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I wrote at length and in detail earlier this week about how much I cherish Thanksgiving, but I was thinking later on that my concept of “Thanksgiving” is not limited to The Meal. I also love the eve of Thanksgiving, when our best friends come into town to watch “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” with us. We order delivery, mix up cocktails, and laugh at the same jokes every year. And sometimes Thanksgiving night — watching the first of the Christmas movies, poking around in the fridge for a sandwich improvised of leftovers — is the best part of the affair. But I especially love the morning of Thanksgiving, when we put on the Macy’s Parade and SPEAK IN EXCLAMATION POINTS when Santa appears on screen during the finale. For years now, I have made cinnamon rolls for the morning of Thanksgiving. During the pandemic, I made them from scratch, using the Stella parks recipe, but most years, I unapologetically use the classic Pillsbury roll and there is something perfect and nostalgic about it, especially on a day already-dense with cooking and preparations. I love the feel of that morning — Mr. Magpie and I prepping parts of the dinner over coffee, usually with a puzzle spread out across the counter to linger in front of when we need a break; the children watching the Parade in their socks and pajamas. We don’t usually permit the TV to be on for hours on end, but all bets are off on Thanksgiving: the Parade, the Westminster Dog Show, the Charlie Brown movies, football. All part of the soundtrack of Thanksgiving.
A few other thoughts on Thanksgiving morning at home:
01. As mentioned above, I love having a puzzle out. It’s a great way to pause between cooking sprints, and family/friends always love to gather idly around it, sipping champagne or coffee or what have you. I love the ones from Cavallini and Pomegranate. Exceptional quality and such cool designs. I also love putting out a holiday theme one — this one is one of my favorites, year after year. Not as challenging as Cavallini/Pomegranate, but so nostalgic. Mr. Magpie also surprised me the other day when he was out of town and had this puzzle delivered to me! Saving it for Thanksgiving morning. (This one would also be great).
02. I also like to have activities for the children on hand, since it’s handy to have them preoccupied as we flit around getting dinner ready. A few ideas…1) I love themed sensory kits (and have a whole post on sensory play here). Play doh is a good base that needs limited supervision, which I advise strongly over the fake snow and Christmas scene I put out last year (which they enjoyed but did make a mess). You can assemble yourself or buy them pre-fabbed on Etsy (see here and here). 2) Some years, I raid Michael’s/Target for all of their little holiday themed kids — stuff like this, this, this, and this are great, and you can use the finished products as tabletop decor on the childrens’ table. 3) My children are forever sticker obsessed. Fun to trot out the first of the Christmas themed options with surprises like this, this, and this. 4) I ordered a pack of these crowns last year and have enough left over for this year! The children loved decorating these for themselves and family members. They zhushed theirs up with gem stickers. 5) Another fun family activity that children/parents/aunts/grandparents can come and go from: a big coloring poster or coloring roll spread out on the ground with a fresh case of markers.
03. I’ve worn a tartan nap dress over a tissue turtleneck the past few years while cooking on Thanksgiving — comfortable and festive, and always with slippers and an apron* — and love to have my children wearing something comfortable but festive, too. This year, they’ll be wearing Minnow: my daughter has this dress (seen above and mini approved: not starchy/scratchy) and my son has a pair of the knit pants and matching sweater. (*On the apron front: I bought Mr. Magpie a Hedley & Bennett apron a few years ago for Christmas and he LOVES it. He wears it every time he cooks! I still make use of an old pink W-S one my mom gave me maybe two decades ago. I love that they offer the aprons in kids’ sizes in case your children want to get involved in the kitchen. And on the slipper front: I absolutely wore these Birdies into the ground and had to throw them away. They are SO comfortable and I like the slightly elevated look. This year I’ll be wearing these.)
04. We like to have something light and uncomplicated on hand for lunch (if anything at all) since we eat dinner so early (at 4 PM). Our ideal lunch is a bowl of homemade soup, thawed out from the freezer. (This is one of my favorites — make some time in the next few weeks and freeze a batch for lunch on Turkey Day.) If you’re local to D.C., you might buy some Shore Boys cream of crab soup and freeze until the day-of. You can usually find it at Arrowine in Arlington, V.A. It is SO good.
05. I don’t usually buy the children dedicated Thanksgiving pajamas, but there are some cute “fall/Thanksgiving” options out there this year: these turkeys, these squirrels, these leaves, these foxes.
What are your Thanksgiving morning traditions? Do you have any? One year, I’d love to layer in a morning walk in fall foliage!
P.P.S. If you’ve not yet answered these icebreakers…please do! They’re designed to be asynchronous and I love going back to read the new entries.
P.P.P.S. Love the concept that we aren’t wedded to 24 hour cycles.
By: Jen Shoop
We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.
Ed. note: I updated proportions on the ingredients for the clam preparation three hours post publication! If you printed when this was first released please note the slight edits for that section below.
Mr. Magpie made linguine vongole (linguine with clams) the other night, and I can’t remember anything tasting better — the dish is briny but bright, with a buttery richness to the condimenti. We enjoyed with the last of the peppers from Mr. Magpie’s garden, grilled and dressed in a vinaigrette, and have on other occasions served with a simple green salad, but this is one of those “plato unico” type dishes where you almost don’t need a side, which makes it appealing for weeknights. (I will, however, note that the sauce is outrageously good, and would love to sop up the extra with a bit of rustic bread.) The recipe is not particularly complex but requires careful attention to cooking times and technique — especially the “marrying of the pasta” phase, during which Mr. Magpie stands attentively at the stove, tossing the pasta until it takes on a glistening sheen and the sauce is thoroughly coating each strand of linguine.
I feel like Ina saying this, but the simplicity of this recipe means that it demands the best ingredients: the best dried pasta (notes below), good butter (we use Kerrygold exclusively), wine you’d enjoy drinking, etc.
Mr. Magpie’s recipe is adapted from Missy Robbins’. She calls for more clams, some left whole, but we’ve played around with proportions for years and years and exactly 20 seems to be the magical number where you get enough clam in each bite but are also able to fully enjoy the pasta itself.
An aside: we absolutely love these handmade “Ripple” pasta bowls (above) from the North Carolina-based brand Haand. I am convinced that eating pasta out of these bowls improves the dining experience. Elevated rustic vibes, especially paired with these painted fern napkins from Christina Dickson, also seen above.
