By: Jen Shoop

2018 was an upswing for the Shoop Family — a year that answered.  After a rocky couple of years that culminated in the dissolution of our business, a stressful and botched move to New York, and the drawn-out sale of our beloved home in Chicago, Mr. Magpie and I both suffered from situational depression.  We were uncharacteristically pessimistic and — while we nurtured one another at home, in our cozy little pod — we found ourselves more “elbows out,” less kind, more impatient, than we had ever been in our entire lives.  I’ll never forget the morning Mr. Magpie was attempting to get our car out of the garage from our temporary lodging at a hotel during our move to NYC (note that we were paying an exorbitant monthly fee — a second rent — for said garage spot) as he hurriedly prepared for work.  It was his second day at a new job — tensions were already understandably high — but we had to orchestrate an early morning transfer of all of our bags, our traumatized airedale (she didn’t eat for four days in protest of the move), and mini to a new hotel because the hotel we’d been staying in suddenly had no more room at the inn and we were without lodging at the last minute.  (Do you know how hard it is to find a hotel that permits 60 lb dogs and does not cost over $1,500 a night at the last minute?  I think I called 14 hotels.  And this one was way down in Soho, whereas we’d previously been up close to our soon-to-be apartment on the Upper West Side.  But I digress.)  He’d called several times to have the car brought up.  No response.  No response.  No response.  Finally he got someone on the line, and that someone gave him an earful about needing to call earlier if he’d wanted to get his car out by 7 a.m.  I can’t be too sure, but I think Mr. Magpie physically transformed into The Hulk for a split-second.  My patient, even-tempered husband snapped.

“No.  No.  No.” he said, a foreign-sounding rage seeping into his voice.  “You’re going to get my car right now.  I’ll see you in 15 minutes.” 

(There may have been some colorful expletives thrown in.)

The car was ready when he arrived and mercifully (shockingly) scratch-free.  But I’d never seen him with emotion bubbling so close to the surface. We were living on tenterhooks.

It took until June of this year — around the time of my birthday — for our rehabilitation to be complete.  He took me to Prune for the occasion and — we are not normally so lavish, even on on birthdays — directed me to order a bar snack, an entree, a side, and a dessert, plus any wine or cocktail I wanted off the menu.  I remember watching him from across the table, his face arranged into a loose smile, his shoulders relaxed against the chair, his eyes occasionally traveling to nearby neighbors’ plates to inspect their orders.  He looked himself.  He wore his signature air of healthy, happy-go-lucky satisfaction, that curious and occasionally devious glint in his eye twinkling every now and then as he’d lean in to tell me to check out the wildly dressed couple at the door, or the oversized tattoo on the waiter, or the oysters at table 10.   

We sauntered down 1st street, and then Houston, full and happy.  I thought of a line from Hemingway, at his best in A Moveable Feast:

“We ate well and cheaply and drank well and cheaply and slept well and warm together and loved each other.”

Only in New York, you never eat or drink well and cheaply, except for when you travel down to Super Taste in Chinatown on Saturday mornings for hand-pulled noodles and dumplings, as has become habit for us — but but but the sentiment stands.  Life feels simpler when cocooned in love.  We were warm and well and I thought to myself, as I have many times since: “This is enough.  This is life at its peak, at its fullest.  I am enough.  We are enough.”

Mr. Magpie has a phrase for this feeling: “The Shoops are back.”  When we sold the house despite a midnight hour leak in the master bathroom ceiling: “The Shoops are back.”  When mini got into her pre-school of choice: “The Shoops are back.” When he crushed his first year at work, forging a new discipline, acquiring a new team, and earning the respect and love of his colleagues: “The Shoops are back.”   When TheFashionMagpie really took off this year: “The Shoops are back.”

I cotton to his determination and his drive.  I am drawn to the flint in his eye, the set of his jaw.  I see in his resolve a straight and unbroken line to his roots: the son of an entrepreneur, from a webbed family of enterprising, hard-working Americans of German stock and more brave, conscientious members of the military than you can count.  

And so when he says ‘The Shoops are back,” I find myself wrapping my arms around 2018, not quite ready to say goodbye to it.  It’s been kind to me.  It’s borne a kind of peace and well-being that in some ways I feel I do not deserve, but now is not the time for my Catholic guilt to get in the way of my enjoyment of a really really really really really good year.

I hope 2018 was as generous to you, but if it wasn’t: may 2019 be a year that answers for you. 

And to Mr. Magpie: cheers to another year of eating and drinking and sleeping well and warm together.

Post-Scripts.

+Must order this Prune cookbook for Mr. Magpie.  He already read — and loved — the chef’s memoir.  (P.S.  — More of our favorite cookbooks here.)

+What are the odds of finding this adorable calligraphed print of that Hemingway quote?  I may buy it in the card format and frame it in one of these acrylic frames for Mr. Magpie’s bedside.  (We use these frames for meaningful cards — including a sweet bedtime prayer my mother-in-law scrawled on a card to mini on her Baptism that we now say nightly.)

+Another quote I love that reminds me of Mr. Magpie.

+Now is the time to stock up on ornaments for your collection.  I’ve mentioned this in the past, but my top strategy for building a “grown up” holiday decor reserve is by buying a handful of festive pieces each season — preferably when they go on sale around now.  I love these candy ornaments, these clip-on candle ornaments, these birds (I have quite a collection of bird ornaments by now — I just love them perched on the branches!), these skis, and this cloisonne leopard.  Also: this for mini, who just wrapped up a semester of pre-ballet.  Now is also a good time to buy boring but necessary things like wreath hangers — love this one!

+After yesterday’s hair-centric post, a friend texted to let me know how much she loves and lives by Ouai’s dry oil for static hair issues in the winter!

+Legit dying over these Prada mules.  The perfect Christmas shoe.  I have this black watch tartan Ralph Lauren dress I bought at the age of 19 that I still wear nearly every holiday season.  These heels would be the perfect accoutrement.

+Your little boy needs these.  (OMG.)

+Hannahs for $20/pop!  Now’s a good time to stock up for next Christmas…

+Love this pearl-embellished sweater for New Year’s Day.  All the pearls please.

+THIS!  For Valentine’s Day!  For $20!

+A fun hair embellishment for under $15.  I like the polish it lends to your everyday ponytail.  Appropriate for work or evening cocktails.  Love.

+I own this one-piece style in a different colorway and it is SO flattering.  Might need it in the neon pink too.

By: Jen Shoop

It’s getting to that time of season where Net-A-Porter’s sale section is yielding some insane finds — the items have been discounted, and then discounted again.  Below, a round-up of the most amazing sale scores at or under $100:

+Ganni wrap dress.  This is such a hot label and how can you say no to such a versatile piece?!  (Seen above.)  I recently wore their leopard dress and fetched a lot of compliments from strangers and friends alike!

