[Ed. Note: Updated March 25, 2019.] I’ve already covered my absolute favorite beauty products and killer home products; today’s post is all about clothing basics. I devote a lot of time on this blog to trends and lust list items, but today, I’m sharing my favorite tried-and-true wardrobe underpinnings — and they should mean something since I’m the type of impractical shopper who will always lean for the $600 pair of statement-making 5″ heels over the more practical black suede everyday ones. (As with my other “best of everything” posts, I’ve written about all of these products elsewhere on the blog about two dozen times, but thought it’d be helpful to keep them all co-located in one spot.)
Bra:Natori Feathers. This is the most comfortable everyday bra. I never need to adjust because wire is digging into my skin, or leaving red marks on my shoulders. It’s beautifully constructed and offers a nice lift. I love the deep plunge — you can wear it with nearly any neckline! My only caveat is that it does run small! They’re also well-made: several of mine have lasted years and look no worse for the wear.
Strapless Bra:Gap. It’s frankly impossible to find a truly comfortable strapless bra, but at least this one stays put and performs its job well. Plus — reasonably priced!
Underwear:Hanky Panky. No brainer. No lines, so comfortable, and comes in every color under the sun. For nighttime, I only wear Cosabella Hotpants. They are insanely comfortable.
Flip-Flops:TKEES. I’m not a huge flip-flop wearer, but there are occasions that merit them (the beach, pedicures, running an errand at Duane Reade), and I love TKEES for that purpose. They are simple, unfussy (as elegant as a flip flop can possibly be), and hold up extremely well, even when worn in rain, sand, and surf. They also go with everything and don’t attract too much attention.
Everyday Flats: Anything by Loeffler Randall. They don’t have many traditional shapes in their current selection, but I’ve had good luck trolling Amazon for past season styles. I own and love these and these exact styles in different colorways and wear them heavily — and have done so for countless seasons.
Jeans:J.Brand Photo-Ready. I LOVE the fit and stretch of J. Brand’s Photo-Ready collection. It truly does “lift” and “contour” — it never cuts in to you; it just coats and sucks in the leg or something. I dunno. Magic.
Sunnies: Le Specs Air Heart. These stunners look like they’re by Celine or something — but cost less than $70. I always get compliments on them.
Leggings: David Lerner. I first discovered this brand while pregnant with mini (they carry a fabulous maternity legging that I’ve since turned dozens of mama-to-bes onto — the most comfortable, flattering, and well-made legging!), but I love their non-maternity stuff, too. These leggings HOLD UP wash after wash without appearing threadbare or scuzzy.
Warm Socks:Smartwools and Darn Tough Cushion Socks. If you don’t have a pair of either of these but live anywhere north of D.C…God bless you. You need them in your life. These are, simply, the warmest, best-constructed socks out there. They’re actually meant for hiking — super breathable but the warmest of the warm — but I wear them in the winters. The Darn Toughs are a hair more comfortable owing to their “cushion” bottom.
Sports Bras:Target’s c9 for Champion. These are inexpensive, comfortable, and breathable. I can’t tell you how many fancy Lululemon sports bras I bought only to be disappointed — yes, they’re cute and they look good in yoga class, but they’re always digging into my skin in weird places, I often need to size up a few sizes (which is confusing because I’m very modestly endowed and have a petite ribcage — who wears the 0 there?!), and they don’t wash well. Target’s c9 collection are made of the perfect stretchy material; they come in good colors; and they’re not hard on the wallet. I wouldn’t say they wash particularly well — I find that they typically fade in color quickly — but, at $16/pop, I’m OK with that.
Running Leggings: Lululemon Tight Stuff. These flat out make you look great. I also like the size of the pocket in the back of the band — wide enough to hold your credit cards, and the waist is high enough that it isn’t uncomfortable.
Running Shorts:Lululemon Hotty Hot Shorts 4″. These are my jam. Extremely comfortable and well-cut for running — but, importantly, not too short. I’m only 5 feet, but I find that too many of Lululemon’s shorts are like underwear. They also have a small pocket for things like keys and credit cards.
Running Shoes:Nike Free RN or Nike Free Run Flyknit. I have been through dozens of running shoes, and Nike’s are the best because they are SO lightweight, but still offer structure. I love both of these shoes, but the Flyknit is best for good weather — it’s knit almost like a sock and feels like you’re wearing nothing. The first time I wore them, I looked down and realized I had run my first mile in 7.5 minutes, which is outrageous for me — I’m normally around a 9-minute mile pace. Still, they weren’t practical for Chicago, which is cold and wet a lot of the time; these will let the water right in. (I ran many miles with sopping wet feet.) Both are excellent, though.
Non-Workout Leggings:Alo Yoga Moto. I don’t know that I’d wear these running — they’re more my “I’m on my way to the gym but running errands first” pants, even if I don’t intend to go to the gym at all. These are SO chic and SO comfortable and, against all odds, very flattering. I own them in navy.
Lounge Pants:J. Crew’s Dreamy Jogger. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. These are the softest, most comfortable pants ever. The waistband is generous and the cut is slimming. I die over these. I even prefer them to my favorite sweatpant — the Monrow Vintage Sweatpant — which is also incredibly soft and comfortable.
Slippers:LLBean Wicked Good. LLBean’s slippers are the coziest (I actually hate that word — it’s been so abused by the blogosphere! — but it’s truly the perfect appointment for this particular item), and my pairs have lasted a long, long while.
Getting Ready Romper:Eberjey Teddie. OMG, this. The softest cotton. I used to blow-dry my hair with a towel around myself and I was constantly having to re-tie/adjust/etc. Then my bestie introduced me to Eberjey’s teddies and my life changed. So comfortable, so breathable, so cute. I wear this every time I get out of the shower. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Robe:Pottery Barn Waffle Knit. Just like the hotel — fluffy, luxurious, a great heft to it, and monogrammable. I couldn’t live without my robe.
Loafers:Tod’s Gommino Loafers. You just have to have a pair. These are beautifully made, comfortable, and wear well. I own them in bright orange, and they can completely make an outfit. Just throw on jeans and a t-shirt or oxford and you’re done.
Everyday Heels:J. Crew Elsie. Manolo’s BBs are similar and beautiful as well, but I find J. Crew’s Elsies to be the most comfortable. The perfect heel height — it distributes your weight well and makes it easy to stand for hours on end. I also happen to think they nailed the toe shape: not too pointy, not too round. Simply perfect.
Canvas Sneakers:Superga Cotu (shown above in pic at top!). The timeless classic. These are insanely comfortable, come in great colors, and go with everything from sundresses (currently dying over all the floaty sundresses from this line) to distressed denim.
