED CAMO TOTE BAG. I love this edgy update on a classic boat tote. Would be great for a new dog owner (keep all the pup’s essentials in there!), a student/teen, a boy mom, etc. For the more ladylike set, this gorgeous personalized tote from HillHouseHome!
OUAI SHAMPOO + CONDITIONER. My absolute favorite. They smell like heaven and leave hair so soft and lovely. This is the kind of thing I’d give my beauty-product-obsessed sister. Add-on: a fun barrette.
MONOGRAMMED COCKTAIL NAPKINS OR HAND TOWELS for a newly married friend or sibling or cousin. I was obsessed with my new initials as a newlywed and would have loved a set of either of these, both of which have an heirloom quality to them!
CLASSIC-FIT DENIM SHIRT FOR HIM OR FOR HER. These have a retro appeal that also feels very right now. (Ahem.) And with the recent release of that HBO documentary on Ralph — tres a propos.
A BANGLE engraved with a message, nickname, or date of personal significance.
PERSONALIZED TERVIS TUMBLER SET for those who are in the know. (If you’ve never enjoyed your nightly water out of a tervis tumbler, you’re missing out on something.)
A FAUX-FUR STOLE for a fashion-forward mom or sister. I love the colorblocking on this — it feels couture!
A BENRINER MANDOLIN for a serious cook. This elevates cooking/mise en place considerably but is not necessarily something you’d buy yourself on a lark.
MOLTON BROWN BATH SET. Trust me when I say this would be a great surprise (and you can’t beat that price!) I am in love with all of the MB scents and have given their hand soaps away as gifts to countless friends.
A MUDDLER for a cocktail lover, along with Mr. Magpie’s favorite cocktail book. I love the vintage/hand-me-down vibe of the muddler. Mr. Magpie inherited his from his grandmother and it has a very similar look.
A HEAT PILLOW for an athlete or loved one with chronic aches/pains. Up the ante/go deluxe by adding a gift card for a massage.
TERRACOTTA POMEGRANATE. These have something of a cult-following and are hard to find. Apparently you stow them in dressers/closets and they impart the loveliest scent!
OUT + ABOUT SLIDE SLIPPERS. I can imagine these having tremendous appeal for my SIL who lives in frosty Montana. Sturdy enough on the underside to tuck out to the car or trash bin in a flash.
STAUB COCOTTE. One of our absolute most-used kitchen items. THE BEST. We gave one of these to my brother as a wedding gift and to this day he mentions how much he loves and uses it at virtually every get-together we have with him.
OXO COFFEE MACHINE. Mr. Magpie makes us pourover coffee every morning but we have been debating the purchase of a machine as well because when we have guests, it’s a bit onerous for Mr. Magpie to brew coffee for so many people. I also would love to kick my habit of ducking out for a 3 P.M. latte and think that if I had an easy-to-use machine at home, I might just make it for myself! At any rate, this seems to be a well-reviewed contender.
COMPOST BIN. For your eco-conscious spouse or parent. This might be the most attractive compost bin I’ve ever seen.
P.P.P.S. Lusting after this dress. Also love this. Guess I’m feeling Frozen blue these days?! Thanks to Nicola Bathie for the tip!
By: Jen Shoop
On one of the two red brick pillars flanking the exit from my Catholic high school, the nuns had affixed a sign that read:
DRIVE GENTLY, DEARIE
I never stopped to think much about this as a spirited teen, when my life spooled out in front of me with endless promise and the likelihood that some ill or danger would befall me was inconceivable. I think back to my fifteen-year-old self and am happy for her and her unbridled faith in the order and permanence of things as inherited, as coddled and incomplete and ignorant as that worldview was. Accidents were things that happened to other people. Cancer and serious illness, too. Because I have always been a pragmatist, I would occasionally think in a retrospectively sickening, self-serving way that because other people in my life — aunts, friends of friends, daughters of neighbors — had suffered such hardships, I would be spared, because — well, what is the likelihood that two people in the same pod bear the same tragedies?
And so I would careen onto 35th Street with blithe disregard for the thoughtful message, the music on the forest green Camry that my siblings and I shared too loud, the windows and sunroof down, posturing some sort of devil-may-care insouciance in the event that one of the Georgetown University boys next door would happen to stop and make a double take, entranced by my unlikely, impressive decision to blast DMX’s “Why Do Good Girls Like Bad Guys?”
The Great Gatsby is often assigned as high school reading, but I don’t think a teen can ascertain the stirring poignancy — the almost deferred juvenility — of Gatsby’s optimism for the future. Because as a teen, I shared that outlook of his. I did not know any other.
On the rare occasion I now drive out of Visitation, I am always overcome with emotion at the sight of that sign, and the delta between Jen at 15 and Jen at 35 leaves me awestruck. I am first and foremost open to the reminder — Ah, yes. Slow down. Precious cargo. And this receptivity itself lays bare the painfully-earned truth that I am not invincible and neither are my loved ones. I might be bringing Mr. Magpie lunch at work when an SUV barrels into my mother’s car at 60 MPH, crumpling its frame like a piece of tinfoil and nothing but the grace of God sparing her. Or I might be an intellectually ripening graduate student, preoccupied with using Foucault properly in a sentence in front of my classmates, when I learn that my friend E. was rushed off to the hospital because she was having trouble breathing, and all her mother could say was that she was for some reason on floor eight, and that it must be a mistake, because floor eight was for cancer patients. Or I might be 34, newly pregnant, sprinting around my apartment, and by freak accident, hurtled against a plaster wall with such force that my head split open and required ten stitches right down my forehead. In short: health is precarious. And I should be gentle with — to quote HRH Mary Oliver — this one wild and precious life I have been gifted.
But I am also moved by the solicitousness of the nuns who installed it there. A year or two ago, I attended an alumni reception for my high school and in the course of some opening remarks, the headmaster said: “The nuns of the Visitation pray daily for you. They have been praying for you since the day you were born.” I was so bowled over by this unexpected generosity that I had to look away, study something innocuous on the wall, stare — hard — at the ice cube melting in my water glass. I later cried on Mr. Magpie’s shoulder about it. How impossibly fortunate and undeserving am I to have these devout women in my corner, rooting me on since the day I entered this world thirty-five years ago — without my even knowing or acknowledging them? What insane, knee-buckling kindness. This reaction, too, is a reminder of my age and the way life has in some ways hardened me, leaving me circumspect about others and their intentions.
