Jen Shoop, Author at Magpie by Jen Shoop

By: Jen Shoop

Image above from my running days in Central Park. I shared a photo diary documenting 200+ runs through it here.

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A stagnant heat has settled in over the D.C. area the past few days, and I’ve given myself a brief running hiatus until it breaks. I’m itching already for the first crisp fall runs of the season — I love the thin burn of the air, the crunch of leaves underfoot, the oranges and reds that collect in the trees. Last year, I listened to Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” album so many times on those autumnal runs that it’s difficult for me to divorce the lyrics from the season. I hear “Can I Ask You a Question” and think only of a particular stretch of the footpath along the C&O Canal, and “Lavender Haze” draws forth the petrichor of Rock Creek Park after an October drizzle.

This fall and winter, I’m hoping to introduce yoga to my fitness practice as well. I feel I need something to gently counterbalance the pounding of pavement I endure every other morning.

Thinking ahead, a couple of fall fitness wishlist items, but wanted to first mention that I finally bought one of these Birdie personal safety alarms you can clip onto your pouch/jacket while running. It emits a really loud alarm and strobe light if you feel uncomfortable. I generally run well-trafficked areas but there are some parts of Rock Creek Park that feel alarmingly isolated. This makes me feel a little bit better.

01. Lululemon Swiftly Tech LS Tees. Great base for cooler weather running. I like to pair these with shorts during the transitional months. I know I’ve written about this a lot, but I find Lululemon’s quality far exceeds its price point. I have leggings and tops from them dating back 10 years that are still in great condition after lots of use and poor laundering habits.

02. Tracksmith running shorts for the transitional days — I always size up in their bottoms, which I find run really small.

03. Running log. Most of us are able to track the basic stats on running watches / iPhones, but I like the added dimensions of this little log – weather, a space for notes. One thing I’ve noticed about a lot of habit formation is that creating mnemonics / mini-ceremonies around them can help. They can help mark the achievement, square off the time in your calendar, scratch the “completion desire” itch. For example, after I’m done with my run, I really like the “ceremony” of returning all my running gear (pouch, watch, earbuds) to their little bin in my closet, or leaving the appropriate items at the charging station. It feels like I’m stowing away my fitness regimen for the next day.

04. Sport & Rich Hat. Just like Hailey Bieber.

05. Vuori Sherpa Jacket. I have my eye on so many things from Vuori, mainly for post-workout / carpool / yoga / walk with friends type activities rather than running. I am eyeing this scoopneck shirt, this henley, these boyfriend joggers, and the aforementioned sherpa jacket.

06. Lululemon Wunder Under Leggings. I’ve been an Align lover for years but the color/heathering on this pair caught my eye!

07. Hair ties.

08. Dudley Stephens fleece. Love the thinness of the fleece and the cropped length of this style.

09. Shokz headphones. Many of you recommended these. Through some sort of magic/science, they enable you to hear your surroundings while also playing music. Good for road running but also — all the bikers on my path!

10. Naghedi tote. Great gym / carry everything bag.

11. Tracksmith Harrier running tee (I take my true size). This brand makes the absolute best base layers for cold weather. Their merino wool blends are the only ones I’ve tried that are not itchy and do not smell like, well, wet wool, after a run. They are thin and stretchy but wonderfully insulating. Magical piece you MUST buy if you are a runner in the cold!

12. Athleta Salutation Stash tights. So many of you have been raving about these! Where have I been?! The reputation is that they have more compression than Aligns but are highly comfortable. They have some really good fall colors! Also wanted to. mention that these remain my favorite inexpensive leggings — I own in multiple colors. These are great “beater leggings” for muddy days, rainy walks, etc. I don’t feel horrible tossing these in the laundry and dryer.

13. Outdoor Voices socks — love the colors. I generally reach for my Feetures socks, though — great compression, nice weight. Love love.

14. Brooks Thermal Hoodie — this is the item at the tip top of my list for this season. I’ve been looking for something that’s a nice warm mid or top layer or mid layer — I have good lightweight layering pieces but want something that can really keep me toasty on the chillier days, or that I can throw on over a lightweight base layer when it’s not too bad out. The fold-over hand mitts are shockingly important/effective, BTW. Also eyeing their running jacket.

15. Nike Infinity React 3 sneakers. These remain my favorite running sneakers I’ve ever worn. I’ve been talking about getting properly fitted for ages and ages — hopefully I’ll get around to that, but in the meantime, these just feel great on. Very lightweight. And this yellow color is sunshine!

16. Nike Swoosh headbands.

17. Vuori henley.

P.S. Thoughts on clipping into a running routine.

P.P.S. On cultivating creative habits.

P.P.P.S. Chores and errands are not getting in the way of life — they are part of the architecture of our days.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image via Jenni Kayne.

If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!

Q: A dress for a 1920s theme school fundraiser-something that doesn’t feel too costume-y and could ideally be a classic wardrobe piece.

A: This is breath-taking but has a definitive art deco / flapper vibe. I also think a silk slip dress is timeless and feels 20s/Gatsby but absolutely modern. This Nili Lotan is divine. Other, less expensive options here, here, and here.

Q: Thin sweaters to tuck into skirts/pants.

A: I really love this “perfect turtleneck” from Talbots — perfect weight and amount of stretch. Everlane is also a great source for basics like this — consider this crewneck and this polo neck one. If you’re looking to make an investment in this category, I would consider the beautiful knitwear from Loro Piana and Gabrielle Hearst. I stylist recently mentioned that she tries to buy one investment sweater each season, and I love that strategy and was thinking that a classic cashmere piece from one of those two brands would be a smart investment, to be worn from now until forever!

Q: An armchair for my three-year-old son’s room.

