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Through tomorrow only, Shopbop has discounted a ton of current-season pieces up to 40% off, including the Altuzurra tote you’ve been seeing me wear constantly, and a slew of Hunza Gs in great colors. The tote is beyond fab – roomy, well-structured (stands up on its own), with high-end details (I love the roping/weaving on the straps). It introduces such fun color to any outfit and looks at home with jeans and a tee or a beautiful sundress. Also on sale in classic white in a smaller size.
On the Hunza G front: this striped Pamela is 40% off! I’ve never seen Hunza G so low. You might recall this style is my preferred Hunza G style (fit / styling notes here), but I do also have the classic squareneck and enjoy that one too. I find it’s a tad cheekier than the Pamela on me. It’s on sale in a fun orange color, as is their Xandra bikini, in either red or pink.
We compiled all Magpie recipes into beautiful cards for your kitchen! Get the recipe card collection in your inbox here.
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When we visit Mr. Magpie’s aunt at her lake house, she serves a proper happy hour every night — wine or cocktail plus something delicious to nibble on. Sometimes she’ll serve something involved, like a homemade spread with crackers, or a flatbread-type offering; other times, a simple but elegant offering like charcuterie and cheese. Mr. Magpie talks fondly about several happy hour dishes she made in the summers of his youth, especially something called “Kristi Yamaguchi Dip” (ranch dip, whose recipe probably came from an interview with the skater?) and bacon-wrapped pretzel rods. (My mother served something similar at many cocktail parties when I was younger: a club cracker wrapped with bacon. They were always the first to go!). This past weekend, we brought a happy hour spread to celebrate my father-in-law’s birthday: a few dozen oysters, some sparkling wine, fancy chips (Torres’ Iberico Ham flavored ones), and BjornQorn truffle popcorn. (My MIL transferred the oysters to several of her impressive oyster plates, seen above. She’s been collecting for years — these are beautiful mounted on a wall, by the way! — and Etsy’s a great spot to start hunting for gems. Search for Majolica as a starting point! You can find really fabulous vintage ones, too.)
I was reminded, as we pulled this together, of how much I love the nightly tradition at Mr. Magpie’s aunt’s lakehouse: a deliberate time to slow down and chat, without the formality or fanfare of a full meal. A highly recommend “bringing by happy hour” in lieu of treating someone to lunch or dinner at some point. It feels festive, and can often be just as impressive, and it permits the conversation to be the centerpiece. What are some of your favorite happy hour snacks?
A Few of our Go-To Happy Hour Snacks:
Kielbasi (pan-toasted and sliced into coins) with mustard or Spanish chorizo (pan-toasted)
Bread cheese (you can find this at Whole Foods — also known as Swedish kaffeost or brödost) toasted in a skillet and served with slices of baguette and whatever spread or condiment you have on hand (fig spread, Bonne Maman jam, chili crisp)
BBQ shrimp (a bit more ambitious, but not difficult and can be made well in advance — be sure to serve with paper towels) or cocktail shrimp
Mini toasts with slices of manchego and a smear of membrillo (quince paste)
Smoked salmon or tuna spread (we buy locally at Black Salt, but Fishwife has a spicy version from their recent collab with Fly by Jing you can buy online) with baguette slices
Little Sesame Hummus with Crudite and Pita Chips or Toasted Pita Bread — I always “dress up” the hummus by drizzling with good olive oil and sometimes fresh herbs or a sprinkle of paprika
Pimento Cheese Spread (I love the one at Bread Furst) with club crackers
Ina Garten’s Turkey Tea Sandwiches (follow all instructions to a tee — especially important to get a good quality raisin-nut loaf from a bakery)
Trader Joe’s Pastry Pups (I brush with egg wash and sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning) with mustard
Whipped Ricotta (literally just place ricotta and a bit of olive oil in a Cuisinart and season with salt and pepper) with Trader Joe’s Fig + Olive Crisps (they often have a few similar varieties), drizzled with Red Clay Peach Hot Honey
Gỏi cuốn (Vietnamese rice paper spring rolls) with peanut sauce — we buy from favorite Vietnamese restaurants and slice in half (Eden Center has tons of great Vietnamese restaurants if you’re local)
+Three very pretty white/off-white dresses for summer in varying styles: this Reformation and this eyelet Natalie Martin.
+The Target dumbbells I just featured over the weekend are 20% off. I keep adding new weights as I try to figure out what my true “light,” “medium,” and “heavy” range are — it’s shifting as I continue to train, too. I also bought a yoga block for various exercises while 20% off. Why do these colors bring such joy?
