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A quick hits list:
01. Veronica Beard is offering 25% off a fabulous selection of pieces with code FAVORITES24! I’m such an enormous fan of this brand at this stage in my life, and I especially love their blazers. This tweed blue beauty would be a perfect investment — throw on with trousers, jeans, dresses. Their Carly kick flares are a crowd favorite, too: they run a tad long for us shorties, more like full length flares on me, but are supremely comfortable (a lot of stretch). Run TTS. (You may recognize them from Julia Amory — she is nearly always wearing Carly kick flare jeans!). I also love their denim mules: a refined way to capture the denim everything trend.
02. 50% off all swim at J. Crew, today only. (Are we ready to think about swimwear?) The sale includes this gingham balconette style I’ve been yapping about — very into gingham for the season ahead — and their new asymmetrical style, which reminds me of the popular Sidestroke suit from Summersalt, but in patterns no one else will have. I love J. Crew swimwear — I have several of their plunge style and they are my go-to for when I don’t want to worry about repositioning. Tend to be full coverage, and stay put. I go up a size in their swim. But the REAL coup de gras of this sale is this adorable bikini for my girl! She loves bikinis and this style was so fresh and fun.
03. I mentioned this in passing in my extensive Easter post yesterday, but wanted to spotlight that Damaris Bailey is offering 40% off sitewide this week only. (Discount appears in cart.) The sale includes this fabulous cocktail dress you might remember me wearing last summer (seen above!). Also swooning over this green dress for spring affairs — the color of a daffodil stem, and of course the scalloping is to die for. I received a few DMs on sizing. I took an XS in the dress and it was a perfect fit, but did not leave much room to spare. I’d say I’m generally a true XS but often in dresses could go down a size (XXS or 00 if available). In short, I would go up a size and have tailored if you’re at all in question, but if you find you’re a true M, or L, go with your true size.
04. T3 is offering 25% off sitewide. You can get my now-beloved Airebrush for $112!
05. Not on sale, but newly available for sale: the Roz hair thickening spray. I mentioned this product in my roundup of “Everything Shower” favorites before it was released, and WOW I love it. It seriously volumizes and conditions my hair. One thing I am noticing about Roz: none of the products weigh down my hair, and I have very fine hair so this is often a problem. They are all conceived of by celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak, who styled Emma Stone’s hair at the Oscars last Sunday (which I thought was spectacular!). You can see the breakdown of products Mara used on Emma here. Red carpet hair, here we come! (Reminder you can get 15% off your purchase at Roz with code MAGPIE15.)
I wrote this on a plane ride from Amsterdam to Berlin when I was 20. I remember it scrawled in loopy cursive in my tattered journal – the cursive a kind of personality I was trying on at the time, as ill-suited to my hand as the ambitious words I’d written with it. I’d just visited the Rijksmuseum, and reconnected with a childhood friend of my brother’s, proving in some way that I was worldly and capable. Pantomiming sophistication, I had bangs and a credit card and I spoke nearly fluent French. At some point as we’d meandered to the hotel from a loud brasserie-type dinner, we skirted the Red Light District, and my brother’s friend told me: “That look you’re making — it’s just like your mother,” by which I presume he meant I looked off-put, or worried, to be out in a foreign city amidst its raucousness. (My mother would not have approved of the late night walk alongside the brothels of Amsterdam.) I adored my mother and missed her horribly and had wept like a baby into her coat when she materialized in the lobby of a hotel in Dijon a few weeks prior, but I felt dressed-down by his observation. You might be in Amsterdam, he was saying, but you’re still the Jen I know. He would later sleep on the floor of the hotel room so that I could take the bed. I don’t know how we hadn’t worked out the arrangements before then (ah, to be 20), but I suppose I’d assumed I’d crash on a couch or that there would be twin beds. Instead: “Your mother would kill me if I didn’t,” he explained. “So would your brother.” Generous, courteous, and avuncular — but I felt like a child.
The next morning, I sat on the tarmac writing feverishly about my chrysalid self. I did not know what I meant by “bigness,” just that I felt destined for other things. I wanted to shed my girlhood, to re-cast myself. Mainly, I wanted to be seen as smart and independent. This was why I had strenuously pushed to study abroad, even though I was desperately in love with my new boyfriend (a young Mr. Magpie) back in Virginia and had cried the entire plane ride from Dulles to Charles de Gaulle, and sniffled while en route to the smaller Lyon St. Exupery after. AirFrance lost my luggage, and I cried on the phone to my father about it as soon as I got in. I was disgusted with myself for my childlike puling but I was also disoriented, and scared, and, you know — “it’s never the cream,” anyway. What I should have said was: “I miss you so much, and I doubt my decision making in coming here,” so that he could have reassured me that I was doing something necessary and fabulous that I’d never regret. Instead, I sniffled about the bags on the public phone on the first floor of the hostel I was staying in the night I’d arrived, before the University had re-directed us to our individual lodgings, which were strewn about the city. The phone was at the foot of the red carpeted front stairs, so fellow patrons stomped by and through my threnody. I felt disastrously alone.
But that phone call ended, and my luggage was restored to me, and I moved into a small and barn-like first floor apartment that opened up to an interior courtyard from which I could see a small square of cerulean each morning. The apartment itself had no windows and a mouse problem. We learned to thread our plastic bags of food through the brass chandelier at night by standing unsteadily on the kitchen counter — otherwise, the mice would feast at midnight. You could hear them running down the walls after dark, inches from my pillowcase on my lofted bed. When I approached my landlady about this, she shrugged and said, “Bienvenue a France.” My Dad proposed, in earnest, that I buy a cat. I did not, and instead felt sorry for myself, until I realized that the rodent infestation was an invitation to get out of dodge. And so I did. I traveled nearly every weekend (and some weeks) of my time there. I visited many cities across Greece, Germany, Italy, England, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and of course France. At the time, you could take 30-40 Euro flights all over Europe and the trains offered student/junior rates, so the transit costs were more than reasonable. I often stayed with friends also studying abroad across Europe, or split a hostel room with a fellow student from my own program. On all of these trips, I’d write detailed itineraries in my pocket notebooks, jotting down museum hours and addresses, how to get to/from the airport using public transit, hostel reservation numbers, and the like. I learned I preferred to travel and sightsee in the mornings, walking the cities by foot and stopping in to see highlighted landmarks and especially art museums by midday, and then shopping and reading in the afternoons. I was nearly always early to bed (unless visiting my dear friend Allison in Rome, who would take me to bustling, exclusive clubs and parties with actual Italians — she always knew how to get on a list, much to my persistent wonder) so I could get started early the next day.