A: A slipcovered style is smart so you can wash/replace the cover when (not if) it gets messy, and I feel like it could be moved anywhere in the house / grow with your child (doesn’t feel babyish). This Target one is also handsome and much less expensive, and this Namesake is a good price for a classic style if you’re more into a glider. I also like those chair and a half options if you have the space — perfect for cuddling up with your little one and a book! These kids chairs are cute, too.

Q: How to style the Ugg Tazz slippers.

A: I ordered those too! I’ll be primarily wearing around the house, but I think the key is showing ankle so it doesn’t look sloppy. They’d be perfect with the clean lines / structure of my new wide-leg crop jeans. I got them in the Benley wash and they are the COOLEST shade of faded black. I also like the Tazz with athleisure — a big guide to my favorite pieces here, but imagine with these sweats.

Q: Any chance for a good fall bag under $50?

A: YES! I just ordered myself a medium sized LL Bean tote — natural with natural straps (so all ecru) and had my initials done in the khaki brown color. I feel like this will look SO good with jeans and fall colors, like this tweed jacket.

Q: The Loewe flow sneakers look for less.

A: These!!! Have heard they’re super comfortable, too.

Q: Halloween pajamas for my son.

A: I ordered Hill these (on sale!), but I also love these ones — they’re unisex, so I’ll probably order those for my daughter. Lake also just launched a really cute pattern for the occasion — you might need to type in the word TREAT to access them! Other Halloween options I love for little ones: these and these.

Q: A dressy flat to wear with cocktail dresses. I can’t wear heels!

A: I am drooling over these satin Le Monde Beryls. These from The Row are also the peak of chic. And these have a tuxedo vibe that is elegant/appropriate. You might also find inspo in this roundup of statement flats — how amazing are these?!

Q: A belt to wear with jeans.

A: Splurge: Celine. Imagine how epic this would look with a plain tee and jeans?! Wow. More attainbly priced / what I’m eyeing: any of the ones from Nili Lotan. I’ve also been hearing good things about the ones from Janessa Leone and B-Low the Belt. If you’re not as into the trendy bigger buckle styles, this Frame one gives me Hermes vibes, for under $200. Would be chic belted over a thin cardigan. Budget: J. Crew.

Q: Statement earring for fall.

A: I really like this chunky jeweled pair from Dries Van Noten and keep imagining them with a silky slip dress or dramatic top like this. Also been seeing a lot of chunky gold teardrop style earrings — like these.

Q: A black wedding guest dress for a formal wedding.

A: This or this!

Q: Navy blue bag for fall.

A: I love this croc Little Liffner, this Demellier, this Celine, this Khaite, this Rue de Verneuil.

Q: A gingham rug for my son’s nursery.

A: This!!!

P.S. More recent home finds.

P.P.S. My fall bag edit.

P.P.P.S. On the art of letter writing.

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!

Do you follow any fashion substacks? I really love enjoy ones from Jenny Walton, Megan Alida Strachan, and Becky Malinsky. They have a pared-down earnestness to them that appeals — sometimes, just a numbered list of things they’ve enjoyed wearing recently. I play around with permutations here, of course, but today, following the Substack model with a straight-forward numbering of items and why I love them. I own all of these (or they are en route to me as we speak) and they spark serious joy. A few are even duplicate purchases. Reviewing them, I realized how I’ve been enjoying playing around with darker colors and funkier silhouettes lately. I’m a floral girl at heart but — it’s fun to play with fashion, to go through seasons, to try new things on. A woman contains multitudes!

Below — 16 recent snags I’m excited about.

1 // SKIMS LACE TRIM BRALETTE — I’d wanted something a bit saucier than my True & Co, which remains one of the most comfortable and flattering underthings I’ve ever worn — but just so darn matronly? This Skims fit the bill.

2 // ADIDAS SAMBAS — These are some of my favorite shoes for the season ahead. I actually bought in the silver green color and shared alllll the details about sizing, styling, etc here. A stylist recently shared that creating a memorable fashion look often involves contrasts — and she often advises picking “the most unexpected shoe” to achieve this. So, you think about the shoe that seems perfect for the outfit, and you run in the opposite direction. I’m still digesting this suggestion, but I do think it’s been interesting to play around with pairing the sneakers with unexpected things — crisp white shirtdresses, dressy blazers, etc.

3 // LAKE PAJAMAS RELAX SET — The absolute dreamiest pajamas you’ll ever put on your body. The material is soft and ultra swingy/stretchy. It’s what I put myself to bed in after a long/challenging day.

4 // G LABEL REX SHIRT — I’d been wanting a long denim overshirt to wear this fall, and couldn’t believe my good fortune in finding this heavily discounted one from G. Label. It has SUCH chic lines. The hem in the rear is a bit longer and I love the Mandarin collar. You can get the look for less with this.

5 // GOOP DRY BRUSH — I’ve been hearing about the benefits of dry brushing for years now. One more item in the arsenal for those days I’m needing a little extra self-care/self-love — the kind where I’m taking care of myself as though sick.

6 // UGG TAZZ SLIPPERS — I majorly fell prey to street style and sellout factor. There were only three left in my size when I checked out, and they won’t arrive until October, but I locked ’em in. I love wearing slippers around the house in the winter and these randomly spark joy. More sizes here, and they will ship immediately. (I have a pixie size 5 foot.)

7 // L. L. BEAN MEDIUM BOAT AND TOTE — I bought a new one of these in the medium size with regular length straps in the natural/natural option (totally ecru, no contrast straps) with my initials in the khaki color as an everyday tote. Mr. Magpie has gotten a ton of use out of his Hunter’s Tote (same size, same style straps, but waterproof — his is the all green colorway) — he used all summer as his pool bag and then took on our recent trip to Maine as his carryon with just a book, phone, charger. It seems like the perfect size.

