I was surprised to find that this post reviewing a couple of pieces from Dorsey, a company that sells lab-grown sapphire jewelry, has been one of my most popular installments this year. This post is not sponsored, but I did reach out to the brand and ask whether they might be willing to loan me a few pieces to try-on / share with you all, as I think these would be excellent purchases for the holiday season (not to mention great gifts to ask for), and they happily obliged. You can find a detailed review of their Clemence Necklace, their Kate Riviere necklace, and their small heart ID necklace in this post. I believe that their Kate necklace is their “iconic” piece — a timeless, heirloom-style necklace that made my mother’s head spin — but I find the Clemence the easiest to dress up/down and I wear their heart ID necklace almost daily, layered with a Jane Win pendant.
Today, I want to share a few other pieces of theirs, up close and personal. My new favorite style are their Margaux earrings [Ed. note: these sold out, but these are highly similar]. They sent me these to keep (!) and I have been wearing them non-stop. I’m usually a pearl stud girl (have been wearing pearl studs since I was maybe 15 years old), but I find myself reaching for these most days of the week, even with casual attire. They are not as oversized or costume-y as I’d anticipated — they feel like an elegant “upgrade” to my daily wardrobe. (You can even see me wearing them on my travel day, with my go-to travel wardrobe, here.) They also work beautifully with evening wear. Traveling with them made me realize what an ideal investment piece they are, as you can pack one pair of earrings that will work whether you’re attending a wedding, having dinner with girlfriends, or going wine-tasting. They have a French clip back that is surprisingly comfortable and does not pull on the ear in any way. They are lighter-weight than I anticipated, too. The only situation in which I had to take them off was while wearing my new noise-canceling headphones on the plane. (I’m trying, very hard, and with limited success, not to make my headphones my whole personality, but they are just so good.) Anyhow, I’m wearing immediately below with my favorite Clemence necklace layered on top of the Kate 3.75mm Riviere necklace for a little extra bling. You can also see me wearing their Kate 3.75mm bracelet below. The Kate bracelet is even easier to mix into a daily wardrobe, I think, than the Kate necklace. It’s easy to stack with.
I restyled below with their James Bezel necklace (15″). This has a more modern feel than the Kate, although I did find it flipped over a bit while photographing.
Below, I layered a few of their different riviere necklaces / lengths for comparison sake. The shortest one is my Kate 15″, and the two longer ones are their Moss 16″ and 18″ styles. You can tell the size difference between the sapphires in this photo — my 15″ has 3.75mm stones and the Moss ones (longer ones) have 3mm stones. I really liked the look of the Moss 16″ style — it lays flat against the neck and looks daintier than my Kate, which suggested to me it would be easier to style in a stack. That said, one of the questions I’ve fielded a lot about the Kate Riviere is whether it flips over — it does not. I have had no issue with this. It did take a minute to figure out how to put it on by myself and have the gemstones facing upright / out, but once I got the hang of it, it’s been fine.
Next: a close-up of a few of their bracelet options below. From left to right: Kate 3mm bracelet; Kate 3.75mm bracelet; and Benedetta bracelet.
The TL;DR is that if I were going to buy a piece of jewelry from Dorsey for the season ahead (or drop a big hint of a loved one), I would go for the earrings, as I wear them constantly and I find them easy to dress up or down. One earring that takes you from coffee to cocktails. I wonder if this is idiosyncratic to me, though, as I always like a slightly dressier earring (hello, I sleep and play golf in pearl studs). If I were interested in a necklace, I would ask for either the Clemence or the 16″ Moss riviere necklace with the 3mm stones. I love the Kate, don’t get me wrong, but I think the scale of the Moss would be easier to blend in with a daily wardrobe? It plays especially nicely with other pieces and lays flat at the perfect part of the neck.
Finally, I feel I would be remiss if I did not mention that their Clemence bracelet, not seen here, made its way into my “meaningful gifts for women” guide, as it is under $150 but seriously beautiful, easy to wear, and goes with nearly any woman’s style (edgy! classic! dainty! modern!)
P.S. Lots of great holiday outfit inspo here and here.
P.P.S. Updated my Shopbop hearts this week. So many beautiful new arrivals.
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By: Jen Shoop
A Magpie recently left a comment on my post on holiday traditions:
“Have you read Jenny Rosenstrach’s How to Celebrate Everything: Recipes and Rituals for Birthdays, Holidays, Family Dinners, and Every Day In Between? It’s part cook book, part memoir of her own family’s traditions, but I love how she frames the conversation–it doesn’t have to be elaborate to have a lasting impact on your child. I also love her question, “What food can transport you to your childhood dining room table?” For me, it’s my mom’s spinach enchiladas which she always made on Christmas eve. Is there something for you?”
I loved the provocation and was immediately transported back, much to my surprise, to the rare winter evenings my mother would serve “cheese fondue.” This nearly always transpired when my father was out of town, as he was more of a meat-and-potatoes-for-dinner guy. Writing that out also reminds me of the dreaded “liver” nights, when my mother would serve pan-fried liver topped with bacon crumbles — a tepid attempt to disguise its signature gaminess — and we would pick the bacon off the top and hide scraps of organ meat in our napkins or milk cups, covertly retching at the smell. My mother did not tolerate dinnertime complaints. She was vastly generous and supportive in 99% of the phenomena of our childhood lives, but meal preferences were not up for discussion, and were seemingly beneath her interest. I can still remember the shrugging impassiveness in her eyes: “Oh, OK. I guess you’re not hungry then.” As though I had mentioned the weather in the window. She was also uncharacteristically warden-like after dinner: “The kitchen is closed,” she’d announce, as though flipping a restaurant sign in a window. And that was that, unless we connived to inveigle my youngest sister into tiptoeing into the kitchen while my mother’s back was turned to filch crackers or dried cereal from the snack cupboard. (“You’re so good at it,” we would condescend, bluntly using well-worn flattery to grease the wheels, and this eventually became a mock trigger for her, to the extent that we now, still, as grown adults, will ask her: “Elle, can you get me a glass of water? You’re so good at it.”)
Anyhow, I now know, too-intimately, the maneuvering negotiations that birthed my mother’s mealtime jadedness. With my own children, I am desperately tired of the nighttime strain over what is being served, how much they must eat, etc. I have adopted several of the suggestions from your comments on this post, titled, “How Do You Get Your Children to Eat?”, and there have been some wins, but we are still very much in the trenches. I swear my son eats dinner every third night. My daughter will eat what is served, but not without requisite caviling. It is enough to set my even-keeled Mr. Magpie afire. His eyes flash with frustration as they cry, moan, and hiss over the $60 ribeye steak he’s lovingly prepared.
At any rate —
To the provocation at hand:
Cheese fondue. My mother would cube and toast sourdough bread and arrange it alongside crudite around a vintage fondue pot. We’d spear the items (mainly the bread) with long, thin bamboo skewers, our elbows pressed against the tabletop. It felt delightfully off-brand for my mother, who was typically formal at mealtimes. No hats permitted; collared shirts at the table. The table was always dressed with linens and candles, and for awhile, she had this antique silver “crumber” she would deploy one of us to use after dinner. We always found the task absurd, and would mock the assignment by speaking in faux English accents (“oh, master Tom, I’m just nearly done with this, your lordship”). On cheese fondue nights, though, we’d huddle in the breakfast room, kneeling in our seats, dipping into the meal with uncharacteristic casualness. I think back now and see that this was yet another way my mother practiced magic on a regular basis. She must have been so tired, and busy, with my father traveling as much as he did in those days (one year, 50 out of 52 weeks!), and five children to tend to, and yet she’d tender-heartedly make the trek to the grocery at some point while half of us were ensconced in school and the other half were clinging to her skirts in the aisles of the market to assemble all the ingredients for this unconventional meal — just to offer us a small moment of midweek joy.
I find it both strange and distinctly right that the meal that reminds me most of my childhood was its least frequently repeated and its most abnormal. With my own children, too, it’s the non-routine that implants: my daughter still mentions, three years later and about 1000 perfectly executed packed lunches intervening, the one time I forgot her lunch at home and had to buy her a strange assortment of items from the Eataly next door to her Flatiron Montessori. I would venture to guess that when I ask her, in fifteen years, what she remembers about me packing her lunch as a child, it will be: “That time you forgot.” This is, in fact, a dearness in disguise, because what it really means is: “You cared so much that I leaned on your always doing it, and was shocked the one time you didn’t.” (Or, so I tell myself when she decides to proffer this failing in company.)