Clutch: Gigi New York. I can’t tell you how much use I’ve gotten out of this simple, monogrammed python clutch, which I own in the stone gray color. It’s my answer to the OMG-I-have-no-handbag-that-matches-this and it accompanies me on every single trip as a convenient catch-all for anything from cocktails to errand-running to lunch dates (plus, I use it to stow jewelry or hair accessories in my suitcase). It’s so easy, goes with everything, and is simple enough to compliment but not compete with any look.
Everyday Tote: Goyard St. Louis or Cuyana Zip-Top. (More thoughts on everyday bags here.) The Goyard is, simply, a classic. It is crazy lightweight, has a nice protective coating, and can carry a shocking amount of crap. I use it as my diaper bag! The Cuyana is lovely because the leather is of such a beautiful quality (at a reasonable price!) and I love that the top zips. Neither of these bags stand up on their own, though you can always add an insert that will correct for that. If you need structure, in warmer months, I am IN LOVE with my Pam Munson Isla Bahia tote!
By: Jen Shoop
O little town of Bethlehem How still we see thee lie Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee tonight
This has long been my favorite Christmas carol — especially the urgent, descending, anticipatory “yet in the dark street shineth,” which I recall singing with particular bravado from the balcony of our parochial Church during the yearly Christmas pageant. Even as a child, it sounded like the kind of line you should sing with a furrowed, concerned brow — it interrupts the sweet lullaby, and then returns us, at the end of the lyric, to a moment of resolution.
All of the Christmas season, wrapped up and reflected in the rise and fall of a single stanza: the anxiety and anticipation, quickly succeeded by joy.
I hope you are experiencing joy today, wherever you are, and in whatever form it takes. (Instead of, say, needing to find your way to the nearest Christmas Rage Room. Did you hear about this!? What on God’s green earth…)
Merry Christmas, Magpies.
P.S. A reader recently emailed me with the following Christmas query: “Do you have any recommendations on Christmas collectibles? I’m newly married, love entertaining, and my mother-in-law asked for an idea of a Christmas collectible for our new family.” My answer: The first thing I thought of was Dala Horses. They’re a traditional Swedish wood toy, but they have an association with winter. You can find all kinds of Dala horses — from beautiful handpainted vintage ones on Etsy, to more modern ones from Target, to trays and more. I also thought of Inge-Glas German Christmas ornaments. My mother in law is obsessed with them and I occasionally find good scores on Etsy, like this fruit set. My mom has for years collected pieces of Lladro porcelain for her nativity scene — that could be quite the collection to build! You can find one-off pieces on Etsy, too. FINALLY: nutcrackers! I just this year decided I love them and am going to buy a few for my mantle next year.
P.P.S. I never bought an NYE dress (shame on me), and I’m contemplating going whole hog with this (disco ball in dress form), going sleek with this (the bow is so me), or going tuxedo-chic in this. This already sold out in my size, or I’d probably have gone with that one!
By: Jen Shoop
My Latest Score: Priv At-Home Blowout.
For my bestie’s birthday dinner last weekend (I wore this in red under this coat, with these heels in black — the best wear-with-anything black heel), I decided to have my hair blown out at home. I’d heard about these on-demand beauty services but never tested the waters before, and started with Priv, as I’d received a $20 credit there. (This post is not sponsored in any way.)
It was a true delight, as it was cold out and there was snow on the ground and I was able to sit in my sweats (P.S. — a bunch of my favorite sweats are on sale here) and putz around on my phone while an expert blow-dried and curled my hair, and mini was playing just a few feet away. The ultimate in luxury and convenience. A Priv blow-dry sets you back $50, but it includes gratuity, so HONESTLY, it’s about $2 more expensive than going to the nearest DryBar, which costs $40 + tip, and is about 3408% more convenient. I will absolutely be reusing for future festivities. There are a bunch of competitors — GlamSquad and BeGlammd come to mind — and I don’t yet know whether one is better than another, but Priv was easy to use and the stylist was very good (you can select from a list of stylists, each with his/her own profile).
“Coincidences are God’s way of remaining anonymous.” This is something my Mom tells me all the time, like when I told her how happy I was to be in New York and how I can’t believe that we’re here through a seemingly random, fortuitous chain of events. (The actual move was anything but fortuitous, but, ya know. That’s a whole other story. With a part II and everything.) Or when I share a particularly incredible story of fortune falling in someone’s favor, like that of a dear friend who had been stressfully awaiting the arrival of her firstborn son, because her husband was, at the time, commuting between New York and Chicago, and they were worried he was going to be stuck in New York when she went into labor. They made it until the last Friday of his crazy travel schedule — he’d be back in Chicago for good thereafter — and, within an hour of his arrival at home, her water broke.
My Dad is even more direct about the notion of coincidence. He’s dedicated much of his retired life to eradicating veteran homelessness in Washington, D.C., and when asked to talk about the work he has been doing in this area, he routinely debates whether or not to include a story that he holds dear to his heart: he had been touring a veteran hospital while initially learning about the issue, and a disabled veteran in a wheelchair was struggling to get into the building. It was cold and gray outside — my father never omits that detail — and he said: “Can somebody please help me?” In his retelling of the story, my father will pause here and look you dead in the eye and say: “It was the voice of God. We had to help him. We had to help these veterans.”
It’s arresting.
Whether you believe in God or not, or whether you subscribe to my husband’s brand of superstition or not, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s worth taking the time to study these moments. As a student of literature, I favored the formalist approach to literary theory, which is primarily concerned with the intrinsic form of the work — the narrative structure; the aesthetic of the writing; the symmetries and asymmetries in the plot — rather than, say, the role of gender in the work, or the political underpinnings of the work, etc, etc. Perhaps because of this training, I feel I often go through my days collecting little threads of thought — a bit of conversation overheard here, a few bars of music gleaned there, a passage of dialogue read over here — and am surprised when I find a reprisal elsewhere: just the other day, a line from a movie served as the perfect descriptor to a situation in which my friend found herself, and it was just the right expression for the moment. (I’ve been thinking a lot about saying the right words at just the right time lately…) And how often do you find a book you’re reading — or a series you’re watching on TV — suddenly sheds new light on a different situation?
This is, to me, what it means to be a reflective human: to let the world wash over you and then to sit, as the tide rolls away, and examine the artifacts left behind. To look for the patterns left in the sand, to collect the seashells for later use, to discard the debris.
+Is there anyone fabulous and in need of a last minute NYE dress? I got you, boo.
+A reader recently emailed me asking for ideas for Christmas collectibles. I think I’m going to start collecting nutcrackers. Wouldn’t it be so chic to have a whole mantle full of them, in all shapes and sizes? Maybe I’ll start with these.