+I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: J. Brand’s Photoready Denim is the best thing since sliced bread.  It holds you in but never without cutting off circulation and creates a MEAN, LEAN silhouette.  Currently 50% off!

+Sam Edelman lace-up flats.  I own these in black and still wear them — they are SO chic and — at $36 — hard to pass up.  Love them with a midi dress.

+These Vejas are so chic and a great option if you’re into the Golden Goose sneaker look but no so into the price tag.

+I still swear by Nike Flyknits for running, but I love these APLs for every other kind of exercise.  The BEST colors.

+If you’re vacation-bound in the new year or just better than I am about buying for seasons ahead: consider this bucket bag, this chic sunhat, or these darling slides.  And, if you’re expecting and going on a babymoon: THIS.

+These pretty camis would look fetching under a blazer or on-trend tucked into mom jeans.

+Not-under-or-around-$100-but-still-worth-a-look: this dreamy floral Zimmermann; my favorite evening sandal; a dramatic winter maxi; a stunning, frothy evening dress for a spring/summer special occasion; a va-va-voom swimsuit for a honeymooner; the prettiest ladylike dress.

P.S.  Not from N-A-P, but Loeffler is running its own epic sale and I just ordered these winter-ready mules.   I have a problem with velvet.

P.P.S.  What’s your song?  And, in case you are new here, this collection of posts remains my most popular — all about how I met and fell in love with the absolute love of my life.

By: Jen Shoop

I am getting my hair cut tomorrow and am torn between doing a true bob (a few inches above the shoulder) or a long bob.  I like how styled I feel with a true bob — I feel pulled-together, like I have a point-of-view — but have been enjoying the wavy look lately, which is easier to achieve with longer hair and is also a lot more forgiving in terms of maintenance.  With longer hair, I can air-dry and curl it the next morning (my preferred mode — aka, lazy), or just throw it up in a ponytail or bun, kinks be-damned.  I have to rave briefly about a few of my favorite products for long bob territory:

+Ouai Texturing Hair Spray.  This stuff is INCREDIBLE.  It adds texture and volume to hair while keeping it in place but never looks crispy or stiff.  It also smells insane.  I love the scent so much I bought some of the line’s other products just for it!  (See below.)  I spray this into air-dried hair and let sit for a minute before curling.

+Hot Tools 1/2 Inch Curling Iron.  I use this to get the beachy/brushed-out wave look I’ve been rocking a lot lately.  These are the absolute best curling irons: they heat quickly and evenly (and to a high temperature) and I find them easy to use.  Make sure you get the Hot Tools with the gold barrel — the ceramic ones aren’t as good.  At any rate, I section off hair and curl from the top down (i.e., get the barrel as close to the root as possible and then twist away from the face).  I leave the ends uncurled.  One trick my favorite hairstylist in Chicago taught me (her name is Abby and she works magic at Trianon Salon in Lincoln Park) is NOT TO TOUCH YOUR HAIR ONCE YOU’VE CURLED IT.  Let it completely cool without touching.  You’ll feel like a weird cowardly lion with your hair in little ringlets for a few minutes, but if you let it cool naturally and then run your fingers through it, you achieve the best outcome.  Anyway, I use this iron, let my hair cool, and then spritz the Ouai spray again on top and comb my fingers through it.  Voila.

+Ouai Leave-In Conditioner.  I spritz this and DryBar’s Prep Rally onto my hair just out of the shower.  I like Drybar’s stuff because it really detangles and protects hair from heat.  Meanwhile, Ouai’s conditioner leaves my hair soft and pliable for days and days.  I also find there’s some kind of magical synergy between these two products that means my hair is a lot less kinky/wavy when I let it airdry, so long as I brush intermittently as it does so.  I find that it dries straighter and more evenly.

+Mason Pearson Brush.  A few years ago, I invested in a Mason Pearson brush.  I had long cringed at the price tag but was in a treat-yo-self mode.  I absolutely love this brush.  It never breaks/snags hair (it’s so gentle!) but it really gets through your hair.  I brush from the tips to the roots when wet and then a couple of times as it air dries.  I personally like this pocket-sized version of the classic because I have small hands — ha! — and find it easier to wield.

+Drybar Hair Clips.  I love these things.  I feel like they are bizarrely indestructible.  I used to use standard claw clips to pull back my hair when washing my face / sectioning my hair, but I found they held a short shelf-life and I was constantly re-ordering.  I’ve had the same set of four Drybar clips for about a decade now and I use them every morning and night and any time I style my hair.  I find they hold and section hair well, whether you’re pinning back a big chunk or just a little strand or two.  

+Invisibobble Hair Ties.  I love these things.  They never stretch out (a constant issue with my standard Goody/Scunci brown elastics) and they truly keep hair in place.  They also never get stuck/snagged in hair.

+I have been very into headbands lately, if you can’t tell.  The more dramatic the better.  My favorite picks: this velvet knot style, this Sincerely Jules, and my pearl-encrusted Lele Sadoughi (only available for pre-order now, unless you want black, which is still purchasable now!).  This is also a solid alternative to the look I’m after.  (If you’re wondering what to wear a statement headband with: I love it with a white silk blouse and skinnies; let it do all the talking!  Alternately, make it the finishing touch on an over-the-top feminine look by pairing with an uber-pretty, uber-detailed blouse like this, this, or this.  

And I’m also debating whether bangs should weigh into the equation.  I think I’ll take in the above picture of Rose Byrne, whose hair (and face and everything actually) I LOVE, and just see what happens.  If I do end up with bangs, I’ll be getting some extra mileage out of my favorite round brush — I find that the only way to get that chic, bouncy side-swept bang is by blow-drying them in the opposite direction I want them to fall with a huge round brush.  And speaking of round brushes, I’ll probably be using a lot of the products in this round-up if I go for the bangs/longer bob look and want to blow my hair straight with volume.

Finally, I am trying to return to a darker hair color.  I’ve been highlighting my hair blonde for the past many years, and while I find it fun and flattering, especially in summer months, I have grown wistful looking at myself as a young brunette bride and am curious to know what I’d look like now with more dark in my hair.  I also wouldn’t mind a lower maintenance hair routine…coloring your hair is a serious commitment of capital and time!  In the meantime, I still use Oribe’s Bright Blond Shampoo every other washing.  I feel like it keeps my hair color bright and non-brassy.  At other washings, I use Bumble&Bumble’s Thickening Shampoo, which is a great product for those of us with fine, flat hair.