8 // PARIS SWEATSHIRT — Another heavily-documented purchase that I’m thrilled with and must keep sharing!

9 // MADEWELL WIDE-LEG CROPS WITH RAW HEM — Madewell sent me a few pairs of jeans to try and WOW are these fantastic. I absolutely love the length, the raw hem, and the wash is insanely chic. Take one size down from your true size.

10 // APPOINTED TASKS NOTEPAD — OK, this is not a recent buy, but it is my most-used notebook for quick scribbles, micro-lists, and “I just gotta get this on paper somewhere.” I love the dimensions and the top binding is a gift for lefties like myself. I’m nearly done with my first and will immediately reorder, probably in bulk. BTW, you can get 10% off with code MAGPIEBYJENSHOOP.

11 // AIRBROW — Seriously, this product might just be my favorite beauty discovery this year, and there have been a lot of incredible beauty discoveries/breakthroughs this year. This product is so easy to apply, holds brows in place without leaving them stiff, and fills/shapes so well. I’m ecstatic.

12 // JENNI KAYNE EVERYDAY SWEATER — This hasn’t technically arrived yet, but the number of people who chimed in to RAVE about this well-priced knit when I mentioned I’d ordered it startled me! More sizes and colors here.

13 // BIRKENSTOCK SHEARLING ARIZONAS — I’ve been wearing daily at my desk…!

14 // MINI CROSSBODY — Well-documented in these parts, but just in case you missed it the previous ten times I’ve shared: this $62 bag is SO cute and a great “inspired by” style if Hermes’ $30,000 version is not in the budget.

15 // FALKE COZY SOCKS — I need to up my sock game. I want to try styling socks with loafers/Birks/Sambas/etc this year and a few of you raved about the brand Falke. I started with these ultra-soft (not at all itchy!) socks in the perfect heathered taupe color and these “roll tops” from the same brand, which I think might be just the ticket for styling with most fall footwear.

16 // AUDIBLE SUBSCRIPTION (not seen above) — Also not technically a recent buy, but I did cancel my subscription for nearly a year, trying to instead rent audiobooks from the library. Honestly, I encountered a lot of frustration and lapses in reading with that mode of book use. It’s awesome you can rent through your local library but I found the return cycles and the wait times totally out of sync with how I read and what I want to read at any given time. Anyway, I went back to Audible and it’s just the perfect cadence. You get 1 audiobook credit a month, which just about syncs with how quickly I make my way through one.

P.S. Who are you when no one’s looking?

P.P.S. More great transition-to-fall buys, and an entire roundup of transitional knits.

P.P.P.S. My most recent installment of “honest beauty reviews.”

By: Jen Shoop

Today, I am republishing a modestly-edited version of an essay from the archives, originally released on April 30, 2020. At the time, we were two months into COVID, marooned in Manhattan, staring out across a landscape of catastrophe. I’d already caught and recovered from a violent strain of the virus, and still, so many unknowns circled us. I did not know when I would next see my family, or spend any meaningful time with anyone outside of our small Shoop party of four. I did not know whether my children would get it, or whether I could get it again. I feared the “long haul COVID” symptoms I was beginning to read about. I had already cried on the phone to my father, capable only of the following admission: “This is hard.” Those were impossibly long and lonely days.

I sometimes feel that we’ve not properly processed that time in our lives — collectively, I mean. One day we were told to stay indoors with no contact with the external world and then, months later, we emerged from that cocoon and began to trepidatiously meet friends in parks, honoring a five-foot gap between us. Then, two years later, “COVID is over,” via some dull press release. It felt as though we were meant to “get over” the wrought culture of fear, of loss, of alienation, of contagion, of guilt without any fanfare.

It’s remarkable, how resilient we are. I, too, nearly forget the agony of those days — the dull, plodding headache kind. And yet there were so many days when the only thing I wanted was to take a Subway downtown to meet my sister for dinner.

I bring this up not to embroil us in the past, and not to reconcile with it, either. I bring this up because sometimes it is important to look at where you’ve been and think, “Huh. I did that. And I made it out the other side. And I celebrated birthdays, and read meaningful books, and kept in touch with my sisters along the way.” There is a fantastic quote in the new Patchett book where she says: “There is no explaining this simple truth about life: you will forget much of it. The painful things you were certain you’d never be able to let go? Now you’re not entirely sure when they happened, while the thrilling parts, the heart-stopping joys, splintered and scattered and became something else.” Another quiet reminder, today, that you are tough. You will find a way to metamorphose through nearly anything life puts in front of you.

Onward!

********

This is what I want:

A Friday night.

Mr. Magpie comes home from work early, around 5, greeted by an exuberant toddler; a bouncy, drooly 10-month-old; a loyal Airedale terrier; and a wife who grows more devoted by the day.

We have been through things together. Children (childbirth…!), home-buying, business-building and business-shuttering, losses, recessions, illnesses, deaths. Most recently, a pandemic, during which I have shaved his head multiple times in the bathtub of our master bathroom, while our 10-month-old son and three-year-old daughter have watched us, entranced. This: the slenderest and most insignificant of intimacies, and yet —

Why have these little nothings occasionally undone me, made me feel alien in my own life?

But — there he will be. Or, there he is. I cannot disguise my irresolution with the future, or conditional, or present tenses in this post, if that tells you anything about the level of uncertainty in which we are living today.

No: there he is.

In his usual way, shockingly unruffled by the day, by the subway, from which he has just emerged. One of the miraculously attractive things about him is that he always looks as though he has just showered. He materializes in the door, unperturbed by Manhattan. His briefcase in hand, his smile ready.