The title of this post pays homage to — hm, what shall we call it? I’ll charitably settle on the term “establishment” — so, an establishment named “Cocktails and Dreams” that my girlfriends and I visited on spring break in the Dominican Republic circa 2004, where we drank overly-sugary bahama mamas and mingled with other preppy college students from other Southern schools, all of us attired in some garish combination of madras, seersucker, denim, frayed baseball hats, and platform flip flops. There was a large outdoor sand bar leading right out into the water, and I remember, as I sipped my fruity cocktail and tucked my straw Lilly Pulitzer bag under my arm and gossiped with my three dearest friends, thinking — “this is the life.” No papers or deadlines loomed over my head; I had a loving boyfriend back home and didn’t need to participate in the aimless mimography of club dancing with fratty-looking boys in the hopes of finding one who *might* be worth pursuing; my posse was present. It was warm and I was tan and all of life lay just ahead of me. I was a Fitzgeraldian heroine, the future all greenswards and orgiastic green lights and the like. The biggest problem on my horizon was telling my parents I’d blown through all of the spending money they’d given me for the trip within the first few hours of arriving in the D.R., as we’d been swindled into buying some sort of gimmicky “vacation package” at the hotel that ensured — with a few neon wristbands — we’d be able to attend all of the organized boat cruises and parties they’d arranged for the college set. “But that’s all the money I brought,” I’d whined to my friend A. as she expressionlessly reached into her Coach wallet and removed a wad of crisp twenties. “We have to,” shrugged my friend B., who had probably — wisely — budgeted for such college vacation bamboozlings. I looked helplessly at my friend L., who tended to be the more practical minded of the group (sorry ladies; I know you’re reading this), but she’d already deposited a thin stack of cash on the table. “It’s vacation,” she explained.
But even the wanton misuse of my modest means at the time couldn’t dampen my spirits: I was as footloose and fancy-free as I’ll ever be in this lifetime. Perhaps that sounds bleak, but I don’t mean it as such: with age comes responsibility, but responsibility can be beautiful, too. (Mini is currently in a “stranger danger” zone and she tends to reach for Mr. Magpie or myself when we are in a social setting. I don’t mind a bit: it’s nice to be needed.) But, there I was, on a sand bar in the tropics, as wide-eyed and unbridledly optimistic about the future as a girl could be, all ambition and opportunity.
Nearly fifteen years later (holy crap), I am sitting here with a pile of presents to wrap for my daughter. My daughter! I have a daughter! I actually gave birth to a baby! WHAT! Mr. Magpie and I have been discussing logistics for our trip home to D.C. for the holiday — what time we’ll leave, where we’ll go first, how to handle Tilly. And I had to interject — HAD TO — that we’ll need to factor in time to pull over and buy some McDonald’s hash browns.
Yes — you read that right. Not a blogger-approved acai bowl or a chaste green juice or whatever Gwyneth’s latest food kick is (beauty dust apparently?) — I’m talking about those greasy, crispy spuds that likely have only 1% actual potato in them.
They give me heartburn.
Their grease seeps through the wrapper and coats your entire hand in a disgusting gloss that lingers for the better part of the day despite multiple scrubs at the sink.
And they’re…kinda delicious.
And…I must have them on this drive home.
Let me explain:
Did you ever sit behind a young family in Church on Christmas Eve and daydream about the day you might be married with your own children?
I did.
My sisters did.
We’d observe, wide-eyed and fancy-filled, and then collude afterwards, sharing shards of intimate dreams we’d had about the number of children we’d bear and the disposition of our future husbands and what we’d be doing in our 20s in general and what we might wear and who we might be. (At the time, “our 20s” seemed like the peak of adulthood. Now, “my 20s” feels like an extension of my childhood.) I’d lay down to sleep at night and savor the vision of my life in my 20s: I’d have a devastatingly handsome husband (this came true, somehow) and a well-dressed brood of children with names like Hunter and Brooke. (This was the 90s. Incidentally, I still like both names.) The dream would expand to include a beautiful white home with black shutters and a green lawn — in Bethesda, MD. It was always Bethesda. Why Bethesda? I don’t know, as I grew up in D.C. proper, and most of my friends lived further out, in Falls Church or Potomac — and I would imagine myself scurrying around a beautifully-appointed house that looked an awful lot like my parents’, preparing my children for a drive up north for the holiday. I imagined piling the adorable kids into an SUV at the crack of dawn, and handing out orange juice and McDonald’s hash browns as we’d pull out of the driveway. The fact that it was always McDonald’s hash browns in my reverie was oddly specific — maybe it was because my parents rarely let us have fast food, or maybe I’d been conned over by some clever marketing, or maybe it just sounded delicious to me at some point. But for decades, now, I’ve imagined a trip home for the holidays accompanied by greasy hash browns, and now, I’m here. I’ve made it. I’ll have achieved a lifelong ambition. A small one, admittedly, but it represents a lot more: the achievement of family.
Cocktails, hash browns, and dreams, my friends.
And with that, I wish you the happiest holiday if you’re celebrating Christmas, and if you’re not, a damn good day anyway.
And a few finds for you, too:
+I recently had a makeup session at Sephora — I hadn’t realized they’re complimentary if you’re VIB Rouge?! — and the makeup artist used Dior’s Airflash Spray Foundation. I just shared all of my tried-and-true beauty products, including the only foundation I’ve ever found and liked, but the Dior stuff was AMAZING. It looked so natural on. My one gripe with it is that I hate the applicator — why would you make it a spray? What a mess! My artist actually just applied it to a brush and then painted it on, which then feels wasteful. UGH. Anyway, I’m contemplating buying a tube because I was so impressed with the results, but will keep you posted on whether it’s as good with time.
+I’ve always used a Peugeot pepper mill, but check out the reviews on this badguy!!! I may need to retire Messieur Peugeot in favor of the new guy!
+Update: I gifted my bestie this silk pillowcase for her birthday, as I’d read incredible things about what it does for your hair. She was thrilled — I’m now permanently adding it to the list of gifts I’d actually give people. The packaging was super cute, too!
I had an odd interaction with a fellow parent the other day .
His adorable and precocious two-and-a-half-year-old daughter was trying to talk to mini — asking her the same question over and over — and mini was behaving, well, like a nine month old: batting her hand at the girl’s face and babbling incoherently. The little girl was clearly frustrated by mini’s [lack of] response and pushed her face closer to mini’s, stating, angrily: “she not listening!”
“She’s too little to understand,” I apologized, before diverting the girl’s attention by asking her about the toy she was holding in her hand.