What are your secrets to great hair?!  And what should I do with MY HAIR?  Am I changing too much, going darker, adding bangs, and potentially changing the length all at once?  Probably not.  You know the old saying (attributed to Coco Chanel, among other luminaries): “A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life.”  In light of this week’s epiphanies, I’d say a dramatic hair change is due.

P.S.  One of my favorite fridge organizing hacks is on sale right now.  More great organization stuff here and here.

P.P.S.  People say this lint-and-fuzz-removing tool kit is LA CREME DE LA CREME.

P.P.P.S.  Things that make me feel good about myself (note I’m wearing a headband here!), some good reminders as we head towards 2019, and — are you a city mouse or a country mouse?

By: Jen Shoop

The other afternoon, my face brushed up against the edge of our sofa and I cringed at the tenderness in my still-healing forehead.  I had forgotten about my new scar for the better part of the day, but — ouch.  I permitted myself a minute to mope.  My plastic surgeon’s comment that “in six months, strangers won’t notice the scar” tumbled through my mind.  She had delivered the news as though it were a solace, a faint and encouraging nod behind it, and yet all I heard was “six months” and “strangers,” my mind immediately traveling to the glass-half-empty side of the equation: so what you’re saying is that my loved ones and I will still notice the scar.  Forever, probably.  Then I thought of something my mother had told me while I had cried to her about the incident: after a long “buck-up, camper” back-and-forth in which she played the part of the pragmatist and I played the part of the drama queen, she paused and said: “Vanity, thy name is woman.”  I had thought the comment appropriately, artfully callous at the time.  I deserved the mild admonishment.

And so I sat on the sofa holding both comments in my hands, feeling alternately sorry for myself and vexed with myself for tumbling into this self-indulgent maelstrom two weeks after the occasion, even after I have given more than sufficient thought to why it happened and what I might learn from it and even after I have written about it extensively and even after so many of you have sent me kind and encouraging messages.  Even now, as I write this, I roll my eyes at my self-absorption in returning to this topic. 

But I have a point.

I walked over to the mirror in our living room, ran my fingers up the wound.  I tilted my face to the left and the right.  I sulked.  And then: Vanity, thy name is woman.  I heaved a sigh and abandoned my visage, attending to mini instead.

Later that night, I tossed and turned.  I wasn’t solely agonizing over the scar, but it was flitting in and out of my thoughts, along with anguish over a floundering friendship, logistical anxieties surrounding our upcoming trip to D.C., and the usual surge of inane but urgent details surrounding motherhood and its tackle: signing up for a make-up class at mini’s ballet school before the semester ends, reminding her nanny about a schedule change, ordering more diapers.  I turned first to my phone to distract myself.  I putzed around Instagram.  I tottered into the account of Amanda Auer, and my heart stopped.

Amanda is mother to a toddler who has just undergone multiple heart surgeries and their complications.  Heart throbbing, I read through her posts, so full of hope and faith and yet the razor-sharp agony of seeing her daughter succumb to illness and travel through the necessary though horrifying machinery of medicine.  I found myself weeping.  I wept with empathy, horror, and sorrow for this mother.  I wept with tenderness for this little girl in the clutches of such a terrifying series of procedures.  The pictures rift my heart: the smallness, the sweetness, the brightness of her little girl against the dispassionate metallic bulk of the hospital apparatus around her.  I couldn’t help myself from imagining mini in the same situation, and so I wept with gratitude for mini’s good health. 

And then, most bitterly, I wept with guilt over my petty narcissism.  

I woke to a brand new frame of mind, overdue and welcome.  I have been carrying Amanda and her daughter in my heart, weaving them into my nightly prayers, stumbling upon them in my waking thoughts.  Their struggles are enormous and heart-wrenching but not mine and I so hesitate to maneuver myself and my modest heartaches into their orbit, but they have become the unwitting fulcrums to a much-needed change in my own attitude, the antidotes to my conceit.  They are the silhouette of Christmas I needed to remember: the cameo of the mother and her child sheltered from the brutish forces of nature, radiating hope.  

Post-Scripts.

+More techniques for falling asleep when you’re fretting into the wee hours of the morning.

+Two of my other most-cherished moments of learning: what I learned from my grandmother’s reaction to the death of her daughter and the discovery that I am somebody (and you are, too).  Also this: you are enough.

+I have long held a special devotion to Saint Mary.  I find her saliently present in the turning points of my ongoing edification — when one of my best friends passed away, when Mr. Magpie was looking for a job, and now here, too.  About a decade ago, I found a small ceramic plaque of Mary on Etsy somewhat similar to this (though mine is all white) that I have hanging at my bedside.  It may be one of the most meaningful things I own.

+OK.  That was some heavy lifting for a Tuesday morning before Christmas.  Phew.  We’ll conclude on a happier note: this velvet dress, which looks strikingly similar to a Saloni (even the same goldenrod hue!) I’ve been swooning over.  

+Wishing I’d gotten my act together and ordered some of this wrapping paper to coordinate with our Christmas cards.  Thinking of ordering now so I’ll have some for next year.  Also love this.  But I will say I have loved my secret hack of buying a huge (inexpensive!) roll of kraft paper (there’s still time to order some before Christmas).  Does anyone else feel a twinge of guilt wrapping a big box in expensive wrapping paper?!?!  I like this kraft stuff for that reason.  I tie everything up with super-wide grosgrain ribbon in green or black and white stripe.

+Such a darling and versatile dress — for $35!  Layer over tights with black booties in winter or pair with sandals in summer.  Easy.

+I have long coveted one (or better yet TWO) of these leather footstools from longtime New York institution Scully & Scully.  They have the coolest accent pieces for home — a bizarre mix of traditional and whimsical.  Also adore these sheep.

+Guess WHAT!  If you liked the pearl embellished headband I bought last week but couldn’t quite legitimize the price tag, you’ll be ecstatic to discover this $10 headband.  No pearls, but very much in the same vein.  I ordered it STAT.  And, some good news: Target is currently offering free two-day shipping, so this could still come in time for Christmas in case you, like me, are planning on a pastel/pink/frou-frou holiday look.   (I’m wearing this exact dress on Christmas eve.)  

+ICYMI: This $100 jacket is getting insane reviews.  I love the edgy styling with the oversized pocket and in fact saw it on a chic little lady the other day at 70th and Amsterdam.  She wore it with fur-trim booties and looked amazing.

+So sad mini is too big for this.  I LOVE this dress.