+With all my new fitness gear, eyeing an organization system like this for our fitness room.
02. So many Magpies have been raving about Uniqlo’s AIRism line of underwear — I’m officially intrigued! Going to order a few styles and will report back. (All our favorite undergarments here.)
09. I ordered this top in black and promptly ordered it in white — it’s sexy and sweet, and the perfect option with shorts / skirt for slightly dressier occasions.
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Launches, sales, new arrivals, and recent discoveries —
01. OMG. I had to do a quadruple take when I spotted these espadrille Mary Janes at J. Crew! They are fashion-forward and so unexpected — the high vamp looks very “Khaite,” and of course I love the espadrille sole. All of J. Crew’s summer arrivals are incredible. I have to take a minute to rave about this blazer (which I’m wearing above and below). If you’ve been eyeing a Veronica Beard blazer for awhile but find them out of budget, you must consider this Vivienne stretch linen blazer. The fit, material, and details are incredible — it has a good amount of stretch and I love the longer length, especially because it’s otherwise fairly tailored (on the model, it looks boxier, but it fits lean and slimming on me). And the gold buttons!!! Ladies, it’s a good one. I’m styling with shorts/skirts for summer (my new “shorts styling” go-to). The blazer would look incredible with these dark wash Agoldes and a white tee beneath. Ooooo!
02. Do you follow Brittany from The House that Lars Built? She is a deeply creative spirit and her bright, smart aesthetic delights. She just released a line of caftan-style dresses with Printfresh and generously sent me one! The colors and patterns in this beauty were too good to be true. I have this dog-eared for the FOJ parade / poolside hang afterward, but have already worn twice since receiving! It’s so comfortable! Has pockets. The fabric (100% cotton) and craftsmanship are excellent, BTW — this is not a “one season only” garment. You can tell because the interior seams are (not sure of technical terms) reinforced and even feature piping in some areas (on the inside!), and the hem is lined. I’ll be wearing this for years to come.
03. The colorblocked sneakers from Japanese brand Flower Mountain sell out so quickly stateside — my fav color style here. Love these ones, too!
04. Sponsored mention: Anthropologie is offering us 20% off orders $100+ for full-priced apparel, accessories, and beauty with code MAGPIE20 from today through May 12th. I ordered a few of their dresses to try for summer, starting with the the maxi shirtdress version of their popular Somerset dress. I took an XXS in the standard length — I’m 5’0 so could take the petite, but sometimes prefer the dramatic length of the a standard — and I’ll need to wear this with shoes that have a slight platform. I’d probably advise you to take the petite if you’re under 5’1 unless you’re wearing with heels. Sizewise, the dress is generous. I took the XXS and am usually an XS and it’s still very roomy. It is SO flattering, and you can style it a zillion ways.
Next up: the Somerset in a puff-sleeved variation. I took the petite length in this, and it hits almost at midi length, FYI, despite the maxi length description. But this is fine — this is a GREAT everyday dress. We all love the Somersets because they are light and airy, have a stretchy waist, and still have some structure to them. I found this style ran a little small. XXS worked but would probably suggest you take your true size (vs size down in the white style). I love the pattern, but lots are available. I feel like this will look amazing with brown leather and/or straw accessories.
Finally: a really fun wedding guest dress, under $200. The pattern is fab, and I like the slightly daring v and covered button detail. It also comes in a really fun solid hot pink. I’d style with big earrings and fun/bold heeled sandals.
05. People are going crazy over The Row’s new jelly sandals, just launched and already waitlist-only. What do you make of them? They’re not my vibe, but I’m sure Courtney Grow will now how to style them to grand (chic) effect, and I’ll look on enviously! I do love a jelly sandal, though. I think I might order this jelly version of my favorite Ancient Greek sandal, possibly in a bright/bold color? Which one would you pick?
06. La Ligne’s new summer pieces are amazing (!). I love their Leo knit pants — they remind me of the knit Minnow sets for kids, but for grown-ups. This is totally the vibe for occasionally-chilly beach destinations like Nantucket, The Hamptons, etc! Style with a white tee, bathing suit, or the matching sweater. And I was ecstatic to find this cardigan! I have been searching for a summer-friendly “top layer” to pair with sundresses and even cocktail dresses. So many of the options I’ve tried feel too heavy, or distract, or just look off with a summer dress. This happened to me recently when I ended up shivering all night long at an oyster roast because I didn’t want to wear the cashmere cardigan I’d brought, as it kind of clashed with my like. Anyway: she’s the one. Last but not least, their iconic Marin sweater has been restocked (they can barely keep it on hand!) — a perfect summer sweater for any chillier nights. I’m packing mine for Aspen!