Her father, who was crouching at his daughter’s side and had been observing the interaction with rapt attention, shook his head and said: “No, she’s not too little to understand, Demeter.* She just doesn’t have the words to express herself yet.” He lingered over his daughter for a second and then turned and smiled at me knowingly.
What are your reactions to this?
I’m going to withhold my thoughts and see what the smart magpie set has to say about this exchange. Because I have a lot of thoughts on it, and I still find myself texting Mr. Magpie at odd hours of the workday with follow up commentary.
Stay tuned.
*Name changed for the purposes of this story, but trust me — it was equally out there.
~~~~
Post-Script: New Baby Discoveries
+This toothpaste with a corresponding gum cleanser found its way into mini’s stocking. (This stuff also gets good reviews.) Incidentally, this made it into Mr. Magpie’s stocking! I guess Santa wants us to have extra clean teeth this year…AND ALSO. When mini is old enough, I’ll get her this toddler toothbrush. Seems like a smart design, and also kind of reminds me of the monsters in Stranger Things…
+Ordered these on the good word of a magpie reader!
+I can’t wait to order mini her first pair of these — maybe for her birthday? I’m torn on color: do I go with timeless yellow or girly-girl pink? Speaking of boots, I’m not a huge fan of Ugg, but these are too damn cute!
+I cleaned up at the Polo baby sale, snagging her a few polos (marked down to like $10!), this sweater I’d been ogling for the better part of the season, and a few one-pieces including this and this that will be easy to layer under her Polarn Y. Pyret snowsuit (also love the print on this snowsuit!!!)
+If you like traditional baby clothes, snag a set or two of these before they sell out! I had been dying for a pair for mini’s Christmas outfit, but couldn’t find them anywhere. Seem to have been restocked in some sizes! Also — these are amazing. The perfect christening shoe for a baby boy.
+A friend of my mother-in-law’s gifted mini this adorable playset by Maileg, and I am OBSESSED WITH IT. And also everything else by the brand, too.
+For a little boy: this backpack in the cowboy print?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME. So cute. (And the matching snackpack.) PS: This company is cool: “For every State bag purchased, State hand-delivers a backpack – packed with essential tools for success – to an American child in need; but our commitment goes beyond simply a material donation.” Love.
By: Jen Shoop
This title is one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite movies, “Mean Girls.” If you’ve not seen it, you must — written by Tina Fey, it’s a brilliant film on fitting in, trying to be “cool,” and playing by heart.
But, ya. I’m not a regular mom, guys. I’m, like, a cool mom. Or, I try to be. I can see how it would be tempting to stay in loungewear during these frosty winter days, but I’m determined to fight the good fight.
Below are variations on my daily uniform: statement sweater layered over a thin/tissue-weight shirt, jeans, and boots or flats depending on the temperature.
What Cool Moms Wear in Cold and Inclement Weather
A knit hat or fur ear muffs ($95), a cableknit sweater ($118), high-rise jeans ($230), and my Sorels ($150 — it was snowing this morning! — these are LEGIT, HEAVY-DUTY, HEAVY-SOLED snowboots. I bought them for life in Chicago, where you needed a solid pair of snow boots that went up to mid-calf. These are heavy-duty boots — well-made, super insulated, and I’ve never had a drop of water/snow sneak its way inside.) In my dream world, I’d finish with the Gucci Sylvie, but I’m more likely to be seen toting my Goyard, which functions as my diaper bag.
When it’s a touch warmer, I’ll wear a sweater with flats instead. I like the look of a classic pink sweater like this one from Frame (marked way down!) with Chanel flats (currently coveting these; get the look for less with these or these) and a fur collar (I die over this super loud Fendi fur style, but I wear a plain black one I got from Adrienne Landau a few years ago; you can get the look for less with this J. Crew style). I usually wear my Goyard, but I take mini down to have lunch with Mr. Magpie once a week, and on those days, I toss my stuff into my zip-top Cuyana, because the subways are very crowded and I’m leery of pickpocketers who could easily snag something out of my bag as I awkwardly waddle around with mini affixed to me. It’s the perfect everyday bag.
What Cool Moms Wear When Walking a Lot
I’ll throw on my sweater-jeans combo with my new Golden Goose sneaks (on sale here). Zara has been killing it with statement sweaters this season, and I recently snagged this Ganni lookalike (check out the back!) for a lark — $69! — but you can find the real deal on sale here. I’ll finish with this pom hat ($39) and my favorite mittens ever ($45 — they’re lined in fleece!).
My only issue with the above is that I really need to try to wear something other than jeans. It’s just so hard in the dead of winter — when it’s fall or spring, I’ll pull out black silk joggers or boyfriend/relaxed-fit army green trousers. But in the winter?! AHHH.
For the record, I hate lip gloss. HATE. Between the sticky texture, the likelihood that my hair will get stuck to my lips, and the borderline tackiness of a high-gloss lip — it just ain’t for me. But I was recently swindled* into buying a tube of Nars’ Turkish Delight during a visit to Sephora.
*By swindled, I mean that I was passing by the Nars section, and I overheard some well-heeled ladies raving about how it’s “the perfect lip gloss in the perfect color.”
In another case of BUT THAT AIN’T EVEN YO STYLE (I’m starting to use it sort of like the chorus line on a cheesy Maury show — the audience all chanting at me angrily HAHA), I’m intrigued by the notion of a safety pin earring. It’s definitely edgier and more punk-rock than I typically go (Mr. Magpie relents me mercilessly for wearing this tee), but the extraordinarily stylish Elisabeth von Thurn Und Taxis (what a name!) wore a set in her Vogue featurette, shown below, and I’ve been contemplating them ever since.
These by Anita Ko are gorgeous and budget-busting; these by Sydney Evans are more my speed. I like the size. I’m also intrigued by these wallet-friendly mini earrings from Bing Bang New York ($48).
I recently read a rave review of Olaplex ($28), a hair treatment for dry, color-treated hair. I’m thinking I’ll give it a try given that I’ve been frying my hair with a hot curling iron every day for a few months now. Woops.
The bathroom lighting in our master bath is “romantic” — a euphemism for rather dim. I tend to use our second bathroom to apply makeup instead, but it has a much smaller countertop area, so I have to leave my makeup piled up in the sink. I recently came across this portable LED vanity mirror ($45) and am contemplating using it as a solution.
Pick No. 7: The Linen Spray
Linen spray. Linen spray! What luxury! I love the description: “This ‘Rosas Frescas’ spray allows you to harmonize your linens and guest rooms with rich notes of Red Rosewater and bright Lemon.” Um, yes please. Can you imagine? Your guests leave, commenting to each other how incredible the room smelled? You start to have a signature scent? ETC.?