Ingredients
To Prep the Vongole
20 littleneck clams
1/4 cup olive oil (we recently discovered that the brand California Olive Ranch, which is widely available and reasonably priced, is delicious and excellent for cooking with — you can usually find at Whole Foods)
2 cloves garlic
1/2 cup white wine (we use whatever white we have on hand — Mr. Magpie usually keeps Gruner Veltliner on hand, so we use that)
a few sprigs thyme
1/2 tsp dried red chili flakes
To Finish
1 lb linguine (we buy all our dried pasta from Gustiamo in Brooklyn — we especially love Faella and Martelli brands…you will notice a HUGE difference in your pasta dishes if you invest in good pasta!)
3 Tbsp / 42g olive oil
1 clove / 5g garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp / 30g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
peel of 1 lemon, pith removed and peel finely chopped
half of 1 lemon, to squeeze on top of pasta
1/4 cup / 20g finely chopped parsley
Preparation
Place clams in a bowl of cold water to soak. Drain and rinse away grit every 10 minutes before refilling with fresh water. Continue until water runs clear / grit-free.
Place a large saute pan over medium heat and add olive oil. Add garlic and cook until aromatic, but without color, 10-15 seconds.
Add clams to pan along with wine, thyme, chile. Cook, removing each clam as it opens.
When all clams are removed, strain the cooking liquid through a fine-mesh strainer. Measure out 228g / 1 cup liquid and set aside.
Remove meat from each clam and discard shells. Chop clams. We like the clams fairly finely minced — almost so that the meat coats/clings to the pasta like sauce versus being a separate “item” to eat in the dish.
Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Generously salt the water. (Use more salt than you think.)
Add linguine to the water and cook 5-8 minutes / until al dente.
While pasta cooks, place large saute pan over low heat. Add oil and chopped garlic and cook until aromatic but without color, 10-15 seconds. Add reserved clam cooking liquid to pan. Add butter and swirl to emulsify.
Using tongs, remove pasta from pot and transfer to saute pan. Turn heat up to medium. Toss for 1-2 minutes to marry the pasta and sauce.
Ladle a few spoonfuls of the hot pasta water into bowls. This will warm the dishes and keep the pasta warm for longer inside it.
Add chopped clams and continue to toss for 30 seconds to distribute clams evenly and continue marrying ingredients. If sauce begins to tighten, add splash of pasta cooking water and continue to toss. When pasta is properly married, it will cling to the sauce and have a glossy sheen.
Add lemon peel and parsley. Toss.
Remove from heat. Squeeze in juice for 1/2 lemon / to taste.
Dump water from bowls and use tongs to pile up the pasta inside. We use a small spatula to scrape all the sauce from the saute pan on top.
+Mr. Magpie loves Missy Robbins for pasta, but he also commonly refers to the recipes from this pasta cookbook. He advises caution with the latter — some of the measurements are off. Good to cross-check with another source. I enjoy reading that cookbook because the authors are very particular, even crotchety, about which pasta shapes to use with which dishes, when to serve what, etc.
+This cute textured cardigan is en route to me. As you know, I love the other one I have from Talbots. Heavy in this fall’s rotation! Also love this similar bomber style cardi from Madewell.
+Thinking about buying this plaid top. I love a top like this that can dress up jeans for a slightly festive afternoon activity. You can get the look for less with this Tuckernuck!
+Ordered mini this Usborne nutcracker sticker book — we are taking both children to the Nutcracker this year and I just love the build up and excitement. It’s such a wonderful holiday tradition.
+Hoping Mr. Magpie doesn’t read this, but I already know I want to buy him a spoon rest for Christmas as a stocking stuffer type gift. He routinely uses a small bread plate for this purpose. I like the ones from Haand or Emile Henry.
Mr. Magpie took one look at my Ugg ultra-minis and said, “I guess ugly shoes are ‘in’ this year.” Haha! I don’t blame him. To the male eye, they are stubby, bulbous affairs and a far cry from my usual aspirations toward the ultra-feminine. I feel I should publicly let him off the hook here, though, because he routinely encourages me to wear whatever I want, and praises me for it, and he meant this not injuriously but as a matter-of-fact observation.
When I was little, my Dad referred to any shoe he found ugly as “a clog.” It could be a pump, a boot, a sandal — if he didn’t like it, he’d call it “a clog.” The first time I heard him exercise this willful solecism, he was looking at my seventh grade Steve Madden slides — the black, chunky, platform ones with the stretchy band of fabric over the toes that I’m sure many of you owned — and I couldn’t begrudge him the comment because, well, they were ugly. But they were also very cool.
All to say: since the late 90s, fashion has been deep in clog territory, but with particular pronouncement over the past few years. I think there is a conceptual element to this: as with the movement away from figure-hugging skinnies and slim-fit pants to loose, baggy, barrel-style jeans, the youth are saying: “Who cares about looking thin / feminine / the smallest version of yourself”? Fashion doesn’t need to be about figure flattery, or gender at all for that matter. I think the ugly footwear that is currently trending are an outpost of that ethos.
This year, I’ve purchased three “ugly shoes”: the aforementioned Ugg ultra minis, shearling Birks, and Ugg Tazz slippers. I mainly confine these to the house / carpool runs / walking the dog around the neighborhood because I’m not typically a “dress down” girl (I got that from my mama), but I have to say that I’ve pinned and saved countless photos of chic peas wearing theirs all over the place with great panache. And, like, my own children wear Gap Kids versions of the Boston Birkenstocks ultra-chic Alice Pilate is wearing above. So I’m bought in. My perspective is, as always, to have fun with fashion, to view it as another avenue for play, and to never take myself (or my clothing) too seriously. There is a great quote by Herman Hesse that I have saved in my study: “Learn what is to be taken seriously and laugh about the rest.” Clogs and their derision by my father fall into the latter category.
As a bonus, the ugly shoes that are currently en vogue are also wonderfully comfortable. Won’t you join me in clog world? These Tazz slippers (seen below) are it. If you’re looking for socks to layer with, consider these ribbed ones from Stems, these cashmeres, or these cozy ones from Falke, which a Magpie turned me onto, and which I now own in a few colors.
Corollaries to this trend: the socks-with-shoes vibe. What does this project? I find it looks very cool but can’t put my finger on the effect. Sort of school-girl-dress-up vibe? What Cher from Clueless might wear? If you’re into it, an approachable on-ramp: these socks (which so many cool girls on Insta have raved about) with a chunky loafer.
If you’re looking for more statement footwear for the season, you might enjoy my post on micro-trends in ballet flats. Lots of mesh trending!
In the dressier category, I’m still loving the heft and drama of a platform sandal, worn with or without tights. (I wear these Gucci logo tights a few times a season and LOVE the way they look with black platform sandals or pointed toe pumps. I bought them a few years ago and they always create such a splash/statement — they elevate/edge-up any LBD. Otherwise, I’m still a stalwart Spanx black tights girl. I like the compression. But I hear Wolford Denier 80 Matte Black tights are the best in the biz.)