07. Dorsey just released huggie-style earrings, and the prices are incredible relative to quality/style. I love these simple pave ones. They also restocked some of their statement earrings — I own and love their Crawfords, especially around holidays! I know that’s a long way off, but these against green or black velvet or MAJOR.
09. SoldOut just restocked its “iconically soft” tee in white and I ran to order it, as it’s been out of stock for awhile now. I own and *love* this in black. I’ll presuming I’ll need to add it to my favorite white tee list so long as it lives up to its sister!
10. Kilte is running a Mother’s Day sale today through 5/12, with up to 40% off. I own and love their Marlee cardigan.
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I’ve had this theory for years that you only have three pins you can proficiently juggle at a time. For me, the first two are always family and writing, and so it’s the third category that invites regular contemplation. Will it be friendship? Particularly good sleep hygiene? Exercise? Reading? Television? Socialization? Involvement in the kids’ extracurriculars? Travel? I have time for fractional amounts of all of these things, of course, but I find that I can stave off decision fatigue and the constant “should I do x or y today?” by hanging my hat on just one of these categories at a time for a period of a few weeks (usually two or four week increments, in my case). It makes life much simpler when I can reflexively say: “Nope, this is my exercise groove, I’ll have to keep my schedule clear of lunch and coffee dates for a few weeks now” or “I’m in my reading groove — I’d rather not start that new HBO series this week.”
I was reminded of this truth this week as I watched Mr. Magpie head to the driving range and golf course a few times. I’d love to join him, but I’m in my own exercise groove and there isn’t enough give in my schedule to layer in another activity (particularly one so time-intensive). It’s OK, I reassured myself. That can be “the third pin” later this summer.
One thing this provisional theory helps me avoid? The sensation of doing lots of things half-well. I’m tired of that routine. I’m after a lifestyle that makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m doing well, or at least “wholly,” and with intention. I’m not sure I like the fractional life, where I’m splitting minutes between multiple screens, multiple demands, multiples roles. Some of this, especially in early motherhood or if you have a demanding job, is unavoidable, but wherever possible — let’s look for round numbers. I’ve seen this word floating around for a few years now: multi-hyphenate. The concept is that we carry many roles that refuse to resolve into one cute title, and so we see people on Linked-In with the subheader: “Writer-Entrepreneur-Investor-Mother-Volunteer” instead of “Author.” I feel multiple conflicting things about this. I love the idea of recognizing all the different hats we wear, especially the ones that typically go unseen, and applauding the fact that a woman contains multitudes. The multitudes sentiment is doctrinal for me. But sometimes I see that phrase and think: “But I just want to be one person, focused on one thing at a time.” I don’t want to be stretched across a string of en-dashes. Unrealistic and unresolved viewpoints, but such is life, where many things can be simultaneously true.
Anyhow, a few other things I try to do that help in the pursuit of “seeking whole numbers”:
01. The evening buffer. I’ve written about this before, but I try to “close up shop” ten minutes before our nanny leaves and I’m expected to clip, unceremoniously, into mom mode. This gives me enough time to toggle between roles and wind down my whirling writing mind. Key in this moment: 1) crossing everything off my to-do list and reassigning to another day if I’ve not gotten to it (this visual helps me defer thinking about what I need to do until the appropriate time); 2) re-setting my desk so it’s ready for the next morning (all my notepads in a stack, a glasses and wrappers cleared, all pens back in their cups); and 3) turning off the lights. Goodbye to all that! I often refresh my makeup and even change outfits to mark the transition, too. Think about it: back in the day, we had the commute to decompress and switch into family mode. We’d also change out of suits and other uniforms into more casual attire. So many of these facilitators of transition are absent in the contemporary work culture. Here is a makeshift way to reclaim that important buffering time.
02. One screen at a time. If we’re watching TV, we try to keep our phones out of sight and reach. If we need to check our phones, we try to pause the TV. I’ve learned I absolutely despise the feeling of absorbing information from the TV and my phone at the same time — I emerge feeling fuzzy-headed, distracted. This is an easy place to start a tech detox. I will say it’s absolutely a challenge if we’re watching something with commercials. The impulse to “white out” the noise by checking emails, texts, etc is real!
03. Doing something relaxing without any technology. The crossword book, a jigsaw puzzle, a card game with the kids, a round of Azul, sitting on the front stoop sans phone, sitting on the back patio with my lunch! It astounds me how much fuller these experiences feel when uninterrupted by messages, beeps, alerts. (I saw a funny meme — “RIP, Pavlov – you would have loved iPhone notifications.”) The time passes more slowly. You notice more. You emerge feeling like you actually accomplished something, even though that something was just pleasure.