I once splurged at a luxury hotel in Berlin when I was in the city by myself for one night — my travel companion had split off for Ireland — and felt like a sophisticated world traveler. I wrote my parents a long note on the hotel letterhead, reassuring them (and myself) that I was looking after myself. I then spent a small fortune phoning Mr. Magpie from the hotel room. I had earlier that month called my father in a panic because the airport hotel I’d stayed in outside of Heathrow had insisted I’d made a string of room service charges (I hadn’t), but I’d been in such haste to get to my flight, I’d given up and paid for them anyway. My Dad was financing most of my travels that semester, so I felt guilty about the overcharge. “It’s OK. These things happen,” my Dad had said. “The hidden costs of travel.” I never told him this (sorry, Dad), but I privately considered my hotel splurge in Berlin and my long distance call to Landon “the hidden costs of travel,” too, as it was the only time in my life I have ever traveled entirely by myself in a foreign country, and I felt cut-loose, groundless, and lost in ways the comfort of that hotel and the connection to Mr. Magpie assuaged. I made up for the extravagance by staying in the cheapest hostels I could find on my next excursions — which included a room in Venice that had an actual hole in the wall, through which you could see people walking by, and a shared room in Prague with something like 20 bunk beds in a row that had me awake all night clutching my belongings to my chest. (My travel companion and I switched accommodations in both situations the following nights.)
But all this to say, fully recognizing how privileged I was to be traveling on my father’s dime, and also acknowledging that I am playing the world’s tiniest violin in even contemplating these grand experiences as character-cultivating:
I was learning to listen to myself, and to take care of her. If my dad noticed the expense of that Berlin trip, he never commented. His silence, too, a lesson: I trust you; you should, too.
Somewhere between my epicediac plane ride to Lyon and that lonely night in Berlin, I had begun to settle into myself. I was still open desire, pointed anywhere — I could not tell you what “bigness” I was after — but I had begun to feel my own shape.
I turn 40 this summer and find myself laughing and cringing at the Jen presented on this page. She was sheltered, and nervous, and navel-gazing, and hungry in ways she couldn’t parse. But as I’ve written elsewhere recently, the Jen of 20 raised the Jen of 40. Experience is an effective teacher. I’m grateful for her garish missteps and weepy phone calls and especially the audacity of her decision to travel all over Europe because of a few mice. (I may never again have the opportunity!). Mainly I’m thankful that she tapped into herself as she wandered through ancient towns, fighting off disillusion and self-doubt by instead repeating: “There is a bigness inside, and I must find out what it is.”
What was the bigness I was sensing? Have I found it?
Last week, Mr. Magpie and I went to see the new Bonnard exhibit at the Phillips Collection, and I was moved by the narrowness and intimacy of his subject matter. Most of his paintings (and there are many!) portray views from rooms he worked in and loved; interiors of homes; his wife in a bathtub; his many dogs; the gardens of his various habitations. For Bonnard, the worthiest subjects were sitting right next to him. Which is to say that we might go searching for grand castles and banners and regalia but find that the most valuable things in life fit on the couches of our living rooms. I know I’ve found that bigness. I went searching all over Europe and through most of my 20s and part of my 30s to get to it, and here it is: a small life, lived fully, with a pen in hand and a loving husband and children in heart. What more is there?
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+Tinx just went wild over this liquid blush in shade Dolce Vita, saying it achieves the effect of “running up a flight of stairs” or “just having made out with someone.” Ummmm sold – I ordered on the spot. Two other blushes I love: Merit’s Balm Blush in Stockholm and Apres, and Goop’s Colorblur — I love all the colors but especially Afterglow during winter. I wear either Merit or Goop daily! Now going to try the Nars!
+Mentioned in passing yesterday that Lake just launched its new spring collection. I’m obsessed with this “brunch dress” (would be great for Easter) but also love the shorter hammock dress (available in two great patterns) and the pima long-short sets continue to be my favorite pajama style!
+I just bought mini this bikini. She loves bikinis!
+Speaking of Sezane, their latest mini launches have been selling through crazy fast. From this past Sunday’s launch, you can still sang this beautiful embroidered shirtdress (another Easter contender — Mom, you’d look amazing in this) and this pretty caftan-like style.
+This sage green floor lamp is under $100 and would look so chic in a nursery or reading nook.
+Speaking of lighting, a reader requested table lamps for her family room. Our interior designer is proposing gourd lamps in a fun color that look like these. I also have always loved this one from Aerin.
+This tissue box cover sparks such ridiculous joy for me. I can’t explain it but I hated seeing that damned Kleenex box! This one reminds me of a high end fabric by Schumacher.
+I love this travel cosmetics case when I’m going anywhere by car — if traveling by plane, it feels so bulky / takes up a lot of room in suitcase. It holds everything!
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Wow, did I tumble into a lucky conversation in the comments section on this post or what? I’d asked Magpies to share their favorite parts of winter and several chorused that they look forward to wearing a seasonal scent, which led to a rousing conversation on perfumes that has cross-stitched its way through several posts and comment threads over the past few weeks. I wanted to pluck out a few star, and repeated, recommendations from the enthusiastic cognoscenti (pun intended) among us:
From Sara: “My winter favorites (well this week, anyway!) are: Guerlain Mitsouko, Le Labo The Noir 29, Serge Lutens Chergui, L’Wren Scott’s eponymous fragrance she did for Barney’s awhile back [ed. note: no longer available], Ormonde Jayne’s Woman. I have always thought of fragrance as seasonal; heavier clothes and drier air work better with heavier fragrances. I go much lighter in warmer weather as humid air and lighter clothing seem to call for lighter fragrances.”
From Kelly: “I collect perfumes too, I’d love to join your little society.
Aoife used to work for Le Labo and provided a detailed and stirring description of their celebrated scents in the comments here, but I want to pluck out this suggestion in particular, because I’m going to Le Labo store to smell it based on her recommendation:
“My final wild card is my personal favourite — Baie 19 — an exaltant green masterpiece. This fragrance is entirely poetic as it’s inspired by petrichor and the feeling when the drought breaks. Some say it’s like walking through the rainforest floor, driving through a long, wooded road when it’s cool and foggy, or walking across steaming tar at the beach after a rainstorm. The mix of green oils (the plants actually release these when it finally rains [!!]), two forms of juniper (leaves and berries along with cade tar), and leafy patchouli make this creation simply sublime in the most transcendent sense of the word.”
And finally, from me: I have been wearing Byredo’s Mojave Ghost nearly every day for over a year now (maybe longer?) and am obsessed with it. It always makes me feel lifted, more pulled-together, more elegant? The site describes it as: “a woody composition inspired by the soulful beauty of the Mojave Desert. In this xeric wilderness, rare are the plants that dare to blossom. With a light and graceful character top notes of musky Ambrette combine with fresh Jamaican Nesberry. Powdery Violet then unfurls to reveal Sandalwood.”
I also really love Byredo’s clean Blanche scent (“Blanche explores the scent of texture and skin; bodies beneath fresh sheets; laundry baskets; a punch of detergent”), and understand many women layer this beneath other scents. Finally, I have been wearing Jo Malone’s English Pear and Freesia — it’s a bit more dressed-up and powerful than Byredo.