By: Jen Shoop

I’ve had a number of friends, loved ones, and readers reach out over the last few days in a panic — “Help!  I procrastinated and now I REALLY need a gift for ______.”  I got ya covered.  Below, a couple of items I’ve recommended (and purchased myself over the last week, truth be told) that will show up by Christmas if ordered ASAP:

+My family always has a puzzle out around the holidays, and we have found that Pomegranate Puzzles are the absolute best — great designs and high-quality pieces.  Mr. Magpie actually bought me this one when I was pregnant and I worked on it to distract myself.  A great option for a parent, parent-in-law, or any sort of “family gift” on your list.  If your family is a game-loving one: Codenames gets rave reviews and What Do You Meme is usually a crowd-pleaser.

+Bamboo memory foam pillow.  This might sound off-the-wall, but I recently invested in a set of these for Mr. Magpie and I and we are in love.  Do note that you can adjust the “fill level” to your comfort — which I did.  I find that these pillows don’t get “hot” on one side very easily somehow, and they keep your head in place without leaving a crick in your neck.  I am sleeping so soundly these days!  This would be a great gift for a sibling, a soon-to-be parent, or any loved one who prizes his/her sleep.  

+Marpac Dohm sleep machine.  Speaking of good sleep — I bought this for our best friends (a married couple) last year as they mentioned that they will occasionally leave the AC unit running well into winter just for the white noise effect.  This seemed like a more cost-effective (and portable!) solution.  They now never sleep without it!  Read the reviews!  For new parents, people go nuts over this Hatch sound machine/OK-to-wake timer.  It works well from infancy through toddlerhood.

+The best book I read this year, hands down.  Full review here.

+Acupressure mat.  I’ve written about this way too many times — and have also gifted it to at least five people I love.  This is such a great de-stressing tool, especially for a new dad (they tend to lug a lot of gear around) or any of the athletic folk in your life.  It’s used daily in our home.

+This body wash in Heavenly Gingerlily (have written about this so many times) is the absolute best.  It’s a gender-neutral scent (despite the floral-sounding name!) and it will leave you sniffing your wrist all day long.  I’ve given this away as a gift more times than I count, including — most recently — to my mother-in-law!  

+For the fashionista in your life: this oversized Goyard clutch/computer case.  The largest size was too small for my laptop so I just use mine as a pouch instead.  Super chic.

+Queenie Ka jacket — just like Lululemon (read reviews!) but half the price.  A solid gift for your yoga-obsessed sister-in-law or your athleisure-loving neice.  I like it in the bubblegum pink, heathered gray, or spiderweb black.

+For your expecting best friend: Clarins Body Tonic.  I swear this is the only reason why I have no stretch marks. 

+This makeup organizer would make a perfect gift for any of the makeup-obsessed ones in your posse.  (Read the reviews!  The dividers are repositionable — genius.)  Maybe pair with the mini version of my favorite finishing/toning spray (on sale) or the makeup eraser washcloth.

+A foldable Scout utility bag.  I love the name of this tote — “4 Boys.”  Designed for a mom on the go, this is the perfect all-purpose catch-all for, well, everything.  I can imagine stowing it in the trunk of my car to transport sports gear, groceries, bulky coats, etc.  

+One of these adorable wine totes (a little nicer than your run-of-the-mill paper variety) and a bottle of nice champagne — try Pol Roger, which is maybe a little less cliche than Veuve but, in my completely biased opinion, twice as delicious.  It was Winston Churchill’s favorite.  I believe bottles start around $50.

+If you know a mother or sister is receiving a high-end tote — a Goyard, a Neverfull — for the holidays, this would be such a thoughtful supplement.

+A few stocking stuffers — basically, items $10 and under that I absolutely love: these wooden tongs (the perfect length — and I eat toast most mornings so trust me on the superior design on this set), our favorite peelers (inexpensive but SO sharp and easy to maneuver — we use these over our much more expensive OXO and Rosle implements!), an eyelash comb (I freaking love my lashes — these are good at getting clumps out and achieving a more fanned look), fancy pants toothpaste, my beloved iPhone stand (one reason I love this so much — I can glance at it and it will unlock, so I can scan my messages without having to move #lazy #musthave), and our favorite toothbrushes.  My dentist urged me to only use soft-bristle brushes; she insists medium and beyond just scratch the enamel of your teeth.  I found these, which get strong reviews because they have like 10x the number of bristles found on a normal toothbrush and are therefore better at truly cleaning your teeth, and they also have a really smart hexagonal wand which makes angling easier.  I could go on but — just trust me.  These are good.

P.S. More gift ideas here and here (you might still be able to get them on time if you expedite shipping!)

P.P.S.  I ordered these as a fun way to reimagine/liven up my LBD collection.

P.P.P.S.  I hope I’m this kind of parent, musings on phone etiquette for us millennials, and 10 things I love that I shouldn’t. 

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: The Most Darling Coat for Mini.

After a reader wrote in to assuage my concerns about the online retailer Monsoon (had never ordered from them before; she informed me that the style was similar to Zara), I went ahead and ordered this Jackie O.-esque boucle coat.  How precious?!

P.S.  More great coats for minis here.

You’re Sooooo Popular: Le Striped Sweater.

The most popular items on le blog this week:

+This Gucci-esque sweater.

+These sleek slingbacks.

+Les softest socks.

+My favorite lip scrub.

+The most stunning heel I ever did see.

+Chic loafers for everyday adventures.

+My favorite mittens.

+My secret to an organized under-sink area.   (Also just ordered this to further maximize organization under-sink.)

#Turbothot: How to Stop Crying.

Any criers out there?  I sure am.  And while I’m all for freedom of expression in any form — feel what you feel!  let it out! — sometimes tears, just like ill-timed laughter, so often thinly masking discomfort, can be embarrassing.  Last week, a day or two after my facial injury, one of the doormen saw me rushing out the building and said, in a concerned, tender voice: “Oh Mrs. Shoop — what happened?”  I was so moved by his consternation that I felt a bubble rising in my throat and knew that tears weren’t far off.  And then, a few weeks before that, I mentioned off-handedly to a friend (I can’t quite recall how this came up) that the nuns at my high school, Georgetown Visitation, told us on our first day that they had been praying for us since the day we were born and found myself choking back tears, much to my surprise and embarrassment.

I am never quick-witted enough to distract myself from tears by thinking about something funny.  Instead, I call to mind advice from a college girlfriend of mine, who — seeing tears over a silly situation were not far off — told me: “Look at the light.”  I did, staring straight at the fixture in the ceiling of her college apartment, and was surprised that I kept myself from losing it.  I’ve trotted this advice out a handful of times to other girlfriends struggling to keep it together and looking to me for distraction, and it tends to do the trick — at least until whisked away to a safe space to let it all out.

Any other tricks?

#Shopaholic: Last Minute Gift for Kiddos. 