Any other suggestions?
Some little snapshots from my week…
Nail salon therapy (currently into “Russian Roulette” red from Essie and the Skittles gummies – both regular and sour flavors); we made green smoothies several times this week using this recipe book and these glass straws, in the Half Past Seven “water glasses” (they’re HUGE) — a perfect post-workout treat; Mr. Magpie “hardening off” the plants he grew from seed in our basement under grow-lights. (This is a process by which he exposes them to the elements for an hour, two hours, three hours at a time before bringing them back inside over a sequence of days so that they slowly acclimate to the intensities and harshnesses of the natural world — wind, rain, etc. A perfect reminder to go slow and easy during transition times.)
+Speaking of Half Past Seven — they sent me an early bouquet of Mother’s Day blooms. Such thoughtful women and I love all of their products, but especially their iconic lettuce leaf vase, which I’ve featured many times on the blog. The perfect shape and the ruffled rim beautifully fans the blooms out with minimal zhushing. When I shared this photo, I had a few questions about the table — it’s $119 at Urban Outfitters, and it frequently sells out. I have an Anthro tray on top!
+Warm enough this week for outdoor ice cream after dinner! And how is my boy looking so old here?!
+Sunday was a big spring cleaning day for us. Mr. Magpie assembled a bunch of shelving for the garage; I transferred my winter wardrobe into storage, including all of my knits in this beautiful cedar chest my parents gave me; and we donated a ton of clothing and baby gear that we’d been holding on to not because of sentimentality but because we just didn’t get around to it! Afterwards, we enjoyed margaritas (our recipe here) and some truffle popcorn as a happy hour treat. I love to keep the truffle popcorn on hand for hostess gifts.
+The rhythm of a weekend: event in Georgetown, date night with Mr. Magpie at Dauphine’s (absolutely delicious but a cavernous, loud space that did not match the sophistication of the food? ah! am I becoming an old crab-apple about noisiness in a restaurant?!), then rainy sports the next morning. (Followed by child’s birthday party — we’ve finally reached the drop-off years! — and a birthday party Mr. Magpie and I attended. It was nice to have a slow but productive Sunday of spring cleaning after all the activity.)
+Final notes: a lot of working out this week! I feel so good! These Nikes continue to be my steadfast companions. Don’t they put a smile on your face? And, I’m getting my teacher’s gifts sorted early. I found these cute notepads to bundle with a gift card!
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What Inspired Me This Week…
+ORANGE HILL FARM: A country home and citrus farm in Ojai, CA currently being designed by the one and only Mark D. Sikes (images from the Instagram account above and below). It’s difficult to tell which of the photographs are of the actual property and which are inspiration points for its design, but either way, the account is beyond dreamy.
+SLOW GROWTH: I started a new exercise routine this week (more on that in the next bullet), and have been soaking up messages and mantras that embrace the concept of “slow growth.” Nothing happens overnight; Monet had to grow his gardens before he painted them; etc. I was struck by this gorgeous poem by James Pearson. It makes it so simple, doesn’t it? Just take the first step. Move an inch in the right direction. Your focus is more important than your speed!
+HEATHER ROBERTSON’S 12 WEEK PROGRAM: This year has represented an aberration in my fitness routine. Most years, I run every other morning with a few weeks of break owing to illness, injury, travel or particularly busy stretches of life. I trust that I will always clip back in. This year has been mainly one long break. I tried to get into personal training sessions at the dawn of the year but found that they ate up so much time (1 hour session, plus travel time there/back, and usually a little extra time because I’m always early! — and my trainer could never meet just after school drop off, so I was often killing an hour of time, then having the workout, then sitting down to my day at 11 of 11:30, which was untenable). While I really liked the sensation of suspending my decision-making function and doing exactly what my trainer told me to do, automaton-style (does anyone else suffer from decision fatigue?! Sometimes Mr. Magpie and I have a difficult time deciding what to order for dinner because we’re so choiced out), I never left the gym feeling like I’d really worked out, as I am accustomed to equating “a good work out” with the pounding and sweating of cardio. Plus, it was expensive! Then I let illness and busyness and cold weather get in the way and, well, here I am, with maybe a few weeks of running and half a dozen hot yoga session under my belt in all of 2024. This disappoints because I really want to head into my 40th birthday feeling strong and healthy. I decided this week that nothing changes if nothing changes and started doing at-home workout videos from Heather Robertson. She has a 12-week challenge that is ideal for my current needs. I can do them at home with minimal equipment, they’re challenging but fast paced, and each day brings a new video — and I love variety. I’m hooked! This week, I tacked on a 3 mile run first to scratch my “I need cardio” itch to three of the sessions, but then just did the videos the other days. I feel like I’m already seeing more tone. I’m obsessed! Does anyone else want to join?