In a cab from the airport to our hotel last weekend, my best friend told me that her four year old daughter had woken up in tears the two nights following Halloween, wailing: “Halloween is never happening again!” We laughed about this, but also settled on the insight that, for children, the out-of-the-ordinary is wider, and more intense, than we think. Their lives are so narrow, their patterns circumscribed. They can barely see beyond the perimeter of their homes, libraries, and schools — or the handful of places they spend the majority of their time — and so when they catch sight of the expanse beyond, it is thrilling and paradigm-shifting for them. Halloween represented one such glimpse for my friend’s daughter. I’ve seen this play out many times for my own children, including last Friday, when my daughter went on a field trip to Mount Vernon. You would have thought she was being flown to Mars. She talked endlessly about the trip, George Washington’s teeth, something about seeds falling through the slats of the floor, the bus and who she sat with, the chicken strips at the cafeteria. The experience was so expansively new that it sat like a ponderousness in her mind, squeezing out thoughts of all else.
I write this today as preamble for a theme we have been talking about a lot over the years, as a community of mothers and daughters:
How, in the end, the small, special things we cultivate with care often outshine all else. The moment you sit down at eye level with your child and really ask how they feel when they are out of sorts, as though a dear friend rather than a toddler in tantrum. The time you permit your daughter to stay up twenty minutes past bedtime to curl up in your arms in bed watching a TV show together. The little love note you tuck into your son’s backpack on an important test or game day. The holiday cookies you made with your grandmother that you now make with your own children. The cheese fondue.
A Magpie reader wrote earlier this year that she often reminds herself, as a mother, to “do the small thing.” Not the enormous birthday party that requires weeks of planning and dramatic expense, but the small huddle of children around a very average magician. Not the day packed with distraction and activity, but the afternoon unspooled around crayons and legos in the family room. Not the pricey children’s indoor park but the walk outside in the woods, collecting leaves and spotting deer in the foliage. (This, in fact, scared my son, but I digress.)
I know it is easy — perhaps irritating — to romanticize these things, to suggest that the everyday can upstage the dramatic — but as I sit here reflecting on my own experience with motherhood, I find this to be the rule rather than the exception. And as my mother proved so well in the days of cheese fondue, it only takes a small break in routine to accomplish it.
Post-Scripts.
+Would you please share in the comments what “transports you to your childhood dining table”? (Veronica, thank you so much for this beautiful prompt!)
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Shopping Break.
+If you missed out on the metallic J. Crew turtleneck I shared a bunch last week, don’t worry — this silver lurex one is still in stock, and currently on sale for 50% off. I ordered it, too. I can’t help myself (!!!) — very into metallics. I was waiting to find something to pair with my La Ligne skirt and this is perfect and only $25! (Upgrade pick here.) BTW, if you also got the gold sheer turtleneck, mine arrived and will require a nude camisole beneath. I’m currently deciding between this or this. Spanx is clearly the better investment and I’m always impressed with the quality/fit of their pieces, but…? $15 is tempting.
+My son has needed a waste basket for his room for awhile now. I just ordered him this $30 one in the navy pattern! Always looking for small ways to introduce new pattern/texture to his room. Speaking of, I just ordered him an armchair (currently 25% off!) for his bedroom as a part of a project with The Inside. He is long overdue for a proper seating situation — we’ve been reading in his bed, or on the small upholstered bench in his window, for the past two years. I picked out the dusty odalisque fabric and will be pairing with this pillow in Katie Ridder’s Beetlecat print. I’ve long loved that pattern and had wanted to get him curtains in it, but for now, making small strides forward.
+While searching for his trash bin, I came across the cutest Etsy boutique that sells scalloped waste baskets in designer patterns, like this Bowood.
+Larroude is running a huge sale. I’ve heard so many people rave about these Annie sandals as THE perfect wedding guest shoe, but also, like HOW good are these embellished slippers?!
+One of my favorite home decor boutiques, Half Past Seven, just launched a whole collection of beautiful colored glass products. They sent me this lovely carafe that is now living in my guest bedroom — I just went upstairs before writing this to assess what needed to be done in advance of Thanksgiving house guests next week and settled it in on the nightstand. I also referred to the comments on my “What Do You Keep in Your Guest Bedroom?” post. SO many good ideas, but I especially loved many of the comments from the Magpie named “D.” I will be adding a small box of chocolates and a hand-written note to the nightstand as well as full-sized shower products and dental supplies, per her rec! Thank you for the detailed ideas!
+Also in that post, you can see our guest bed made up entirely in Boll and Branch bedding. I just learned that you can get 25% off sitewide with code CYBERDEAL — a better deal than the promo listed on site. This includes the waffle bed blanket I won’t stop yapping about — we use in guest bedroom and our primary bedroom. I’m obsessed with it.
+I recently received a question on the nightstands in our guest bedroom after sharing a photo of it on Instagram. They’re actually these inexpensive Da Vinci brand ones — $139 apiece! I was in a mad dash to outfit the room before guests were arriving maybe two years ago and I liked the simplicity of these. They’d also be great in a child’s room. This was more or less my calculus: if we eventually buy something else for the guest room (we’ve not yet worked with our interior designer on this area of the home), these could easily be handed down to my children.
+Everyone’s favorite fleece belt bag, in a new, limited edition pink color. So good! (But also, I’m still rocking this $20 Amazon one in the brown fleece. It’s also excellent.)
+Obsessed with this rug, and it’s currently 25% off. I also just bought this magnolia garland (35% off!) for the holiday season. I like to have it right down the center of my dining room table as a permanent centerpiece. It looks great as it turns from green to brown, and you can easily enjoy conversation with holiday visitors over top!
+This gown is absolutely breathtaking. Black tie pick! Also love this and this (and of course this one I’m wearing here) for formal winter occasions.
+Received two separate messages yesterday asking for details on my beloved Lake relax set, asking about sizing and care. On sizing: I take an XS (my true size) and find it perfectly loose and drape-y. I might be able to size down to an XXS but I like the looser, swingier fit. I also do dry in the dryer — not what you’re supposed to do — but have had no issues. It’s still as beautifully soft and swingy as ever!
+Speaking of laundry, this limited edition detergent from The Ouai is currently in my cart. I love to launder bedding and towels in beautifully scented detergent! Their handwash is also incredible. It smells divine, lasts forever (!), and has tiny micro-beads to gently exfoliate. We’ve been using this in our main floor powder room.
By: Jen Shoop
As a follow-on to last week’s meaningful gifts for women guide, today, I am sharing a round-up of meaningful, off-the-beaten path buys for gents. I’ve been stockpiling these ideas for weeks and weeks. My goal was to ferret out items that spoke to true craftsmanship and design — considerations Mr. Magpie values highly — and to go “deep” / “far” on slightly niche interest areas. As such, this is less of a generalist guide to men’s gifts and more a roundup of items that may speak to men (or women) passionate about specific undertakings.
01. LUVHAUS MOON DEMITASSE — Something special for the espresso lover. These are hand-made and one-of-a-kind. I love the idea of making the everyday just a bit more magical with a thoughtful gift like this. If you want to blow his mind (big splurge year), buy him an espresso machine to go with. There are lots of Reddit threads dedicated to this subject. Warning: they can be crazy expensive (one thread I was wandering around in kept praising the La Marzocca GS3. I checked, and it’s a $7500 machine).
02. FELLOW BURR GRINDER — Mr. Magpie’s treasured possession. He is a true coffee afficionado and has gradually upgrade and tinkered with every element of the coffee making process, from beans to grinding technique to filters to mugs. For awhile, he was using a manual grinder, because coffee nerds insisted that this yielded a finer, smoother cup of coffee (and was experientially superior), but this became a major drag every morning and any time we had guests over. We switched to this slick looking grinder and he’s never been happier. Looks handsome enough to keep out on countertop, too.
03. LOJEL ALL-TERRAIN BACKPACK SET — This cleverly designed kit enables your man to adapt the backpack to his needs. Has lots of smart storage / design elements, and looks slick enough to work for an office commute bag / travel bag if needed.
04. JAMES ANZICK KNIFE — “We spent two years working with Sitka, chefs, and hunters to design a professional-grade chef’s knife that was tough enough to spend its whole life outside.” This is the kind of design-centric but functional buy that a true outdoorsman / outdoor cook / outdoor explorer will appreciate.
05. RHONE COMMUTER PANTS — Mr. Magpie’s favorite golf pants. These pants are strangely marketed — I find it’s unclear what the purpose of these pants are. Are they performance material? Are they everyday pants? I think this is because some men like to wear athleisure all the time? Anyway, these are golf pants. They look polished but are made of performance material. Go with the classic fit unless your man is super slim / into super fitted pants. I think even the classic ones are slim-looking. Run TTS.