The perfume brand Who Is Elijah sent me a few scents to test recently. The Nomad scent was a bit too strong for my liking (it reminded me of Houbigant’s Quelque Fleurs, which my grandmother wore — a strong floral scent that follows you everywhere; very elegant but very powerful), but I’m making my way through their testers to see if any other jump out at me.
I shared most of the recommended scents in one “shelf” here for quick reference.
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I can’t believe Easter is in view — coming up in just over two weeks! I am behind this year and need to order my children’s outfits and Easter basket fillers STAT — and plan my Easter tablescape, too. I spent time this week pulling together a few ideas, some gathered from years past, others new-to-me.
Below, a little gallery of photos from Easters past. The colors, patterns, and flowers rejoice, and there is a fresh dewiness to the air that you can sense even in the photos, including the ones from in our time in New York, where we often felt abstracted from the natural world. Flipping through these, I was overwhelmed with gratitude and reminded of an Emerson quote I used to have framed in my office:
Under $400: I feel like a broken record but I adore the options from Doen this spring, especially this and this. I also noticed that Damaris Bailey is offering 40% off sitewide (discount appears in cart)! This dress I wore to a summer wedding last August is 40% off and could be good for a dressier Easter celebration, and this floral would also be spectacular (and easier to dress down).
Under $200: Lake just released their best-selling “brunch dress” in the most gorgeous green botanical. I’m impressed with the quality — it is a nice, heavy weight, with pockets and a beautiful silhouette. Would work with a bump, for nursing mamas — honestly, at any life stage. I also love this pretty SEA-like option from Few Moda.
Easter Tabletop Ideas.
In the Roundhouse is sending me this spectacular set of plates, glasses, and cutlery that will be my centerpoint for the Easter table. I’m contemplating a pink stripe tablecloth or medallion one, with lots of tulips and moss bunnies down the center.
Easter Outfits for Children.
I ordered them these pajamas from Petite Plume (their favorite style of pajamas at the moment — they’re still wearing their Christmas ones!). For the day itself, I fell in love with this La Coqueta dress, but I think it’s too fussy for my daughter’s taste — I’m going to present her with a few options, but am pretty sure she’ll pick either this shift from Little English or this Lilly. I am contemplating a pair of Oso & Me shorts in a great color with a Ralph Lauren oxford and a pastel knit sweater for my son.
Easter Basket Filler Ideas.
I’ve ordered a few small items for their baskets, but a few of the items currently in my cart: pastel paint sticks, this prayer book, these Bible affirmation cards (I’ve given these as gifts for Baptisms several times – so sweet), gardening tools, and some fresh crocs for the warmer weather. I used to hate crocs but eventually gave in — the kids love them, they have no buckles/straps/velcro, and they can be hosed down. The new colors are fun too. I’m also big on giving them gifts in their stockings/baskets that are something I’d buy them anyway — ha!
P.S. We make these Italian Easter cookies every year. They are delicious and the kids love to help decorate them with the sprinkles.
A few favorite shoes on my radar for the season ahead —
01. Fisherman sandals! These have been trendy for the past few seasons. I have a pair of platform fisherman sandals from Tory Burch (small size run still available here) that have surprised me with their legs — bought them two summers ago and they still feel relevant and fresh. I would spring for this $150 platform raffia style (paying homage to Prada’s $1,500+ pair), Freda Salvador’s Sara (select colors 20% off here), or (splurge) Gabriela Hearst’s elegant pair, which I’ve stalked for two seasons now, hoping to snap up on sale somewhere. I did find them for under $275 (down from $890) but in an orange color I’m not sure I would wear that much, and at a still-steep $570 in more wearable taupe here.
02. Loeffler Randall’s mesh platforms! I can’t unsee these. So cool with jeans, floaty white dresses…!
03. Larroude mules. One of my best investments from last summer was this pair of unexpected white mules from Larroude. I wore them with every sundress and cocktail dress I owned — just a little exclamation point to dress things up, but without a high heel (which I simply cannot do anymore unless I absolutely must). I’m eyeing this colorful, whimsical pair for this year’s lineup.
04. Freda Salvador woven flats. Look for less with these. Wear with absolutely everything.
05. Quince leather mules. You can legit wear these with everything. Dresses, skirts, jeans, shorts — you name it. It’s a great “in-between” shoe meaning it can dress certain things down (slip dress, cocktail dress) without looking wildly out of place, and it can dress other things up (jeans, shorts) and still look intentional. Did I mention it’s $60?!
06. Hard to tell if the dad sandal trend will persist — Laura Reilly wrote compellingly about the “hotel slipper” style mule that dominated the Miu Miu runway last month and it made me wonder if we aren’t going to go back to thinner-soled, less-chunky styles in the coming seasons. I will absolutely still be wearing mine this summer (I love my hot pink rubberized Guccis as they seem to “rough up” the ladylike fleet of sundresses and caftans I live in during the summer), and Dolce Vita also just sent me this fun woven pair that I cannot wait to wear in the same fashion. A good price point for something we’re not sure will be as trendy in the future.
07. A “dad sandal” that never goes out of style: Birkenstocks! I have lived in the two pairs I’ve purchased in the last year or two (silver for summer, faux-fur-lined for fall/winter) and now do I need a fun colorful pair in on-trend cerulean blue or by way of their collab with The Great? If Birks are too earthy-crunchy for your vibe, you might consider the Glyn collection from See by Chloe or J. Crew’s Marlow sandals, a best seller among Magpies last summer they’ve brought back. I love the look!
08. Larroude Milan flats — have seen these all over the place and they are so elegant. Love the gold hardware.
09. Redundant with recent posts, but I’m telling you these Eleftherias are the sandal to have on hand for summers to come. So easy to wear, can be dressed up with a cocktail dress or dressed down with jean shorts.
10. A denim shoe — any denim shoe! I shared some favorites here. Still drooling over these A. Soliani’s. I will probably buy them. Gucci has loads of flashy options — how fun are these slides? And these embellished denim flats from Schutz turned my head. I have that style (the Arissa) in several colors/materials and they are incredibly comfortable.
P.P.S. The Magpies have spoken: Bombas are not worth the investment as they tend to develop holes within a few years of light use! (Join the dialogue in the comments section here.)
I’ve received this question many times from Magpies, so thought I’d share with the class. It’s interesting that so many of you have asked for my favorite Substacks (versus blogs, creatives, etc) — I think this is because Substack (a platform creatives can use to post content and then send it out to readers via email/newsletter) has become shorthand for a return to oughts-era blogging, and I believe Magpie belongs to that category, too. More thought pieces, more opinion, more long-form writing, more text. (You tell me, though! Do you like it?)
I also think the question gets at the ethos of this one: where do you find meaningful stuff on the Internet? There are a lot of sharp writers talking fashion, food, motherhood right now on Substack; it has an aura of authenticity.