+This piano pad for kiddos is on sale right now (25% off) — a great last minute gift for a lucky nephew or niece.  (More ideas here.)

+Intrigued by this affordable haircare line — check out those reviews versus the prices!  A lot of the products look very similar to Oribe’s.

+I stopped into Kate Spade the other day and they have some seriously adorable pieces right now.  I love this coat, this midi dress, and these trousers (I really need to branch out from denim these days…)  Finally, this heart belt is TO DIE.  I want to layer it over every single dress I own!

+Dying over this dress.  A good last minute option if you’re still on the hunt for a perfect holiday/NYE dress and nothing here or here fit the bill.  (Shopbop’s shipping is super fast!)

+I’m into pearl everything these days (ahem), so naturally this cashmere sweater caught my eye, as did these (finally on sale!) and these.  And these are so delightfully Chanel-esque for any vacation-bound babes!

+These fun earrings are such a steal!

+I’ve been rewatching “Gossip Girl” when I can’t sleep, and this saucy jumpsuit has Blake Lively written all over it.  So chic.

By: Jen Shoop

I came across the photo above of Kate on her wedding day and it brought me right back to my wedding day, to a moment upstairs in my bedroom at my parents’ home.  I was touching up my makeup in the hazy midday August light filtering through the blinds.  I remember looking at myself in the mirror for a few seconds longer than necessary, sitting with myself, taking in the moment all alone.  It was a reprieve from an otherwise emotionally frenetic day punctuated by butterflies in my stomach, occasional tears, and a lot of laughter.  I squared off my shoulders.  I took a deep breath.  It felt cool, thirst-quenching to stand there in solitude.

These days, privacy is in short order.  I can scarcely squeeze in a bathroom break without a little hand pounding on the door: “Maaamaaaaa!”  When I sit on the couch, I find my one square foot of personal space inevitably crowded by another little body leaning into me, burrowing her head into my arm or chest or back, jabbing her little fingers into my mouth or ears or nose: “mouf,” “eeeyahs,” “nooooose.”  When I skitter into the kitchen to stir a boiling pot, I often step back onto an unsuspecting toddler foot, or feel an arm wrap itself around my leg.

I love her proximity to me, her little body in some ways more an extension of mine than it was when she was in utero.  Her facial expressions: my own.  Her mannerisms, her turns of phrase: mine and mine.  “Oh man!” she recently cried when she spilled a little dish of barrettes.  And “Wow!” she’ll squeal when she sees what’s been left in her Advent calendar each morning, whether it’s a parcel of crayons or a new doll.  Her body is never far from mine.  This morning, when she woke me at 4:54 a.m., I wanted so badly — so desperately — to turn off the monitor and tune her out for just, say, 20, or 30, minutes longer.  But the cry — “Ma-ma!  Ma-ma!” — interrupted by hiccup-y tears, even now, even nearly two years into early mornings and middle-of-the-night wake-up calls, feels like a tugging of the heartstrings, as if I have accidentally left my heart outside my body in the other room.  And so I went to her.

“Nose,” she informed me, pointing to her congested nose and gesturing towards a tissue which she peremptorily refused to use: “No.”  A quick turn of the head.  Then: “Beh-ket,” as she gathered her blanket in her arms and stood to be lifted from her crib.  I brought her into the cool of our bedroom, her voice jarring its midnight hush.  I laid her next to me and told her it was time to go back to sleep.  I put my head on the pillow next to hers, closing my eyes in exaggerated pantomime of sleep.  She jabbed my eyes and whispered: “Shhh.”  And then she curled into me, her forehead against my own, her knees tucked into my chest, her hand on my arm.  A shadow of my own body, pressed up against me.  My mirror and my miniature.  Mine and not mine, and the lines so blurrily drawn.  

She fell into easy sleep.

I did not.  Who can sleep with a toddler’s breath on her face, with the keen awareness of every micro-shift of the hand resulting in the potential rousing of the beast beside?  With a tenderness — tempered by exhaustion — swelling and fading into the familiar shapes of this bedroom of ours in New York City?  

And so I laid there, sitting with myself.  I was alone with my thoughts in a way I rarely am.  Unharried, gathering myself, with no agenda.  This must be why people meditate, I thought, mindful in a way I haven’t been in a long while, noticing the ebb and flow of thoughts and concerns cycling through my consciousness.

But I was also not alone.  I was brightly conscious of the little form nestled in my arms, aware though not entirely acquiescent of the fact that at any moment she might wake for good for the day, and my morning would take shape around hers.  Mr. Magpie said it well: with children, your time is no longer your own.

Do all parents feel this way as their babies grow?  This toggling between togetherness and separation?  The merging and submerging of the self?  I will occasionally see in her the expression of her nanny, or the learnings from a class.  “Elmo,” she insists when she sees the bright red cartoon character on a juice box or advertisement, though I have never shown her Elmo.  Where did she learn that?  And I cock my head and think, “My little shadow has ventured away from me and learned something new.”

Settling into parenthood, I think, is a gradual drawing and redrawing of the lines around the self.  This is me, this is not me.  You are an extension of me, you are your own self.  I carry you in my heart, you are my heart outside my body.  But come to think of it — settling into any new role, adapting to any big change, involves such recalculations of the Freudian ego.  I think back on that moment of sitting with myself in the wallpapered bathroom of my parents’ home, about to leave for Blessed Sacrament Church to emerge as a wife just an hour later, and I realize I was submitting to similar forces of self-formation: This is me, this is not me.  And I’m glad I have happened upon these little pockets of time for quiet self-awareness where I have made the space to sit with myself and muse over those delineations.  This is me, this is not me. 

Post Scripts.

+My favorite things this winter.

+Absolutely brilliant: travel blackout shades.  Have I already told you 3498 times that mini was waking — consistently — at 5:30 or 6 every single day of the summer until I installed blackout shades in her room?  I am so behind the times on this — I’m sure every other mom knows about them.  But they were a gamechanger.  Thinking about ordering this for upcoming travel.

+The chicest backup battery I’ve ever seen.  Another great pick for a frequent traveler!  Looks like it’s an accessory from Celine…

+I have gotten a lot of mileage out of these earrings (in this exact shade!)

+If you need a reminder to go easy on yourself.

+How darling is this wrapping paper from Target?!

+Have you scoped out the Aerin for Janie + Jack collection?  I love this bikini for girls — so cute that it can coordinate with this pair of trunks for boys!

+These jammies in the heart print are chic and whimsical.

+These waffle-knit jammies in the sloth print are adorable.  Gap and Old Navy are currently offering free expedited shipping if you order by 12/18 for delivery by Christmas…contemplating ordering a pair of these for each of my sisters for late-night shenanigans.