Their message appears to me, apparition-like, from time to time, even though we own no car in this urban jungle and it has in fact been months since I last slipped behind the wheel. But I will be rushing around my neighborhood with twenty-two errands and half-formed thoughts tumbling through my mind and finding myself sprinting across Amsterdam with three seconds left on the crosswalk countdown and I will think of that placard and take a beat. Or I will be making exaggerated eyes of frustration to Mr. Magpie as mini stalls and protracts her bedtime routine — “not those pajamas!”, “I want to play with my puzzle now!”, “I need more milk!”, “not that book, this book!” — and I will think of the nuns and take a deep breath and aim for gentleness in those exhausting final moments before her affirmations have been said and her lullaby has been sung and her door is closed. Most days, I earn middling marks on my attempts, but the aspiration stands.
And so I thought today I would remind you, too, to drive gently, dearie. Whether that means gesturing a fellow commuter into the merge lane on the highway or going easy on your toddler (or yourself!) in the face of her toddlerness or just taking a breather for no reason at all.
+My sister visited last weekend and raved about these joggers — she said they are crazy comfortable but still pulled-together enough to feel non-pajama-like in public.
+Love this floaty autumnal floral — an option if you are still scrambling for a Thanksgiving dress, as Net-A-Porter offers quick shipping! I am SO happy because I had been stalking this Ulla Johnson dress for the occasion, which was sold out in my size EVERYWHERE, and I religiously checked every website to see if one might be returned and suddenly available for nearly two weeks. Lo and behold, Net-A-Porter came through and my holiday outfit dreams achieved. You can still rent this dress on RTR, too, if you’re in my boat! (I was planning on doing that if I couldn’t track down a purchasable one!)
+DYING over this rug. The yellow would be so cheerful in a little girl’s room or a feminine living space, and the black/white would be stunning against crisp hotel bedding in a polished, modern bedroom.
+We were having trouble with the strength of our Internet signal in our new, larger apartment until Mr. Magpie purchased an eero mesh wifi system. It works SO well, and our Internet is lightening fast all over the place now. Great gift suggestion for a tech-conscious loved one.
+These are now marked down to $120 and in my size…and do I need this despite the fact that I now own another dress from this label?
By: Jen Shoop
Though I am usually circumspect when it comes to home design trends and mudrooms seem to be all the rage if House Hunters can be trusted — to the extent that one couple toured a 1,300 square foot apartment with a dedicated mud room and I was scratching my head in disbelief! Like, why, in such small quarters, would you prefer a mudroom to more living space? — I dream of one day living in a home with one. How incredible to be able to stow muddy boots and bulky coats and strollers and wet dogs (!) in there, out of sight and away from precious home decor and clean floors. I thought I’d share a few dreamy finds for such a space, should any of you be in a situation to outfit your own mudroom (or even create a makeshift one in your entryway!):
UMBRELLA STAND (<<WE OWN THIS EXACT ONE AND CAN I TELL YOU THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY HAD TO PURCHASE IT THREE TIMES BECAUSE TILLY HAS BROKEN NOT ONE BUT TWO OF THEM?! O.M.G.)
ALSO LOVE THIS WHITE STAND IF YOU HAVE TOO MANY OTHER PATTERNS HAPPENING IN THE ROOM
And if your mudroom doubles as your laundry room, a couple of laundry room lovelies: Brabantia ironing board (<<is it weird to say I am envious of this?! It is sort of the industry best; we own a Minky, which is also good), Rowenta iron (<<THE BEST; I own this model and prior to its purchase I thought I was “bad” at ironing. Turns out I just did not have the right equipment. This affords superior results — trust me!), crease release (<<obsessed with this), a chic laundry bin and/or coordinating ironing board cover (hey! if it has to be out on display, might as well make it pretty!).
P.P.P.S. Totally random recent home purchases I am obsessed with: this acrylic dinner napkin dispenser to keep our buffet tidier (I used to keep paper dinner napkins in an unceremonious stack); my beloved kitchen gloves (<<a pretty good price for a pack of three); stainless steel polish/cleaner (how did I not know this existed and why did I assume I had to live with a streaky fridge and range?!); drawer dividers (love how these almost look built-in given that they match, roughly, the interior of our dresser); this underwear drawer organizing set (<<a minor thing but I like that you zip the underside of these because it actually enables the bins to hold their shape; other variations on this get smooshed/lopsided easily). And if you’re looking for more home organization gear, check out this roundup or this one.
By: Jen Shoop
One of my favorite recent questions I’ve received for Magpie Mail: what is your Christmas morning menu? For the past many years, we have spent Christmas morning in transit from my parents’ to Mr. Magpie’s. Even though they live only twenty minutes from one another, Christmas morning has always seemed a little harried — quickly packing, opening stockings with my parents, scarfing down an English muffin, kissing everyone goodbye, and hurrying out the door to celebrate the holiday across Chain Bridge. Mr. Magpie has been advocating for Christmas morning at home, as a nuclear family, one year soon. I think that year might be next year, as mini will be nearly four (!) next Christmas and I think things will start to click for her. I am fairly confident we’ll celebrate the occasion with one or several of the following recipes:
*We always bake ours in the oven at 375 for about 30 minutes. We now have a quirky process where we’ll crinkle up sheets of foil and lay the strips across (never over-crowded!) so the grease can drip off the bacon and it always turns out perfectly. All of the best bacon in the world, I’m convinced, comes from old-school butchers in Chicago, IL. We loved the bacon at Gepperth’s and Paulina Meat Market back when we lived out there.
**These are the only waffles I will ever make. THEY ARE SO GOOD. THEY ARE RIDICULOUS. THEY ARE THE BEST THINGS YOU WILL EVER EAT. I have this waffle iron, and it works beautifully. More of my favorite recipes here and here, and my favorite kitchen gear here.
Of course, you will need adorable Christmas jammies to complete the moment. For myself, I am loving Lake Pajamas, a classic poplin pajama set in a fun wintry print, or a new pair of “dreamy” jams from J. Crew (I own several pairs of their “dreamy” pants and they are just the best).
P.S. Don’t forget slippers! Love these, and mini had these last Christmas and was obsessed with them.