After the usual flurry of greeting — “daddy!” “who’s that, dada?” “dadadadadada!” “hi!” “the mail–” [shrieks, feet padding] “how was your day–” “dada!” “daddy look what I made!” [shrieks, laughter] —

We pour a glass of champagne — because. I am in my bathrobe, having washed and blow-dried my hair just an hour or two earlier, while micro was napping and mini was watching her iPad on my bed, feet from me, our parallel activities occasionally intersecting in conversation:

“Too loud,” she will have occasionally chided, looking up angrily at my blow-dryer. Other times, our exchange will have been punctuated by her laughter at a show. And still others:

“Can I have some wipstick, too, mama?”

I slip into my dress. We clink glasses.

A sitter arrives.

We rush around:

Instructions on formula and bedtime and whether mini may have one or two cookies if she finishes her supper, which I have already placed on the counter, waiting for a quick zap in the microwave:

Buttered orzo, roast chicken, peas — all diced up small for my young son. One of those meals that I know, from the aggregate experience of having prepared every single morsel of food these children have eaten in the past many months, while under quarantine, that they will eat, soundly and without complaint.

Spritzes of perfume. Splintered conversation as we drink sips of champagne, linger in front of the closet mirror, select earrings and belts. Mr. Magpie complaining about what he should wear, tsk-ing me for not letting him know I’d be so dressed up as I slip into an inappropriately formal dress for the occasion —

“Wife!” he yells out, in part playful reproach and in part admiration, as I emerge from the closet in my new dress. His head is cocked, though, so I know it’s more of the latter.

We scurry out the door, kissing foreheads and leaving money for pizza and —

We are into the elevator, and everything feels quiet and hopeful as we run past Edwin at the front door:

“A taxi?”

“No thanks, Edwin!”

“Four minutes til the next 1,” Mr. Magpie informs me, grabbing my hand as we walk-run toward the Subway.

We make that stilted New Yorker small-talk on the train: conversation in shorthand or even in silence, locking eyes, for example, over the man leaning against one of the poles, preventing anyone else from comfortably hanging on without rubbing her fists all over his tweed jacket. Mr. Magpie knows, instinctively, why I am making these eyes, and he rolls his own, and grimaces.

We emerge in TriBeCa, or West Village, maybe — ascending to a restaurant that makes us feel terribly alive and in conversation with the world. We note the discreet maitre d’ and the overlong list of complicated cocktails and the $27 appetizers and —

Mainly —

There is my beloved sister and my brother in law, my cousin and her husband, our dearest friends, my Mr. Magpie. All of us at a table, exchanging small-talk and laughter and the occasional hand squeeze or knowing sigh over a perfect meal in the most romantic of cities (when it wants to be).

The clink of glasses, the swish of dresses as my sister and I walk to the restroom, giggling — always! — over inside jokes that mean nothing to anyone but everything to me, her pretty face lit up by the candle at the sink in the restroom mirror —

Oh! Her face, so familiar to me —

It is the slimmest —

most inconsequential —

Of griefs but —

Ah!

I miss it fiercely, the incandescence of being among people I love, in the embrace of good wine and good food, Mr. Magpie’s arm slung around my shoulder, the way time just slows into a honey trickle of happy conversation and the clank of forks borrowing spears of asparagus on neighboring plates and “could I have another glass, please?”

Surely moments like these will return, but in the pettiest of ways, I find myself grieving their utter irredeemability right now: the lost perfume spritzes, the missing eye rolls over the airhead leaning against the pole on the subway, the absence of clanking glasses, the mirage of my sister’s face in that mirror next to me.

Tout me manque.*

Post Scripts.

*I miss everything.

+The resin of memories.

+Smoke signals — a difficult essay for me to write.

+A fictional story to fall in love with.

If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!

Shopping Break.

+We’re hosting a Mexican-themed dinner party this weekend, and I’m making two paletas (popsicles) for dessert: one chocolate-cinnamon and one lime. I’m using this mold set to make them. Both recipes are from this cookbook!

+A perfect LBD.

+This sweet wool bow jacket for a little girl!

+These might SEEM like a lot but they’re totally wearable! I’m contemplating wearing my feathered set to my dinner party. Just pair with a dressy heel and own it.

+My favorite juice glasses. More of my favorite drinkware here, and I also just discovered this chic set of mini tumblers I’d serve wine out of. 12 for $36!

+This scarf jacket is giving Toteme vibes, for under $150.

+Classic Lacoste sweatshirt for boys, on sale.

+These remind me of my Vibi Venezias, but only $30!

+LOVE this top and skirt set.

+Looking at some new Tracksmith for fall — this top and these shorts.

+We have and love these planters on our back patio.

+Fun scallop-trim shams.

+Cute sherpa vest for a little one — $25!

+Another great cropped, woven cardigan.

+Great gifts for littles.

+My favorite audiobooks.

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!

First: I can’t stop thinking about these perfect croc loafers from Emme Parsons. They’d look so good with the baggier denim options from this season — I love the friction between their refinement and polish and the slouch of the jeans. J. McLaughlin also has a fabulous pair very similar in style for a little less that comes in the most fetching atlantic green color, which I cannot get enough of, or you can get the look for less with these.

01. LAKE PAJAMAS RELAX SET — I’ve mentioned this a few times over the past week, but this lounge set is IT if you want the dreamiest, softest, most comfortable second-skin thing you’ve ever worn. I actually reserve these for days where I feel sick/tired/under-the-weather because it is such a dreamy luxury to crawl into bed with them on. I own in past-season sand color and repurchased in this delicious forest green for this season.

02. CARA CARA TURTLENECK — I am loving paisley and I’ve always loved printed turtlenecks. So great for achieving dimension in a look. I like them layered beneath cord dresses/shirtdresses for fall.