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
By: Jen Shoop
We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.
I spent this morning sifting through photos from Thanksgivings past, and I am awash with sentiment. Looking at my life through the clusters of photos I’ve taken this time of year over the course of the past decade reminded me how urgently I must take care to live where my feet are, as each year has presented such difference. Things lost, things gained: new cities, old homes, new babies, older parents. How different life looks plotted against a decade of late Novembers, how unbearably beautiful. As I wrote elsewhere, “What was unremarkable then turns out to be great now.” The flights home, the clutter and clatter of pans with all of my siblings bumping elbows over the stovetop, the early days of motherhood, when Thanksgiving felt a tad straining because, on top of the usual heavy responsibility of feeding the babies, putting them down for naps, changing their diapers, keeping them contained (or not), we were meant to dress everyone nicely and set the table and have a feast by four. All of it, every detail, now gilded with greatness.
This morning, my email subscribers received a special Thanksgiving edition digest, in which I shared my Thanksgiving menu, our favorite Thanksgiving recipes (several Shoop family favorites for decades and decades), a calendar in which I plotted out exactly when to shop for what and at what time to start cooking everything, a Thanksgiving playlist, a few shopping finds for the holiday (you can find some of them in my Amazon shop and this collection of finds), and, of course, The Prayer, which so many of you have adopted in your own family traditions. I’ve lost count of the number of Magpies who have written to say that this simple prayer has brought them, and their loved ones, to tears, as they break bread together, positively shocked by the good fortune of all we have. It cuts to the quick, doesn’t it? I’m sharing the prayer below, but you can also sign up here and receive the full “Magpie Thanksgiving” email, too.
And now, a walk down memory lane: snapshots and annotations from nine beautiful Thanksgivings. Proof positive that I want for nothing.
Mr. Magpie, Pre-Babies, 2014, at my parents’ house in Washington, D.C. These were the days (before children) when all of my siblings and significant others (some weren’t yet married!) would descend on my parents’ home for a big, everyone-cooking-in-the-kitchen melee. There was so much laughter and wine and warmth in that house.
Mr. Magpie and my beloved father-in-law, 2015, Arlington, VA. (Everyone, including friends and grandkids, calls him Doe.). Champagne in the basement (probably watching football) before Thanksgiving dinner. We used to sleep on the pull-out couch in the basement and I have the fondest memories of staying up late watching holiday movies and sneaking up for a midnight turkey sandwich.
Thanksgiving While Pregnant with Mini, 2016, Chicago. My in-laws flew in.My mom had purchased me this dress from a maternity shop on Michigan Ave in Chicago. She insisted I buy “one or two nice maternity dresses” and “a good winter maternity coat” and I felt so cared-for. May I also say that I look at this photo and notice my crooked teeth and remember how I rarely smiled for photographs for years and years because I was self-conscious of them. I’m so glad I took this photo of myself while pregnant, as I have few of them! — and am also so glad I finally got Invisalign so I could make space for more important things than worrying about my smile.
Thanksgiving with my baby, 2017, New York City. We’d just moved to the Big Apple and felt strained and alone. I wrote about the experience here, and how Mr. Magpie welled up with tears while reading the Thanksgiving prayer.
The Macy’s Parade, New York City, 2018. We lived on Central Park West at this time, and one of the absolute delights of living there was that they’d block off all of CPW to street traffic and it was even difficult to get there by foot — you had to show an ID that proved you lived on the block! We were able to trot downstairs and get a front-row view of the parade.
In the second photo: had to show off the way I used to dress my little dolly. The big bows! The embroidered dresses! The pom pom knee socks! Do it while you can, mama. Dressing her like this was one of the greatest joys!
Our second NYC apartment, 86th and Columbus, UWS, 2019, with my new baby. My in-laws drove up for the coziest holiday. Can you even deal with micro’s chunkiness?! The rubber band wrists! The thigh rolls! It’s so delicious. The photo of my FIL with micro is one of my most cherished. The good stuff.
Making the best of Thanksgiving during the pandemic — are the COVID beard and mask telltale enough? UWS, 2020. I still got everyone dressed up to the nines. I so clearly remember the walk we took through Central Park before Thanksgiving dinner, and how much I missed family this year.
Thanksgiving 2021, Bethesda, MD. Our new suburban home! We hosted a big crowd this year, and I took very few photos as a result. It felt full and busy and slightly frenetic but also joyful after several years of very quiet Thanksgivings.
Thanksgiving 2022, Bethesda, MD. We hit our stride this year with hosting Thanksgiving for a crowd. Such a happy day for me — funny enough, my major memory from this day was actually after dinner, after the children were in bed, enjoying the whole ‘fare la scarpetta’ with my husband, sister, and brother-in-law. We were sitting around the kitchen counter, blasting music, drinking wine, nibbling on leftovers, for hours.
+Lots of great tabletop/home finds for the holiday here. Love this turkey platter (great price and reminds me of the turkey dish you can see in a few photos above that I bought years ago from W-S…you can still find on eBay), all Emile Henry bakeware (I cherish the few I own!), and these chic, well-priced cloth napkins.
+If you have a cheeky fam, these “superlative” placecards would be hilarious. I’ve used some of the superlative cards from this boutique at a dinner party I hosted last year and it was SO fun.
+I reference this in my menu/notes, but we use this Aldo Sohm book and this one to help with wine selection all the time. They both provide great ideas on what to drink with what you’re eating, including what to serve with Thanksgiving dinner. (The TL;DR — for red: gamay, pinot noir, zin; for white: gewurtzraminer, gruner veltliner).
+Every year, I give my children Christmas pajamas to change into after Thanksgiving dinner. I love the ones from Lake and Petite Plume each year, but this year, I’m also loving these nutcracker ones from Sal e Pimenta (and matching nightie for your little Clara).
+I’ll be sharing Thanksgiving outfit ideas for littles in an upcoming post, but this smocked cotton dress is a great choice for those of us with girls who resist anything starchy. This is a perfect cardigan for the occasion, and how fetching is this vintage-inspired dress? Giving SEA vibes for a fraction of the price.
+For post-dinner lounge: this Lake set (yep, still talking about this) or these Lululemon flares with a big ol sweatshirt from your husband.
+Does anyone do a formal Thanksgiving? (How fab…?). I’d wear this. Actually eyeing this for some holiday festivities — or NYE! VB’s entire new arrivals section has so many fabulous festive pieces in it. Digging these metallic straight-legs? With a black heel or ballet flat and interesting sweater? And I can’t stop thinking about this coat.
+Speaking of formal wear: one day, I’d like to arrive upon a reason for Mr. Magpie to wear a white dinner jacket. Just so handsome.