I am pretty choosy with my subscriptions because I am inbox zero gal — unless I really take the time to read a newsletter each time it arrives in my inbox, I unsubscribe, but these have past the test for me:
Morning Person by Leslie Stephens. A long-time favorite focused on cultivating our best selves. Full of fascinating little blurbs on self-care and wellness; literature; psychology; etc. I am drawn to her candor, strength, and thoughtfulness. She is the kind of woman you want to be friends with!
Magasin by Laura Reilly. Ultra-sharp fashion writing, focused on runway and nascent trends, with occasional drift into op-ed. Insightful, researched, insider-y type fashion talk.
Tell Me More by Emese Gormley. The co-host of the “Lipstick on the Rim” podcast with Molly Sims — she shares fantastic, evangelical, detailed reviews of things she wears routinely, from beauty to fashion staples. Refreshingly earnest.
Hand Picked by Alex Steele. A lovely curation of quotes, short musings on motherhood, fashion and home finds, parenting thoughts, and occasional guest contributions (including one by yours truly), all written from the framework of “less is more.” Alex is a wonderful woman and talented photographer. We crossed paths on the Internet and have become text friends since — she is thoughtful and encouraging in ways I would expect of an old friend.
Ruhlman’s Newsletter by Michael Ruhlman. You might remember him from his best-selling Soul of a Chef book, but this is Ruhlman unbuttoned: loads of fascinating, opinionated rivulets of thought on food, travel, cocktails, writing, reading, theater. His admiration for his wife (a best-selling author herself) shines through in the winningest way. He has a pithy, quaint way with words (e.g., he’ll use “theater house”) that I find soothing. And I love when he goes off the rails on a subject like why he’ll never use potholders. So charming and real!
Sarah’s Retail Diary by Sarah Shapiro. A smart look at what’s going on in retail in a given week — sort of a Cliff’s Notes for brand launches, collections/collaborations to be eyeing, and other business-of-fashion details, like companies changing leadership, being bought/sold, bringing on new creative direction. To the point and highly observant.
Yolo Intel by Yolanda Edwards. Phenomenal, detailed travel writing with loads of restaurant recs and hotel reviews. I’m newer to her, but I could spend (and have spent) hefty portions of afternoons reading her posts and daydreaming. A good companion to our conversation on how to plan a fantastic vacation.
Please share your favorites in the comments section!
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+As a follow on to this list: Emese Gormley shares my enthusiasm for the SoldoutNYC Everything Shirt (now available for pre-order in all sizes, shipping 4/19), and has a code we can use — EMESE15 for 15% off! It is a really, really good investment. It looks like something that could have been made by a high-end European retailer and cost north of $1,000. The most luxurious, silky handfeel. Very oversized/boxy – I would have sized down if I could. I took the XS an find myself wearing it with cuffs rolled, tucked in. I had a few requests from Magpies to show it on — seen below. Somehow makes jeans and flats look like a million bucks. Note length! I’m 5’0 and it runs south of mid-thigh. (Worn with this bag, these $10 Amazon sunnies, Margaux flats.)
+Of course I’d find the two items not included in the Shopbop 20% off sale to want to buy this week (one of my epitaphs must be: “not included in sale” — I just have a knack for it), but I can’t stop thinking about this unusual SIR dress (for dinners out) and this toweling top from Zimmermann(more sizes here and here) that Nicole Cassidy wore on vacation. She styled it with the matching shorts (again, sets are big for spring/summer) but I might break it up and pair with a denim short or white beach pants because I have a hunch the style will overwhelm my frame (I’m 5’0). I also love it in this long caftan version.
+If you like the terry set look but not the Zimmermann price tag, you might consider: this set from Araminta James or Kule’s terry separates.
+Not terry, but I just ordered myself one of these gauze two-piece sets from Amazon of all places. So easy for the pool. Comes in a ton of colors.
+One Shopbop sale find I neglected to mention yesterday (late discovery) were these popular woven flats (Bottega-esque) and fisherman sandals from Freda Salvador. I was JUST ogling at them via my post on Saturday morning, and I know many of you liked those pieces too.
+Magpie reader rec: this decorate-your-own water bottle kit. Ideal for 6-9 year old girls. I’ve tucked this away for a future gift idea myself! Also just found these cute watercolor kits as a possible Easter basket stuffer or party favor.
+Few Moda reached out to me last week and asked if I’d be interested in trying a few of their pieces. I know many of you love this brand, and specifically their Didi mini and East cocktail dress, which many of you have written to me about. Few Moda produces their designs in the same factories as higher end retailers, and offer them for a fraction of the price — you can get an even deeper discount if you pay a membership fee, but the prices are still very reasonable even without the membership. I chose this punchy mini (reminded me of Juliet Dunn — I can’t wait to wear barefoot on the first warm day of spring) and this sweet midi (Reformation-inspired for sure). Will share my thoughts once they arrive!
+I’ve resisted the mesh trend for months now because I haven’t found a piece that calls my name. These LRs are changing my tune. I’m obsessed with them?! I really think I might go for them.
This post is sponsored by Shopbop. This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
Shopbop’s 20% off sitewide sale just launched! Use code SPRING20. It includes lots of my wardrobe staples, plus some fun new finds for warmer weather ahead, including the Alix of Bohemia pants with matching top seen here — sets are big for the season ahead, and this one is gorgeous breathable, lightweight, with just enough of a pattern (not too much to overwhelm!). I’m wearing with my beloved Altuzarra Watermill bag (included in the sale — goes with everything!) and my Ancient Greek Eleftheria Sandals (also included in the sale!) — these are my most-worn summer sandals. More on them below.
The promotion includes several of my absolute most-worn closet staples — items that tend to be difficult to find on sale, including:
+My favorite sunglasses (seen above)! Already well-priced at $75, but snag with an even better discount. I own these in three colors.
+Ancient Greek Eleftheria Sandals. These are my go-to summer sandal. I wore them more than my Hermes Orans last summer. They are the kind of thing you could pack to wear with everything on a trip — they work with shorts, swimwear, casual dresses, cocktail dresses. They have this fabulous barely-there quality to them, and I find them very well-made. Adore. A must!
+Hunza G suits! The square-neck is the classic and I love mine so much I gave one to my best friend for her 40th birthday — so flattering and easy to wear (OSFA). The fiery red-orange color is very on-trend for the season. Pair with ice blue pareo? I also own and love the Pamela style with thinner straps. (Review here!)
+SLVRLAKE London jeans. I own in the cropped length. This is a serious denim brand for serious denim lovers — exceptionally well-made. I think it was the ever chic Nicole Cassidy who drew me onto this bandwagon and now I own three pairs by the label. The London is their classic everyday not-too-skinny-not-too-relaxed fit. Run TTS — I’m 5’0 and they’re a tad long but have not yet had them hemmed; just wearing them as is.
+Frank & Eileen Patrick popover tee. I own this in white and it’s the perfect “throw on in lieu of a white tee” situation — a nice midweight cotton that feels fitted from elbow to wrist but has a slouchy lived-in fit elsewhere. Love the dropped shoulder seam.