+Silence as a weapon, silence as a kindness.

+My kind of blouse — perfect for layering under joveralls or pairing with black or white skinnies.

By: Jen Shoop

1 // Lele Sadoughi Pearl Headband.  I mentioned this earlier this week, but it’s typical of me to stumble upon something and then cleave to it with a ferocity I didn’t know I had in me — but I had to have this pearl-embellished Lele Sadoughi headband (seen here on the darling Rocky Barnes).  Apparently they have sold out multiple times since release and I don’t want to miss the boat.  At first glance, it feels outrageously priced for a headband.  But then — it’s the type of piece that can transform your entire look.  Just pull out an ivory sweater and some white skinnies and BAM.  You’ve got a whole new aesthetic happening.  (This is the kind of dubious logic I use to talk myself into buying statement shoes every few months.)  FYI: you can get the look for less with this Etsy find.

2 // Winter Whites Done Right. I have been swooning over this look on the stunning Caroline Issa since I first laid eyes on it about a week ago.  I immediately recreated the look myself, reaching for my cashmere mockneck (this look would also look amazing with a tissue turtleneck), my go-to white jeans, my Loeffler Randall Matildes (why did they stop making this perfect boot?!  You can still score in select sizes on Amazon — if not in your size, these by Vince, these from FP, or these from Steven (on super sale) would nail the look), and my Harvey Faircloth fur-trim army green topper (mine is last season, but I love this style).  Call me a copycat, but…I felt perfect in it.  A couple of other army green hued toppers that are a little closer to Issa’s mark: this insane Jacquemus (a label that is v. hot right now), this discounted Vince, this J. Crew “cocoon” coat, and this sporty Mackage, which I just counseled one of my good friends into buying.  She was looking for an alternative to the Canada Goose so omnipresent in NYC, but wanted to avoid black.  This Mackage is perfect.

3 // Simonetta Ravizza Furrissima Mink Fur Shopper Tote Bag.  I featured this bag earlier this season, but I swooned when I saw the snap below.  I had actually purchased this lookalike bag from Gap earlier this season but was frustrated when it arrived as the arm holes were barely big enough to squeeze my wrist through — and I have tiny hands and wrists!  I knew immediately it would be too annoying to carry, even on evenings out.  Oh how I’d love the Ravizza original, but curious about this lesser priced Kara option or this ultra-affordable French Connection.

4 // Markarian Dresses.  My jaw dropped when I saw this gorgeous bride in a Markarian dress.  I wasn’t terribly familiar with the label and spent quite a long time ogling over her feminine dresses.  I would absolutely love to claim this scallop-necked dress as my own, and this lavender lovely is at once gamine and ladylike in all the right ways.  And this!  In the gingham!  With those sleeves!  All of these dresses are dreamy.  My new LoveShackFancy number scratches a similar itch (and I found a floral Angie dress on sale!), but you can also get a similar look for less with this for Love & Lemons dress (on sale for $108! — more sizes here) or this Alice McCall.

5 // Euro Shams.  Our new bedding from HillHouseHome arrived and I am in love.  I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed by the customer service — and buyers should know that it takes well over a month to receive monogrammed bedding! — but am still enthusiastic about the quality and the styling.  The sheets are crisp, cool, and satin-y smooth, and the monogramming is ultra-elegant.  (The monogramming options tipped me in their favor!)  I am most excited about the enormous euro shams, though — see below for a well-styled Matouk bed (the snap below showcases their Mirasol style).  As shown below, I tucked ours up against our upholstered headboard, behind the sleeping (i.e., standard-sized) pillows.  I had our euro shams monogrammed in block lettering with our initials and then had our two sets of sleeping pillows monogrammed with our names in lower case cursive.  It looks so chic!  A few random tips: the standard size for euro shams is 26×26, but make sure you order 28×28 inserts!  It gives that full, well-styled look you’re going for and ensures there’s no floppy fabric.  I ordered these affordable ones.  They were well-reviewed for the price and I knew we wouldn’t be sleeping on them so was principally interested in them as an aesthetic prop.  However, for our sleeping pillows, I bought these (SweetHome’s top recommendation for the best sleeping pillow).  You can adjust the “fullness” by removing filler, which I did — it was too firm/stuffed at first.  But now I am SMITTEN.  The final touches on the bed?  A St. Frank throw and this bolster pillow.  But mainly — those Euro shams!  They’ve completely changed the look and feel of our bedroom and make me feel like I’m sleeping in a hotel.  (And P.S. — my secret to a crisp bed?  Spritzing this on rumpled pillows between ironings.  Smells like heaven, too!)

6 // Pearl Clutch.  Of course my eye wandered when I started hunting down Lele Sadoughi’s headband — right over to their pearl clutch (shown below).  Fortunately, I found this darling style at a third of the price!  Such a darling accessory for a bride.

7 // Christmas Ornament.  I missed the boat on this, but how absolutely adorable are these embroidered baby’s first Christmas ornaments?!  What a gorgeous keepsake.  Their embroidered ring pillows are also to die for.

8 // Olaplex Hair Treatment.  My hair has never looked as healthy and glossy as the chic pea’s below, but a gal can dream and just READ THE REVIEWS on this stuff, which promises to “strengthens the hair from within, reducing breakage and improving its look and feel.”  P.S.  More of my favorite hair products, including the round brush Gisele’s stylist uses on her famous bouncy tresses.

Post-Scripts.

+This striped sailor sweater is darling — love the button detail on the shoulder.  It reminds me of one of my favorite sweaters from last season.

+This zebra rocker is so beautiful.

+Are you reading along?

+THIS BEAUTIFUL COAT.  I wound up ordering this coat for mini (#babyjackieo) and am thinking it would look so darling alongside the PAROSH on me…

+Gifts for all the gals in your life.

+This bow-backed velvet dress is so chic!  Very Michelle Pfeiffer in the 90s.  Love.

+These striped turtlenecks are amazing.

+Intrigued by this touch screen cleaner.  A great stocking stuffer for a tech-loving husband.  (If you’re still stuck on what to get your man, don’t panic!  Check out my recs here.)

+Who do you carry with you?

By: Jen Shoop

I wish I could say that Mr. Magpie and I plan to be dashing down the steps of the NYPL into a romantic plume of snow, decked out in our black tie finest like the gorgeous couple above — but we are decidedly and comfortably lame about New Year’s Eve, and have been for some time.  We prefer to stay in, eat lobster, drink champagne, and enjoy the festivities from the comfort of our own couch.  We do, however, get dressed up for the occasion because — why not?