+NEW FITNESS GEAR: I ordered a few fitness finds this week: this bra (marmalade) and these leggings (indigo color) from Beyond Yoga, and these bike shorts from Lululemon. I love having colorful exercise clothes. Tiny spark of joy! I also ordered a few new weights and these exercise bands (you need them for the videos).
+AGUA BENDITA LOOKALIKE: OMG! This dress is under $100 and looks just like Agua Bendita. Run while you can – it’s already sold out in my size. (Compare to this by the brand, for five times the price.)
+SEZANE FOR MEN: Last weekend, Mr. Magpie and I attended the opening of Sezane’s pop-up shop in Georgetown. It’s a gorgeous space (note the moulding on the walls!), and the clothes and accessories are beautifully merchandised. (I’m wearing this Sezane dress, which was sold out for awhile but now back in stock in limited quantities!)
I was chatting with one of the Sezane team members, and she mentioned that Sezane had a men’s section (not carried in the Georgetown store, but online). I had no idea? I promptly ordered Mr. Magpie a few items to try — this knit polo in a great green-blue color, these swim trunks in the blue stripe, the shorts, and this green and white linen button-down.
+STYLING WHITE OVERALLS: Wait, I’m into the way Net-A-Porter styled these white overalls from RL. The white tee, the loafers! Not sure I’d do the scarf but everything else is major. Will be using as fresh inspo for styling the pair I own from Alex Mill!
What Inspired You This Week…
+ADVICE FOR SUPPORTING NEW MOMS: I organized some of your top recommendations on how to support new moms (from the comments on this post) into this Instagram post and it was viewed 30,000 times in just a few days. The suggestions are incredible and the through-line is: don’t do anything that will add even the smallest thing to her plate. Because of you, I now have a plan for supporting my out-of-state sister after baby arrives: I’ll be having diapers delivered to my sister, and also sending food in the form of either a Stocked by Three Owls New Parent Delivery (they basically stock your fridge with mealtime staples that last a few days) or UberEats gift card.
+WEDDING GUEST SHOPPING: So, so many of you ordered this beautiful floral Tuckernuck dress for summer weddings and other affairs (reminder that YOUROCK gets you 20% off). All of this week’s other bestsellers below!
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Are you going anywhere this summer? We’ll be spending almost ten days in Colorado, a few nights in Charlottesville, a long weekend at Deep Creek Lake, and hopefully half a week on a trip towards the end of summer whose details are yet to be ironed out. I can’t wait to use these Paravel suitcases (currently 25% off the already-discounted bundle price) with these packing cubes and a combo of these new cosmetic bags from Weezie and these soft-sided ones from Julia Amory. Historically, I’ve used the Medium M.Z. Wallace for travel days (weighs nothing and can fit the universe inside — really fun new colors available) with a small crossbody bag to keep my wallet/phone easy to access. My Goody would be a good candidate for the latter, and I’m also in love with this daisy-patterned Naghedi (20% off with YOUROCK)?! Do I need this for everyday errands? I love traveling with a crossbody not only for the travel day but also because it tends to be the perfect shape for tourism/day trips (hands free, and secure!) and can usually transition from jeans/tee to a dress at night. But on the MZ Wallace note: I am contemplating buying this Dagne Dover Landon tote (size large) so many of you love to travel with. I love the feature of the little fabric slot that slides over a roll-a-board handle, and having the separate laptop sleeve compartment would be handy, too. If you have it, do you use the large or XL for travel?
The Paravel suitcases are so thoughtfully designed, and currently 25% off (sitewide promotion), meaning the carry-on style is around $300. It comes with a “compression board” that you can use to really stuff your belongings inside, and I love the zippered pouch top to keep bulkier items separate. I don’t know if you can see it from the photo below, but the material that zips the top compartment closed also has a little zippered slot on the front you can use for smaller items (belts, underwear, anything loose that you don’t want floating around the bag). It also has one of those TSA locks so the officials can get in but no one else can — peace of mind. I also bought the AirTags for our checked baggage after our last trip (to Tulum). Again, peace of mind — and also convenience. When you’re waiting for the bags on the carousel, you can at least get a sense for whether they’re likely to appear imminently.