P.P.S. Not exactly sleepwear, but if you have a baby, a Christmas-oriented coverall/playsuit is a great idea for holiday travel days when you want them comfortable but warm. I have been obsessed with these ones from Little English for micro and have bought him a new pair in every new size he hits. The softest cotton! Also love this nutcracker pair (currently 30% off!).
P.P.P.S. The best Christmas gifts for babies and toddlers.
By: Jen Shoop
My Latest Snag: Brass Knobs.
First – hoping your weekend looks like the luxurious situation above. That’s what I wish I was doing right now. Second, you should know that the dress I featured in last weekend’s “latest snag” is now marked down to $217!!! DARN. (And there are so many other great sale finds at Shopbop right now. Also love this striped dress, these snakeskin booties, and am thinking of buying these sandals — marked down to $12?! — for next summer, as they remind me of my favorite Alexandre Birman sandals!) And third, my most exciting purchase this week was a set of brass knobs to update the dresser in mini’s room! I spent way, way, way too much time looking for a set of knobs I liked. To the point that it took me about two weeks to make a decision — and on something so small! I could never renovate a house on my own…
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Jewel-Embellished Blouse.
The most popular items on the blog this past week:
P.S. I’ve been adding lots of the most popular items I feature on the blog here!
#Turbothot: The Problem with Jasmine.
I have been having all kinds of hot takes on movies lately, and I apologize in advance for my sauciness, but have you seen the live-action “Aladdin”? I was underwhelmed by it, much to my surprise, as I tend to like almost everything by Disney, and rather indiscriminately. I was not a fan of Will Smith as the Genie (he does not seem animated or big-hearted enough to fill the void Robin Williams left!) and I was especially disappointed in Jasmine, whose tone throughout the movie read as spiteful and self-righteous rather than spunky. I can accept that and even come around to the idea that seeing a female protagonist express a range of unexpected, potentially gender-norm-defying emotions is a good thing (…?), but the bigger problem, to me, is the fact that Jasmine is sexualized in the movie in a way that distracts and potentially competes with her broader message of standing up for herself and asserting her voice as a woman. I think back to other live-action Disney movies made more recently and can’t recall having a similar thought about any other Disney heroine — certainly not Emma Watson in “Beauty and the Beast,” for example. To be fair, Jasmine as a cartoon was surprisingly voluptuous with her bra-like top, low-slung pants, and curviness, but why the producers preserved that look and even amplified it confused me. There were certain scenes in the movie where the first thing I noticed was Jasmine’s cleavage! It’s an odd pair of messages: I am a woman who will not be silenced! I will not conform to the wishes of others more powerful than I am! (Namely, in the context of the movie, men who wish to “purchase” her.) And yet Disney dresses her in a way that plays up strangely outmoded gender dynamics — where the female’s beauty is privileged over her brains, where women dress to attract and appeal to men, where women are portrayed as sexual objects rather than individuals.
Am I over-thinking this?
Pls share your thoughts.
Post-Scripts: Baby Monitors.
+I have and very much like this baby monitor. It’s been great with micro’s arrival as you can add extra monitors and it will toggle between views of the different rooms (or you can have it only focus on one room if you’d like) — perfect for our needs right now. My two gripes with it are that it can randomly go in and out of range (I don’t think the signal is super strong) even when no one has moved the monitors, and the jack where the cable goes in (not sure if jack is the right word) fits kind of loosely, so I find myself jiggling the cord around often to make sure it’s plugged in firmly enough. But. Over 32K good reviews on Amazon are pretty compelling. It also was one of the top recommendations across a range of different sources. That said, I’ve been hearing good things about this Vava monitor, which people say has even better range.
+Contemplating buying one of these little lounge chairs for mini to read in. One of the things Montessori insists upon is accessibility/scale for little children. All of the toilets, tables, chairs, brooms, sinks, etc are child height, and they even hang artwork at their eye level.
+Our Staub is easily one of our most-used cooking tools and we picked it over Le Creuset because the lid handle is made of metal and can withstand even the highest of heat (whereas LC’s are a kind of material that shouldn’t be in an oven over a certain temp). Love this stark white one from a special collab with Goop! And more great, thoughtfully-reviewed kitchen gear here.
+
By: Jen Shoop
I begged Mr. Magpie to see the Downton Abbey movie with me because my sister was not interested and I couldn’t think of another girlfriend who was as into the series as I’d been. I talked about it for weeks and then I made an executive decision that we’d see it together one Saturday afternoon, arranged a sitter, and that was that. Only by the time the appointed Saturday rolled around, it was no longer showing in the majority of convenient theaters and in fact the only place screening it entailed a subway ride followed by either a mile-long walk or a taxi. Mr. Magpie grimaced. Not only was it a movie he had no interest in seeing, but it would be an annoying commute — and it was showing at the worst possible time: 5 P.M., when we had the sitter from 3-8. In other words, we’d be killing time at the beginning and then out of time for all but the quickest of dinners/drinks afterward.
So, I made him promise to see it when it comes out on video and let him pick a movie instead.
And he picked “Joker.”
I’ll let that selection hang out there for a minute.
We went from a lovely, polite comedy of manners to one of the heaviest, most violent movies I’ve ever seen.
When we emerged from the theater, all I could say was: “Yikes.”
We promptly sidled up to the bar at Cafe Luxembourg, where he ordered a gin martini (“stirred*, with a twist”) and I ordered a seasonal Hemingway daquiri, and then we tucked into their famous burger.
*Ed. note: At the original time of publication, I had mistakenly written “shaken, with a twist” and Mr. Magpie was deeply offended. Ha! Apparently martinis are only meant to be stirred. He has strong opinions on these matters.
Has anyone seen “Joker”? I have so many thoughts about it. First: it was a risky business trotting this character out after Heath Ledger had the performance of his lifetime playing it just before his early death. Joaquin Phoenix came to play, though, and was, I thought, excellent. That said, it felt as though the director was overly aware of Phoenix’s talent and there were far too many gratuitous close-up scenes of him and his face and his choking laughter. Yes, the scenes were well-acted, but they arrived with such density throughout the film that at one point I rolled my eyes: “Yes, we get it, we’ll see this in an Oscar highlights reel or an homage to Joaquin at some point soon.” The film was irritatingly self-aware in this sense.