Pick No. 8: The Coffee Table
I can’t make up my mind about the coffee table situation in our living area. I have been wanting one of those lucite coffee tables, though a reader pointed out that they can be hard to maintain — fingerprints show easily, and they can scratch. Maybe not the most practical solution for a young-ish couple with a baby who often eat in front of the TV. I am smitten with this upholstered ottoman as an alternative — the pattern would look perfect in our living area! — but I also know that a cream-upholstered ANYTHING is not a good idea after we totally destroyed an ivory-and-navy-striped couch in our old home thanks to a dog, a baby, and a lot of dinners eaten on said couch. And I know Mr. Magpie will say we have too many upholstered things in our house. (Which is true.) But…I want it…
Pick No. 9: The Needlepoint Loafers
These are too cute. They’re like OG Magpie — I’d wear them with skinny jeans and a plain white tee (steamed, of course).
[Ed. note: This post was originally published December 19, 2017; it has since been updated to reflect new discoveries, and republished on April 27, 2018, October 11, 2018, and March 20, 2019.] Continuing in my best of everything round-up series, I’m sharing today my absolute favorite beauty products. I’ve featured most of these on the blog dozens of times, but thought it’d be easier to share in one post. I’m leaving some categories blank — like, for example, concealer, because I don’t think I’ve found the ideal concealer yet, despite a valiant effort — and will attempt to update periodically!
Eye Cream:La Mer. I know. It costs a freaking fortune. But, truthfully, it’s the only eye cream I’ve ever used that has actually yielded significant results. My undereye area looked so moisturized and brightened, and I swear the fine wrinkles disappeared. One of these tubs also lasts a very long time — I’d say mine lasted six months? Worth the investment. Just give it a try once and see. I will alternate between La Mer and Ole Henriksen’s Banana Bright Eye Cream, which is a VERY good eye cream at a good price. I don’t see the long-term results that I get from LaMer, but it’s hydrating; it goes on like a dream and sort of glides into your skin. (Gross.). I have yet to find an undereye cream that really does much with my dark circles, though.
Facial/Peel:m61 Power Glow Peel. I literally could not believe my eyes after I tried a sample — I felt like it shaved off a few years of life and restored a youthful glow. OBSESSED. Do yourself a favor and try this, and then immediately buy for all of your girlfriends. (I love it so much I added it to my list of gifts I would actually give.). I use these peels before a big event — they do tingle/mildly burn so I don’t want to overuse. However, I use these similar but less intense inexpensive glycolic acid treatment pads every other night after removing my makeup. They’re a similar product, but in different levels of intensity.
Moisturizer: La Mer Soft Cream is the ultimate in hydration. I seriously feel guilty about using it because it is so expensive and I go through it fairly quickly (unlike the eye cream, which lasts awhile). I will indulge every now and then, but I’m also a huge fan of Avene’s Eau Thermal Hydrance Legere in the summer — it’s a lightweight, unfussy, gentle French pharmacy classic. For winter/very dry skin, I can’t sing the praises of Belif’s The True Cream Aqua Bomb enough. It’s a heavily hydrating gel and it’s the only thing that saw me through those ultra-dry winter months. I’d often supplement La Mer with it!
Makeup Removing Wipes:Billie Wipes. These are a beauty must-have: they are effective, gentle (can even be used on eyes), beautifully-scented, and inexpensive — AND infused with serum, which makes them twice as wonderful. (One-step skincare, wow!) I use these every single night before bed and then follow every other night with Glycolix 15% glycolic acid pads, which – in addition to my regenerating cleanser – have left my skin clearer and brighter than it’s been in years.
Serum: Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum or Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum. I alternate between these two and I think they yield remarkably similar results. VD is extremely expensive and heavily perfumed — two factors worth considering and contending with — but it somehow completely cleared up the sporadic breakouts I’ve been struggling with for the years (since around the time I got pregnant with my first). My skin is brighter, more even in complexion, younger-looking–and, most importantly to me: blemish-free. I feel that the Mad Hippie serum is similar, but the formula is not as elegant — VD glides in and feels as though it hydrates instantly. MH has a tackier/stickier feel upon application.
Skin Cleanser:Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser. For years, I tried dozens of skincare products but always returned to my unsexy Proactiv Cleanser, which I’d used since I was about 14 — I liked it because my skin was always blemish-free while using it, but it’s super harsh and drying and it kind of feels like I’m using clorox on my face (I actually think it does contain bleach because it discolored some of my clothing!). Then I discovered Tata Harper’s cleanser and never looked back. This stuff is AMAZING. The secret is to exfoliate with it for 1-2 minutes every morning; my skin is gleaming and clean, but without dryness or irritation. If using at night, I use micellar water to remove makeup first — I like Bioderma and Garnier.
Acne Solution:Mario Badescu Drying Lotion. Any time I have a big presentation or a formal event to attend, a blemish appears on the eve of said event. My mom turned me onto Mario Badescu’s drying lotion, a watery-clay-like substance you apply directly to the blemish. It dries and shrinks the situation within hours. Let’s be clear: it doesn’t make the problem go away, but it makes it more manageable and less noticeable in an SOS-situation.
Mask:Peter Thomas Roth Rose Stem Cell Face Mask. I love this gentle, hydrating mask, which I leave on over night once or twice a week. I wake up with the dewiest skin! I have given this as a gift to multiple friends. Runner up: Origins Original Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay. I love the way it feels — it tightens your skin while it dries, but without leaving you immobile or in pain or anything, and then washes right off to reveal the softest, rosiest, happiest skin.
Face Oil:Chantecaille Rose Oil. This stuff is magical for dehydrated skin in the dead of winter. I loved it while living in Chicago, where the winters last approximately nine months (two years ago, it snowed at the end of May.) It smells wonderful; has a wonderful, lightweight texture; and leaves the skin more supple and elastic, if that makes sense.
Face Spray:Chantecaille Rosewater or Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir. Yes, Chantecaille’s formula is stupidly expensive for rose-scented water, but I’ve tried less expensive varieties/dupes, and I find that this stuff does a better job hydrating/softening the skin AND the bottle has a much better spray, emitting a lovely spritz that moistens the face all over. Other bottles feel like a Windex spray to the face. This is a nice-to-have, to be honest — but I love misting some on after I’ve applied my makeup to sort of “soften the edges” and “set” things, and then spritzing it all over my face after the shower, or when I need a midday pickup. A few months ago, I started using Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir as a less-expensive substitute and I was really impressed with the results. It’s weirdly addictive, though the scent takes some accommodating (minty and abrasive) — I often keep it in my handbag and spray it throughout the day as a way to refresh my face. I also love to use it when setting my makeup and applying foundation/concealer with a sponge or beauty brush.