+Naghedi St. Barths Medium tote. The best bag for mom life in the summer. The straps do stretch to fit over your arm, and the neoprene weave means you don’t need to be too precious about it. Pick a fun color, like this cheering tangerine hue (I own and have loved in yellow!), and don’t worry about being matchy-matchy! Fun little exclamation point that will zhush anything in your summer wardrobe, even jean shorts and a tee.
+Speaking of tees: a few of my favorites from Leset are included. I’m obsessed with all of their tees — the Margo is a great, mid-weight boxy fit, and the Kelly is a super-snug, ribbed must-have great for pairing with skirts or trousers — any time I’m wanting to balance out a fuller/more dramatic bottom (like the Zimmermann skirt below, also on sale and an extra 20% off!) with something fitted on top. (I think of the Kelly as my Jennifer Aniston tee — feels like something she’d wear on “Friends.”)
+Citizens Charlotte crop. Another fabulous everyday jean that I have heavy in my weekly rotation. I love the wash on this pair. Work without being hemmed for us petites. Full review here!
+An easy polo dress for everyday wear – I imagine tossing this on with leather sandals or sneakers to run errands, pick up the kids, ferry them around, etc.
+Anything from Alix of Bohemia! The patterns, the breezy lightweight cotton — absolute dreams for warm weather. Matching sets are big for the season ahead — I love these pants with matching top (seen at top). A splurge but you can wear them separately to great effect. Imagine the pants with a white button-down or tee and sandals for museum-hopping, and then worn with the matching top and heels for an evening out. This top is spectacular, too.
+Anine Bing sweatshirt! A reader recently solicited my advice on how to wear athletic wear without looking like a mess. My big suggestion was matching sets from Beyond Yoga (some pieces included in the sale!) and then fun/unexpected sweatshirt on top, like these trendy Anine Bing ones.
+My Cami NYC polka dot dress I wore last weekend in Charlottesville! So fun and easy to wear – sexy but playful/elegant at the same time.
I have re-read this poem by Li-Young Lee nearly every day the past week, and find myself idling in this couplet in particular:
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard
The poem makes me think about the way we are never absorbing, or feeling, one thing. A single peach carries with it the wondrousness of fruit transformed from seed, the sun and shade of many days, the labor of field workers, the roadside marketing of a peach stand, and our happenstance meeting of it. Not to mention, of course, the wildflower idiosyncrasies and imaginations of our internal worlds. The way a peach might carry with it “the familiar dust of summer” — or the prismatic memory of a mother who adored the fruit, or the time you drove those dirt roads of Charlottesville that summer. Our lives becomes mosaics of the people, and places, we love.
I am comforted by the image of carrying orchards inside: how finite time is, but how wide our capacity to hold and love and draw in while we are here. How I might find myself donating the too-small shoes of my toddler son, but the memory of his feet padding around Glen Echo, and up the driveway of our home in Bethesda, and down the hallways with Tilly at his heels, will stay. How a peach is never just a peach, but the pinpoint access into a trove of memory, and reference, and the rhythms of the entire natural world.
And then the final stanza —
There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.
Wow! Carpe diem. Let’s find a day where death is nowhere in the background and we are instead transfixed by the joy of a peach, a wing, a single blossom — ciphers enclosing the unfolding universe.
Post-Scripts.
+Another poem I love, on parenting. It of course hits differently this re-read: “Show them how to cry when pets and people die. // Show them the infinite pleasure in the touch of a hand. // And make the ordinary come alive for them.” Amen.
+Sneaker restocks! A) Sambas in a new spring colorway, with a wider gum cupsole — what do you think of it? I have to say my Sambas are my most-worn casual sneaker. They are so comfortable! B) NB 9060s.
+Beginning to collect items for the children’s Easter baskets. I ordered these hatching rainbow eggs — these types of dissolving experiments are a big hit with my children. For Valentine’s Day, my son gave out Valentines with dissolving dino eggs — similar to these! — and they were well-received! (Also nice to have a non-sugar treat.). And, these tokens we had from last year will be reused this year! We put them in the Easter eggs buried around the house.
+My mother wore this dress to my sister’s wedding two years ago and stunned in it. Now out in a pretty blue pattern. IDEAL mother of the bride dress.
+These embroidered shams ($15!) remind me a lot of my Serena and Lily set.
+Reformation’s latest linen-focused collection is gorgeous. I love this simple mini.
+Speaking of linen, these bustier-style linen maxis from Sir available in brown, red, or floral have captured my imagination for a saucy summer date.
+The best Amazon sleeping pillows! We have these in most of the bedrooms in our house.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
Earlier this week, a former colleague of mine sent out his annual birthday email, in which he reflects on what he’s learned over the prior twelve months. These words leapt out at me: “Be the parent that has the slowest heartbeat, the most relaxed body, the emptiest mind.” He goes on to explain that achieving these psycho-physical states of calm enables him to “co-regulate his children,” but I thought — these are good, and concrete, north stars for anyone living a modern life, parents or not. Ever since, I’ve been checking in with myself at odd moments: is my heart racing? am I hunched over? is my mind overflowing? and attempting to make micro-adjustments not too dissimilar in ethos from the ones derived from my reflections on yutori earlier this year.
When I focus on practicing yutori (finding spaciousness in my life), I find myself…
+Leaving a few minutes before I need to so that I have time to look around, and walk — not sprint — to the destination.
+Rounding up — on parking meters, on the windows of time I estimate between errands, on how long it will take me to finish a particular task.
+Putting my phone away while getting my nails done, and finding other places and times to not multi-task. Sometimes this is as simple as not calling someone while I’m driving somewhere.
+Instead of racing through a chore like folding the pile of discarded clothes that seems to materialize on my closet floor every few days, looking at the clock and telling myself, “Take the next 15 to get that done.” It’s always too much time, as though I’m using a too-big box. There’s lots of elbow room. It feels far less stressful to be operating in a designated time slot versus viewing the chore as an impingement on or obstruction to my long list of “sanctioned” to-dos. (In other words, this, too is the job — the errands, the laundry, the putting away of dishes — and so why am I treating it as if it’s marginal?)
When I focus on finding my colleague’s proposed psycho-physical states of calm, I find myself:
+Changing the audio landscape around me — this sometimes means turning off the music, and other times turning it on. Sometimes I want my noise canceling headphones with no music playing — just muffled silence — and other times I want nothing on my ears. Still other times, I walk outside seeking birdsong and breeze.
+Taking slower breaths, releasing my tongue from the roof of my mouth, stretching or moving my body.
+Looking carefully at what’s around me — the flowers now in bloom alongside our driveway, the budding cherry blossoms across the street, the way my son runs across the cul de sac to retrieve the baseball, the cardinal on the branch outside my window. A friend of mine told me that seeing a cardinal is a sign that those who have passed are with us. I was terribly moved by this, as a family of cardinals lives in the arbor vitae in our backyard, and I routinely spotted them on the branches from my studio, but hadn’t ever given them much thought or careful notice. Now I make a point to watch them when they alight nearby. Profound visitations, easy to miss.