I also wanted to mention that these Weezie cosmetics bags are for sure going to be heavily used this summer. They are highly functional — the interior and exterior wipe clean, and you can fit a curling iron / hot tool in the largest one (so convenient!). All three have pockets on the interior, too, which I always find so useful. I’ll use these for my luggage and the soft-sided ones for my carry-on most likely — those can squish a bit better into small spaces.
I’m not sure what to do for the children’s luggage for the long trip to CO — any tips? I’m thinking I’ll probably just put all their belongings in one big checked bag and then have them carry on backpacks or duffels. I’d love to get them their own roll-a-boards (per their feverish requests!) but that route seems fraught with tactical challenge. When we were little, my mother purchased my three sisters and I personalized duffels from Lillian Vernon that came to be known as “the pink bags.” We’d line them up on the kitchen counter the night before a trip and my mother would tuck a few activities, snacks, and toys inside that we were permitted to retrieve as soon as the seat belt sign had turned off on board the plane. The main thing I remember about these pink bags is that my doting father invariable ended up lugging all four of them through many airports while also wheeling his own suitcase and toting his own (heavy!) briefcase. I can’t imagine what would have happened if all four of us had roll-a-boards. My Dad wouldn’t have had enough hands! So, suitcases feel wrong. But, if the prevailing sentiment is that this is the way to go, these Target ones are cute and currently on sale for $62 — price is right. — and Quince also has a reasonably priced option whose quality is probably more trustworthy. I’d personalize either of these with those cute vinyl stickers from Joy Creative Shop.
If I go for duffels, I like the ones from Mark & Graham, Lila and Hayes, Calpak, Little English, and TBBC. Also! OMG, who else lived for her Vera Bradley duffel bag in high school and college? I had a yellow floral one I treasured and I have no idea where she is now. But I noticed VB is still in action and has some cute solid colored options. I mean, those bags have earned their keep! They are well-made and very lightweight.
As far as packing, most of these trips are going to be active-oriented. Lots of hiking across all three, with some lake sports and Colorado adventures (kayaking, horseback-riding, etc) folded in. Here are a few of the items I’m eyeing or planning to pack for these trips:
Not seen above, but on my radar: a couple of long-sleeved mid-layers to wear over sports bras/tanks. I love the Vuori Halo, and I’ve been eyeing this Addison Bay one, which comes in great colors. And I’ll probably pack a sport dress or two — I love this one from Lululemon (my review here), and this Vuori appeals in the fun cornflower blue. For active shorts, I like these striped Fair Harbors and these bandana print Tuckernucks.
For meals and non-active activities, all three destinations are very low-key. I’ll probably wear easy sundresses along the lines of…
Last note: I thought your differing perspectives on how to pack skincare for travel were fascinating! I am torn between the smart point that it’s better to buy what you love in trial/mini sizes for travel (as they will come in the correct types of bottles / sprays / pumps / etc and will not require you to decant) and investing in a smart set of travel containers, like the Cadence ones.
P.S. More great travel tips from Magpies here and here.
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Safe to say that a good number of us own the Agolde Parker shorts? In April, I shared some thoughts and inspiration for styling white shorts for summer, and I ended up ordering both the Veronica Beard Ellis shorts in ecru and the Agolde Parker Longs in white. (Note that there are a wide range of different washes, hems, and two different lengths of the Parkers — you can shop them all here.) I loved them and briefly contemplated keeping both, but ended up hanging onto the Agoldes because I found them slightly more flattering on the leg and anticipated that they would be a touch more versatile owing to the finished hem and stark white color. I took a size up from my usual denim size for a looser/baggier fit and love the effect. I swear I tried these shorts on a few years ago and returned them because I didn’t like how they looked, but I’m obsessed with them this go around and now wondering if I just hadn’t figured out how to style them in a way that fit my own vibe. I am really liking the look of shorts with a blazer, vest, or button-down — a little more polished maybe? I am so short (5’0), so sometimes I feel like shorts make me look like a child? The blazer/vest/button-down balances out the youthfulness of the style perhaps?
I styled first with my denim blazer from VB (sold out, but available on TRR here and in a fab black lace on sale here; similar style from ALC here), a Leset tee (details on all my favorite white tees here), Eleftheria sandals, my Celine sunglasses, and this raffia bag.
I also loved the look of the Agolde Parkers with my Veronica Beard vest and my little Celine phone sling (a lucky TRR find, similar in all black leather here and black logo here; look for less here). You can get the vest look for less with this, this, or this.