03. ORIBE VOLUMISTA MIST — OK, so I wrote a week or two ago that I was in need of some new blow dry products, and I purchased a set from Lolavie and then Oribe’s Royal Blowout and, well, Oribe blew the competition out of the water. The main distinction is that Oribe does not weigh hair down at all (and I have very fine hair) — it’s invisible and yet it detangles and coats the strands and delivers a great smooth result. My only remaining hair hurdle is that I’ve never been able to achieve much volume in my hair, and so I’m going to pair the blowout spray with their volumizing mist.

04. SALLY ROONEY SHORT FICTION — I couldn’t believe when I heard Rooney released a new short (48-page) story! I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy, but right now, the only options have long (and pricey) shipping. You know how much Rooney means to me…!

05. ZIMMERMANN BLOUSE — More paisley. I ordered this set for a special occasion! You can see me styling the set with heels and boots here.

06. ZIMMERMANN SKIRT

07. AMAZON MULE — Looks just like Manolo…I own the flat version from this exact brand in navy and adore it.

08. J. MCLAUGHLIN LOAFER

09. CARA CARA TROUSER — This would look beyond dreamy with the loafers.

10. APC GRACE BAG — The star of yesterday’s roundup on fall handbags appears again here because it’s sitting in my cart and I can’t stop thinking of it…

11. LAKE PAJAMAS HAMMOCK SET — This is nearly sold out and I don’t need more pajamas…or do I?! I actually would wear the top with jeans…

12. EMME PARSONS LOAFERS

13. LITTLE ENGLISH DRESS — My daughter resists dresses at this phase of her life, but I cannot stop dreaming about this perfect fall floral for Thanksgiving dinner, with these darling velvet Mary Janes. Absolute perfection.

14. LA COQUETA SHOES — Swoon.

P.S. Fall coats for your little ones, and for us.

P.P.S. What makes you lean forward?

P.P.P.S. Some Mary Oliver words I love.

By: Jen Shoop

*Image via Curated.

If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!

I cannot stop thinking about chocolate brown for the season ahead. Below, some of the chicest finds in the brown color family for fall. The Toteme coat (immediately below, top left) is epic. H&M has a similar look for less style here and then I recently came across a brand called The Curated that does beautiful neutral pieces, including gorgeous brown coats, (seen above!) for a price somewhere between the two. Inspo board below —

TOTEME COAT // EMME PARSONS LOAFER // THE ROW SWEATER // OUTLAND DENIM JEANS // ALEXANDRE DE PARIS HAIR CLIP // SKIMS BRA // LOEWE SUNGLASSES // DEMELLIER BAG // J. CREW SHERPA VEST // RUE DE VERNEUIL BAG // SAVING AGNES BOOK // MOTHER CORDUROYS // RALPH LAUREN BUTTON DOWN // J. CREW SUEDE BELT // LOEFFLER RANDALL HEADBAND // KHAITE BAG // MADEWELL FLAT

Now for a more dressed-down moment —

CELINE SWEATSHIRT // SKIMS BRA // LOEWE SUNGLASSES // UGG TAZZ SLIDES // VARLEY HALF-ZIP // VARLEY CUFF SWEATPANTS // VARLEY LEGGINGS // FALKE WOOL SOCKS // NAGHEDI TOTE // SPORTMAX COAT // KNIT SNEAKER // OLD NAVY TUNIC SWEATSHIRT // HAIR CLIPS // DAGNE DOVER PHONE SLING // SHEARLING BIRKENSTOCKS

Finally — all brown/neutral finds under $150.

01. EVERLANE SWEATER // 02. AMAZON SUNGLASSES // 03. PISTOLA COATED JEANS // 04. SKIMS BRA // 05. MADEWELL JEANS // 06. LOAFERS // 07. RIBBED SOCKS // 08. AMAZON MULES // 09. AMAZON BAG // 10. MADEWELL HAT // 11. J. CREW SHERPA VEST // 12. MADEWELL FLAT // 13. AMAZON PANTS // 14. OLD NAVY TUNIC SWEATSHIRT // 15. UGG TAZZ SLIDES // 16. FALKE WOOL SOCKS // 17. VARLEY LEGGINGS

P.S. 8 down-for-anything everyday outfits.

P.P.S. Who are you when no one’s watching?

P.P.P.S. Finding rest.

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!

My Internet friend Mary recently shared some of her favorite Amazon household buys and I loved the opportunity to peek in on some of her must-haves — the unsung heroes that we depend on. Today, following suit by sharing sharing some of my household favorites and repeat buys.

01. CURAPROX TOOTHBRUSHES — We’ve used these since my dental hygienist in NYC told me that soft bristled toothbrushes are best for preventing damage to the tooth enamel. I recently tried Cocoflosses‘ toothbrushes, which are very similar but much more expensive. We love both.

02. KUHN RIKON PEELERS — Ultra-sharp with the perfect palm-sized handle. So easy to wield! The secret is that you MUST hand-wash these and dry immediately after rinsing, because they will rust otherwise — they’re made of carbon steel, which makes them very sharp.

03. CABANA BEACH TOWELS — I find infinite uses for these with children. Great for laying out beneath sensory play, for mopping up messes, for the occasional living room picnic, etc. Not so precious you care if they get stained, but these do hold up surprisingly well.

04. SORBUS CLEAR BINS — We use these in the fridge, pantry, freezer, and utility closet. THE best for organizing small batches of things.

05. COCOFLOSS — Just the best. Try and you will never go back. I especially like the coconut flavor.

06. CALDREA DRIFTWOOD ROSE COUNTER SPRAY — As if Jo Malone herself cleaned your kitchen. Smells SO good.

07. WETBRUSH — My favorite brush for my daughter’s thick hair. It really detangles and grabs hair, but is gentle. I have bought so many of these to stow all over the place — in her bathroom, her bedroom, the pool bag, downstairs by where I typically tie her hair back in the morning.