Hoping some of you have more festive plans in mind — or maybe not.  Below, my favorite fashion finds for a twinkling new year.

+Feathered top (on sale!).  Very Holly Golightly.

+Black swan earrings (major and at the top of my personal lust list).

+Nars eyeshadow.  I’m fairly ascetic about glitter in my eyeshadow, but New Year’s Eve mandates a temporary revision in philosophy.

+Tory Burch booties.  There is a lot to love about these tootsies: a blessedly low heel, a festive embellishment, and oh — the fact that they are BOOTS and will actually keep your tootsies warm should you brave the elements.

+French Connection fringe jumpsuit.  Just perfect.  I feel you could wear hair loose and beachy for a boho moment or slick it back into a chic chignon and pair with pointed toe pumps for a more refined look.

+Jennifer Behr bow earrings.  They’re nothing short of perfect.  Also an incredible pair for a bride — maybe if you’re changing into something else at your reception?

+Helmut Lang vest.  I can’t get over this style.  It looks so outlandishly lavish — like something a 1920s railroad heiress might wear.

+Ganni glitter pumps.  

+Saloni glitter dress.  I bought and adore this dress.  I love how the conservative shape offset the sequined drama.  

+D&G globe bag.  I mean.  It’s destined for NYE.

+Drop earrings (under $40).  The perfect tinsel accoutrement.

+Metallic pleated dress.  This ultra-flattering dress is sophisticated and trendy.

+Sequined headband.  A noncommittal way to elevate basic black jeans and a black sweater to festive territory — or to upgrade a basic black dress for an evening.

+Rejina Pyo satin bag.  Absolutely darling.  Black is practical and NYE-appropriate but how about those pastel hues?!

More NYE Options…

+This under-$100 sequined RIXO-lookalike!

+This glitzy top or this one (under $40) — paired with black skinnies and statement heels.

+Serve sparkling wine in these festive coupes and string a balloon banner across your buffet! 

+This sequined wrap skirt.  Love the grosgrain ribbon tie!  I’d wear with a white silk blouse.  Get the look for less with this, which I envision wearing with a silk cami.

+This $20 black dress — note the pearl trim at the cuffs!  Upgrade with some enormous earrings, a fur bolero (on sale!), and/or some major shoes. 

+Add some fun and inexpensive statement earrings to any of the above looks — consider these, these, or these.

By: Jen Shoop

The above snap is an actual picture of me when I’ve scored a really good deal on something and nobody knows, like that time I somehow applied twenty five coupons and promotions on top of one another at Lord & Taylor to purchase a Milly dress that retailed for north of $400 and cost me $7.30.  I remember my heart was racing and my palms were sweaty as I fished around for cash in my wallet.  Petty cash!  The kind of cash you carry for incidentals like hand sanitizer and cinnamon gum and a stale package of peanut butter crackers when you are in a dire situation.  (Is there anything sadder than those crinkly packets of crackers, the peanut butter so processed and old it crumbles when touched, and one or two of the crackers are always already crushed?)  I felt borderline guilty — indecent! — and wondered whether there had been a mistake in the ringing up, but damned if I was going to speak up.  I was twenty-two and luxury was buying name brand toilet paper.  And so I paid and high-tailed it out of there, and then transformed into the slinky side-winking conniver you see above.  Incidentally, ask any woman in D.C. over the age of fifty where to find the best deals and she will quickly and in a hushed voice tell you: “get thee to Lord & Taylor.”  I am fairly confident my mother owns a small pied a terre in the Lord & Taylor in Chevy Chase, so frequent of a visitor she is there.  My sister once asked me, after gazing out the window in silence as we drove down Jenifer Street in N.W. D.C.: “Does it feel like mom is always running an errand at Lord & Taylor?”  Yes, yes she is.  And with good reason.  The number of triumphant shopping coups that have been had in that store at the hands of my mother — too many to count.

But I am no longer in D.C. and such bargains are few and far between in Manhattan, where I have suddenly found myself purchasing things like melons for $5.99 without batting an eye.  And so in lieu of the the tremendous physical pleasure of an in-person sale score, I will be doing my bargain hunting online, in my pajamas, at Shopbop, which is running an extra 30% off all sale items right now.  Hallelujah and HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME JUST WEEKS AFTER BLACK FRIDAY.  Use code JOY18 to save an extra 30% on these epic finds:

+My favorite, most flattering-but-still-sexy-in-its-own-way bathing suit.

+A really good boot — love the lines — for layering over jeans or under floaty dresses.

+A pretty peach of a dress from my favorite dress designer.  Also love this citrus squeeze (D&G)?

+Velvet. hot pink. bow-backed. kitten-heeled. slingbacks.  Comin in HOT.

+A stunning sweater.  That color!  The fit!  Perfect.

+Wear-with-everything shoes for a sophisticated lass.

P.S.  I try to buy holiday decor bit by bit, one or two items each year, and this year’s finds have been this incredible (washable!) kitchen rug, these cork placemats (love these for eating with mini — they look stylish but are easy to wipe down), and this nativity set, which mini absolutely has lost her mind over.  We play with it every day.  Incidentally, a perfect way to begin to speak to her about religion.

P.P.S.  Check her out, my favorite purchases for home, and words I hate.

By: Jen Shoop

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting –

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

-Mary Oliver

I discovered this poem on a chance encounter this past weekend and must have read it four or five times, moved by its sentiment.  I then discovered a recording of Mary Oliver herself reading it aloud and — oh.  How achingly perfect.  While I spent some time pondering the ethics of the poem, sorting through my perspective on them (“you do not have to be good” gives the rule-abiding “good girl” in me deep pause; “you do not have to repent” flies in the face of my Catholicism), in the end I can’t imagine a didacticism that better aligns with my outlook on, well, the heft and balance of life right now.  I am drawn to the naturalism of making space for myself, feeling what I feel without the censor of comparison, shame, jealousy, or the brassy though often phantom centurions of what is socially politic.  I love, too, the poem’s weaving of the self into the natural world: the tethering of the rhythms of the heart to the migration of the geese, to the passing of a rainstorm.  Your uncanned emotions are as welcome a part of this world as are you — all of you. 

Yes.