06. TART CELERY VINEGAR — “This is the one that started me down the vinegar hole. I wanted to make celery soda from actual celery. The short story of how I make this vinegar….. I buy fresh seasonal celery, blend it, inoculate it, then it hopefully turns into wine, and then vinegar. It’s monitored for the perfect balance of acid and pH. This vinegar is raw and alive so it will grow another mother if you leave it open. Store in a fridge after opening for the intended flavor profile.” Mr. Magpie will freak out over this.
07. JAMES CARABINER — Men have endless needs for these? These look slick.
08. GOLF ALIGNMENT RODS — For the golfer. Mr. Magpie loves these and keeps them in his bag while at the driving range. Bundle with item below and some new golf balls.
10. FLYMEN FISHING CO FLIES — “A game-changing innovation for fly fishermen seeking to reel in trout. This miniature Game Changer-style fly is a highly articulated nymph, featuring four separate body segments that produce a lifelike, natural swimming action in the water.” Ordering these for my angler dad.
11. BLACKWING MATTE PENCILS — The pencil with the cult following. These would be a thoughtful, in-the-know gift for the type of man who pays attention to the quality of his notebooks, skincare, coffee beans, etc.
12. APPOINTED NOTEBOOK — I love all of the paper products from this D.C. based company so much. Handsome colors for men, too.
13. SWISSMAR OYSTER SHUCKER — Mr. Magpie’s favorite shucking knife, and he shucks a fair amount of oysters himself. Bundle this with an order of oysters to be delivered between Christmas and NYE.
15. GROVEMADE WOOD HEADPHONE STAND — Frankly, I want this. I love the idea of giving everything a proper home in your writing studio. You could bundle with headphones if he doesn’t already own a set. I’ve already talked your ear off about mine — I could not be happier with this purchase. I’m considering buying Mr. Magpie a set because I am just (!) so (!!) enthusiastic (!!!!).
16. LOJEL MEDIUM SUITCASE — I liked that this is a bit different from the standard Away. It has some clever design elements, too — “Designed with small spaces in mind, open this flat top system and have room to move. This spacious system ensures you can carry anything you need for your journey.”
17. LOWENSENF MEDIUM MUSTARD TUBE — I saw this and ordered on the spot for the stocking. Mr. Magpie and I are huge mustard lovers. Would be fun to bundle this with a few other brands (Lusty Monk was a rec from a Magpie a year or two ago and we were obsessed with it).
18. POLYFACE FARMS MEAT BOX — A great gift for a home cook; Mr. Magpie discovered this VA-based farm back back in his Omnivore’s Dilemma phase of culinary education, as it is featured heavily (and praised!) in the book. They have lots of options for different boxes / subscriptions.
19. HERNO JACKET — I’m obsessed with Herno jackets and would love one for myself. I noticed they have a whole line of handsome styles for men, too. This style is cool, too — it mimics the shape of a classic blazer.
20. COLLEGE PENNANT. This Etsy shop was a Magpie reader discovery, and contains vintage style pennants from lots of colleges.
21. WONDER VALLEY OLIVE OIL. Have heard amazing things about this Lake County-based California olive oil.
22. LAGUIOLE STEAK KNIVES. My uncle gifted us a set of Laguiole steak knives similar to these on our wedding day and we use them constantly. So attractive and timeless.
23. BENNETT WINCH LEATHER BRIEFCASE. A handsome investment for a major work milestone or promotion year. Equal parts rugged and sophisticated. For something less spendy, Mr. Magpie owns and loves this Filson.
24. AMARO ANGELENO — Only available to my Cali Magpies, this is “a California style bitter liqueur in the vein of the Italian classic Aperol.” Cocktail lover’s delight!
25. STREAMLIGHT MULTI-FACTION TASK LIGHT. Mr. Magpie bought himself a fancy flash light a year or two ago and has on multiple occasions waxed poetic about its utility, design, etc. This task lamp seems like a good buy for an outdoor grilling enthusiast / handyman / camper / etc.
26. HERMAN MILLER AERON CHAIR. You would not believe how passionate people are about this desk chair. If your husband is still languishing away in a crappy desk chair in his home office, this will be a huge upgrade to his daily life.
27. MACK WELDON HENLEY. Few things more attractive than a man in a henley? Transform your husband into a Yellowstone character with one $68 purchase. On the function side: this is made with Thermolite, meaning it warms like a sweater but wears like a tee.
28. HAAND SERVING PLATTER SET. These are the kinds of platters Mr. Magpie always gravitates toward — something broad and white with a slight lip to hold in juices / make a mound in the middle. He would love this handsome, organic set for serving up a big platter of potatoes with grilled chicken and/or sausage on top — very much his approach to cooking and serving. (Writing about that reminds me that this cookbook is excellent and has lots of dishes that would be perfectly suited to serving platters like these, as they usually involve some veg/grain and some meat piled on top.)
29. RADIUS OUTFITTERS GEAR BOX. “Perfect for any overland vehicle or SUV, we use this camp storage box in the Sprinter van for snacks, kitchenware, wine & tequila, pet stuff and more. The moveable velcro dividers allow you to create customized compartments and the quilted sides keep things quiet when you’re on the road.” Mr. Magpie would love this given how often we’re schlepping stuff around / stowing purchases in the trunk.
30. AXEL ARIGATO — These will set him apart in a sea of Veja, Nike, and New Balance.
31. HESTRA WAKAMAYA GLOVES — This century-old glove-making company knows its stuff about well-made gloves, and every man needs a good pair!
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By: Jen Shoop
There were so many excellent travel tips that floated through my inbox, DMs, and comments in response to this post a few weeks ago, and I decided to collate them into an easier-to-skim digest format. I already put many of these to use when I flew down to Atlanta for a girls’ trip last weekend, and was thinking of so many you while doing so! (For example, I actually added a reminder to my calendar so I’d remember to start taking Emergen-C three days before the trip thanks to one of you.) I’ll personally be reviewing these lists in advance of all upcoming travel.
For Easier Travel Logistics.
+To extent possible, fly in and out of the closest airport to home on the most direct route and at convenient take-off/landing times. Obvious but can be tempting to choose something more cost-effective when booking. I’m always so thankful to have paid for convenience when traveling. Plus, traveling at odd hours makes me nervous for safety reasons, and it’s nice not to have to worry about that.
+If traveling United, book a window seat. They just instituted a new protocol boarding window seats first. Ed. note: I find this only matters if you are trying to make sure you will still have space to stow your carry-on in the overhead bins, which routinely run out in the later boarding groups. If you have already checked your bag and only need space for a small bag, I advise booking the aisle seat and boarding as late as possible to minimize the amount of time you’re crammed in like a sardine. I also like an aisle seat because I pee so much! I hate troubling other passengers. You also get a little extra leg room since you can have your legs spill out into the aisle.
+Keep a separate pouch for phone and all travel documents (tickets, passports, bag tags, etc) so you can easily find them. Ed. note: I like the clear pouches from Truffle for this kind of thing. Slim and easy to see everything in your bag. Also have a few of the TSA approved sizes for corralling liquids for security.
+Rechargeable battery is a must — not having to stress about outlets is so great. Ed. note: I completely agree with this after traveling to Atlanta last weekend with this one for my iPhone 15.
+Slip on shoes are key, especially as there is a chance, even with TSA Pre-Check, that you may need to remove your shoes for security screening. Corollaries: 1) Always travel with socks just in case you need to remove shoes — gross to imagine walking barefoot in the security area, and you might get cold on the plane. 2) If you are packing a bulky pair of boots/sneakers/etc, it may be better to wear them onto the plane so the shoes do not take up as much space in your luggage, which obviates the earlier point on slip on shoes, but may be worth it!
+Sign up for TSA Pre-Check (or Clear) and, if traveling internationally, Global Entry! Even if you only travel abroad 1-2x/year, it’s really worth it. The immigration lines in NYC airports can be hours long and being able to breeze through after a long flight is such a relief.
+If possible, make use of airport lounges using credit card / loyalty programs.
+United enables you to pre-check your bags. This means you can avoid the standard check-in kiosks and go to a designated “bag drop” area that is much less trafficked.
+Keep your laptop in the front zippered compartment of my carry-on suitcase (a “Continental” Tumi — she ain’t glamorous, but she’s a workhorse! She’s still in great condition after years and years of often intensive travel!, and I love that she can expand if necessary). I find lugging my laptop around on my shoulder so unpleasant, so instead, I stow the laptop in the rollaboard front pocket until the very last possible moment before boarding and then transfer to my bag so I can use it while in flight.
+Stow all important travel numbers / codes in 1Password — things like your known traveler number, your COVID vaccination card (no longer as urgent as it once was, but you never know), frequent flier number, etc. You can then access these from your phone any time you might have a need.