+Giving my husband or children a hug. I miss Tilly for many reasons, but this is a particularly hard pill: sitting on the floor by her dog bed, giving her some love at 2:02 in the afternoon, instantly settled and re-centered me.
Yutori is more conceptual — how might I manage my time differently to avoid the feelings of distractedness and overwhelm? My colleague’s approach anchors in the body: what might I change in my posture or position to relieve stress?
Both remind me to live where my feet are.
The necessary pre-op for all of this: what can I let go of? Whatdoes not matter today? The time I’m claiming for myself displaces other things — and I must make careful peace with those tradeoffs. After all, time is finite, in both liberating and terrifying ways. Molly Sims recently interviewed time management specialist Oliver Burkeman on her podcast, and he captured this duality well when he talked about the fact that the average human has about 4,000 weeks on this earth. He explained: “What’s so terrifying about a week is, on the one hand, you don’t get very many of them — 4, 000 or so is not a large number. But on the other hand, it’s kind of incredibly easy to wonder where the last week or two went in your life. So I just think that calls attention to the preciousness of it.”
A good tune to carry into the week ahead: “Let me call attention to the preciousness of this day.”
The words carry extra ballast this week, as my daughter turned seven — and how? Finding umbrage in the words: “Omnia mutantur, nihil interit” (“everything changes; nothing is lost”) and the sentiment that we carry all the ages of our children with us. We put on a big Taylor Swift to-do for our girl, singing “You Belong to Me” in a recording studio with 12 other little girls and a devoted brother, too. The favors were friendship bracelets and scrunchies tied together with these personalized tags — my favorite detail besides the Taylor Swift face cake (!!!). Live and learn: you can have any photograph imprinted on a sheet cake at Harris Teeter. I also personally thought these iridescent and disposable tableclothsmade the tablescape, especially as we tacked this sign to the wall. I live for a detail! We spread the tables with heart sunnies and loads of Taylor Swift stickers and it’s funny how crazy the girls were about them? I remember loving stickers at that age, too – what is it about them? Something material that you can imprint on the world? After the recording part, we had cake and made friendship bracelets. All of the photos of my daughter at the party involve lots of her other little girlfriends so I don’t feel comfortable posting but they were in seventh heaven, as was her abiding brother Hill — giving mini Elton John vibes as he looks on below.
On her proper birthday, she requested pancakes, bacon, and strawberries for breakfast, and pizza for dinner — and we obliged. Her favorite gift was the karaoke machine Mr. Magpie bought her (a Wirecutter rec for kids)! She is on that thing at all hours of the day, belting out Taylor Swift. I think it’s thrilling to have the microphone, the words, the disco ball. (You sync to an iPad so all the lyrics come up.) This gift was following closely by a new pair of Nike sneakers — she’d specifically asked for one “in a cool color.”
What else? I already shared some of my budding thoughts on our quick trip to Charlottesville here, but this Miranda Lambert song came on the radio and it captures a lot of the feelings, or adjacent ones. The sensation of getting back to some earlier state of life, self; the sensucht for something simple. I love the lyric “Right where the dirt road meets the asphalt // Meets the real world and says goodbye // I’m always driving back there in my mind.” It’s good line writing, especially the fixed “right where” in friction with the vaporous “says goodbye,” and the visual of dirt meeting asphalt as an imaginary distinction between “the old world” of memory and the “real world” of now. Good driving music, too — turn her on, turn it up, and see what you think.
A few other notes on the Charlottesville trip, most inquiries from readers: we stayed at Keswick and thought the experience was exceptional. Beautifully appointed rooms, friendly and hospitable staff, gracious common areas, thoughtful details. It does not feel much like the Keswick we knew back when we were engaged (15 years ago, oh my God!), but I’m not sure that change is an obvious demerit. The place still feels “soft around the edges” (a Magpie reader’s turn of phrase!) — slow, easy — just as the rest of Charlottesville does. We had drinks at Crawford’s (the bar in the hotel, seen below with my $10 shades) and then ate at Marigold, a beautiful dining room on the Keswick property with prompt and courteous staff. As with the hotel, there isn’t much that feels “old Virginia” about it. In fact, the restaurant — perhaps the entire hotel? — could easily be in Napa Valley. This felt interesting in the ambient cultural focus on the hyper-local, as it made us question that imperative, or the narratives we presume around authenticity. The photo at the top of this post is from the front courtyard of the hotel, and could easily be in Europe!
Final note on the trip: we had a beautiful time visiting a small winery called Gabriele Rausse. It is atypical of the Virginia wine scene — you aren’t in lush, rolling hills, emerging from a pillared building. The winery is set back into the side of a rocky hill, and the structure is modern-rustic. (Mr. Magpie and I joked it’d be the perfect house for a thriller.) The wines were solid, and they serve you crusty complimentary baguette with delicious olive oil as you taste. The real charm of the place: you’re sitting at picnic tables and slatted chairs nestled into foliage and gravel path, and you hear birdsong — and frogsong (!) — and nary a car. The owner’s dog meanders from table to table. We felt as far from the rush of our daily life as we could get. The winemaker is something of a darling in the Charlottesville wine community — he’s worked for Barboursville, Blenheim, White Hall, Afton Mountain, Kluge, and I think I saw he’s still head groundskeeper at Monticello, or has some prominent affiliation with its botanics. The wines are more old world European style (he is Italian!) than you’ll find at other Virginia vineyards. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area and looking for something new. Besides Gabriele Rausse, I’d recommend Early Mountain and Barboursville — I think those two have the best Virginia wines.
Final few notes:
+A Magpie asked for spring dresses (“think Derby”) and I had so much fun coming up with options. My top picks: this flirty and fun Rixo, this striped Rebecca Vallance (she deserves a julep), this happy yellow Simkhai, and this under-$200 ray of sunshine. I’m always drawn to “structure” / err on the side of preppy for horse race type festivities, but I also think you could run in the other direction with this floaty floral from Doen. And my polka dot dress from last weekend is giving Pretty Woman vibes — an iconic horse race moment to consider.
+Another reader question: good crossbody bag for a European summer trip. I recommended my Paris64 prismatic bag, seen in the photo at Crawford’s bar above! She goes effortlessly with a cocktail dress or jeans, zips all the way around, and carries just enough (phone, keys, wallet, lip gloss). I also haven’t seen her on anyone else, so I like that aspect. For the price, it looks much fancier than it is IMO. The leather is gorgeous. Comes in lots of colors.