+As we head into holiday season, I’m already excited about hosting a second retro cocktail party while watching Kasey Musgraves’ campy holiday special. We did this last year and we all showed up with bells on, decked out in fab clothes (my brother in law wore a cashmere turtleneck tucked into dress pants — so good). We drank espresso martinis, ate swedish meatball on toothpicks, and then kicked off our shoes, moved the living room furniture, and had a long Taylor Swift dance party. As you will. (Do we think the Eras experience will be streaming by then?)
+Also for fall/winter festivities: treat yourself to some glitzy earrings! Dorsey is sending me these. I can’t wait to wear all holiday season.
By: Jen Shoop
*Please excuse my chipped nails.
Thank you for all of the positive feedback on my first “five quick lists” post. Bringing it back today —
Five Buys for My Boy.
I wrote recently how much joy I take in getting my my boy dressed. A couple of recent finds, including something for him to wear to his first experience at The Nutcracker…!
I bought this tartan dress when it launched on Hill House two weeks ago (seen above, with my Michelle Wilhite clutch), but it sold out within an hour. Somehow, it was restocked at Shopbop! I also just filled my cart with a bunch of these Elizabeth Harbour ornaments to give as gifts (and to deck my own tree). I know many of you snagged the tree topper! Ceramicist Susan Gordon also just launched a beautiful holiday collection with gorgeous hand-painted ornaments. I’m eyeing this beautiful ceramic angel as a Christmas gift for someone special and faith-filled in my life. Not pictured below, but these Advent cards are on their way to me now.
On styling the tartan dress: my initial instinct was black platforms (mine are Miu Miu — similar current season pair here; look for less here) but it was kind of fun to style with my loud Gucci boots (a gift from Mr. Magpie last Christmas!)
Three Beauty Products to Try.
Did you hear about Goop’s new affordable, clean skincare diffusion line? I immediately ordered this exfoliating scrub, hoping it might be similar to their more expensive microderm facial formula. Will report back. If I like it, I also have their daily juice cleanser in my cart as an option. As I’ve been writing about a lot lately, the wisdom seems to be to spend less money on cleansers, as they are on your face for such a short period of time. I also just added Westman’s mascara to my cart after my friend Mary texted me about it, saying she’d heard good things. I’m such a mascara lover. I want to try them all.
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
Last week, someone told me that self-care can be anything that “makes you feel more like yourself.” I loved the visual of women knitting, or running, or meditating, or birding, or painting their ways back into their own skin. I often find, especially during weeks dense with social engagements, that I am a few percentage points from my true self — not performing, exactly, but sort of vibrating outside of my own lines, like one of those early Disney cartoons, where you can see the faint sketch-marks carrying over between frames: fuzzy and out of focus, smudged around the edges. It takes just a few hours writing at my chipped white desk, or a morning run in autumn air, or an evening spent curled around a book, to come back into myself. Mr. Magpie, who played baseball when he was younger, once told me: “There’s nothing like hitting a ball from the sweet spot.” There are technical specifications for “the sweet spot” on a baseball bat, and the angle at which a ball must be hit in order to maximize its distance, and the ideal rotation of the batter’s wrists, and the optimal transmission of energy from bat to ball, but when Mr. Magpie talked about it, he simply meant that, physically, it felt right. It sounded good, it felt natural, it was a near-spiritual thing. Musicians have a similar expression — “playing in the pocket” — when they are in a good groove, and everything is flowing naturally and expressively. This, I think, should be the goal of self-care. Walking your way into the pocket. Hitting from the sweet spot. Looking for moments where you are aligned with yourself, and you feel not only comfortable but limber, apogeic.
I think for a long time, conditioned by the ads for Dove chocolate and Calgon I blithely absorbed as a child, I thought of “self-care” as escape, or distraction. But maybe caring well for ourselves has nothing to do with absconding from the world’s throttling pace and occasional abuse and everything to do with settling into ourselves. Not a running away, but a turning toward. Asking “what do I need more of?”
In response to my essay on how piano taught me to read nuance and “the finer-grained ways in which we communicate,” an old friend reached out and shared the loveliest thing:
“More of a teenage lesson, but it’s OK for a talent to just be your own private source of joy. My family always taught me that gifts, like musical talent, should be shared with the world. I had severe anxiety over piano (throwing up for days before every concert) until a teacher advised me to quit performing. Suddenly playing became a place of peace and happiness.”
Somewhere in these byroads of related thought, there is a lantern swinging. And I think it is signaling that I should write because it makes me feel like myself. “Between my finger and my thumb / the squat pen rests,” wrote Heaney, in a poem that reads like an apology-turned-reckoning about the fact that, unlike the generations of men that preceded him, he is not a potato farmer, but a poet.
What I mean to say is:
What makes you feel most like yourself?
Walk towards it.
Post-Scripts.
+Self expression, being weird, and people pleasing.
+Fun Gap puffer. Such good colors! Love the fit, too.
+Two Target finds you need to know about: these wildly chic $28 pants (the utility colored ones remind me of my Veronica Beard Crosby trousers!) and this scalloped tree skirt. Judging by how many of you bought these tree toppers from Elizabeth Harbour last week, it’s not too early to be talking about the holiday season…
+And so, have to share these minimalist/Scandi-chic stockings for your hearth.
+Need some more layering tees. Eyeing these from Vince! Any other recs besides those pointelle Lesets I’ve been raving about?
+Love all of the inspo on Afloral for styling their botanicals! Eyeing these. I have a few dried / faux branches in our front foyer and they’re such a good way to fill space and add dimension / earthiness.
+How gorgeous are these limited edition Diptyque candles?! Such a beautiful gift.
UPDATE: I’ve selected a winner for the bag of beauty goodies using a random number selector online. Marty (chepinzon@optonline.net), I’ll be emailing you for your address! Thanks for entering. Will do this again soon!
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds.