Worthy thoughts for a quiet Tuesday, which I will sully with two apposite addenda I can’t prevent myself from sharing:

  1. I went with a few members of my book club to hear Lauren Groff read a selection from her excellent book of short stories, Florida (full review here; strongly recommend this book), last week.  At the risk of sounding…petty? unkind?, I found her reading a distraction from the quality of the book.  I had understood her tone so differently!  Her affect in person was more sarcastic and light-hearted, less elegiac and poetic.  I interpret the stories differently now.  A funny thing, as in a Q+A afterward, she commented that “books don’t really belong to authors after they’re published; they belong to the readers.”  And yet hearing her read her own work was a revision, a reclamation of sorts, of my previous readings.  (Also, can you imagine my shock when — out of all the short stories in the collection — she chose to read “Midnight Zone”?  A tale of a mother who suffers a head injury?  Several of you had written to remind me of the story after my own fall!  What are the odds?!)  Not so with Mary Oliver’s reading (linked above), which sounded to me exactly as it should: sage, measured, reassuring without being saccharine.
  2. As I was copying and pasting the lines above, my computer reformatted the poem so that all of the lines ran together in one block paragraph.  I went back through to add the appropriate line breaks, at first trying my own hand at arranging the lines from memory.  It was a humbling reminder of the craft of the poet and the fact that form matters.  Or, rather, form shapes matter.  The poem transformed in inflection as I spliced and trimmed the block into its intended breaks, its pauses and run-ons drawing new and different moods and observations to the foreground, letting others recede.  A rearrangement of poetic furniture.  The isolation of “love what it loves” on its own line in particular stuck in my throat.  The line’s insistence, its persistence, moved me.  If you are ever in the mood for a provoking intellectual exercise, try the same yourself.  You’ll read ten poems in one and then appreciate the original all the more.

If you’re not familiar with Mary Oliver, please start with this slim book of essays, which is smart and observant and poignantly respectful of the natural world in a way that makes you think twice, or three times, or even four, about the spider building its web in the corner of your attic.  

Post-Scripts.

+I had a reader write in asking for low heels or flats to wear to a wedding that will take place on cobblestones.  My response: I immediately thought of Loeffler Randall’s Coco heels (on sale). They’re velvet and have a block heel and come in great colors that would contrast well with your dress. If the heel is too high, their Celeste model is similar and even lower in heel height. My other thought was to do a flat velvet or satin mule. These are so trendy right now — you can find them everywhere! — and I like the idea of having them look like a tuxedo slipper with your dress. It’s a bold look but you can absolutely pull it off! Think of something like Aquazzura’s Powder Puff.  You can get the look for less with these. Or go embellished with these — which really remind me of tuxedo slippers!  Finally — how funky/cool are these?! Love the embellished toe and brocade print. They are LOUD. Would look amazing with big sparkly earrings!

+I should read more poetry.

+NYE will involve Mr. Magpie and I on a couch at home this year, probably in bed just after the ball drops.  Thinking that in lieu of a new dress I’ll order these and call it a night.  Oh but they make me happy.

+Why do you read?  How do you read?  

+I have been getting a lot of mileage out of my fur vests this season — a black and a beige-white.  This is a great option at an even greater pricepoint, and it comes in such great colors.  The pastel pink is chic, especially in light of my feminine aesthetic at the moment.

+In love with this chunky knit sweater.

+This coat is so fun — Gucci vibes!

+Speaking of Gucci vibes: this coat for mini!  I am so torn between that style and this one.  Have never ordered from this site before but willing to test the waters for one of these precious jackets.

+If you liked the velvet hairbows I featured in these posts but not the price — just found a great Etsy source that might be up your alley: try this!

+I remember how this felt like it was yesterday.

+Well, hello, Grace Kelly.  Talk about making an entrance.

+A dress for a hot young thing.  Mackenzie Horan, you are welcome.  (This has your name all over it and inside out.)

+This is one of my favorite hacks for an organized under-sink area (we’ve ceded all precious drawer space to utensils and implements and no longer have a “baggie drawer” as we used to call it in Chicago): I keep all of our saran wrap, wax paper, foil, and baggies lined upright in these.  Keeps everything tidy and easy to grab.  I’ve had at least three New Yorkers marvel over them — “oh, what a good way to keep that organized!”

By: Jen Shoop

I’ve written about this brand in the past, but I’ve recently fallen more deeply in love with it, in large part owing to its whimsical, feminine Instagram account.  LoveShackFancy has captured my heart.  (This sweater…!) 

I fell deeply in love with this bow-shouldered frothy confection the minute I laid eyes on it.  It had sadly sold out in my size in the ivory/black, which I was going to test drive for Christmas this year, but I ordered it in the pink instead.  Very Clara from the Nutcracker.  Still might wear it for Christmas Eve — who says you have to wear red on Christmas?!  I love the length and drape of that dramatic velvet bow.  It will look perfect with my burgundy velvet pumps (under $100!).  If you are similarly smitten with the label, make sure to enter code THANKYOU10 for 10% off your first order.  I had to keep myself from ordering the coordinating dress for mini (I am loving their childrens’ line in particular for special occasions — Baptisms!  Weddings!  Etc.) as mini is well teed-up in the holiday attire department already.  You can also score floral-printed variations on the holiday dress on sale here and here.

The Perfect LSF Shoe.

I would die to pair any LSF’s looks with these stunning Malone Souliers mules.  Incidentally, a chic pick for a pastel-palette bride!

LoveShackFancy-Inspired Accessories.

The frothy, ladylike aesthetic has me shunning black, leather, and minimalism in favor of pastel, velvet, and pearl.  I’m especially keen on this Lele Sadoughi headband, which I’ve seen all over the place lately.  Would love to pair it with my favorite everyday cashmere and dark wash denim for an easy look.  I also dug out my Lele Sadoughi flower earrings — one of my favorite pairs this summer; they’ll now be worn proudly this winter, too.  Somehow the vibe also made me lust after a Van Cleef & Arpel quatrefoil necklace, just the kind of “forever gift” that would make a golden anniversary that much more special.  Until then, I’ll make do with this lookalike style.  Also swooning over these classic pumps in the prettiest shade of pink — or loud and proud glitter for NYE!  

More LoveShackFancy-Inspired Goodness.

Also loving these pieces, which would all coordinate brilliantly with anything from the LSF collection — or stand up on their own, for that matter.

P.S.  How are your holiday decorations coming?  The one thing I’m truly missing is a tree topper.  We have a star with one of those stupidly-designed coils that ensures it is always crooked.  (Who designed that?!)  I’m finding myself drawn to this angel.  Any other suggestions?  I also think I might need these.

P.P.S.  A well-priced and very chic table lamp, my favorite space-saving hack for stowing out-of-season clothing (we clean, fold, stuff, and vacuum seal — you can use any vacuum with a hose to do it! — and then stack them at the top of our closet), and a cheery sweater I spotted on Eva Chen that would brighten any wardrobe.

P.P.P.S.  An ode to the em dash (my favorite punctuation mark), wise words I needed to hear last year — maybe they’ll resonate with you this one?, and — speaking of — is this a year that is asking questions or answering for you?

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