+My Dad has always typed up itineraries with all travel details in one place — flight number, departure/arrival times, hotel address and phone number, reservation confirmation numbers, etc. He used to do this so we could reach my parents if in need, but I also think it’s good practice for longer trips anyway. I did this for my most recent trip to Calistoga, when we had restaurant reservations, winery reservations, spa reservations, etc. So helpful to see everything at a glance. On the flight over, Mr. Magpie and I reviewed it together.
For More Pleasant Dining on Travel Days.
+Place a mobile order via the Starbucks app to beat the line for coffee in the airport. I routinely shave off about 15 minutes of time in line this way.
+Pack healthy snacks so you can bypass airport food (expensive, not nutritious). If traveling with kids, my whole travel carry-on is snacks.
+Pick up a sandwich from a favorite local restaurant the day before travel and pack it for on-plane dining. This means you aren’t scrambling to find something semi-decent in the terminal, or without food.
+Scope out a place to get a good quality coffee/lunch/dinner (depending on time of day) once arriving at the destination! That way you’re not scrambling to find something that will end up being mediocre and have something to look forward to. Ed. note: Mr. Magpie and I also heavily use the Google Maps “flag” feature. Any time we read about a great restaurant, we’ll flag it on a shared map, even if it’s somewhere we aren’t intending to travel in the immediate future (or ever!). This has come in handy more often than expected! Sometimes we’re even in a local neighborhood we’re not familiar with, and can reference this to learn if there’s anywhere good to test.
+Have a big breakfast the morning of a travel day and pack snacks/fruits on the go for lunch.
For Travel Health/Wellness.
+Start taking “Emergen-C” a few days before your flight to build up immunity.
+Nuun tablets for rehydrating before/after flights. Game changer.
+Always have a pack of gum for the takeoff and landing in case your ears bother you.
+Keep Afrin in your carry-on if you have a head cold. Ed. note: I learned this the hard way traveling back from California. The ear pain from the air pressure was excruciating.
+Certain areas of the plane are rife with germs. Always carry antibacterial wipes. Wipe metal part of seat belt, and the tray. When using the tray, put the safety card on top…as we know, not many people take those out to read!! Just another layer of cleanliness. The bathroom door handle and the faucet handle are full of germs, so use a wipe, or a soapy towel when touching those.
+Period underwear. I find these to be especially helpful on long flights when you’re on/think you might get your period! Lots of absorbency and I’m not worried about leakage.
+I permanently have a travel medicine bag ready, so I don’t need to pack it every time.
+Buy a full bottle of water at a concession stand as soon as you get through security. (Or, bring an empty water bottle with me and fill at a water station.) I find travel days so dehydrating.
For a Comfortable In-Flight Experience.
+Soft pants always. Magpie reader top rec: these Uniqlo pants, which are comfortable but have polish to them. Jen recs: the last few flights, I have worn these Gap kick flares. They are stretchy and ultra-comfortable, but I also love the look. My mom will be undertaking a lot of upcoming travel and asked for elevated loungewear. I advised either Gap’s CashSoft line (a rec from the very well-traveled Habitually Chic) or Kilte’s washable cashmere sets, for a splurge (heavily endorsed by a chic friend of mine). If traveling in the summer/warm weather, I still adore my fleet of nap dresses or this Maxwell and Geraldine. Soft, comfortable, non-restricting. I layer beneath a cardigan.
+Pre-charge and pre-load Kindle (Ed. note: my Kindle Paperwhite is my most prized possession) with books and ensure that several options are downloaded already (e.g., you will not need WiFi to access them). Three corollaries for travel reading, from readers: 1) “Pick a great book that you’re excited to start or keep reading (maybe two). It’s not the time to push through something you’re only so-so on.” 2) “I love having a “comfort” book series to read while on planes.” and 3) “I love reading novels set in the city I’m visiting. Unbearable Lightness of Being while in Prague, Hunchback in Paris, Shadow of the Wind in Barcelona, etc. It really adds a new dimension to the sightseeing.”
+Download “comfort” albums to listen to via Spotify or Apple Music. You will likely not have WiFi during parts of the flight; better to have these locked and loaded. Reader comment: “My favorite is Tony Bennett’s Silver Lining, as recommended by you! So cozy.” Ed. note: STRONG agree. I also downloaded my Thanksgiving playlist for this most recent trip.
+Bring noise-canceling headphones — they muffle out a lot of the exhaustingly loud white noise on planes, even if not listening to anything. Bonus points: bring the aux cord to plug them directly into the seatback for entertainment. Ed. note: These have totally changed my working and travel life. I don’t know how I lived without them. I bought these Sennheiser Momentum 4s after we did a fairly thorough review comparing those to Bose, Apple, and Focus. The virtues of Sennheiser: ultra-light-weight; very long battery life (60 hours); can be turned entirely off (Apple’s stay on at all times – probably explains shorter battery life); comes with packing case (you must buy separately with Apple) and aux cord that plugs right into plane seat back).
+Wear compression socks. From a Magpie: “why I never wore them before this trip is a mystery to me…they really work!”
+Keep cords/chargers in your carry-on. You never know when you’ll need to recharge your laptop/phone, or you may be stuck on tarmac longer than you think. Ed. note: I like this tech case for all of my cords, chargers, airpods, etc.
For Optimal Packing.
+I keep a packing list in the ‘Reminders’ app on my phone so that I don’t have to make the same list over and over for various trips.
+The Dagne Dove carryall has a nice slipover your roller function, which helps avoid backaches.
+If checking a bag, put anything you need for the first night in your carry on. That way, if your bag is lost/delayed, it’s at least tomorrow’s problem.
+Have a small zip up rectangular pouch that has core items that you will always need that you can move between bags as needed but your core essentials are close-to-hand: think small amount of go-to meds, floss, disposable toothbrush, spare contacts, claw clip/scrunchie/hair bands, bandaids, head torch, pocket tissues, wet wipes, polarised classic-style sunglasses, and compact mirror. (A variation on this theme from another Magpie: “Keep a small separate cosmetic bag for the nightstand at the hotel – lip balm, hand lotion, Kleenex, any medications, eye drops, etc. This is my #1 tip because I never see it mentioned. So nice to just set it on the nightstand at the hotel and have everything on hand when in bed, just like at home.”)
+Carry a backpack rather than tote — not as stylish, but more comfy / easy laptop storage. Ed. note: I still love my M.Z. Wallace backpack for day trips with kids. Other picks: have heard great things about the Dagne Dover, Calpak has fun colors, and Leatherology has a great, sleek look. Also like the simplicity of these ones from Brevite.
+If there is even a remote chance that it may be cold during a trip where I expect it will be warm, I’ll pack a non-bulky sweatshirt (Lake and Alice Walk have great options) and comfy pants (pj pants, sweatpants, etc.). I typically don’t end up needing these items, but when I do, such as on a cold night, I am so grateful to have them. Ed. note: I would add a pair of sleep socks to this list. I usually pack these ones from Nike.
+Jewelry and medication in my hand bag. Always. You never know when a carry-on will be checked, and when a checked bag will be lost. Ed. note: I also always carry-on any high-end handbags — for example, I like to bring my Chanel bag or a dressy clutch with me for dressier evenings, and I will carry this onto the plane inside my carry-on bag. I will keep my jewelry in a small pouch inside this bag, too, to optimize space in my suitcase. (My bag is truly like a Russian nesting doll – pouches inside pouches inside pouches.)
+Have a packing list per family member, so it can be adjusted depending who’s joining the trip.
+Have a designated “overnight” cube if you’ll be doing one night stints while on a longer trip. That way you don’t have to take multiple cubes out and makes packing up the next day much faster. I usually include pajamas, underwear, and the next days outfit.
+Packing cubes in general for keeping clothes organized. I like to buy a set per family member (each in its own pattern/color) so it’s easy to find what you need. The brands I like: Neely & Chloe, Paravel, E.Z. Packing (the clear factor can be SO helpful), these cheap Amazon ones (great for kids), compression ones (when space really matters).
For Longer Trips.
+For overnight flights, wear a cozy matching set, preferably Vuori.
+Pack an eye mask for better chances at sleep. Ed. note: I did a little research on this matter, and both Tempurpedic and Manta came up as highly functional choices with top reviews, but I also own a few of these Slip masks that are conveniently slim and lightweight and would be easy to throw into a cary-on with less bulk.
+The Ursa Major face wipes are a must! Don’t require water/wash cloth but can remove all makeup/grime in a second.
For a Better Traveling Headspace.