I also wanted to show you the Ellis shorts for comparison! Note the raw hem and slightly more exaggerated flare. I took these in a size up from my usual denim size, and they were a tiny bit too big, I think — the Agoldes look loose fit but I think these looked a bit too gappy in the waist. I’d probably suggest taking your true size unless you’re between sizes — in which case, go up. I styled with a brown stripe shirt from J. Crew (old), but similar here and here.
Last note — more styling ideas for white shorts here, but I have been thinking they’d look great with one of the Julia Amory husband shirt tucked in. These are such a versatile item. I have worn as a beach/pool cover-up (mainly how they’re styled on site), tucked into the matching pareo for day wear (as seen below — shirt, pareo), and also paired with white jeans! Fun fun.
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A digest of cheerful items I am in love with at the moment —
01. Thanks to Khaite, woven circle bags have been very popular the past season or two, and I couldn’t resist this cute pink one, seen above with a Julia Amory pareo worn as a skirt (and the matching husband shirt tucked in).
02. Stanley pint cups! Especially love the pink stripe and citron yellow. Great for summer / outdoor / pool. I was chatting with a Magpie about how these would be a cute end of year teacher gift with those vinyl stickers to personalize, and a gift card tucked inside.
03. I just ordered a few different weights and resistance bands for a new at-home fitness series by Heather Robertson I’ve started. I’ll share more thoughts after I’ve made more progress on it, but I really like the pace and approach. She doesn’t speak through the workout — she’s doing it live, too! — and instead has quick-paced music, a progress bar on the right hand side so you know how far you are, beeps and countdowns to let you know when you’re getting ready to transition to a new move, and icons so you know whether you need light/medium/heavy weights (and other equipment). It’s hard to get bored, as the videos move quickly and there’s a new video for each day of the challenge. I also ordered a new Beyond Yoga set (this bra, these leggings) as a treat to myself once I’d made it through three consecutive days.
04. Julia Berolzheimer just launched a beautiful collab with jewelry/accessory brand Jennifer Behr, and I’m obsessed with these earrings!
12. Absolutely hooked on this rosewater spray. I use it morning, afternoon, and night! Morning to prime and then set makeup; afternoon as a little refresh; evening as the penultimate skincare step before a moisturizer.
15. White teeth for summer! I do love this brand. I’ve used on and off for several years. They are the only ones that don’t make my teeth hurt.
16. Mr. Magpie bought me this recipe book because I love smoothies but can’t seem to get my act together about making them at home, and we’re determined to get into a rhythm this summer. A smoothie is my ideal breakfast most days. Anyway, I bought these glass straws for the smoothie habit, and I now drink my water out of them, too, and what is it about them that just makes water taste better?
By: Jen Shoop
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Inspired by Laura Reilly’s thoughtful post on “building a no-skips underwear drawer,” I’ve been clearing out underwear I routinely avoid wearing until I’m down to my last pair and doubling down on the pieces I love. When I polled Magpies for their favorite undergarments, hands-down, the top vote-getters were Hanky Panky thongs and Natori Feathers bras. I adore both, too.
All my favorites below!
01. Negative Underwear Whipped Boy Shorts and bralettes. Insanely soft and breathable, with edges that never dig in anywhere.
02. Hanky Panky. An oldie but a goodie — my day-in-day-out staple for decades now. I like the low-rise variation. Several Magpies wrote to encourage me to try the retro style, too.
04. Kalon Racerback Bralettes. I love to wear these under summer caftans/popover style dresses. Feel like nothing at all, and very inexpensive. I take out the padding.
05. Bolivelan Seamless Thongs. A must for fitted or white items — literally invisible beneath clothing. The sizing is strange so double check the chart. I take a 5.
06. True & Co Convertible Bra. I lived in this for a year straight with no complaints — like wearing nothing at all, never digs in, and does provide some support (versus the other bralettes here). However, I found the look matronly and sometimes difficult to wear with necklines. I eventually found myself wanting to switch back to Natori as it made me feel just the tiniest bit “schlumpy”? Wearing pretty undergarments just does something for my mood.
07. Besides the Negative boyshorts, these Stripe and Stare underwear are my favorite sleeping underwear. Really soft and stretchy. I cannot sleep in a thong (?! am I alone in this?!) so always switch to briefs or boyshorts for bed. These are my favorites when my Negatives are in the laundry, and more affordable.
08. Nippies. If I can avoid wearing a bra, I will. Ha. These are great for strapless dresses, and I also wear underneath suits like my Hunza G.