The most entertaining thing I read this week: the sharp, borderline-throwaway-but-brilliant observations and insights about Taylor Swift and music snobbery in this essay from Tom Cox, an author and music critic. I thought those of us who engaged heavily in the conversation subtitled “what is it about John Mayer?” would appreciate. By the way, I did tune into a few of the live Mayer performances you recommended and found this one, where he’s playing with B.B. King, riveting. Is B. B. King…irritated? with John? Is he being upstaged and outperformed? Maybe the interaction is a cute routine, or maybe it’s more authentic. Either way, Mayer seems/plays oblivious, positively vibrating with a “put me in, coach!” energy. It almost seems like he has to physically restrain himself from jumping in at points, his fingers sliding over the fretboard in hungry anticipation. The video aligned with my preconceptions that a) Mayer is a true musician’s musician: it’s the music gets him up and running and b) he might be kind of obtuse or unaware in the company of others? What might it be like to live life that way? I’m not asking this from a moralist standpoint, but from the perspective that I am always so engrossed and invested in the way others are feeling and expressing themselves that I sometimes strangle my own feelings on their way out. While we’re talking John, a Magpie wrote to implore me to listen to his live album, “Where the Light Is,” recorded in front of a live audience in LA in 2007, and I am obsessed with it. I’d heard most of the tracks over the years, but never end-to-end. His voice has a particular huskiness to it in this performance — the recording set-up? a head-cold? that phase of his vocal life? — that invites a new level of intimacy into his lyrics. That Magpie and I had a side exchange about the fact that we both find his performance of “Free Falling” better than Petty’s — don’t hate us! (I’m scared to write that out loud.) If you doubt this, or, hell, if you agree, you might enjoy watching him perform it live in 2009 in this recording. He’s totally playing to type in the delivery — the smirks, the way he sings “I’m a bad boy,” the unusual pronunciation of “mama,” the way he moves his eyes around during the lyrics. Woof. Is it hot in here?
Anyhow. In the essay, Cox speaks openly about his appreciation for (nay, love of –) Swift, ostentatiously asserting that “Blank Space” is the best pop song of the 21st century, and he goes on to write:
“In terms of genre-switching and remaining relevant, she has already eclipsed Madonna while simultaneously being the Joni Mitchell you can dance to and the nearest thing you could feasibly ever get to a one person Beatles in an era when musical forms are no longer constantly, rapidly reinventing themselves but technology and language are.”
He notes that these perspectives rattle cages, especially among “serious” music people, who feel “let down” by his tastes and are “horrified that I was enthusing about what they perceived as throwaway records liked by teenage girls.” He writes, in reply:
“But musical snobbery can take many different forms. I’ve encountered cheesy pop snobs – people desperate to demonstrate how fun and radical they are by browbeating you in an entirely funless way about all the cheap throwaway songs they like and of their blanket intolerance for any music they view as highbrow or experimental – every bit as thunderingly pretentious as indie snobs or jazz snobs. There are some people who go to such lengths to try to show the world that they are not musical snobs that they invent their own different kind of musical snobbery in the process. In the end, the type of music getting weaponised isn’t the problem. The problem is using a type of music to try to assert your superiority over another human being.“
This felt deeply familiar to me in an adjacent space, as literary tastes have also been “weaponised” in several of the circles in which I’ve traveled in my life. In graduate school, one of my classmates said “We’ll throw in some Foucault for fun” while talking about his syllabus as a T.A., and my stomach clenched uneasily. This was not the kind of person with whom I would feel comfortable enthusing about the latest thriller I’d stayed up reading, which is to say: this was not the kind of person I could be myself in front of.
Over cocktails a few weeks ago, a new friend of mine “admitted” (her words) to loving sci fi novels. “So dorky,” she apologized. I could have thrown my arms around her in joy. Be you! Be weird! I went on to baldly state that I’d much rather be friends with someone with a niche interest and a private passion than someone who can’t name a single thing she’s “crazy” about.
Which leads me to —
I attended a high school established by the nuns of the Visitation, an order that was founded by St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal in 1610, in Annecy, France. (I mention Annecy only because I was lucky enough to visit while studying abroad in France, and it was a deeply meaningful, if confusing, excursion.) One of St. Francis’ famous sayings became something of a school motto for us Visitation girls:
“Be who you are, and be that well.”
It’s incredible, what the repetition of words can do for you, imprinting themselves on you in spite of your most fervent teenage denials. I did not live my life according to their principle as a teen, but my God, have they come in handy in the years since.
Be who you are. Be that well.
Not too far afield from “What do you want to be known for? Deliver those things with excellence.” And also: “Be an expert in yourself.”
Be you — be weird — be it well.
Also this week…
+A propos of Taylor Swift, I shared on Instagram that I’d been enjoying a delightful speculative side text with my friend Caroline about Traylor (we were zooming in on the smudged lipstick in this photo), and so many of you wrote to say how much you’ve been delighting in following their dalliance. One said: “IDK why but their budding romance brings me such joy. Did I really need glimmers of hope that much?! I guess so LOL.” I totally get this. First, I think so often we trivialize female joy (an element Cox references above, and unpacks a bit more in making the point that female listeners have often been the core demographic for important music phenomena, like the Beatles, Elvis, etc), and why shouldn’t we love following the story of a girl who many of us love falling in love? Second, she is so good at giving her audiences what they want — two albums during the dead months of COVID, juicy lyrics about her famous love affairs, revenge songs…! Surely the publicity of this romance is partly intentional, and we are thankful for that. Below: me in my Swift tee with my girlie on our way to the Eras concert in theater, and my girlie in her boots and tee.
+The photo at top and below: I just learned about the cutest brand called Match South. They make these adorable vintage/collegiate framed matchbook prints, and they sent me the perfect UVA one to add to our little “gallery table” in the front foyer. It has lots of objects/curios on it that we’ve collected over the years and I love having Virginia spotlighted there, too — it’s a big piece of my love story with Landon. More than just a backdrop, really: the place is woven into our romance. Like, The Biltmore is where I first called him “baby,” as I wrote about here, a landmark of love. Anyway, these would be a good gift for a graduating senior, or for a husband/boyfriend, or just as a way to commemorate a college experience you loved.
+The John Derian x Target collection is SO good. My pieces arrived and I’m obsessed. The mushroom plates would make a great seasonal hostess gift, but I’m keeping mine! They are so fun even as trinket dishes, decor, etc. I also ordered the melamine turkey plates/cups for my children’s Thanksgiving table. The plates are a great size and will work for general fall use. My MIL ordered these napkins, and my friend Nan got this tray and tablecloth and I think I might go back for all three! Below, you can also see some of my table linens from Christina Dickson (such great fall patterns! — use code MAGPIE20 for 20% off) and my favorite scalloped rattan tray from Half Past Seven, which was sold out for awhile and now restocked. It’s a great, gracious size (larger than you might think) that is perfect for a bar or coffee table.
+My two most-worn bags at the moment: this Madewell (love the size, strap length, big buckle, and magnetic closure! — and under $200!) and the APC Small Grace bag I eyed for months and months. She’s the perfect shape and has a Celine vibe at 1/3 or 1/4 the price. I noticed that Gilt has this bag in black on super sale and Bloomies’ carries it in a delicious burgundy color that is currently 30% off.