+Always anticipate at least one thing going wrong and shrug it off. It’s just part of the jig! And then when it’s smooth sailing it really feels like a win.
+Plan for extra time at the airport in case there are long security lines or another bump, so you can remain calm pre-flight.
+Eliminate stress by checking a bag. Then you aren’t worry about where to store carry-on, and you’re unfettered by stuff when moving through airport.
+If you’re a nervous flyer, pay for a seat by the wing (less turbulence).
+Let go of food rules while traveling.
For Travel Safety.
+Your luggage tag should only have your phone number NOT your address.
+Keep an AirTag in your suitcase. Not only helpful in case your suitcase goes missing, but also helps with waiting at baggage claim. You know when your bag should be coming out and can mobilize. You can use these holders to clip it to the interior of a suitcase so it’s not roaming free.
Upon Arrival Tips.
+Bring slippers for the hotel room. I typically take ones that are offered in the higher end hotels and use them over and over again.
+Pack a laundry bag to separate all used clothes from clean clothes at destination. Ed. note: I usually steal the “laundry bag” from the hotel closet for this purpose, but you can also find reusable ones to keep in your suitcase.
+An LED travel mirror. There are situations where hotels have sub-par lighting, or you’re sharing bathroom with friends/loved ones and need to do your makeup on the bed!
+Pack a quart sized Stasher bag with my favorite teas (cold care, night time, dandelion chai), backup instant coffee packets (Mount Hagen), raw sugar packets, and tiny Chocolonely circles. I like the certainty of having my favorites with me even if it means one more pouch in a tote bag full of other pouches.
My most recent trip (to Atlanta, GA): cardigan, comfy jeans, Leset tee, Tumi, Chanel flats (not my most comfortable but the most versatile to pair with everything I packed), and my M.Z. Wallace Medium metro tote, which remains my most practical travel day bag. It has a zipper, is ultra-lightweight on its own, has an internal zippered pocket, and is big enough to fit laptop, headphones, and all my other preferred travel day must-have. Earrings are Margaux. Because who doesn’t love a little everyday bling?!
P.P.S. Three sales you need to know about: 1) Hill House is offering 30% off sitewide with code EVERYTHING30. Perfect time to buy some holiday tartan; 2) Aligne is offering us 20% off with code JEN-20. I shared all my favorite picks here. Magpies have been loving this iconic camel topcoat. and 3) Lily & Bean is offering us 15% off with code JEN15. I know many of you loved this Hettie bag (I own in black!), which you saw in last week’s “What I Loved Wearing This Week.”
P.P.P.S. What advice do people seek you out for? Loved seeing the comments on this.
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By: Jen Shoop
I haven’t been so drawn to metallics since the early aughts, when I considered buying a silver Cambridge Satchel Co. bag (do you remember that brand?), and either Prada or Dries Van Noten or maybe both featured an entire collection of mirrored metallic pieces. This season, I’ve acquired these metallic jeans from Veronica Beard (look for less with these), this metallic turtleneck from J. Crew, and this sequined metallic skirt from La Ligne, and I’m now eyeing this metallic ribbed turtleneck to go with the skirt (or maybe this less expensive option from J. Crew).
I’ve mentioned this several times in the past few weeks, but what I love about this trend is that you can achieve a festive look with virtually no effort. Pair any of these pieces with a black skirt, a white button-down, your favorite jeans and — poof! You’re a festive goddess! A mood board for inspo below.
Below, my top picks for nailing the metallic look.
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By: Jen Shoop
My mother took me to see “The Nutcracker” ballet most years of my youth. At the time, I saw in the tradition the treasured Junior Mints from the concession stand, the plush seats I’d kneel on in my Mary Janes and tartan dress, the thrilling hush of the theater as the set emerged from velvet curtain folds, the magic that unfurled on the stage.
Now, I look back and different, wider meanings glint at me.
I see the attention of the woman I love best in the world: how sitting as my mother’s companion made me feel more like a girlfriend than a daughter. Our hands would meet in the Junior Mint box, or we’d whisper about Clara’s costume, and I’d feel a rush of closeness. It’s true, what Simon Weil said: “Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity.” Especially when you are one of five children.
I see also the way The Nutcracker temporarily absconded us from the freneticism of the holiday season, creating a tenuous still in its center. There would be parties and gifts and the blaring, festive cycle of The Winter Wonderland record in our living room, but for the few hours we were at the ballet, the noise of the season dwindled to a low hum, replaced instead by staged magic, and our mute, shared entrancement by it.
Funny, the way time can do that, as though turning the kaleidoscope. Because when it comes down to it, our Nutcracker tradition had less to do with concessions and costumes and more to do with presence, and connection.
I’ve been reflecting on this as I raise my own two children. What are the traditions I choose to honor this holiday season? What do they say, and what am I really passing on to my children in their re-visitings?
Post-Scripts.
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds.
+High rise velvet jeans! Love the idea of pairing with a statement blouse like this.
+Zara has such fun holiday footwear. How great are these $50 heels?!
+ICYMI: Quince offers a gorgeous, Jenni-Kayne-esque cashmere fisherman sweater for under $100. I own in brown and might need the charcoal, too.
+Hanni sent over a few of their products and OMG. I’m obsessed with the splash salve and water balm, which you can buy individually or as a “bestseller” bundle for a discount. You apply the salve in-shower and do not need to apply lotion afterward — skin feels buttery soft and hydrated after — but the water balm (which is an easy-to-apply spray!) leaves your skin ultra-silky. I was honestly astounded by the results. You will not stop touching your skin! It feels divine! I also kind of love the idea of “skincare for the lazy girl” (or busy girl). It feels like each of their products removes or streamlines steps of the showering process. The spray-on balm is such a clever application. You can also buy the water balm in this bundle with Gwyneth’s favorite hair clip.
+My most recent trip led me to order some AirTags for my roll-a-boards. I’m finding that I am usually forced to gate-check a bag these days (and/or United will not give you space for a roll-a-board if you are in economy / do not have premier status). This is nice peace of mind if bag goes missing, but also handy, logistically, for knowing whether your bag is even remotely close to being placed on the claim. More great travel gear here, and the best travel tips (crowd-sourced from Magpies!) here.
+My children love the “Story Orchestra” books, especially the Nutcracker one. The illustrations are lovely and you can hear Tchaikovsky’s music by pressing a button on each page. (The Swan Lake one is also a favorite.)
+I bought my children Nutcracker-themed jammies in anticipation of our viewing this year. I also love these (ultra-soft — size up one size for your children, as these run snug!) and these (also comes in the sweetest nightgown format).
+I’m planning to dress my son in this sweater and my daughter in this dress for this year’s performance. These personalized hair bows would be cute for a little lady, too. For a more casual affair: this sweatshirt!
+For dressing myself up for “The Nutcracker” (and other holiday festivities) — shared some thoughts (and a try-on!) here, but also love these glitzy heels, this tulle midi (look for less here; layer over a black midi-length slip), and this embellished cardigan. Also love the idea of incorporating tartan somehow. Love these platform heels or this tartan dress.
+This isn’t explicitly “Nutcracker,” but this sweet knit doll reminds me of Clara. I gave my daughter a similar doll for her first “Nutcracker” experience (seen above). This year, I surprised her with this “Nutcracker” sticker book and this Nutcracker-themed sensory play kit.
This week, Mr. Magpie was out of town, and my evenings hung vacant. What to do with myself when my meals are not planned and I find no counterbalance to consult with on what to watch on television? I elected to lean into things purely for myself:
I watched two big 90s flicks: “Legends of the Fall” and “Autumn of New York,” neither of which would have been green-lighted in Mr. Magpie’s company, and neither of which was, frankly, worth rewatching. I had such swoony memories of “Legends,” but it felt mawkish, over-drawn. I’d forgotten about the treacle of 90s movie scores and found the soundtrack detractive, though I dimly recall force-crying to it in my teens. “Autumn in New York” was woefully misguided on a plot level, and I found myself squinting in disbelief at the ending (“…Huh”), but — man, did the 90s go big in the movies. The star power alone! It’s almost difficult to look directly at Brad Pitt on a screen. He is Hollywood gold. And the sets, the costumes, the histrionics! I love the bald scale and glamor of it all. You can almost imagine a conductor lifting his palms skyward — “more, more, more! crescendo!” — as these movies steamroll right over believability and plot in favor of “an epic still.” As an example, in “Indecent Proposal,” there is a famous scene in which Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson roll around in a bed of money while in Vegas. I would venture to guess that it’s the scene most of us think of when we call the film to mind, much like the fridge/food scene in “9 1/2 Weeks.” In both cases, though, the scenes are nearly extraneous to the plot, as if designed for the film’s promotion rather than its narrative. They communicate the film’s themes and aesthetics in highly memorable ways, but exist as though “stills” or “vignettes” rather than components of the core stories. I am sure film students have explanations that tie into film marketing, but as a casual viewer, the effect is: “These movies are unblushingly designed for visual pleasure.” They pack star power, they sweep, they stir — but they do not hang well together. I am sure we could argue the same for subsets of contemporary films (no one need hold a microscope to the proliferation of superhero movies…?), but there is something distinct about the magnitude of a 90s film, and, despite the fact that I found myself smirking my way through some scenes, I did enjoy myself.