09. Several Magpies raved about Chantelle briefs! I haven’t tried these yet, but they’re on my radar.
Two other very random, intimate details that I’ll share here: 1) I use this organizer to keep my underwear drawer organized. When they come out of the laundry, I roll my undies and stow them — makes them easy to find and keeps the drawer sorted. N.B.: My sister once said organizing my underwear in this way made me seem like a serial killer. HA. 2) Another gift from my sister, this time one of her best discoveries: this brand of pads comes in so many different and helpful varieties, including one for petites. I hope that’s not TMI but I’m always grateful for real sister talk!
Do you romanticize your life? What does that mean for you?
There’s a vibrant and occasionally vicious discourse around this concept and the way it is lived (or performed, as the case may be) on social media that has been unfolding for years now. Some academics have linked its popularity as a TikTok hashtag to the doldrums of the pandemic — e.g., we needed ways to find beauty in the bleak midwinter. Its champions position it as a kind of mindfulness: slow down and appreciate the little things, like a plate of artfully sliced mango for breakfast, or bedding spritzed with lavender. I can get behind this impulse. Another formula for seeking slivers of joy.
But when I think about “romanticizing my life,” I think of it differently. I see it less as an aestheticization and more as the practice of seeing myself as interesting. There is every possibility and in fact a strong likelihood that my life is ordinary. But when I look at myself, and especially the squiggly path that drew me to my present, I choose to see it as cinema. My time in Lyon, falling in love with Mr. Magpie, the “I feel a bigness in me” journal entry, the internships and the first jobs, the cramped but cozy New York years, the way life has carried me all the way from stumbling through poetry readings at the age of eight to writing for a living thirty years later. I replay it now as silver screen. This is not about looking at life through rose-colored glasses (there are countless failings and missteps that cling to me as thistledown) as much as it is finding my own story curious and worth taking a look at. Perhaps this is shaped by my vocation. I can’t help but see the stars and dress them up as asterisms.
But I think that no matter how you romanticize your life — whether this is about tying ribbons in your hair or painting yourself into the lyrics of a Taylor Swift song* or looking back on your relationship with your husband as though it was destined for pictures — you are in a way practicing art. The best description I’ve ever read of art came from Kurt Vonnegut, who said:
“Practice any art, music, singing, dancing, acting, drawing, painting, sculpting, poetry, fiction, essays, reportage, no matter how well or badly, not to get money or fame, but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow.”
Earlier this week, Rachael Ringenberg wrote an interesting piece on the discourse around “tradwives” (scroll down), and, like her, I’m disinterested in the detractors and instead fascinated by the impulse behind any creative effort. She writes: “Creating and making are inherent joys to being human, whether it’s shaping homemade butter and pressing a flower into it or writing this newsletter. The mind craves learning and challenges, longs to learn new things, attends to curiosities yet unknown, and one of the ways to survive thrive in sustaining a household—particularly in this culture of isolation—is enjoying elaborate riffs on necessities.” I would take this further and suggest that much of the creative spirit is guided by a desire for self-knowledge, or at least a kind of glancing “this is me?” as we try out different styles, forms, medium. To apply the Vonnegut phrasing: art is about finding out what’s inside you. Stress-testing what makes the cut, and asking why. Do we include that azure lining, or do we trim the paragraph, or do we add another stanza? Do we make our beds just-so, do we arrange the book spines by color or theme or author’s surname? Every decision you make is informed by a unique set of experiences, references, and instincts, and that makes every decision interesting (and sometimes unexpected to passersby). Lean into those weirdnesses; care about the details; let out the hem and restitch it if you need to. This, then, is a romantic life: arranged to find out what’s inside.
Post Scripts.
*Cut to me, a happily married forty year old woman, belting out “But Daddy I Love Him” in my car at top decibel.
+Alice Walk is running a great sale — this is one of my favorite striped tees ever (so stretchy, and really nice and long) and I love their knitwear, but especially their cotton ones!
+Going to give this Jouer concealer a try next. I like the Nars radiant concealer I’m using (it’s grown on me, actually, since writing this review, because it really does provide good coverage without looking cakey), but it is matte vs. radiant/glowy, so curious to see if this Jouer delivers it all.
+These matches are so chic! Cute little hostess gift.
+Maison de Sabre has some cute technology accessories, like this phone sling, this AirTag case, this iPad case, and this AirPods pouch!
+My favorite late night activity: hunting TRR for gems. Right now I’m obsessing over this crochet Gucci bag, this Markarian dress, and this raffia belt bag.
+My son is having a reptile-themed birthday party (complete with a reptile show and petting zoo), and I’m having fun sourcing decor. I like these gift tags (thinking of giving all the kids either a Schleich reptile or a book on reptiles in lieu of a goody bag), this balloon arch, this oversized snake stuffie as a centerpiece, and these inflatable snakes for the front lawn / doorway!