SPF: La Roche Posay Fluid Sunscreen. I wear this daily. I apply it after my serum but before my moisturizer. It glides in and leaves no white cast.
Night Cream:Korres Sleeping Facial. This thick beauty cream feels like heaven going on — like a velvet layer of hydration that smells of fresh laundry and rose petals — and looks like heaven when you wake up. You’ll have such gorgeously hydrated skin in the morning! When I’m acne-prone, I switch to Origins’ Night-a-Mins High-Potency Mineral Enriched Renewal Cream, which smells like an orange peel, deeply hydrates, and also treats blemishes!
The Best Cosmetics.
Mascara: Giorgio Armani. I am something of a mascara junkie and will try any and every new entrant onto the mascara scene because I love thick, black, goopy, dramatic lashes. I was a longtime devotee of DiorShow, but after testing Armani, will never go back. It elongates and separates lashes like no other and is far gentler than any other mascara I’ve ever used. It never cakes or flakes and is easier to remove than many other formulas, too.
Blush:Bobbi Brown in Pale Pink. I know what you’re going to think when you look at this — it looks way too bright! But it’s not! It’s the perfect shade of every day pink and I’ve worn this for maybe a decade. It also lasts a LONG time. I also love Tata Harper’s Volumizing Lip and Cheek tint, though it does take a minute to figure out how to use it without looking like a clown. I feel like Harper’s has a very natural finish when applied with a light touch — it does not look like makeup!
Bronzer:Guerlain Terracotta. The best. I had been a Nars Laguna devotee, but I found that I went through a palette of it every few months, and it was prone to crumbling. Guerlain’s goes on very naturally, and lasts for a long time (without crumbling!)
Eye Primer:Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Linen. Most days, I don’t wear eye shadow, but I nearly always use Laura Mercier’s eye basics. It evens out skintone and leaves the whole eye area looking a little brighter — but looks very natural and “undone.” I love this stuff.
Eyebrows: ELF cosmetics clear eyebrow gel. For years I used Glossier’s Boy Brow. In general, I didn’t know I needed a brow gel until I tested the Glossier stuff — it’s wonderful. It adds a level of finish and polish and definition to your everyday look, and no one will ever guess you’re wearing it. It makes your natural brows look more groomed, fills in blank spots, and evens out color. However, I often griped that the tube was VERY small. I don’t get why they don’t produce it in a normal size and charge twice as much for it. I’d be much happier that way! I find that within a week or two (no joke), it feels as though the tube is empty and I’m scraping the sides for the next few weeks before I begrudgingly renew my supply. A reader recommended ELF’s $2 clear eyebrow gel and I immediately ran around the corner to Duane Reade to test it. I’m never going back. It’s inexpensive, it keeps brows in place, and it doesn’t leave them crispy. It does mean that you need to use a pencil/second product to fill in with color if you need to even things out (I use Dior’s), but on most mornings, it’s a quick swipe of ELF and I’m done.
Tinted Lip Balm:Fresh. I am obsessed with pretty much every flavor/color of this product. If you’ve never tried it before, start with “Rose,” which imparts the most beautiful natural pink tint on your lips.
Highlighter:RMS Beauty Living Luminizer or Nars Illuminator in Copacobana. The first is an everyday hero — I wear it daily over my makeup for a little gloss and sheen, but it’s not metallic or flashy; it has no color. It just adds “dewiness” to your skin. I apply it to my cheekbones, the tip of my nose, and my cupid’s bow area. For evenings out, I favor Nars. It’s much bolder and should be applied with caution — but it’s great for that dramatic Kardashian face glow.
Tinted Moisturizer: Chantecaille’s Just Skin Tinted Moisturizer. I switched to this product after using Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer for a decade. Both are really solid products but I prefer the way Chantecaille’s formula glides into the skin and leaves a more natural finish. I like the feel of it, and it offers a touch more coverage than LM. That said, LM is still a solid bet for less: it smooths, evens out skintone, moisturizes, and blocks out sun — but without adding bulk or cakiness or any of that stuff. If you’re having a serious bout of redness or acne, I would up the ante and graduate to an actual foundation, but I wear this about 90% of the time. When I need it, I like Too Faced’s Born This Way foundation. A makeup artist used it on me and I could not believe the results — it was the most natural, radiant foundation application I’d ever seen! I immediately bought my own jar.
Powder: Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder and Hourglass Ambient Lighting Strobe Powder. I don’t always wear powder because I don’t like the cakey look they leave, but Laura Mercier’s secreting brightening powder is great for setting undereye concealer. It’s superfine and reflects light well. On the occasion where I want to wear powder elsewhere — especially at night, I love Hourglass. It illuminates the face.
Daytime Lipstick:Nars Satin Finish (Roman Holiday) or Chantecaille Lip Chic (Bourbon Rose). For everyday wear, I love the satin finish lipsticks by Nars and Chantecaille. They go on super light — almost like chapstick — and don’t need to be applied with a mirror. I wear either of these nearly every day, and the other days, I wear tinted lip balm by Fresh (see above).
Nighttime Lipstick:Mac Matte Lipstick. Should be applied with a heavy coat of balm / 8 Hour Cream (see below), but it actually stays and doesn’t dry out the lips as much as others. I will also line my lips with Nars Velvet Lipliner to prolong its staying power.
Eyeliner: Nyx Eyeliner. Inexpensive, glides on and does not drip, with a needlepoint tip. Almost identical to Stila’s liquid liner, which I’d used prior.
The Best Haircare Products.
Round Brush:Spornette 2.5″. This is incredible for getting that supermodel blowout. I have been hooked on it for years after a hair stylist I trusted raved about it. It’s inexpensive, easy to manage, lightweight, and apparently Gisele’s stylist uses it on her. If it’s good enough for Gisele…
Brush: Mason Pearson Junior Mixed Bristle Brush (less expensive here than anywhere else I’ve seen). Full review here, but this is an investment well worth it. Something about its design redistributes oil better than any other brush you’ve ever tried, leaving hair glossy and smooth.
Mini Brush:DryBar Mini Lemondrop Detangler. I’ve talked your ear off about this one, but I’m in love with this mini detangling brush, which I carry with me EVERYWHERE. It’s the perfect size and it works beautifully. So much better than those cheap plastic fold and flip brushes that I used to mess around with.
Curling Iron:Hot Tools. These last forever, conduct heat very well, and heat up instantly. I have a few different barrel sizes, but currently use the 1″ one the most frequently. Don’t mess with the ones with ceramic/colored barrels — those don’t work as well. The classic won’t do you wrong.