+Goop launched a limited edition collection of its favorite beauty products in honor of its 15th Anniversary, and the packaging is spectacular. These would makes such pretty gifts for a girlfriend, wrapped up in cello. (More thoughts on gift wrap here.) I especially love the idea of gifting the GoopGlow exfoliator, which is one of my favorite beauty discoveries this year (you can read a full review here). I’ve received a lot of PR packages with beauty products this month. I test some of them and give some away to friends, but I’d love to give some of these away to a Magpie reader. If you’d like me to send you a little package with some goodies in it, leave a comment? I have no other way to democratize the selection process. I’ll just randomly select one of the commenters on this post and ship to you. Random side note: below, you can see the edge of my HHH hotel robe. I love it. I get more use out of my Weezie robe (thinner — easier to maneuver around my day / caring for kids / wash the dishes with it on!), but there are those days where you are cold to the bone and ultra-fatigued, and just need to pour yourself into a fluffy, thick, plush hotel robe. And this one is it.
+Lord help me — this boy has me wrapped around his little finger like none other. The age is too cute for words, and I am having so much fun dressing him — something I did not expect out of boy mom-hood. Below, he’s wearing Gap cords, a Gap denim shirt, this fleece vest, and tiny Birk Boston lookalikes.
+I will write more about this soon, but on Thursday, I was able to hear Ann Patchett speak at the Library of Congress (in conversation with celebrated children’s book author Kate Di Camillo, known especially for Because of Winn Dixie, The Magician’s Elephant, and the Mercy Watson series, which several of you recommended for mini a few months ago). I was nearly shaking with excitement. She is a true literary hero of mine, and I know many of you treasure her, too. (As evidenced by my enthusiastic reviews of Dutch House, Commonwealth, and Tom Lake, and your equally effusive comments.) She was just as delightful, brilliant, insightful as I’d expected, and absolutely wonderful on the dais, which is not always a given, if you think about it. Writers are good at communicating on the page, but presenting oneself charmingly, in real-time, in front of a live audience is an entirely different kettle of fish. I have a lot of thoughts tumbling around from the conversation, but I did want to pass along a couple of book recommendations that she was deeply passionate about: Margaret Renkl’s Comfort of Crows (coming out on Tuesday, October 24) and Alice McDermott’s Absolution (coming out on October 31). She specifically said that McDermott has been shortlisted for the Pulitzer three times in her life, and that she staunchly believes she will win it with Absolution. Paying those notes forward! I think I’ll read Absolution next.
+To hear Patchett, I wore the Mother jeans I raved about earlier this week (details on sizing, etc there) with this SEA top and my new Modafleur earrings. When I shared this photo, my girlfriend (who has been singing the praises of these jeans forever), sent me a text urging me to order the same pair in this lighter wash, which she described as “not too light, not too distressed, just right.” A good everyday pair. (PS – yes, I am carrying my beloved UBeauty Lip Plasma. She goes with me everywhere.)
+Final note. A few items on my shopping shortlist at the moment: this Cara Cara dress, the aforementioned John Derian x Target tray, this Parterre dress, U Beauty’s new tinted super hydrator, this Veronica Beard topcoat, these suede tall boots (love the heel and shaft heights — good price, too!)
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
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. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
Above: Central Park, in full fall regalia.
My Latest Snags.
My main shopping achievements this week was ordering this tweed Saloni (I’m tempted to bring it with me on an upcoming trip to wine country, but I know it’s not the vibe there…just want to wear it so badly!) and snagging of the Hill House tartan dresses — the Vivi, before it sold out, but returns do come through so I would check back if you’re passionate. (I also found their sold-out-in-minutes equestrian print in stock at Shopbop!) My runner up pick was going to be this Naomi dress. I always feel compelled to caveat my nap dress purchases because I know some Magpies are deeply fatigued of the style/hype. But I love tartans, and I am still drawn to the comfort and silhouettes of these dresses! Wear what you love, etc.
I also restocked my gift closet with a few new gifts for six/seven year olds, including this puffy sticker making set (love the Klutz brand! it’s been around since I was little!), this Lego chain reaction kit, and these Usborne sticker books, which my children still love. ICYMI: I did a very thorough/detailed post on my gift closet here last week, including my favorite gift wrap, my secret source for ribbon (if you’re in the DC area), go-to gifts, etc.
Finally: replenished my supply of my favorite pens. Like Christmas morning!
This Week’s Bestsellers.
Love (!) all the cozy, hygge picks from this week. Do I need these SLVRLAKE crops, too?!
Earlier this week, I was texting my Internet friend Alex about being a part of a large family (she’s one of seven, her husband’s one of six, and they have four children together), and she said: “It’s like when people see me with my kids and they’re like ‘Oh gosh, I only have two and I think it’s hard,’ and I’m like YEP IT IS. No matter how many kids you have, it is all hard. Just in different ways.”
I thought first (and told her so!) how gracious she was to say that. When you have one or two children, and you’re in conversation with women who have multiples of that, you can occasionally feel as though you don’t have a leg to stand on in conversation. Or at least I have felt that way — as though I’m out-ranked, out-mothered, out-tenured, and certainly shouldn’t be the one talking about how challenging parenting can be. This has occasionally led me to ask, “Is it just harder for me? Does it come more naturally to other women?” And, in a certain sense, I think my reactions are fair. Those women have smoothed more foreheads than I have and have also experienced different challenges that I will never face. (They’ve also lived through more pregnancies and newborn phases than I have, and that ishard, no matter how you slice it.) I remember my mother saying that she felt going from two to three children was one of the most challenging transitions because “I could no longer hold each child’s hand at the same time.” I think of that sometimes when I’m walking down the street with my two. What would it be like to have a third, or fourth, or fifth trailing behind? What if all three need to hold my hand at once? What if we were in a crowd? I’m sure mothers with more children have devised their own solutions, coping mechanisms, strategies, perspectives on all of this. On that point, I have observed, too, that women with big families tend to be less flustered — maybe they’ve just seen it all and know it will all be fine, but I’m still laboring under the misapprehension that with enough effort, I can prevent my son from sprinting around Glen Echo refusing to wear shoes (this did happen) or can keep my children quiet in Church (rarely the case) or show up to a birthday party with everyone perfectly dressed and coiffed (nope). Or maybe they’ve resigned themselves more gracefully to the experience of living in the chaos of raising children? (With fewer kids, you can still sometimes believe you’re able to paper over the mess…?)
But coming back to Alex, I have to say that I felt reassured by her statement: “It’s all hard.” And, like, why was I even thinking in terms of comparison in the first place? Certainly it is important to think about how others are experiencing the world differently, and to exercise perspective on my own circumstances, but I can only live my own life, in my own lane, as openly and fully as possible. And I can tell you that having two children is emotionally, physically, and intellectually demanding.* Moreover, there are no economies in challenge — or in love for that matter. No matter how many children you have, you love them all. Equally, no matter how many children you have, it’s challenging. What I mean to say is: the math in this matter is binary rather than complex. It’s all love; it’s all hard.