08. BECKHAM HOTEL COLLECTION PILLOWS — Have a great fill but super comfortable/pillow-y to sleep on.

09. EARTH RATED BAGS + BAG HOLDER — A must for any dog mom.

10. FULL MOON TRAINING TREATS — Tilly goes wild for these.

11. RAEL LINERS — My sister recommended these to me. Love that they’re made from organic cotton, unscented, and chlorine-free. She wrote: “If you can’t tell your sisters, who can you? But also would want to have found these sooner.” Passing that on to my Magpie sisterhood, too.

12. MOLTON BROWN RHUBARB ROSE HAND SOAP — My longtime favorite for using in our powder room.

13. KITCHEN TOWELS — These have made the biggest difference in reducing our household waste footprint. We use so few paper towels nowadays! We just use these like you would a paper towel and toss them in a wire bin when spent. I clean the towels every few days (or as needed). They’re super absorbent and inexpensive.

14. MR. CLEAN GLOVES — I cannot live without these. I do most of the dishes in our house since my husband does all (!) of the cooking, and my weekly manicure habit would suffer terribly without these. They are lined with a kind of soft fleece that prevents that disgusting latex glove smell from spreading to your fingers, and insulates your hands a bit from hot water.

16. OXICLEAN WASHING MACHINE CLEANER TABLETS — These are SO good. I have become proactive about using these around once a month, but sometimes I’ll also feel like the washing machine tub is smelling a little funky and one of these solves the problem in a single cycle without leaving an overly astringent smell.

17. LIBER & CO ORGEAT — We like several of the syrups from this brand. This orgeat is particularly delicious and enables us to enjoy our Mai Tais. (P.S., Thanks to the Magpie who urged me in the comments to seek out dry curacao — it really does complete the cocktail.) The grenadine from this brand is also wonderful. These would make a great gift for a cocktail enthusiast!

18. HELIUMS HAIR TIES — These have the perfect level of stretch and hold for my daughter’s thick, full head of hair. They do not snag and they come in tons of colors that match a range of different hair shades, which is nice — they can blend in! Somehow, we go through a pack of these every few months. Where do they go!?

19. CHIP CLIPS — These are my favorite. Love the different sizes and matte pastel color options.

20. BONA HARDWOOD CLEANER — Our favorite for caring for and cleaning the wood floors throughout our house.

P.S. Kitchen gear to amp up your cooking game, and finds inspired by French kitchens.

P.P.S. A playlist for household chores.

P.P.P.S. How do you stay on top of household chores?

By: Jen Shoop

Last week, I read an earnest, eye-opening essay about receiving an autism diagnosis for a child. I have a friend who has a child with autism and the piece helped me better understand the unique and largely unseen responsibilities she carries, and the way in which places that are not neuro-diverse (which I presume to be a lot of places) can be unhelpful and injurious to her efforts, and to her child.

The essay is about autism, and I do not want to redirect or diminish its focus, but I left not only with a deeper sensitivity for my friend but with the kind of buzzing energy that happens when you’ve just seen something spectacular and everything seems changed in its aftermath. The lights are brighter, the music is louder. I left like a charged electron. I resumed my maternal responsibilities thinking maybe I’ve been overlooking, or forgetting, some of the deepest truths of motherhood–about what it means to carry the role of “mother” and how to honor your children as people rather than tiny bundles of energy that need to be ferried from place to place and instructed in the ways of the world.

In the essay, the authors write:

“Nothing about your child has changed. Your child is still your child. A diagnosis is a label that will help you connect with services and resources.”

and

“An Autistic child is not a thing that happened to YOU. Your Autistic child is not your new personality. Venting about kids is perfectly normal for all parents, but some people seem to be training for the pathologizing Olympics. What’s worked for us is focusing on the unique aspects of our kids instead of engaging in complaints about them. They’re funny, they love numbers, and they can eat an impressive amount of bagels for someone their size. They’re human beings, and we talk about them as such.”

The through-line is that our children, no matter what diagnoses or labels or issues or inconveniences or strengths or talents they have, are humans — complex, interesting, worthy of love, prone to moods. I forget this too often. I slip into problem-solving mode: “Well, maybe he’s hungry,” or “I wonder if this is because we overscheduled her.” Or I march through my days, just barely keeping up with their barreling requests. Or, even in lovely moments, I might be snuggling and praising them without truly seeing their idiosyncratic magnificence.

My children are not riddles to be solved. They are not projects. They are entire universes — multiverses — of emotion, intelligence, humor, sensitivities, memories, affection.

My children didn’t happen to me. They aren’t ancillary characters in my narrative. I must resist the desire to fashion them after myself and instead led them be the protagonists in their own stories.

In short, I read this essay and I walked downstairs and I looked at my children with new awe. I noticed the affect my son now wears when delivering a joke: he simultaneously squints and dullens his eyes in a kind of mock flatness he learned from his sister. The way he observed, then learned, this humor is fascinating. So, too, my daughter’s dinner table questions about muscles versus bones at the dining room table. “But what would happen if you had a bone in your tongue?” and “What if you only had muscles in your legs?” Her curiosity about these things, the way she sorts through the information, testing hypotheses until she has reached a point of agreeable comprehension only discernible to her, astounds me. It is impossible to maintain this kind of wonder on a daily basis, but my God, it is important to step back every now and then and see them from the outside in, or perhaps, the inside out. Or any way that gives you the whole picture.

Carrying this energy with me into the school year, when sometimes I feel that I only catch slivers of my children through brief dinner table conversations and random admissions in the car, which seems to be, for whatever reason, where my children feel most comfortable sharing their rich interiors. Determined to see their wholeness.

Onward, mamas —

Post-Scripts.