Hairdryer: Revlon One Step. I rave about it in full here, but this has changed my hair game. It is so easy to use and it gives me the most amazing salon-quality blowout. The trick is letting hair air-dry most of the way before using.
Hairspray:Drybar Money Maker. Keeps its hold, but without the crunchiness.
Hair primer: Bumble + Bumble Don’t Blow It Fine Hair Styler or Davines Oi All-in-One Milk. Using Bumble + Bumble changed the game when I started blow-drying my hair every 2-3 days. It protects your hair and makes it so much easier to manage/work with — I find that my hair looks shinier and sleeker, and that it also “behaves” (i.e., holds a bend in the right way) when I use it. I also like Oi — the scent is heavenly! — and it detangles hair beautifully.
Shampoo/Conditioner for Treated Hair:Oribe’s Bright Blonde series. It’s very pricey, but it does majorly hydrate your hair and leave it looking brighter/fresher for longer.
Hair Mask:Oribe Mask for Beautiful Color. In the winter months, I use this instead of conditioner. It is SO good at hydrating dry, color-treated hair! It leaves my hair soft, pliable, shiny.
Hair Ties for Everyday: Invisibobble. I love these; they never kink my hair and somehow never lose their shape.
Hair Ties for Exercise:EmiJay. These are fantastic for exercise. They hold hair in place without breaking them, and, since you’re working out, the fact that they’re ugly doesn’t matter.
Styling Clips:Drybar. I use these daily and am obsessed with them; I keep two spare ones in my suitcase so I never travel without them. I much prefer these to a hair tie when washing my face in the morning — they feel so much less fussy and prevent the awkward ponytail indent in your hair — and they’re a must when sectioning hair for my beachy wave thang.
The Best Body Products.
Lotion:Fresh, in the Life or Hesperides Scents. Could not live without this beautiful, thick, stunningly-scented body lotion. Like heaven. I always stock up on these during Sephora’s 20% off promotion period.
Balm:Tata Harper Body Balm. My bestie gave me this after mini was born, having read that it was good for massaging into post-birth skin. It is a wunderproduct — I love using it after a shower and apply it almost nightly to my feet. You really need to work with it to blend it into your skin (it’s super thick and pasty), but it works wonders.
Bar Soap:Fresh Oval Soap. I love (LOVE!) the prettily-packaged oval soaps from Fresh. They’re well-scented and a great size — some body soaps are too thin and dinky. You need a nice size to really work up a lather. But I will say these soaps are not long for this world — they dissolve fairly quickly. Most of the time, we buy enormous cases of Dove Beauty Bars at Costco or — now — via Amazon Prime. They smell good, clean well, and are inexpensive.
Nail Polish:Essie Gel Couture. The name is misleading, as this isn’t actually gel/no-chip polish — but this is a GREAT formula. It lasts a solid week, which is a miracle for me. With this polish, you don’t apply a base coat; you apply the color to the nail and use a special top coat.
Nail Strengthener:Duri Juvacote. This stuff is great when my nails are brittle or overly thin — apply a coat a night and you’ll see much stronger nails in no time.
Hand Cream: Codi or Aesop. Codi’s not ritzy, but this stuff actually works when you have cracked/dry hands, and the scent is gender-neutral enough for the man in your life, too. My old manicurist in Chicago swore by it and gifted me a tube once. Aesop smells like absolute heaven, hydrates deeply, and is the most amazing indulgence to treat yourself to.
The All-Around MVP: Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream.
My mother and sisters and I go nowhere without a tube of Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream, which is the answer to nearly any issue you encounter: softening cuticles, dry skin, chapped lips, mild burns and abrasions, even smoothing flyaways or adding a little gloss to your cheekbones if you’re looking drab. You must have this.
The Beauty Tools
Tweezers:Tweezerman Stainless Steel Slant Tweezers. I’m sure everyone already owns a pair, but if, by chance, you don’t — do yourself a favor and upgrade. (And don’t mess around with those needle-point ones — how do those work?) These are wonderful for grabbing tiny eyebrow hairs, and they remain sharp and aligned for a very long time — but if they don’t, I have it on good authority that you can send them to Tweezerman and they’ll sharpen them/re-align them for you!
Mini Scissors:Fiskars. The brand is less important than the fact that you have them. I use my beauty cabinet scissors CONSTANTLY — to trim eyebrows, to cut tags, to remove threads, to take care of a random overlong bang, etc, etc.
Makeup Applicator:Artis Oval 6. I’ll never use anything else — this applies makeup so smoothly, without leaving any traces/tracks, and does not absorb any product. In love love love.
Powder Brush:Laura Mercier Finishing Brush. Oh God how I love this brush. I use it for bronzer, which I’m probably not supposed to do, but I find it has the most perfect application for the cheek and forehead area, and it deposits just the right amount of product. It also has the perfect handle length — I’ve had other brushes that feel too long/unwieldy, or too stubby. This is perfect. (I think it’s meant to be for face powder, which I typically don’t use.)
Blush Brush:Laura Mercier Blush Brush. It’s straight-forward, but it’s the right size and heft for blush.
Facial Cotton: Shiseido. If you’re using those rough rounds or inabsorbent cotton balls to remove makeup, you’re in for a treat with Shiseido’s ultra-soft, ultra-thick facial cotton. I’ll never use anything else.
Razors: Billie. To be honest, I don’t think there’s anything remarkable about the razor itself (though the colors are cool), but I absolutely love the low cost and subscription model. I don’t ever need to think about running low on blades/using dull blades again! One less thing to worry about.
Continuous Misting Spray Bottle. Love this for re-wetting my hair before using the Revlon One-Step if I’ve let it air-dry too long.
There’s a line from Sex and the City that my sister and I use constantly when one or the other of us is lusting after something a little outside of our usual fashion comfort zone:
Samantha: Look at that one, isn’t it adorable?
Carrie: Which one?
Samantha: The red one in the middle. I love it!
Carrie: The Birkin bag? Really? That’s not even yo style.
So, I have become irritatingly fixated upon the Acne Studios Velocite coat ($2800), and it DEFINITELY AIN’T MY STYLE. This oversized moto jacket is meant for off-duty models and people who burn sage in their apartments and drink espressos and wear strangely cropped jeans that, miraculously, look fantastic on them. They take trips to remote parts of the world and buy provocative photography in black-and-white and they’ve been known to wear a beret and smoke a cigarette without looking at all ridiculous or passe. They buy vintage white t-shirts from “a guy in Brooklyn” and wear a part straight down the middle of their head, which — my bestie and I agree — is a look only pulled off by the truly beautiful people of the world. (On most of us mere mortals, it looks too assertive and, possibly, dorky.)