I also worked on a bit of fiction that will likely go nowhere, just for the pleasure of it. I did not agonize over the words, or pause to re-read my own writing: I just let my thoughts spill onto the paper. For a long time, I have considered this kind of “free-writing” a bit blasphemous. It is untethered from plot designs, themes, schematics of any kind, and sometimes I feel as though I should conserve my creative energy for “real writing” that might eventually turn into something worth sharing. Over lunch this week in Georgetown (seen above, the converging site of all the versions of myself), I shared this fleeting thought with a friend, and she said, “But do you really believe that?” I look inward. No. The creative impulse is accretive. If I am reading something good, or writing something fun, the energy splatters off the page, coating all it touches. Inspiration is the flame, not the tinder.
Finally, I stayed up very late — too late — reading a book and watching outtakes from “The Office.” Like all good children of the 80s, “The Office” is my chicken noodle soup, but I hadn’t known much about the cast’s dynamics. You get the sense from these clips that Rainn Wilson and John Krasinski had a particular connection, and I’m fascinated by Rainn Wilson after he popped up in the Mary Oliver tribute, reading (and crying to!) the poem “Humpbacks,” which I wrote a little bit about here. Sidebar: if you are a fellow “Office” fan, can we all agree that “The Dinner Party” episode is one of the finest achievements in television history? Mr. Magpie and I have watched it dozens of times, and each time, we find it hysterical. We use many of the quotes in our daily repartee: “Oh, thanks, this will be great for cooking,” is one of my favorites. (In the episode, Pam arrives with a bottle of wine, and Jan dismisses it as “cooking wine.”) We use this as placeholder/shorthand for situations where our efforts are dismissed, mistaken, overlooked, trivialized. “Thanks, this will be great for cooking.” Anyhow, there is an outtake from the episode here that added to my enjoyment.
What do you do when you’re on your own?
A few other scattershot thoughts and finds from the week:
+This jazz for autumn playlist is delightful. I’ve been working to it all week long. It’s 18h long, which means you can listen for several days without it feeling too repetitive.
+Just noticed that Veronica Beard put my beloved Ferazia blazer on sale. I’ve worn this a ton this season, and a few of you have asked for “look for less” options. I haven’t been able to find something terribly similar at a lower price point, so perhaps the discount is what we’ve been waiting for. The entire sale section is newly worth a visit, as it now includes the perfect black tie gown (the black version of the gold lame dress I’m wearing here) and everyone’s favorite kick flares. I also found the Ferazia blazer on sale for even less in an off white denim color here.
+Some pretty last-minute Thanksgiving buys to consider: these cheeky place cards are SO fun (which would you be?) and I love the idea of using these velvet ribbons for gifting bottles of wine for the occasion. They have adhesive on the back so you can affix right to the label. On that note, one of my favorite food bloggers (truth be told, the only food blogger I follow), Caroline Chambers, recently talked about the stress of preparing a Thanksgiving meal and advised “outsourcing whatever doesn’t bring you joy.” I hadn’t really thought about this, but — yes! I noticed Praline in NW DC has a whole menu of Thanksgiving pies and pastries you can order in advance. I love baking, but it did cross my mind that it might be a good plan if you’re low on time or not inclined to bake. (BTW, you can access all my Thanksgiving recipes here.) In the second photo below, you can see the most adorable Thanksgiving sensory kit from KidKits. I have this saved in my closet for Thanksgiving morning. The owner, Katie, has offered us 10% off with code MAGPIE10.
+I enjoyed the most delightful dinner at Petite Cerise in D.C. It’s a bustling French brasserie with a seriously chic interior and delicious food. The high points: headcheese and the foie gras beignets. I’d normally dismiss a beignet appetizer as gimmicky / over the top but it was absolutely scrumptious and I will order when I return. And you’ve got to respect a menu with head cheese on it. Mr. Magpie and I love to pick the menu items that probably aren’t popular because we think their inclusion signals the passion of the chef de cuisine. He/she is choosing to keep something a bit off the beaten path and possibly offputting to some diners on the menu purely from personal interest! But beyond food and ambiance, the cocktails are the real reason to visit. The menu is so fun and well-considered. You can tell they take their cocktails seriously because they make clarified milk punch as one ingredient in one of their cocktails — that takes vision, time, care — and it’s not even mentioned on the menu! We will be back.
+Davines sent me the PR package of my dreams — a box full of the entire line of Oi products. I’ve been using this line for nearly a decade, since I first discovered it in a salon in Lincoln Park, Chicago. I especially love their conditioner (already have one nearly kicked in my shower, and will happily stow this as back stock) and all-in-one-milk (primes, detangles, protects). The scent is divine and these products really work. Conditioner is especially handy when hair feels dry. I use it on the bottom 2/3 of my hair.
+This week, my children started taking ice skating lessons. Their first time, ever, on ice, and it was incredible to see how much progress they made in the span of 30 minutes. After, my daughter announced: “Skating is my favorite sport.” It reminded me of the way Mr. Magpie and I are about travel: nearly everywhere we visit, we tell ourselves “we need to come back / I wish we could have a vacation home here / let’s plan to visit next year at this time.” Every destination is our new favorite destination. I mentioned this to our (well-traveled!!!) friends over dinner at Petite Cerise, and one responded: “That’s a good thing — that means you’re optimistic. You’re glass half full. You’re open to new things.” I hadn’t thought of it that way, and I liked it. It’s good to leave the door ajar to joy.
+Why did I wait so long to buy noise-cancelling headphones?! I AM OBSESSED WITH MINE. I find myself so much more productive with them on, especially when I’m in a good writing flow. I hadn’t realized how much “extra noise” I’m processing all day long, whether the jangle of the dog collar, a delivery at the door, Mr. Magpie on the phone, my children screaming downstairs…! Is this what it’s like to work in a real office? (BTW, I did quite a bit of research on the headphones, with Mr. Magpie’s guidance, and I am highly passionate about the pair I landed on.)
+Currently toggling between a few books: Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart (spiritual instruction / lessons for the heart); The Artist’s Way (a creative manual recommended by my friend who politely told me not to worry about “sapping” my creative energy by writing things purely for joy); Absolution by Alice McDermott (Ann Patchett praised this book when I saw her speak in DC last month); and It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (a steamy romance / beach read after dark recommended by a friend — very steamy…!)
+You saw this on Friday’s “What I Loved Wearing,” but wanted to flag here — this Sezane dress is AMAZING (!!!) and already selling out. Runs TTS, works on petites (I’m 5’0 and it hits at ankle), and NOT itchy. I find a lot of Sezane pieces itchy but this is a stretchy wool-cotton blend and I had no complaints. You need this girlie!
SPEAKING OF UNDERGARMENTS, WANT TO ORDER EVERYTHING FROM NEGATIVE
WHERE’S WALDO — HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THIS SERIES UNTIL I WROTE THIS POST ON ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN! ORDERED AS A STOCKING STUFFER / ADVENT SURPRISE
CUTE CONSTRUCTION SWEATPANTS FOR YOUR DIGGER-LOVING BOY
HAVE A FULL POST ON METALLIC TREND GOING LIVE TOMORROW, BUT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS TURTLENECK, AND THIS $50 ONE, TOO — I ORDERED BUT IS NEARLY SOLD OUT
P.S. This is my most popular LTK post in recent history. I loved that outfit, too, but this is my favorite thing in my closet right now.
P.P.S. “Early motherhood — at least for me — demanded a withdrawal, and I was not always at peace with that change. Still, looking back, I am struck by “the extraordinary acts of metamorphosis” I performed to make my way through. Because during that time, I was becoming. I was spinning myself into the loving mother I have become.” Read the full essay here.
I also ordered a few things from Shopbop: this mesh-top dress, this Agolde tee in brown, this Leset tee so many people have raved about, and this short-sleeved version of the long sleeved pointelle I’ve been raving about. (More layering / long-sleeved tops here.)
My days are filled with small things: the chased mot juste, the tiny compartments into which I meter sliced fruit and goldfish for my children, the margin in my schedule during which I wrap a birthday gift for my neighbor’s daughter, the confetti of post-it notes that dot my notebooks and the frame of my desktop computer.