+Navigating my daughter’s eye condition also helped me better empathize with parents whose children have special needs.

+More on maintaining wonder as a parent.

+Some phases of motherhood demand a kind of retreat from everything else. That’s OK. Everything is a season.

If you want more Magpie, you can subscribe to my Magpie Email Digest for a weekly roundup of top essays, musings, conversations, and finds!

Shopping Break.

+These pointelle lounge pants are in my cart, asking to be ordered to complete my fall hygge vision.

+A REALLY good new style from Barbour. More great transitional fall coats here.

+A great fall Mom bag, under $300. Would also be great for a working gal (would fit lunch, laptop, notebooks, everything!) or a student or a teacher!

+In my forever journey to fight against the dark circles under my eyes, I recently came across this brightening cream from Replenix. I think a Magpie told me about this awhile back but someone else was just raving about it. Intrigued, especially since their medical grade body wash is THE BEST — the only thing that’s worked for my body breakouts. Going to try next.

+Thanks to a Magpie rec, I just ordered two different styles of Falke socks for fall — going to see if I can pull off socks with sneaks or loafers. I ordered these and these.

+Absolutely adore this cabinet.

+My fav maxi skirt, now available in a chic black or navy. (Use code TIKTOK20 for 20% off.)

+So, I tried and love the True & Co. triangle bra. It is absurdly comfortable and yet provides great coverage/lift and looks great under everything (smoothing, no lines, seamless, etc). But…is it just me or is the unsexiest bra you’ve ever seen? Like, it reads orthopedic? If it didn’t work so well (and wasn’t so damn comfortable), I’d have hidden it at the bottom of my drawer. I’m curious about Skims’ new lace-trim bralette — it’s so pretty, but will probably interfere with necklines?

+Love this brass rechargeable stick lamps.

+Cute Halloween jammies for girls.

+Khaite vibes for much less.

+Seriously sophisticated top for an evening out.

+For the fashion-fearless: don’t…hate…these?!

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!

This week, I took care of myself as though sick. I moved more slowly, took longer pauses, sent myself to bed early — but not because I was physically unwell. I just needed the extra TLC, for two reasons. First, I sent both of my children off to school, and endured the usual whiplash of emotions. Every “first day” photo on the front stoop reminds me how impossibly fast this is going, and I found myself wondering this past week, even as his “big kid backpack” dwarfed him, “When did my son shed his baby fat? His legs look so long and thin now.” As though the dawn of the school year transformed him physically, too. I am so accustomed to this weepy ruefulness at transitions and, frankly, every few nights, when I shuffle through photographs of my children on my phone in bed, that its strain feels nearly familiar, worn-in. Ah, you again. I let it sit with me for as long as it needs to before ushering it out — it is, after all, as I remind myself routinely, a guest, not a resident. (This, too, shall pass; no feeling is final). At the same time, I am thrilled to return to a routine. I feel as though we are all buttoning up after the long unspooling of summer in a pleasant, shouldering-against-the-wind kind of way — and the quiet in the house is a godly thing. Still, I let myself feel it all, and didn’t do a thing to stop the tear that fell when I watched my boy walk away from our car towards his new pre-K teacher for the first time, his eyes saucer-like.

HILL’S SHOES, BACKPACK, AND THE CUTEST SOCKS EVER — LOVE THE HEIGHT

The second reason I needed extra self-care this week was because I went to a doctor’s appointment I’d been dreading. All is fine, and I’m fit as a fiddle, but the anxiety I felt in advance was exhausting. I got to my car afterward and sat still and silent for a good minute. It was hot out that day, but I didn’t turn the A/C on — I just sat in that melty, comfortable pod as the jitteriness evaporated. A long exhale. Shavasana.

Neither of these mildly stressful happenings were acute or important, but I truly believe that handling yourself with care when you feel as though the winds are beginning to pick up is the best way to prevent — or at least attenuate — serious emotional stress.

In between it all, a few beautiful snapshots to share —

I recently crossed paths with the founder of skincare line Flora ex Machina, Alle, who is a holistic health practitioner and certified nutrition counselor. She generously sent me her facial oil and toner and they are botanical delights — beautifully-scented and luxurious to apply. I’d liken the facial oil to a slightly heavier version of the Vintner’s Daughter formula, and have been using the toner at the end of the work day, as a kind of “marker of transition” during my “buffering” phase, when I turn off my work/writer self and turn on my mom self. Alle offered us 15% off with code JENNIFER15 if you’d like to try.

I took my big first-grader to get her ears pierced on Friday! I had a lot of questions about where we had it done, and how we decided it was the right time. We are lucky that our pediatrician offers the service — I felt much more peaceful knowing it was done hygienically and with trained nurses. She was not happy after the first ear but I signaled to the nurse to keep it rolling so that she wouldn’t have time to process the pain and back out of the second, and so it was done in a flash, and then she was beaming all weekend long. We made a big to-do about it, calling aunts and grandparents to show them off. Later that day, she came into my room in her usual uniform of cut-off jean shorts and a t-shirt and said, “My earrings look really good with this outfit.” I loved that moment for her — seeing herself styled the way she likes. She’d been asking to have her ears pierced for awhile, as a few of her little girlfriends have them done, and we spent time this summer with a tiny two-year-old cousin who also had earrings. I had to wait until I was thirteen to get mine done, and I felt like it was so late and almost babyish not to have them — I’d wanted them for so long! I understand why my parents did this, but I was open to advancing the timeline for my girl. (I even debated getting them done when she was an infant!). She picked out some studs from Pip Pop Post to switch to in a few weeks, per doctor’s instructions.