Yes, it’s true that Jenna Lyons somehow slipped into the mix above, but she’s the mixmaster, and it somehow works.
Now, the likelihood I splurge on this piece this season is improbable (?) because I already bought an oversized statement jacket (which I love!!!), but mannnnn I am now going to be dreaming of investing in it next season. I’ve contemplated getting the look for less with this Zara lookalike ($149), which might scratch the itch, but then what if I do end up buying The Real McCoy next year?!
A few others worth considering if the price tag of the Acne Studios OG is too high:
Thoughts? Concerns? Questions? You’ll find me googling ACNE STUDIOS VELOCITE JACKET with a glazed and devilish look on my eye for the next couple hours. K BYE.
+Ends today, but you can save up to $250 off using code FESTIVE. Could be the ideal time to splurge on those Aquazzuras you’ve been eyeing (save $175 bones!)
Do you wear your wedding band? Does your significant other?
I was just thinking, a propos of this post, that I would feel completely naked and ill-at-ease without mine, but that there are tons of women and men who never wear theirs. I have friends who will show up without theirs on and shrug and say, “Oh, I guess I forgot to put it on after I showered,” or “I didn’t feel like wearing it today.” I legitimately never take mine off, unless — apparently — I’m mixing meatballs. Every few months, I will use a solution of water and windex, applied with a toothbrush, to clean it. (…Is that bad? As soon as I wrote that down, I realized maybe that’s not kosher. I should look into that. I’ve probably been unknowingly whittling away at my diamond’s value through this wanton abuse.)
Why do I wear mine? I like the daily reminder of our vows to one another. I like the public declaration that I belong to someone else. I like the way it looks. I like the way it makes me look. I like that when I look down, I recall those awkward teen years I spent daydreaming about my future husband, and I feel so glad that I’ve met my mate. I have made some questionable decisions in my life (would I tell mini to pursue degrees in literature and then not go into academia? hm.), but marrying Mr. Magpie was a no-brainer and the best thing I’ve ever done. We are a unit, and wearing the ring is a testament to that bond. A sacrament, in the most literal of connotations. (Did anyone else have to memorize the word sacrament in Catholic grade school? I can still repeat it, verbatim, simultaneously experiencing the deep-rooted, stomach-turning fear that Monsignor Montgomery would call on me to recite it at will: “An outward sign of God’s grace!”)
I’m sure there are others who would argue that a physical symbol is unnecessary — a crutch, a feel-good, a nothing — and that true relationships don’t need such reminders.
What do you think? Do you wear yours? Why/why not?
#Shopaholic: The Affordable Sundress.
+This well-priced sundress so many of us bought over the summer has been re-stocked in the cutest colors — just in time for winter vacation. I like the blue floral or navy.
+Goop is having a great sale. A lot of the pieces went too quickly for this slow-moving shopper, but these….!!!!
Every year, I give Mr. Magpie a new Christmas ornament. I can’t share which one I bought him this year (he reads this blog…he, along with my old and dear friend, Eric, are quite possibly the only two men to ever set foot in TFM), but I will say that I lingered for some time over the selections of glass blown styles from Old World Christmas. I especially loved the chinese takeout one and this upright piano (I used to play!).
Pick No. 3: The Coco Bow Mule
Guys, I do not — NOT — need any more mules or bow-toed anythings in my life. And yet. I could always make space for these beauties from The Row, which I’ve featured before, and which were just restocked. (You can also get the look for less with these, which look VERY similar and are around $100! Or, different, but in a similar vein — these Pradas were just marked down to 60% off!!!)
Pick No. 4: The New Scent
I feel like I’ve written about this for the last two years straight, but I’m still on the hunt for my new scent. I thought it might be Chanel’s Gabrielle, but, after testing it out, decided it was sorta blah — not interesting enough. It just smelled like “perfume.” I dunno. I continue to go back to Narcisco Rodriguez, which I LOVE — very feminine but “woodsy” at the same time. I can’t explain what it smells like, actually. Anyway, I keep reading that all these chic peas wear Byredo’s Bal d’Afrique or Gypsy Water — you know the type: “I get up and eat steal cut oats and black coffee, then meditate; I dab on Gypsy Water and La Mer undereye cream as I dash out the door to meet Mary Kate [Olsen] at Via Corota for a quick work meeting. I’m wearing an Acne leather jacket, Rag and Bone Jeans, and moto boots I found in a small market in Rome…”] and am very curious as to what they smell like. I might have to try one of these rollerball versions, a milder investment that I’m convinced will earn my insta-cool points.
Pick No. 5: The LED Sign
It’s not even my style, but I’ve long lusted after the neon sign above Kourtney Kardashian’s bed (see below). I would never buy it for myself (I don’t think…) because it would clash so much with the far more traditional — well, traditional with an eclectic flair — aesthetic we’ve cultivated in our home. Still, when I saw this mini LOVE light ($35!), I was very tempted. I remain very tempted…should I do it?! A chic way to get the look in a smaller dose for less.
Pick No. 6: The Striped Sweater
I’m obsessed with this striped sweater, full stop. Why is everything from Veronica Beard SO CHIC RN.
Pick No. 7: The Fancy Chocolate
I have a major sweet tooth and insist on dessert after dinner every night. Recently, Mr. Magpie and I decided it was time to become adults and enjoy a little bite of post-prandial fine chocolate instead of Milanos or whatever indulgence I’d been craving that week. I’ve been disappointed by the options at my Whole Foods — what are your go-tos? I’m contemplating placing an order for Mast Chocolate Bars which are, yes, an insane indulgence, but…
P.S. I talked about Advent calendars recently — how amazing is this one?!?!?!
Pick No. 8: The One-Piece
Mr. Magpie and I are planning to take a vacation with mini this spring, and I am convinced I need this Marysia one-piece ($350) for the occasion. I LOVE that asymmetrical sleeve! Of course, I’ve managed to lust after the one Marysia suit I can’t find on sale anywhere — but there are a bunch of other chic styles up for grabs at a discount, like this style or this style.
Pick No. 9: The Shearling Slides
Do I need these slides to go with my fab Floridian one-piece? Y/N. (Trick question: it’s definitely a yes.) Be sure to check out the whole LR sale — I think I need these and these, too. And while we’re talking vacation dressing, can I just have everything from this collection? Thx.
Pick No. 10: The Slip Pillowcase
I have written about this in the past, but I’m dying to try one of these satin pillowcases, which are supposed to be phenomenal for your hair. I wrote recently about gifts I would actually give — this would make such a luxe gift for my mom or sister, and I’m sure they’d love it. (So would I…)