+Also, my mom came by for lunch and was literally SPEAKING IN EXCLAMATION POINTS about Westman’s brow pencil. I also ordered this a few months ago but wasn’t as crazy about it as I was the Kosas Airbrow, which is sort of a swiss army knife for brows (fills, shades, gels). But now I’m intrigued by my mom’s rave review. You would have thought she was talking about finding a cashmere sweater on sale for $30 at Lord and Taylor (this is normally more in the vein of shopping excitement for her).
+I am pretty sure I will have ordered this chic dress for myself by the time you’re reading this — it’s currently 20% off when added to cart. I have been trying to find some dresses that are good for layering — beneath sweaters, jackets, etc — and love this one.
+A fun family card game we’ve been into lately. Speaking of games, I frequently field the question: “What was that game you and Mr. Magpie like to play?” It’s Azul! THE BEST. We still play most weekend mornings.
+These chic cashmere knit sets from Kilte (and lots of other great knitwear) are currently on sale. I mentioned last week that a girlfriend showed up to dinner wearing the black one with Chanel flats and a silk scarf around her neck and looked beyond stunning. She messaged me this week to say she bought another color while on sale! And my favorite hot pink cardi is included (see me in it here).
+My favorite wool cape (see me in it here!) is still available in most colors/sizes after a recent restock, but my friends at Alice Walk just let me know that they will be increasing the price on November 1 to $495. If you have your eye on one…now is the time.
+Carolyn Bessett Kennedy territory for under $250. WOW.
+Love love love these ballet flats, and continue to think these Chloe sneaks are so FUN.
+Hanna Andersson is offering 40% off sitewide, including off their holiday jammies — they have lots of cute options, including many Hanukkah themed ones, which I know can be hard for my Jewish friends to find.
+Remember Spirographs? Just added to my “rainy day activity” bin.
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. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
Q: Wondering if you have any ideas for a cute quilted jacket in a fall floral? It’s a trend I want to try… I think you featured one last spring by Cara Cara? Hoping to keep it $300 or under. Love the idea of layering a slim turtleneck under it and pairing with flared jeans.
A: Yes! Mine is Cara Cara’s Marissa jacket — my exact pattern is sold out, but they release this coat every season in different patterns, and they are always reversible (!). There are two great ones currently deeply discounted, making them about half your budget: love this (perfect for fall!) and this (leans more spring/summer). These run pretty boxy/big — I would not size up. Also love this Mango and this Sezane.
Q: Shoes to wear with cardigan and leggings that aren’t sneakers and look polished yet comfortable?
A: Ballet flats or loafers look great with this situation. The two most comfortable pairs of ballerinas I own are these Schutzes (under $100 and such great colors/patterns) and these Loeffler Randalls (if you don’t like the elastic strap, just tuck it under the arch of your foot). And for loafers: I’m obsessed with this pair. Would look so good with black leggings and a longline cardigan. Also like these Bottega-esque ones from LR!
Q: An outfit that can really go from work to cocktails.
Q: Just got engaged (!!!) and would love recommendations for purchases to celebrate.
A: OMG! Congratulations. I still remember the butterfly feeling I had for nearly the entirety of my engagement. Such a sweet, tender time! My first thoughts were this ring cleaner, a gel manicure, and a notebook to capture all your thoughts/ideas/plans/doodles for the wedding. I gifted one of my girlfriends one of these little “Tying the Knot” leather notebooks from Smythson when she got engaged (you can also have them personalized with your new initials at Smythson proper!), but I would probably treat myself to one of these bigger Appointed notebooks (my favorite paper brand — these are the only notebooks I use now) so I’d have more real estate for note-taking/inspo/lists/etc. if purchasing for myself. You can also add a monogram to it if you’re so inclined — I know some people are superstitious about not using their future married monogram to things proper to tying the knot…and you may not be taking a new name! But just a thought.
Q: An adult shirt with no ruffles.
A: For casual, my two favorite tops right now are this Doen and these pointelle tees from Leset. I also just ordered this fall plaid blouse to tuck into high-waist denim, and Magpies love these blockprint Frances blouses from Emerson Fry. I’ve also become such a huge fan of Goop’s G Label for elegant, sophisticated, understated basics with a twist. I’m sitting here at the moment wearing this henley (runs long, which will be nice for tall Magpies!) and how good is this black blouse?
Q: Outfit ideas for a weekend trip to DC in the end of October.
A: It will be chilly here — layers! I’d pack a pair of comfortable ballet flats to dress up or down, jeans and a fun tops or sweaters, blazer that you can throw on over a tee or dress, some boots if chilly or you’ll be doing lots of outdoor walking, and a versatile coat that can be dressed up for dinner or down for daytime. A dress like this (pair with either flats or boots) for a fun dinner out! Have the best time!
Q: What to wear to country club, down to the shoes, for activities for the whole family.
A: Tuckernuck has so many good options. I find that their buyers favor dresses without waists, so you can buy now and wear later. A knit dress like this or this for casual wear, a statement dress like this or this for dressy.
Q: What to wear in Christmastime in NYC.
A: Oooo la la. I immediately thought of this velvet bustier and pants situation, or the red ALC dress in my cart in the perfect poinsettia red. All with a fabulous coat. (More outerwear ideas here.)
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. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
What is your current skincare routine? Anything working really well for you at the moment? I have a couple of new products I’m about to test (including the Vetted Dermlab cleanser/moisturizer seen above — this line was created by dermatologists seeking clean and hypoallergenic products safe for everyone to use), but wanted to share what’s working for me right now.
My A.M. Skincare Routine.
+Wash face with gentle face wash — I currently like this Biossance formula (and right now, if you buy the $28 cleanser, you get three free minis, including their fabulous vitamin c rose oil). It’s gentle and slightly foaming with a clean smell. This was a Magpie reader rec and I appreciate that it’s a) more affordable than other cleansers I’ve tried and b) non-abrasive/exfoliating (trying to limit exfoliation because I think it was stripping my skin), but Mr. Magpie thinks it doesn’t “scrub clean” well enough (we share cleansers). He preferred the Youth to the People cleanser we used last, which has more of a squeaky-clean feeling at the end, although his all-time favorite is this Clarins Men cleanser, which has sold out on Clarins’ site and can be really difficult to find — I assume they discontinued?) For morning use, though, I think the Biossance is perfect — gentle, lightweight. It’s not like we’re gathering dirt on our faces over night, so this just feels like a good reset to get the day started.