+These jeans from La Ligne arrived and I’m dazzled by the fit. They work with my curves and are deeply comfortable — I wore them all day at my writing desk. I can’t say the same for all of my jeans. (Aside: the thought of ever wearing a low rise jean again sends shivers down my spine.) La Ligne also sent over this cropped denim top and this denim jacket and I cannot wait to style both. I usually err on the side of feminine/polished, so I like the challenge their more dressed-down-androgynous-leaning denim pieces present me with. I find I like to balance out with a ladylike ballet flat, cropped jacket, or bag. You can see me in the first outfit I wore them with below: Leset pointelle tee, macrame jacket (restocked!). Note that the jeans are olive green — a trending color at the moment (more on that here). Also, a little reminder that you can get 10% off at La Ligne with code MAGPIE10.
OK, off we go into the week ahead! Wishing you calm seas.
P.S. It’s Sunday! Mix up a Mai Tai and throw on the Oscars!
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
A few things I loved this week:
+Travel as a concept: “Paris is for teaching you to appreciate and invest in nice things, New York is for reminding you to make them your own.” I loved this insight from fashion writer Laura Reilly in her newsletter Magasin. I have not spent enough time in Paris to fully appreciate it, but I can see how it would be true, and more generally found myself nodding at the subtext: the way place shapes and re-shapes my sense of self. Every time I travel, I see myself from the outside in. I kind of like Reilly’s formula and have been wondering how I’d fill in the blank: “Charlottesville is for teaching you ____, Bethesda is for reminding you ____.” (More on that recent trip here.)
+Spousal acts of service: The adorable Katie from Beach Reads and Bubbly has been sharing little snapshots of a small act of service from her husband: what he calls “TDS,” or “Turn Down Service.” Every night, he lays out a book and sleep mask for her, and folds down the sheets! Have you heard of anything sweeter? It reminded me of the way Mr. Magpie will fill my coffee mug with boiling water if I’m out for a run or in the shower when he’s making coffee. I always come down to a pre-warmed mug that I can fill with hot coffee when I’m ready. What little acts of service do your loved ones extend your way?
+Family photos: My photographer friend Claire referenced little old me in a blog post on what to wear for family portraits. Lots of great tips from photographers and stylists alike. You will not be surprised that my top rec, after the general rule of a dress with some sort of sleeve (less to fuss with, and worry about), was something from Doen.
+Spring fitness wear: I placed a large Nike order this week (in transparency, I am working on a project with them – so excited) and can’t wait for them to arrive. It included, among a few other items, these socks (I love their socks so much — I am almost always wearing them under boots / with sneakers even when I’m dressier because they’re so plush); this jacket (selling fast) in the ice blue; this sports bra (also in the ice blue); and these leggings in a few colors.
+Good socks: Speaking of socks, are Bombas worth the hype? I’ve also heard good things about these Stems ones. The colors, of course, are calling my name. I’m still digging my Target sock haul, but their quality is decidedly inferior to Nike.
+Idea of You: I’m sure you saw this, but Prime released the official preview for “The Idea of You” of you this week. I think a lot of us are uncertain about the casting, but it looks better than I expected…? Please share your thoughts/questions/concerns/re-castings in the comments. (And if you are wondering what I’m talking about, The Idea of You is a steamy modern romance that could also be qualified as Harry Styles fan fiction.)
+Spacey Kacey: Whoever is handling Kacey Musgraves’ PR in advance of her new album release deserves a raise. She’s been everywhere. I loved her curated Etsy board. The venue, the picks are all so perfectly-strummed. I love the little handmade mugs and this pretty handmaiden-chic dress.
+Everyday jewelry: It has meant so much to me to carry Tilly around on my ring finger the past week or two. I am feeling less raw: better able to smile when I think of her and talk about her without a wobble in my voice. Her talisman reassures me that she will not be forgotten. I wrote a little musing on talismans, and how they can ground us in moments of challenge, here. And on a much lighter note, these are the best trays for organizing jewelry. So easy to find everything — and keep it all untangled. One last note on everyday jewelry: I have gone back to wearing these Aureum earrings close to daily. I love the tiny bit of vintage-inspired polish they afford a t-shirt and jeans, a simple denim dress, etc.
+Everyday shoes: I’m newly obsessed with the brand Freda Salvador. I know many of you have worn and sworn by their waterproof boots in seasons past, but can we talk about their Bottega-esque woven ballet flats and chic fisherman sandals?!
+Ampersand thinking: My friend Alex wrote a beautiful little piece on “locating the shapes of joy” when feeling overwhelmed or stretched thin. She also spins a gorgeous portrait of the multiplicity of motherhood — how we are constantly feeling several, often contradictory, things at once. As she puts it: “Everything is two things emerges as the theme here; I’m aggressively, excessively, obsessively in love with my kids, and I am depleted by waking up in the night and playing referee in the endless bickering,” and then goes on to share other “ampersand thinking” moments. Everything is two (or more) things indeed. (And it’s OK if nothing resolves to a fine point: “I think a part of the wisdom earned by age is accepting that not everything resolves to a fine point. We may never get the the resolution, the explanation, the apology (or forgiveness, as the case may be). We may not find the caesura.” And that’s OK.)
+Snags this week: Towel scrunchies; my first pair of La Ligne jeans; Osea body scrub and body butter (10% off with code MAGPIE10); a new mascara from a new beauty brand that I’m VERY impressed with. I would put it up there with our team favorite $20 mascara — similar in result. Also received my new Alice Walk sweatshirt and paired with their striped tee beneath. They do the best colors, and of course the quality is unmatched. Truth be told, I could wear this and comfortable jeans every single day in my writing studio.
What You Loved This Week.
+Travel gurus: Can we pause for a moment and marvel at the treasure trove of travel philosophies and tips you shared in response to these prompts on planning a great vacation? Wow! Mr. Magpie and I were bowled over. He asked me whether I’d found any meaningful patterns across commenters. Several themes echoed (“splurge on the direct flight!” and “7-10 days is the ideal vacation length”), but the real tie that bound? Good travelers are non-dogmatic. That is, they change their perspectives on where to stay, what to do, how much to do, how long to visit, what to splurge on, depending on context. There were many comments that ran along the lines of: “Well, it depends. If I’m flying internationally…” or “If I’m with children…” or “If we’ll be spending most of our time ‘on campus’…” TL;DR: be flexible, and think carefully about your trip’s objectives and constraints.
+Magpie love: First time commenter Brittany posted a rich and compelling review of “Killers of the Flower Moon” on my Oscar Bets post, and shared its personal meaning to her as a Native American woman living in Oklahoma today. Strongly recommend you read her thoughts – I’m going to tune in!
She preceded it with: “Came back to this post to read the comments after you referenced it in the weekend drafts! As a side note, I am in constant awe by the comments section…this community, it fills my cup in ways I didn’t know I needed.”
I feel so much the same way. You all have been blowing me away me with your comments. (!)