I remind myself: tend to these smallnesses with love.
And if you cannot call forth love, find the satisfying discipline of a job-well-done.
I think of the artistic masters – the Didions, the Picassos, the Pounds — and I know that they did not deliver their masterpieces overnight, but brushstroke by brushstroke, draft by draft. How many sketches fell to the cutting room floor? How many erasures will we never see?
As a parent, too: each reassurance, each smoothed forehead, each reminder to use the toilet and close the door and “be gentle with your brother” turn out to be firmer than filament.
When we show ourselves to friends, we do so less often through grand gesture and more routinely through the tininess of a remembered text (“how’d the interview go?”), the selection of cheese at the shop (“I remembered you’re allergic to goat”), the silent affordances (“I knew you didn’t mean to”).
Permit yourself to take pride, and pleasure, in the small things that turn out well. The thoughtfully-selected gift; that rare moment in which you say the right thing at the right time; the bath time gone right.
The little things are the big things;
How you do something is how you do everything.
Onward, Magpies, in praise of small things —
Post-Scripts.
+I’m sharing this metallic cableknit cardigan in an upcoming post on the metallics trend but I had to share now because I’m scared it will sell out before the post goes live! SO GOOD and $59.
+Did you get anything from the Doen holiday collection? My sister and I were texting frantically about it. I’d initially overlooked this frothy black dress since I’m not usually a black dress gal but…it’s kind of calling my name? This is also spectacular and I love this wintry version of the dress I’ve been wearing all fall.
+A lot of you have been asking for boots to pair with the slouchier/wider-leg denim styles currently en vogue. I think the keys are 1) a boot that has a structured, slimmer profile to balance things out, and not look too clunky, and 2) making sure jeans hit around ankle so you see enough of the boot. I think this pair is absolutely perfect for the job. Look for less here.
+Madewell is offering 30% off sitewide! All my top picks for the season here.
+Beauty boutique BeautifiedYou has a great spread of well-priced, Euro-pharmacy skincare basics like Embryolisse and EltaMd, and they are offering us 27% off sitewide with code JEN27. A great time to stock up on basics for your beauty cabinet. (The EltaMD sunscreen is excellent — I use daily.) I just ordered a new beauty blender and this EltaMD hydration mask in anticipation of cold weather. I really love the feeling of slathering on a thick layer of cream at night, especially when I am under the weather. Replenix’s brightening eye cream has also been on my list for awhile — a good chance to snag for almost 30% off.
+This cropped faux leather jacket is unbelievable.
+Best jeans for little boys. Just bought my son a few new pairs from Gap!
+What are your children wearing for Thanksgiving? I shared some cozy/casual ideas for Thanksgiving morning at home here. If you’re doing a formal meal, I love this dress with navy knee-highs for girls and this sweater over a button-down with cords for boys. For something more casual, this jumper and turtleneck for girls and this flannel button-down for boys.
+Last push for all things Thanksgiving! You can shop my picks for the holiday here, here, and here.
+Into this chocolate brown mini! Imagine with tights and a statement fair isle!
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!
By: Jen Shoop
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!
Heads up that Madewell is running an early Black Friday promotion as of today — 30% off sitewide! Shop all my favorites here, including the bomber cardigan seen in a few photos below and one of my most-worn handbags this fall.
*This dress runs TTS. I took an XS. We’ve talked off and on in the comments about how some Sezane pieces are really itchy. This is not! It’s a wool-cotton blend and totally wearable.
P.P.P.S. Recent Thanksgiving finds here, and all are must-have cocktail gear here.
By: Jen Shoop
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The other day, I was chatting with a new and well-traveled friend, and she mentioned that she maps out her travel itineraries with militaristic precision. She books all the tours and activities in advance; scouts restaurants for meals, snacks, and in-betweens; and even charts travel times between itinerary stops. Reflecting on the research that went into our recent Calistoga, CA trip, and how time-intensive (though…fun?) it had been to trowel my way through countless Reddit threads on the subject of Northern Napa and cross-check them with recommendations from a few friends and Magpies, I asked: “How do you figure out what to do and where to go?” She shrugged: “The Internet.”
But, like, what and where?! Are there shortcuts I’m missing?
We all have those friends who know the best place to buy chocolate in Brooklyn, speak passionately about the fancy coffee-brewing equipment they’ve procured from a small glass-blowing business in Italy, attend the most interesting cultural programs. And we all want to know: how do they find about these things?
I know this because, first, I routinely ask this question when in the presence of my in-the-know friends, and, second, when I shared I’d seen Ann Patchett at the Library of Congress a few weeks ago, the number one response I received was not “what was she like?” and “what did she say?” but —
“How did you hear about this?! I’ve lived in D.C. for years and never know about these things!”
My knee-jerk reaction was: “It was kismet! I happened to look on Ann Patchett’s website out of the blue to see if she had any upcoming speaking engagements, and voila.”
But the truth is that I’ve developed certain habits of looking in certain places, and it’s more systematic than I perhaps thought. Today, I wanted to share some of the resources I use when seeking meaningful things, whether those be experiences, travel itineraries, technology, etc.
Travel, restaurants, really niche (non-fashion) purchases — Reddit, Reddit, Reddit! For example, I used it heavily when trying to buy Mr. Magpie a fancy manual coffee grinder. (Anything that you feel might have a passionate, geek-y followership — wine, coffee, technology) is bound to have tons of Reddit threads. You can search for nearly anything here using search terms like “best Calistoga CA restaurants” or “what to do in Calistoga CA.” You must then filter through tons of comments, sussing out the credentials/veracity/taste of each Redditor through context clues. (You know what I mean: the minute we read, “I swapped applesauce for butter, cornmeal for flour, and canned peaches for the recommended apples…,” we must firmly, kindly discard the subsequent critique.)
Technology — Mr. Magpie recently shared this technology review resource (Rtings.com) with me when I was trying to decide which pair of noise-canceling headphones to buy. They are very thorough and judging by the lack of “gloss” on their website, you can trust these are true engineer / tech nerds (ha!). I would cross-check this resource by skimming reviews of each product on Amazon and doing a quick dip on Reddit.
Recipes — We (well, mainly Landon) rely on a vast library of cookbooks, but top of the heap: for pasta, Missy Robbins and “Oretta,” as we fondly call her in our kitchen; for baking, Stella Parks; for fish, Paul Johnson; for French, Daniel Boulud; for American classics, America’s Test Kitchen; for Southern, Garden & Gun; for Mexican, Nopalito; for veg, Josh McFadden. Landon also follows tons of chefs on Instagram and is often reporting new finds, ideas, ingredient sources by following them. If you’re as passionate as he is, take a minute to draw up a list of your favorite restaurants, or the ones you’re dying to go to, and then follow their chefs de cuisine on Instagram.
Wine — Aldo Sohm and What to Drink with What You Eat. We also do things like look up the wine programs at restaurants we like to see what they’re serving and subscribe to the email lists / Instagram accounts for wine shops we know and like. We’re still big fans of Flatiron Wines in NYC (often have our wine shipped from there) and, here in DC, have been following Domestique for a long while but not yet made it downtown. They specialize in natural / funky wines. We’re all hot on Napa wine right now, and so are always staying plugged into a few of the wineries we liked out there. You just never know what they’ll be sharing — special deals, limited edition bottles, recommendations for food pairings!
Cultural Events — I’m on the mailing list for several local museums (Kreeger, Phillips, Smithsonian, Dumbarton Oaks) and try to skim their offerings every now and then. I also signed up for the French Embassy’s newsletter and sometimes come across really fabulous programming, like the evening we spent listening to a piano concert there! Kennedy Center and Warner Theater are musts, too.
Book Talks — In NYC, you MUST sign up for the 92nd St Y’s newsletter. They get ALL the gets. I attended some mind-blowingly wonderful presentations, poetry readings, author talks there and still review their events, telling myself “I can always train up for the day and crash with my sister or best friend, both of whom still live in NYC.” Here in D.C., I follow Politics and Prose and Sixth and I for these kinds of opportunities. I also look up speaking engagements on the websites of the authors I like most, especially if the book is buzzy — there’s a good chance they’re on a press tour. I’m SO sad I just missed a talk with Alice McDermott at Politics and Prose this past week…
Book Recommendations — I love Ann Patchett’s bookstore’s website for this. I have good friends and sisters who religiously stay on top of the top book awards and their shortlisted nominees for recommendations, too.
Household Products — I still use Wirecutter as a “first pass” for things like “best batteries” or “camping pillow.” I never go to them when aesthetics matter. They’re good at rating for function, but never aesthetics! I’m a little less enchanted with them ever since NYT bought them out, but still a solid resource.