Second — and you may do well to skip this section if you intend to watch the movie — I found the presentation of mental illness deeply problematic, especially if we consider the movie from a narrative structure standpoint. For the first half or two-thirds of the movie, I found myself applauding the movie’s thoughtful and empathetic treatment of mental health issues — its complexities, its categorization as a true illness that can and should be treated through therapy and medication, the cold and hurtful way in which society can treat those suffering from it. At one point, Joker writes: “The hardest thing about mental illness is pretending you don’t have one.” And how can you read that without feeling overwhelmingly sad? The agony of living with a mental illness coupled with ostracization at its hands? It’s a recipe for deep unhappiness and it feels sickeningly unfair. There was a lot to contemplate, too, about the ways in which his turbulent and abusive childhood and the tenuous or non-existent relationships with his parents shaped him and his illnesses. It left me wondering about the risk factors associated with mental health — and whether we are born with certain conditions or the turbulence of our lives shape us.
But at the very end of the movie, the tide turns. Suddenly, we find ourselves aligning with Robert De Niro’s character as the good-natured host of a TV program and we are unceremoniously shuffled out of the Joker’s corner as we watch him transform into a blood-thirsty maniac. We go from empathizing with him to viewing him as an outsider within the span of maybe five minutes, and because there have been so many heavy-handed overtures to mental health throughout the first section of the movie, it is difficult not to see the ending as some sort of cautionary tale. “Watch out — those suffering from mental illness may spiral out of control and kill everyone around them! They might become monsters!” This is the subtext.
I was so baffled by the mixed messages here that I talked for the better part of dinner about them. The end seemed to undo all of the hard work normalizing mental illness at the beginning. The Joker does go off of his medication and lose access to his therapist prior to this unhinging, and so it might be appropriate to say that the film is suggesting such intercessions are necessary and could have transformed the trajectory of The Joker’s life if pursued further. But there was something troublingly irreconcilable about the presentation of mental health here: it’s normal, it’s treatable, we should see the human struggling to get through his day and feeling alienated by society! And then, at the end, we do an abrupt about-face: those who are mentally ill are dangerous!!! Beware!!!
There was something grandly gesturing, almost metaphorical, about the beginning that made the entire first portion of the movie feel like a social commentary on mental illness writ large. And to therefore conclude the film with the character’s sudden descent into chaotic violence felt problematic.
What are your thoughts on the matter? Has anyone else seen it?
(And what else should we see?)
Post Scripts.
+I just updated my Shop page. I have been getting an increasing number of emails/direct messages asking me for things like my favorite maternity must-haves and my favorite baby gear, so I made an effort to organize items into those categories and will work to keep them updated in case you are wondering, “Wait, what brand bottle did she recommend?”. I am thinking I might also roll out a “bride to be” section and maybe a “Mr. Magpie” section as well — what other categories would you like to see? Maybe a permanent gift section organized by recipient? (I also included a “most popular” section featuring my magpie reader’s most loved items!)
+Ralph’s current promotion (P.S. — DYING to see the Ralph documentary on HBO!) is too good to be true — extra 30% off sale, plus free fast shipping! I ordered a couple of coverall-type outfits for layering under bunting in cold weather (this and this), some socks, and also this cute bodysuit. Love this for a little lady around the holidays!
+In a recent Magpie Mail, a reader asked for suggestions for everyday drinking glasses. I wrote: “These bodega glasses are fun and modern-looking (I love to drink wine out of glasses like this, per the Spaniards in San Sebastian!) and I love French-style tumblers with bees on the side like these (we inherited a set when we were married!) Perfect for juice/water. I also like these elegant highballs for a beautifully-set table. That brand is amazing for stemware, too!” Still stand by all of those picks but I will say that I recently decided to add to our drinking glass collection since, within the span of like two weeks, we somehow chipped, lost, or broke three of our drinking glasses we’d purchased nearly ten years ago. I love the bodega glasses but didn’t need a set of 18 or 12, we already owned the bee juice glasses, and the highballs are stunning but prone to chip if being used for everyday drinking glasses. I spent way too many hours looking for an elegant shape that did not get poor marks from reviewers for being too fragile. (Most of the glasses from Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma are poorly reviewed for this reason!) I ended up buying eight of these from CB2. I like their elegant shape and gracious size but they seem to be a bit hardier than the rest in their class. I also considered these, which get very strong reviews on Amazon, and really wanted these but was too concerned they’d break easily.
I didn’t get to all of the incredible questions I received, so I will be doing another installment of Magpie Mail soon. The above photo is how I’d like you to imagine me responding to these questions (chic! on the go!), but the truth is that I sit down and ponder each and every one for a long, long time before responding and so I need to break them out across manageably-sized posts, or each Magpie Mail post would be about an hour’s worth of reading! Feel free to keep your inquiries coming to jennifer@thefashionmagpie.com or direct message me via Instagram. I treasure these questions so dearly.
Q: How do you balance being an anticipator with living in the moment? I struggle with this.
A: Me too, my friend. I wrote a whole post on my anticipator tendencies. I have noticed a marked change in myself over the past few weeks, though, and I think it’s because I finally — after 35 years and, more specifically, the chaos of adapting to life with two children — have figured out how to set appropriate expectations for what can be accomplished in a day. I have disciplined myself not to overstuff my days and to include plenty of padding in my schedule, and I find that leading my life at a more metered, quasi-leisurely pace has afforded me much more space to enjoy the happenstance. Let me be more specific: I used to toss five or ten goals on my “to-do” list on any given day even though I knew they were likely unrealistic and then I’d get to around 4 p.m. and grimace at the remainder. I felt so disheartened shifting items from today’s docket to tomorrow’s — it felt like unfinished business and it left me anxious and harried throughout the day, to the point that I was never enjoying even the pleasant bits! (It’s difficult to enjoy a manicure when you’re glancing at your watch hoping you’ll make it home by the time the nanny needs to leave or your call is going to start.) Nowadays, I am far more thoughtful about what makes it onto a given day’s to-do list. I think in terms of time, and then add generous buffers. For example, if I know a blog post typically takes me two hours to write, I’ll estimate two and a half or even three. If Tilly’s walk typically takes 20 minutes, I’ll estimate 30 or 45. If a call is scheduled for thirty minutes, I’ll estimate an hour. And so on. And I will never toss anything else onto the list unless it fits within the six hours I have our nanny here. After that, I assume I will be entirely preoccupied with the children and all bets are off in terms of accomplishing anything on my list.