+Must-have kitchen upgrade: From reader Ann: “Treat yourself to one of the House of Noa mats! We have had ours for over 3 years and it has been a game changer. A bit faded after multiple years but still so comfortable and withstood very heavy use in our previous dishwasher-free house (where it vastly improved the miserable exercise of handwashing dishes). We are considering purchasing a second at this point because our dog has totally abandoned her bed in favor of sleeping on this kitchen mat – and I don’t blame her at all! Truly a 10/10, leveling up the everyday sort of product.” Sold.
06. SOLDOUT.NYC EVERYTHING SHIRT — A spectacular, high-quality staple. You can size down. The material is divine! This is selling wildly all over the Internet!
11. JOE’S JEANS UTILITY PANTS — My favorite olive green trousers! Dress up with a blazer or blouse; dress down with a tee and sneaks.
By: Jen Shoop
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
It was the week of the little blue jacket! Alex Mill launched it as a part of its spring collection this week and I wore it three times. So versatile and fresh, and the perfect mid-weight layer for these 50-degree days. Leandra Medine has been talking about this color as a complement to the pops of red that have been everywhere (an example of which seen below in my red-and-white striped shirt) — in her words: “a response to (as in, good companion color to) the season’s surge of red.” Medine calls it “Bottega-ish” blue. Je l’adore. Wearing above/below with this Boden shirt, Alex Mill’s Carla jeans (run TTS, had to have them hemmed by about four or five inches, no joke — I’m 5’0 and these run long), and my favorite support bag, the Altuzarra Watermill, which I continue to yap about because it goes with everything in my closet.
Another take: the cardigan with a Kule striped tee, Loeffer Randall Leonies (divinely soft right out of the box), and Agolde Rileys. And of course the bag.
Date night in Charlottesville! Wearing a Cami NYC dress, L’Agence denim jacket, these under-$20 shades, a Paris64 crossbody, and these $60 Quince flats. As you can see, I was very excited for the occasion. You can also spot my Ossa phone case and wristlet in a few of these photos. Actually really handy when you’re in a tourist mode — you can keep the phone close at hand without having to physically hold it the entire time (just have it hanging off your wrist).
My car travel day look! I had mentioned I was planning to wear my Frank and Eileen sweatsuit, but I needed an outfit that could take me from morning Mass to wine tasting with a two hour car ride in the middle. I chose these Agolde pinch waist jeans, a plain J. Crew tee, the Quince mules, and this Veronica Beard vest (high sell-out risk!), which elevated everything. The Quince mules are like the convertible of shoes. You can wear them with dresses or jeans, and they feel perfectly midway between dressed up and down.
Earlier in the morning, I wore with a utility jacket with fun faux fur trim at the bottom half — sadly from a brand no longer in existence, Harvey Faircloth! I still wear the jacket each winter season.
The third time I wore “the jacket” this week — with a Leset pointelle tee, Agolde pinch waists, Quince flats, and Paris64 bag. (This was part of my travel ensemble. All the pieces so easy to mix and match!)
A shot of my packing for the trip! Everything played so nicely together.
Last but not least: my outfit for my daughter’s Taylor Swift-themed birthday party! I wore this tee (under $20) and these Sezane acid wash jeans. They were so fun and different! They run really small. Disregard the note on sizing down – I sized up one size and probably could have gone up two!
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I was moved this week by an excerpt from a Ted Talk by visual artist Maira Kalman, titled “Women Carrying Things.” She begins the segment:
“One day at a farmers market, I saw a woman carrying an absolutely gigantic cabbage. When I asked to photograph her, she looked really annoyed. And for some reason, I was so delighted by her crankiness. It seemed so authentic and true.
Let’s just say what we feel.
It made me think of all the things women hold, literally and metaphorically.
Balloons and grudges. And heavy loads and cabbages. And stupendous love and courage. And the pink ukulele under a cherry tree.
And from this a book was formed: “Women Holding Things.”
I immediately ordered a copy of the book to send to a loved one who will appreciate the sentiment, and who, more importantly, deserves to be seen for everything she carries — which, as is common with the women of substance in my life, is a lot.
I want to be concrete about this.
I have seen this woman carry:
A jangling tambourine, so as to encourage and graciously deflect attention from fellow karaoke performers feeling a bit nervous at the microphone;
Babies belonging to other mothers, without any appearance of being put upon;
Her own wants and needs, but lightly;
The wants and needs of others, more heavily;
Three pregnancies;
Laundry baskets up and down the stairs;
Tequila, on the rocks;
The snack wrappers, miscellaneous belongings, and wet bathing suits of her children;
The unthinkable grief of losing a child;
A new language and new customs in a new country;
The onus of smoothing out a path in that new country for her young children;
Love-worn books;
Small afternoon dishes of apple slices;
An easy laugh and a good tune;
And, me, in the backseat of an Uber, weeping into her shirt.
A Prompt.
A little prompt for you this Friday: take a minute to think about a woman who holds the universe together. What does she carry?
You can, obviously, keep whatever spills onto the page close to your heart, but I think she’d love to be seen in it, so you might think about sending it her way when you’re done. If that feels awkward to you, let me tell you a little story: our gruff neighbor in New York routinely avoided us in the hallways, yelled at our dog, slammed his door, but then a few days before Christmas left a small canvas he’d painted at our doorstep. I was so moved by the gesture that I entirely re-wrote my reading of him. And that was an amateur canvas from an unfriendly neighbor! So imagine how much it will mean for her to receive lovely words from someone she trusts.
And if you’re game, share some of your sketch in the comments section here, too. It could make a beautiful composite portrait of all the things we carry.
+It’s transitional coat season! This Barbour is so fab. Also love the Everlane liner jacket for this in-between time — perfect weight.
+These happy heels are in my cart. Kind of like my Watermill bag — have all the colors to go with anything and everything.
+The verdict is in: my son LOVED these healthier snack bars from Skout. My daughter hated them. So, maybe you’ll get lucky with one child in your home? Ingredient list is simple.
+A sweet initial sweatshirt for your little love for springtime.
+Pretty sheets for a little one’s bed — $29! While you’re there, you might consider these colored wine glasses and these candlestick holders for your Easter table, as well as this gorgeous coffee table book.
+Alex Mill’s new spring collection (launched Wednesday) is full of cheerful and remixable basics for the season ahead. You already know I love the Paris cardigan (in my “What I Loved Wearing This Week” post later this morning, you’ll see I wore it three times this week), but you might also consider this ribbed maxi, their iconic Nico cardigan, or their striped shirtdress.
+This tiny portable printer would have been such a fun party trick / distraction at my daughter’s seventh birthday — she could have posed with all her little friends and gotten pictures to pass out right away!
+The SoldOutNYC “Everything” button down I raved about earlier this week sold out and then was re-stocked for pre-order. Run! The quality of this shirt is nuts. The most elegant and silky fabric you’ve ever felt on your skin.
+My favorite solution for keeping desk and kitchen papers organized — sort into categories in these.
+Frank & Eileen launched some pretty new spring colors in their fleece capelets. I’m a big fan of this brand.
+A charming floral frock. It feels like birthday cake to me!