Music — We’re not huge concert-goers, but I do check the lineup at Wolf Trap religiously in the summer (when in Chicago, I did the same with Ravinia) and skim The Anthem’s offerings. I’m still not cool enough for 9:30 Club. Never have been, never will be — but my sister did take me to see Norah Jones there when she was only twelve or thirteen! We always call it, fondly, “our first date.” (If you grew up in the D.C. area, you will understand what I mean by the vibe of this venue!) I also check the tour dates for musicians we like whenever the mood strikes — usually after we’ve checked out the latest “Tiny Desk” videos over a few glasses of wine. Ha! Danger zone. This is how I ended up buying tickets to Father John Misty, a performer I barely know. But I never regret the experience! Fun to get out there and try new things.
Then, of course, I follow a constellation of creatives and writers on Instagram who are constantly planting the seed for new experiences, restaurants, etc. I hope to be one of those resources for some of you, too. I spend a lot of time following fashion and shopping at the source and love curating the best.
Anyhow, turning things over to you now.
Where do you go for trusted recommendations? What are your sources for “meaningful stuff”?
+We traveled to the Eastern Shore a few years ago, and I still think about this placard about the vernacular of local oystermen.
Shopping Break.
+RUN to buy this $49 metallic turtleneck. The silver sold out within 24 hours. I managed to get the gold! Perfect for way to communicate “festive” while pairing with an easy pair of jeans.
+Julia Amory just released the prettiest tree skirts. While there, may I urge you to try a Julia Amory shirtdress? I’m telling you — the best. So comfortable, easy to dress up or down, flattering, etc!
+These tall boots are SO GOOD. Very Isabel Marant, but waterproof and currently on sale for $160.
+Pretty earrings to finish your Thanksgiving look. Colors and scale are perfect!
+OK, Zara, we see you. This under-$200 cocktail dress is FUN.
+I just added a “Gifts” section to my shop this week — a simplified place to get my top gift recs in one spot. Will be adding to it over the coming weeks. Also: I updated my Shop weekly! Lots of great find there right now.
+My mom was texting me in pursuit of an “elevated loungewear” outfit for longer travel days. (She’s very dressy and I was almost shocked she asked about this.). I pointed her in the direction of either Gap’s CashSoft line or, for a splurge, these Kilte sets.
+Caspari makes the best taper candles in the best colors. Need the gold! If your tapers suffer from “gangster lean” once you place them in the holder, use this to keep them upright!
+Fun gal’s night idea: have friends in for delivery burgers and martinis and use these fun placecards to set the table. (Related: thoughts on a retro-style cocktail party here.)
+These marbleized lampshades would look so spectacular on your Thanksgiving table.
+Just stocked up on these sweats for my son in basically all colors while on sale.
+Jo Malone sent me this candle and I’ve already been burning it, compulsively. I don’t usually like candles that smell like baked goods (vanilla, chocolate, etc), but this is divine. It has a spicy complexity to it that makes it feel less like “gingerbread” and more like “warm winter smell.”
Veronica Beard’s winter party collection stopped me in my tracks this year — so many sophisticated yet festive pieces to wear to all my holiday events, from cocktail parties to Christmas teas. I was ecstatic when the team at Veronica Beard invited me to style a few of their pieces, and decided to spotlight the collection’s diversity by dressing up and down for the holidays in this post.
We’ll start with the dressier side. When I first saw their gold lame Alberta dress, I knew it had to be mine. The silhouette and neckline are pure old Hollywood elegance, and the sandwashed lamé finish makes for a chic, understated shimmer. I feel like a golden goddess in this gown. The draped fit is highly flattering, and I love the seamed, fitted waistline, which nips in at and draws attention to the narrowest part of my body. (Note: this dress also comes in a classic black charmeuse if you’re a black dress girlie!) This is my top pick for formal events this winter season — weddings, formal office parties, NYE. I’m hosting a martini hour a few nights before Thanksgiving and we’re all dressing up, so I can’t wait to slip into this spectacular dress for the occasion: a dramatic kick-off to the holidays.
Notes on sizing: This dress is perfection for tall Magpies. (I had to have mine hemmed several inches — I’m 5’0). I took a 00 in this dress and it just fits. I’m normally a 0 but can usually take a smaller size in dresses for some reason (in pants, never). I would suggest taking your true size in this.
For more casual events, I cannot recommend these straight-leg metallic jeans for enthusiastically. Metallics are seriously trending for the winter season, and these are a lowkey way to communicate the spirit of the season without all the bells and whistles. Pair with a chunky statement sweater for a big look or a simple ivory pullover for a quiet luxury effect.
I went a size up in the pants, as the fit is slim and straight through the hips (my curviest part). These are also again a good fit for tall Magpies — I am having mine tailored by a few inches so that it hits closer to my ankle (versus the tops of my heels).
I’m wearing below with the most fabulous ivory topcoat. I love the classic, menswear-inspired double breasted silhouette (and its dramatically wide collar!), which are perfectly balanced by the slightly nipped-in waist and exquisite tailoring of the piece. This is a forever, for-everything coat. Throw on over jeans and a tee or style over your holiday finest, whether you’re 28 or 88 or anything in between.
A few other standouts from the Veronica Beard holiday collection that I want to spotlight: this fuchsia velvet mini (imagine with patterned tights and platforms!), these feather trim kick flares (!!! — you know i love this denim silhouette and the feathers are SO fun), and this selling-quickly satin blazer in the perfect holiday pine color, which would be so elegant with high-waisted (tartan?) trousers.
Happy holiday shopping!
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds.
By: Jen Shoop
Q: What to wear to Nutcracker ballet in NYC?
A: Love! If you’re talking daytime, with little ones in tow, something like this, or a tartan skirt like this or this with a black turtleneck and either ballet flats or bow mules depending on how much you’ll need to walk. If you’re going for afternoon with girlfriends, followed by a cocktail, this. If you’re a pants girlie, love the idea of this blouse with some velvet trousers, or a fabulous pair of tinsel trousers with an ivory knit.
Q: Bag for travel – zipper, not too big, but big enough to throw in some diapers, makeup, etc!
A: I love my M. Z. Wallace medium metro tote for travel days. It weighs next to nothing and, as you’ve noted, the zipper comes in such handy (especially if you have a baby around and may have to balance baby on hip!). For something a bit more polished, Clare Vivier. Cuyana are similar to Clare but at a better pricepoint. I have one of their bags and do appreciate how high-quality and well-designed they are, but I find myself wanting something with just a tiny bit more character? Clare V. has it. Cuyana, though, is a good pick if you want the look for a little less.
Q: Warm weather holiday lewks. Texas is still in 70s/80s.
A: Marea has some great picks — this is perfect for a warm weather Thanksgiving! Cleobella, too. Hill House has lots of plaids that are a lightweight material if you’re thinking Christmas.
Q: What to wear for breakfast with Santa and other holiday events with children.
A: Easy: Love this HHH (in my closet) and this black watch (on its way to me), and have seen lots of chic peas wearing Tuckernuck tartan to family holiday events over the years — this one is great with a little black velvet mule. Comfortable, pulled-together, and perfectly on-point. I like to zhush them up with big (vintage) earrings and fun statement shoes. This forest green lace mini would be unexpected but easy, and I love the idea of a metallic turtleneck (this, this, or this) with a skirt — slip, velvet, pleated!
Q: Nice, black wool trousers. Slouchy vibe.
A: Toteme is a good place to start — these might be up your alley? I like this slimmer fit style. Vince, too. Not wool, but people rave about the Favorite Daughter slouchy trousers.
Q: Casual Thanksgiving outfit.
A: A sweater like this or this with your favorite jeans.
Q: Dress for work Christmas party?
A: This Aligne! Festive, chic, sophisticated. If we’re talking formal, this Solace or this VB.
Q: Warm winter coats and snow pants for kids. First winter in CT!
A: I love the bibs and snow mittens from Northern Classics — great colors, simple styling, and fantastic quality. Most colors can be passed down from gender to gender, too. This is what my children have. For jackets, we’ve used Helly Hensen and Reima. These are ski-grade coats for truly cold weather. I’ve been purchasing good quality coats that I hope to pass down, and that I intend to double for skiing (we’re finally taking them this year!). For boots, we’ve been loving the heavy-soled styles from Kuling. They don’t have zippers or laces but do have a cord so you can cinch above ankle.
A: Love these mushrooms and basically anything ABC home carries (these moths…!) Parterre also has some fabulous, vintage-inspired, one-of-a-kind beauties, like these velvet embroidered hearts.