In short, I think time management and setting low expectations (or, as I prefer to think of them, “graciously sized expectations”) have enabled me to feel like I am making progress everyday and have also afforded me new pockets of spare time to settle into the moment. So, if I want to take Tilly on a longer walk one day? No problem. If I want to duck out for a coffee? Great. I also find myself more capable of dialing in on the present moment because I’m not sprinting around trying to accomplish fifty five things in an hour. (Honest N.B.: The foregoing is oriented around “a good day” — I obviously have many days where I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off.)
The other element that has helped is recognizing “slices of joy” as they are happening. This has taken some mental gymnastics as I am just as prone as you are to thinking ahead and wondering about the next fifty nine things I am hoping to accomplish. But more recently, whether I am on the subway en route to pick up mini or grocery shopping by myself or watching mini hopscotch at the playground, I find myself pausing and pulling myself out of my thoughts to say: “This moment is really nice. I am happy, I have no child crying or in need of anything, and I am just going to soak this up.”
Finally, list therapy! If I can put something on my mind down on paper so I can return to it later, when I have more time, I am more likely to return to the present. Sometimes I will even make a pre-list of all of the things I would like to do in a given week/month or as pertains to a particular part of my life (for example, decorating our apartment) and will then divvy up the line items across my calendar when I have a minute to do so. (I really like Wunderlist and my paper planner for both of these. Wunderlist is great because it syncs automatically across devices and I’m never far from my phone, so I can easily insert a new “to do” to then transpose onto my paper planner when I get home.)
Magpies, what other tips do you have?!
Q: Looking for a 30th birthday gift for my brother and want to make it extra special as he accomplished a major career milestone this year. Thoughts?
A: So sweet and generous of you! I included some of my favorite gifts for men here, all of which are Mr. Magpie-approved, and he is one of the most discerning and detail-oriented people I know. The Filson briefcase might be a good pick given his recent work achievement. I have found a number of meaningful gifts for my brother from Best Made Co. — he lives in Montana and likes the outdoors, and all of their gear is well-made and style-conscious. Alternately, a few years ago, I purchased Mr. Magpie a beautiful alligator belt from Paul Stuart here in NYC (note that you need to buy the buckle separately — could be cool to have it etched with his initials?) and I like the way that gift nods to his new career milestone? (If he’s more of a casual guy — I also bought Mr. Magpie one of these oyster buckles for a casual leather belt and he wears it constantly.) Finally, what about a beautiful wallet or money clip? This is the kind of thing a guy would never buy for himself but would use regularly. This one from Moore & Giles is incredible. I would probably add a little card that says: “Now that you’re making fat stacks…” (Ha!)
Q: What are your go-to black pants and black flats? I’m always looking for work basics.
A: Hi! I like J. Crew for black trim-fit pants, and have always had the best luck buying work-appropriate trousers/pants from Theory (these look like a good pick, and are on ridiculous sale!) though it has admittedly been years since I was in the market for suiting. For basic flats, I love my Chanel ballet flats and a pair of Loeffler Randall pointed toe flats from a few seasons back (similar to these). I have also been eyeing these flats from Prada for several seasons — they are simply perfect.
Q: How did you get up the courage to move to NYC?
A: You know, it all happened so quickly and we were so excited about the opportunity that I never stopped to think about the move in these terms! I was mainly fixated on the happy idea that we’d be closer to family and back to our East Coast roots. Moving more recently (within Manhattan) required a lot more awareness, energy, and courage. We had a little baby, we were navigating a lot of transitions, and I was flat out exhausted from three months of sleeplessness. The move was overwhelming and it would have been so much easier to just stay put. (So much so that I drove myself to illness and migraine!) I had to continuously, assiduously remind myself that we were on our way to a much better living arrangement for our entire family and force myself to keep my eyes on the prize. But, man! It took a lot of gearing up to make that move happen. I’m so glad it’s behind us.
Q: When contemplating furniture purchases, are there things you flat-out avoid on account of children? Fabrics, materials, etc.?
A: Still very much learning on this front, largely through the thoughtfulness and insight of Erin Gates in her book Elements of Family Style, which is definitely worth purchasing as she prioritizes the functional and durable but also provides explanations of why other materials are less practical so you can gauge the risk for yourself. In general though, I would say avoid white/patterns with a lot of white in them, read or inquire about the recommended care for any rug/upholstery (for example, our couch was beautifully upholstered in a linen weave and we made the mistake of running through the cushion covers through the washing machine — and they essentially deteriorated and shredded within a few months of use afterward! In retrospect, I should have had them professionally cleaned or found a fabric that could be cleaned in the washing machine), and think carefully about things with sharp edges (i.e., glass tables, metal accents, and the like). I think a couch with a machine-washable slipcover is a genius way to get through the years when kids are ultra-messy and spill-prone. If you like the look, leather is also highly durable and family-friendly! Finally, imagine a child interacting with all of your furniture before purchasing. A tall glass etagere or a bench prone to slamming shut might not be the best investments if you have a toddler wheeling around. And cool-looking round stools with no back might not be the best fit for your kitchen counters might not be ideal for a small child.
P.S. I was just looking at some chairs from a new-to-me label, TheInside, and noticed that you can tick a box for “child and pet friendly” fabrics when selecting the upholstery. How brilliant!?
Q: Window treatments that won’t cost more than a college education?
A: My first thought was Crate & Barrel because we bought mini these adorable blackout curtains for her nursery in our old apartment and they were well-made and exactly what I was looking for — but at a reasonable price. Something like this or this would be classic and affordable in a range of rooms. You can also find incredible values on Etsy — check out this boutique, which offers stunning panel curtains using beautiful high-end fabric like Thibault (love this) and gets incredible reviews. I also think simple silk panels like these can be super elegant in a dining room. Imagine them in the spa color as the backdrop/foil to some lovely Louis XIV dining chairs upholstered in robin’s egg blue?!
Anthro also has some really fun, loud prints at a good price if you “live out loud” / enjoy a boho vibe when it comes to home decor.
Q: What is the rug-sizing resource you referred to in your post on rugs?
A: This handy diagram from Empire Rugs! So helpful! Have bookmarked it for future use.
Q: I’ve been using the MZ Wallace backpack but am looking for something with more structure. What would you recommend?