+Apply serums. I rotate between a few different ones I love, always including one vitamin C-focused formula (still contend this is the single most powerful ingredient in achieving glow in my skin), and right now I’m using Goop’s Vitamin C + Hyaluronic Serum, which so many of you are devoted to, as well as Goop’s Youth Boost Peptide Serum, which I find has been helpful in evening out skin tone (dark spots have become lighter) and especially texture. I will probably swap in Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum when I’ve finished the peptide product, especially as we head into winter months and I’m more drawn to serums/oils that hydrate. The Vintner’s Daughter was gifted to me by Goop as a part of their 15th Anniversary Limited Edition set, and I do love it — I’ve purchased myself in the past. I also like Thomas Grove’s Facial Oil, which I find very similar to V.D. but less expensive (and, you can get an extra 15% off with code JENNIFERSHOOP15, and of course Clarins’ Double Serum, a long time hero product of mine. I’m currently not using Clarins (gasp) because I can’t bear to have a three-step serum phase. Will swap it in again after I finish the V.D.!
+Apply eye cream. I’m currently using Biossance’s formula. I was a little harsh on this and the Goop eye cream in my most recent round of Honest Beauty Reviews — like, what do I think an eye cream should be able to achieve? It’s not going to change the world. Biossance is a really good eye cream. Deeply hydrating and I like the formula a lot — it has the perfect consistency. Not too thick, not too runny, and plays well with makeup layered on top (you have to let it soak in for a few minutes though).
+Apply face cream. I’m currently testing Augustinus Bader’s celebrated Rich Cream, which was also gifted to me. I’ve wanted to try this forever. It’s a lovely cream. It has a great feel to it, absorbs beautifully, leaves skin glowing and hydrated. But is it worth $180? I don’t think so? I’ve had such a wide spread of Magpie intel/feedback on this product. About 1/2 of you feel it’s overrated and 1/2 of you rave about it and insist it’s worth every penny. I keep coming back to the insight I recently heard that you shouldn’t spend a lot on cleansers as they’re on your face for such a short period of time, but serums/moisturizers are worth it. So in general, this feels like a good category to invest in, but…? I’ll be curious to know if I end up wanting to repurchase when I finish. I don’t think I will.
+RMS Beauty Supernatural Radiance SPF. This is still the final stage of my skincare process — it’s sort of like a bridge between skincare and cosmetics. It has a fabulous blurring effect, provides sun protection, and serves as a primer. If I’m going for a run, I will usually apply this and nothing else. (And by the way, here is my five-product, five-minute beauty routine if I’m in a rush in the morning.)
My P.M. Skincare Routine.
+Remove makeup with a makeup melting balm. I’m currently using this Korean beauty formula, which I really like, but I think it’s virtually indistinguishable from Farmacie, which is less expensive (and also clean). I also love Elemis’ but it’s a bit of a different experience/formula — more oily? — and I remove with a warm washcloth. I like the process of it when I need to unwind / feel I need a little extra TLC, but on a nightly basis, I use Farmacy/Unnaturally Natural.
+Cleanse — I have recently been liking using something with a tiny bit more “oomph” than Biossance to scrub the day off in the evenings. I’m trying not to use anything that’s too exfoliating on a daily basis, but this Motif cleanser is REALLY good. It is much less abrasive than Tata (which I used for years), with a lower density of “beads” in it and a thicker/creamier base, and I am pretty much addicted to it.
+Most of the time, I’ll just head to bed with bare skin at this point, but a few nights a week, I apply Goop’s Dark Spot Exfoliating Sleep Milk (jury is still out – I love so many Goop product but I’m not sure I’m seeing results with this yet), or if I feel like my skin is dry, I apply a heavy cream/night mask — I really love Korres’ Wild Rose Sleeping Facial and have used it on and off for years now. It has a beautiful rose-and-laundry scent and leaves skin so soft and hydrated.
What are your favorites?
I saved my core routine products on my “shelves” here for quick reference.
P.P.P.S. Mr. Magpie’s biscuits — you have to make these.
By: Jen Shoop
This post is sponsored by Shopbop.
I had planned to publish this post next week but realized that the two pairs of jeans I am trying on from Mother Denim are part of the tiered sale that is ending today and wanted to expedite in case you want to snag at a discount! I’d never tried a pair of Mother jeans before, but two different Magpies had written to me recently raving about some of their denim and especially the Hustler jeans. I was not disappointed. These two pairs of jeans are excellent for fellow petites (both are cropped/ankle length, so require no tailoring for us shorties), and I found them both flattering, comfortable (the Hustler jeans are airplane level comfy), and highly versatile.
I’m wearing the Hustler Ankle Fray jeans here in my true size and they fit perfectly. One thing I realized I really like about this silhouette is that they can be worn with flats/sneakers, Ugg ultra-minis (had some requests for photos of them in action), or tucked into tall boots. (Has anyone else been struggling with finding pants for taller boots now that so many of the styles are baggier / wider fit?)
I’m wearing immediately below with this Sea blouse, this reversible Veronica Beard puffer, and my beloved Grace APC bag, all of which were added to the sale in the past day or so. My earrings are Brinker and Eliza but already sold out from the sale — these are by the same brand and very similar. I finished with my Schutz Arissas — not part of the sale, but under $100 and so good. I own in two colors.
I’m showing below finished with my Ugg ultra-minis and tucked into my suede boots. Truly a versatile jean. I love the dark wash! In the photos below, I’m wearing my beloved Leset pointelle tee (not on sale, but fully restocked, and the long-sleeved version of my fav Kelly ribbed tee by the same brand is! Wish I’d gotten before it sold out in my size!)
Also — the red side of this coat is SO fun. Great way to nail the “pop of red” trend without needing to fully invest in a red coat (as it’s reversible!)
Processed with VSCO with c1 preset
The second pair I tried, the Rambler Zip, took me by surprise. I hadn’t loved the way they looked in the online photo but they look so different IRL and I’m so glad I tested! These are such a cool, almost trouser-like fit — they feel polished, grown-up, and have a flattering high rise. They’re also available in a washed black color I like. I again took my true size and they fit me like a charm. These are meant to hit at ankle but are full-length on me (I’m 5’0). I kind of loved dressing them with up and down elements — casual Onitsuka Tigers and Leset pointelle tee, finished with a polished blazer (exact style sold out, similar, from the same brand, here).
Strongly rec both of these jeans for my fellow petites, and have a hunch they’d work on taller Magpies — just to different (more cropped) effect.
P.P.P.S. I visited Georgetown this week and was reminded of all of the things I wrote about that native geography in this post.
If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds. Subscribers will be getting a surprise Thanksgiving treat in their inboxes next week.