A: I hear you – what you gain in the M.Z. Wallace backpack’s lightweightness you lose in structure. (Though I still believe that backpack is one of the best items I’ve bought in a long while — I could not live without it while commuting mini home from school in the afternoons!) I would suggest considering either a StateBags or maybe investing (splurge!) in a gently-used Gucci logo backpack? I also know that people rave about Dagne Dover but it’s not so much my aesthetic. Still, could be worth investigating given all the strong reviews.
Q: When did you introduce Maileg or dolls to your daughter?
A: She received her first Maileg mice as a gift when she was born, and I was unfamiliar with the brand until that point. I think she started playing with them around a year old? They are beyond adorable — so cleverly and sweetly designed. The details are insane. My mother-in-law and I usually gift her one or two new ones over the course of a year. How could we not give her this when Hill was born?!
Q: Some ideas for toddler dresses for preschool interviews? And outfits for mama, too!
A: I dressed mini in Bellabliss for interviews — I feel like they strike just the right balance between traditional/somewhat proper and yet not too frou-frou or over the top. I specifically remember her wearing this to one of them; I also love this. I feel the same way about Nantucket Kids (something like this) and Busy Bees (love this for the occasion and just want to note that I bought like five of these rompers for micro for next summer when they were on sale earlier this year) — classic, timeless, and yet functional. I loved the idea of mini wearing Pepa & Co or D. Porthault but knew that those labels/styles can also project a certain kind of image (slightly fussy) and I was conscious of that. I erred on the side of beautiful, well-made, traditional clothing. I think Jacadi would also be a good call. I mean, this jumper with a little peter pan collar blouse/top, a big bow, and some patent mary janes? GET OUTTA HERE. Too cute. (As an aside, Condor knee socks or Jeffries’ cable-knit tights with Elephantito Mary Janes are perfect with any of the above mentioned looks.)
And if we live in la-la land, I dream of wearing this or this to such an occasion. Charlotte York vibes.
Q: I’m looking to coordinate outfits with my son but have only been able to find pieces for mothers and daughters. Can you help? My style veers toward classic.
A: So sweet! Depending on the occasion, would you consider Polo? Matching white polos or cable-knit sweaters or even classic flag sweaters (this for you, this for him) would be completely timeless. I can actually imagine a photo of you and your boy barefoot on the beach in black and white in any of those looks. Pink Chicken also occasionally includes boy stuff — consider this and this.
You might also pick a pattern/fabric — say, tartan or dark-wash denim or red velvet and go from there even if you’re mixing and matching brands/styles versus looking for coordinating outfits from the getgo.
Q: Things for a bride-to-be!
A: Congrats!! Such a fun and exciting and emotional time. I shared a lot of my favorite bridelette finds here, but a few other thoughts I’ve shared across the blog that I’ll collect here: this jumpsuit (on sale in select sizes here!) is so flattering (I own it in lipstick red) and would be absolutely adorable for a rehearsal dinner or bachelorette, depending on formality/accessories. I look back fondly on having the wedding date stitched into my dress in blue thread, though I wish I’d had one of these custom labels done up. I also loved keeping my notes in a personalized Smythson notebook for the occasion — it made me feel put-together and sort of commemorated the whole wedding-planning process. Also — you must have one of these diamond cleaning sticks to keep the ring looking flawless!
Q: My husband is interested in learning to bake bread. Do you or Mr. Magpie have any gift recommendations?
A: Thank you for this question as I used it as bait to remind Mr. Magpie that he should start a small series on the blog showcasing his cooking/baking efforts. But to your question: yes! Mr. Magpie read Flour Water Salt Yeast and Tartine Bread cover to cover and then felt equipped to start making his own bread. He also used (and strongly encourages the purchase of) these brotforms, inexpensive bench scrapers, and multi-quart storage containers for proofing.
Q: What did you get mini for her first Christmas? What are you getting micro? Do you buy keepsakes every year?
This year, we are considering a tricycle for mini (love this or this and this is just darling) and I’ve always wanted one of these or a classic Bruder truck for micro, though I know he’s still too young.
Keepsakes: I do buy a new ornament for Mr. Magpie and mini every year, and plan to of course add one for micro, too.
Q: What are your favorite online furniture brands? We are moving.
A: As you may have gathered, I love Serena and Lily. I rarely collaborate with brands but I made an exception for them because I love their products so much and have bought a number of investment pieces from them over the course of the last five or ten years. I have also had great luck with Crate and Barrel — my first bed and dresser set right out of college were from them, and they were the most expensive and important items I’d ever bought myself. They were well-made, stood up to the test of time, and timeless in style. We’ve since bought a number of items from them — most recently their leaning bookcases, which flank our TV in the living room. We also own and adore pieces from Room and Board, Jayson Home, Mitchell Gold and Bob Williams, Ballard Designs, Jonathan Adler, and Pottery Barn. We’ve had spotty luck with West Elm — I don’t think their furniture is as well made as some of the other big box stores, but their decor is fun. I’ve also found great accent pieces from Target — stuff like these inexpensive x-benches are perfect at for adding texture and additional seating to a living space without breaking the bank.
Q: Can you recommend a good carseat tray? When we travel, would be nice to have her be occupied with a sticker book or something to put snacks on, etc to help pass the time.
A: Love this idea. I don’t have one, but I would be inclined towards the one by Skip Hop. They tend to make well-designed products and I personally like that it’s not as much of an eyesore as so many of the other designs I’ve seen. (And a lot of the other designs have about fifty-five pockets and pouches and I just cannot see my toddler delicately placing each and every item back in those pouches — seems over-engineered.)
Though I like a trend as much as the next gal, I often find myself returning and drawn to ladylike looks with pearls, bows, and smart tailoring. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite finds of late:
We have been slowly making our way to a more settled and finished apartment, and I am straining to heed the advice of many of my lovely readers: “take your time! wait for the right pieces!” We still have a couch to find, a dining table/chairs to locate, and a number of other smaller pieces to carefully select — and so I am finding myself alternating between decision paralysis and a reckless bias towards action. Fortunately, Serena & Lily helped us complete our master bedroom (now we only need to mount our TV on the wall and find a small piece of furniture for my printer over in the corner of the room I now dub my office/writing nook) by sending us one of their stunning rugs, all of which are marked down until tomorrow. I selected this beautiful Amelia hand-knotted style in the prettiest shade of blue and it has transformed our bedroom. S&L has been my ride-or-die partner in design, as so many of their pieces have elevated and completed various iterations of rooms in our homes in the past few years. This rug is no exception. It is absolutely breathtaking in person, and even though we’ve not yet hung artwork in our room (we will be soon hanging some framed Audubon bird prints above the lamps on both side tables), the room now feels “finished,” especially alongside our upholstered bed (coincidentally, also from S&L — the first item I purchased from them years ago) and my new and cherished raffia dresser (which you can see in the background of one of the pictures below). We ordered our rug in the 8×10, as I recently saw a helpful diagram demonstrating the proper dimensions for various rooms and arrangements, and apparently an 8×10 is the ideal size for a queen bed with two bedside tables. It sophisticates and focuses the room — not to mention softens its look and feel, as you can see from the “before” and “after” pictures below.
Before — SANS rugAfter — WITH rug (and mini’s toys)
We did not have a large master bedroom rug in our former apartment as the room was oddly shaped and we instead used small 2×3 size rugs at our bedsides (similar to this), and Mr. Magpie and I now feel like we missed out on a small daily joy for years of our lives: it is the absolute loveliest, most luxurious feeling to jump out of bed onto the soft cushion of a carpet in the morning! (Why am I so late to the game on this?) I will also say that though this rug will need to be professionally cleaned on a regular basis (I have learned that hand-knotted rugs — especially beautifully-crafted ones like this! — will need to be removed and cleaned offsite, whereas professional cleaners can actually come to your apartment and treat your machine-made rugs on premises), its design will cleverly disguise dirt/debris in the months intervening. I also originally considered this gorgeous diamond-print rug for the room but am so glad I introduced blue into the mix with the Amelia rug, as our bedroom would have otherwise been fifty shades of gray…
I’m so happy we ended up ordering a rug for our bedroom, as it feels like a relief to have at least one room that is done — and a room where I spend the vast majority of my time no less, as I pass most mornings writing in here. However, we did also consider this diamond jute rug for our dining room, as we felt the neutral would be inviting and versatile no matter what dining set we select, and I very seriously contemplated ordering this rug in the blue or this fun textured rug for micro’s nursery (we thought either would be perfect with his Nash crib). I am still on the hunt for the perfect entryway rug, and S&L’s current discount on all rugs is enticing me to select another piece of theirs. We have a long foyer that runs the length of our dining room and then widens a little bit in an area in front of two hall closets before opening up to the living room, so I’m torn between a runner for when you first walk in or maybe an area rug in the spot where we have the closet doors. I think it might look odd to have both a runner and a rug in tandem with one another, so it feels like we need one or the other. Decisions, decisions — but regardless, I am smitten with this Mirabelle in the ivory whether we end up with a runner or an area rug for the space. Mr. Magpie is voting for the latter, as we are thinking we might hang one of our larger pieces of art right there and place two x-benches beneath it. The rug would make that area feel like a proper room — an intentional space! — for putting on shoes and coats, and trust me when I say you really have to make the most of every last inch in a New York apartment.
P.S. I wrote about this yesterday, but purchasing a rug pad to place beneath a high-end rug like this is essential. It not only protects the rug and the floor, but it softens the feel underfoot.
This post written in collaboration with Serena & Lily. Thank you, Serena & Lily, for the beautiful rug!
By: Jen Shoop
1 // Snakeskin Dress. Only $50 and very much my vibe right now. I wear it with black kitten-heeled booties.
2 // Drawer dividers. I have been in serious Marie Kondo mode as I just finally got around to sorting all my clothes, donating several bags, tossing old items not worth donating, and putting everything away in my closet and my new dresser. These dividers make the most of my dresser, as the drawers are delightfully wide. I am determined not to let the drawers become mash-ups of clothes, and these will keep me in my lane. I also ordered this set to keep my underwear drawer tidy, as I bequeathed my old divider set to mini, who also inherited our old dresser.
3 // Serena and Lily Blake Dresser. I had my eye on this for years and years and finally purchased it during S&L’s most recent promotion. It is absolutely gorgeous in person — its texture adds so much warmth and interest to our bedroom. I am absolutely head over heels for it. My new dilemma is how to style the top! It is a very wide dresser so it needs a big piece of art and either a large, squat lamp or two tall, slender lamps to flank its sides. I am contemplating finally purchasing either a Paule Marrot or a St. Frank Textile to hang above it (both of them mentioned here, alongside my other top sources for artwork for the home).
4 // Velvet Hangers. Per the recommendation of multiple readers, I stuck with velvet hangers and phased out the mish-mash I’d accrued over time. These are slim, sturdy, and look polished. I also ordered a set of clips to use for my skirts.
5 // Iris Storage Bins. It’s hard to describe these as “favorites” because Mr. Magpie and I were both appalled at the amount of money we spent on empty plastic bins — BUT. They do make me so happy. Our new apartment has a lot more closets than our old one but many of them were outfitted (smartly) with a ton of built-in shelving that meant they couldn’t accommodate a lot of the bigger boxes/bins we’d been using previously. And so we had to measure all the various spaces and figure out how best to store things like Christmas decorations, Mr. Magpie’s train set from when he was a child, memorabilia and paperwork/documents, wrapping paper, baseball cards, etc, etc. We ended up very carefully buying just the right size sets of boxes and are now able to stow everything tidily and in just the right dimensions to slide right into the built-ins. It all makes me so gleeful.
6 // Hygge & West Shower Curtain. I put this in the tiny bathroom off micro’s nursery and it brings me so much joy each and every time I walk in there. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a print more! I ordered these hand towels (still waiting for them to arrive) to coordinate and I have to say the store owner was such a delight to work with! She helped me track down the perfect blue. I also placed this soap in there and I love the blue story happening every time I walk in.
7 // Rug Pads. I am probably embarrassing myself by admitting this, but I did not use rug pads until I moved into our new apartment. It just never crossed my mind, with the exception of a grippy-type mat I used to use in our front foyer because Tilly was always making the rug slide all over the place when she’d sprint to the door. Because we have been investing in our rugs, I read somewhere that these are essential if you are placing heavy furniture on top of the rug — and they also add a level of plushness that I hadn’t anticipated and absolutely live for. A small price to pay for both caring properly for your rug and enjoying a luxurious rug experience! Serena and Lily generously sent me this gorgeous rug for our bedroom and I’m absolutely dying over it. The rug pad makes it feel that much more extravagant. (More to come on this tomorrow, but you can get any S&L rug for 30% off right now…!)
8 // La Coqueta Knit Suits. These are just precious and so beautifully made. As we slip into cooler weather, I find myself only wanting to put micro in head-to-toe playsuits, and these are a cut above the rest. (I also have been burrowing him in his fleece bunting. He also has one of these for when it gets super cold; he inherited from his sister. Not sure why it’s marked so cheaply on Amazon, but trust me — jump on that deal! This brand makes clothes that LAST. Alternately, check out this adorable tartan bunting, on serious sale right now! And while we are on the subject of warm gear for little babies, a girlfriend of mine sent micro one of these personalized knit hats and literally he cannot wear it out of the apartment without someone stopping to ask me about it. His is light blue, so I bought him these mittens to coordinate.) If the LC knit suits are overly pricey for your taste, I am intrigued by the brand Hope & Henry (has anyone tried?) — check out this and this! — and this sweet little one-piece (under $20) gets good reviews.
9 // Laura Mercier Eye Basics. My favorite purchase from my recent Sephora haul (the 20% off event ends today!). I have been feeling lately like eye shadow is such a drag and often can’t be bothered to apply it. My priorities are concealer (<<my all-time favorite) and a heavy application of mascara (<<my other all-time favorite), and then I’m on my way. But I love the LM eye basics because — though I think it’s meant to be a primer that you use beneath a shadow — I just swipe it on and it evens out redness/tone of my eyelids without requiring any additional eyeshadow application, in my opinion. I feel so much more finished wearing it but it still looks super-natural. I love it.
10 // Padded Headband. Have been wearing both the black padded headband and the pearl headband all over the place. So fun. I love inexpensive, trendy accessories like this! They take an otherwise straight-forward look (black sweater, black jeans) to another level.
P.P.S. Still reading this, which is excellent, but I am still struggling to carve out time to read these days with two little kids and a lot happening. (Hitha, how do you do it?!) But I am feeling a need to revive our book club…! I miss the conversations in the comments and IRL!
I have had decision paralysis trying to figure out what to wear for Thanksgiving and a couple of other upcoming events. I think I am actually going to wear trousers (!) to one event — more on that in a future post — but I needed a dress to wear to a few dinners out. I had been eyeing this Rotate dress, seen above, for weeks (ahem) and finally pulled the trigger. I plan on wearing it with either my suede OTKs or ankle booties (<<mine are almost identical to these).
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Floral Blouse.
The most popular items on the blog this past week:
The NYC Marathon was last weekend and Mr. Magpie commented that he had seen commuters wearing their marathon medals on the Subway even multiple days after the race. We mused over this behavior for a spell. As non-runners (or at least non-marathoners), we have no claim to understand what goes into training for or completing such an athletic feat. All I know is that it is an immense physical and mental challenge and an incredible lifetime achievement, and though it is not one I aspire to tick off my personal bucket list, I have several close friends and family members who participate in them (including my own father, who has run dozens of marathons in his lifetime) and I therefore deeply respect their efforts. Still, we thought the medal-wearing a week after the fact a bit…strange?
But then — was it?
Scrolling through social media can occasionally feel like observing a string of self-congratulations. “We bought a house!” “I voted!” “I donated to this cause — please do the same!” “Look at my cool outfit!” “I’m in the Bahamas!” “I successfully made this complicated Thomas Keller dish!*”
Most of the time, I look on with bemusement or excitement or envy or encouragement. On my snarkier days, I tire of it, as some of the posts read like virtue-signaling or self-adulation. But that’s our generation for you: bleeding hearts that need to be seen bleeding. A desire for acknowledgement. A cultivated sense that we are all special snowflakes. (And lest you think I am tossing a stone from a glass house, I will be the first to admit that I share this mentality.) At any rate, as we chatted, we realized that the medal-wearing on the subway was an analog example of a behavior primarily and prolifically carried out on digital platforms every single day. It is simply easier and more accepted to tout our own accomplishments via post to Instagram or Facebook, and certain functionalities make that self-promotion ultra-easy: “Share on Twitter!” and “Invite 10 friends to do the same!” and “Post to Facebook!” The job is three-quarters of the way done! It would be so easy to just let everyone know…
Maybe I have this backwards, or maybe I’m being ill-tempered. Maybe these modalities (even the physical object of a medal!) afford us the means to celebrate people and their victories in our own communities, serving as visual cues to support the people around us.
What say you, Magpies?
*Well, this would elicit genuine reverence in my book.
+Read good things about this chic and inexpensive puffer coat — though do note that it runs really, really, really small and that apparently the company who makes them is hard to work with.
Some fun scores for you on this Friday, starting with this $50 slinky maxi dress I just ordered. It reminds me in ethos of my leopard-print Ganni maxi from last year, which I have already worn twice this season as well (this is the updated style they have on offer now, which I also love). I’m into this silhouette — a long maxi worn with ankle boots or over the knee boots and a cropped black jacket. Perfect for a dinner out on the town, as it is fashionable but not too dressy.
At any rate, a few other under-$100 finds to round out your fall-to-winter wardrobe:
P.S. I have been sharing more of my daily looks on Instastory lately, and some of my most frequently-asked questions in the past week have been about an inexpensive black headband I wore (it actually comes with a second pearl headband that I thought I would just give to Emory for dress up but I actually LOVE — I wore it with a tweed top similar to this, black skinnies, my Alexandre Birman Kitties, and my Chanel and got a lot of compliments over the weekend!) and my Everlane liner jacket (thank you, Everlane!), which has been my best friend the past few weeks during this nippy-but-not-yet-quite-cold weather. The most common question I have gotten about the liner jacket is whether it is warm, and I would say that it feels just right when the weather is in the 40s/50s (and I usually layer it over a thin sweater). It’s definitely not meant for cold New England winters — more for their crisp falls. My favorite parts about the jacket are: 1) the color — I am dying over the burnt gold hue! So different from everything I own and yet it seems to work with everything I own, from pastel pink to army green, and 2) the deep pockets in the front. I often wear it while walking Tilly or running errands and the pockets can handily accommodate my phone, keys, a credit card, and my cherished airpods without looking too bulky. Strongly recommend you add this coat to your wardrobe, especially if you (like me) have pondered purchasing one of those quilted Burberry barn coats but waffled on whether you need it when you also have a Barbour and a trench coat and so it feels like the Burbs might be a little overpriced for what you need. This fills the perfect void without costing too much.