I wore my new Grace jeans a lot over this past week — been enjoying wearing all ecru-white looks recently. I also really love my new shearling-lined Birks, but it’s been too hot to wear them outside the house. I put them on with my favorite Doen dress (sadly sold out, but I adore everything they do — this fall one is on my list), but had to switch to my more practical Ancient Greek Eleftheria sandals, which remain one of my absolute favorite buys this summer. They look good with absolutely everything.

In other shopping news, I picked up a few staples: these brown leggings, some Falke socks, and a new bra. By the time you are reading this, I probably also will have purchased this Veronica Beard jacket (somehow on sale for around $155, down from nearly $700) and this suitcase, as both are sitting heavy in my cart right now.

And I did a pretty big shop at Amazon this week, ordering Sally Rooney’s new short story (!), this rechargeable mirror for travel, Tilly’s favorite training treats, this Plus Plus flags building set and this magnetic story maker (setting both aside for Christmas), these individually-wrapped makeup removing wipes (I hate all the packaging but these are reallllly handy for travel), and this travel version of our favorite board game for some upcoming trips. I also picked up these mommy-and-son corded bracelets for my son’s first day. He wore it and I wore mine — it made me feel connected to him throughout the day in the loveliest way.

Finally, two random motherhood notes —

I surprised my children with these personalized plate/bowl/mug sets from Mayfly and Junebug on their first day of school, and they were over the moon. They adore the mugs in particular — they pretend their drinking coffee. It was a fun way to mark the start of the new year. The smallest things mean so much to them. (You can see them above on my go to Proper Table acrylic placemats! Still obsessed with these. I also own in this pretty pattern. They are a great gift idea.)

On the Sunday before school started, we had a slow and restful day at home. We took a long walk, played Uno, played with some butter slime, and then they begged me to set up a sensory play station we call “car wash.” You mix a little cocoa powder with cornstarch and water and they roll their cars through “the mud” and then scrub them off in soapy water. Lord knows why this is fun, but they adore it. I just set out big beach towels on the back patio and let them have at it, which is more or less the principle rule of accommodating sensory play: it is going to be messy, and you have to make peace with it. One thing that helps is doing it outside, on big, washable, non-precious beach towels, and asking them to “please stay on the mats.” More sensory play ideas here. Such a great way to invite imagination and creativity using mainly household items. I’m also reminded right now of something a Magpie once told me when I was really struggling through pandemic lockdown days with a one year old and a three year old. She said: “Put them in water.” I think about that when they’re channeling a big energy and I’m on my last rope. Put them in the bath, let them run through the sprinkler, set out a big water play station (literally, you could just fill a big tupperware with water and a couple of random kitchen implements, duplos, toys, some food coloring), or drive to the pool. Water does such wonders at resetting the system.

Anyhow — onward, to the new week!

P.S. More thoughts on navigating first days of school.

P.P.S. The art of losing.

P.P.P.S. Love in the big ways and the small.

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!

My Latest Snag: Denim Over Shirt.

I snoozed and lost on the H&M denim shirt that was in my cart (still a few sizes available), so I upgraded to this Goop style, which is on sale for $118, down from $395 (!) and is sure to be a better quality. Fully intend to copy the styling on the site, layering over a knit turtleneck and pairing with dark-wash denim for a modern take on the Canadian tuxedo, but also love the idea of layering over a tee and leggings for drop-off. Two other options if you’re in the market for something similar: this slightly edgier/more rustic variation from Madewell and this cropped and streamlined iteration from Banana, on super sale.

This Week’s Bestsellers.

01. SERENA AND LILY CHAIR // 02. GAP CARDIGAN // 03. COUNTER SPRAY // 04. FRAME JEANS // 05. BEST DRUGSTORE EYELINER // 06. FARMACY MAKEUP MELTING BALM // 07. ORIBE ROYAL BLOWOUT SPRAY // 08. TUCKERNUCK DRESS // 09. BIRKENSTOCK BOSTONS // 10. MOTHER CORDS* // 11. DORSEY CLEMENCE NECKLACE // 12. TALBOTS TEXTURED CARDIGAN // 13. SLVRLAKE JEANS // 14. J. CREW WESTERN BOOTS // // 15. RECHARGEABLE TRAVEL MIRROR // 16. TEAK CORNER SPOON / SPOODLE (MY NEW FAV KITCHEN IMPLEMENT)

*Similar looks for less here and here.

Weekend Musing: To Be Great, Be Whole.

I have been thinking this week about the terms “excellence,” “success,” and “greatness,” synonyms plucked out of a couple of different thought streams. I write these words gently, as I know they are in some ways anathema to the current zeitgeist around avoiding toxic burnout / productivity culture. But bear with me —

I’ve been writing about the notion of “what we want to be known for,” and the way it blots out a lot of noise while simultaneously encouraging me to improve, or at least focus my efforts, on what matters most. As Jeanelle Teves put it, “Not every task is created equally. What are the key projects to devote your best energy to? In other words, what do you want to be famous for? Deliver these with excellence.” What does excellence look like in a creative field, I wonder? Is it the discipline of daily practice? Is it warm reception from an audience? Is it the kind of writing that just feels good to write? Is it the email from a reader who lets you know (to adapt a phrase from Sean Thomas Dougherty) that she had a wound in the exact shape of my words? Equally, what does excellence look like in motherhood? I know Teves was writing about the workplace, but I found the provocation put pressure on how I define “excellence” or “success” when adapted a bit to the realms that matter most to me.

Separately, I came across a beautiful little poem by Fernando Pessoa, who wrote:

To be great, be whole: don’t exaggerate

Or leave out any part of you.

Be complete in each thing. Put all you are

Into the least of your acts.

So too in each lake, with its lofty life,

The whole moon shines.

These lines reminded me of some of my meanderings last week, where I observed that how we do anything is how we do everything and talked about owning our role as the protagonists in our lives (to borrow from Pessoa: “don’t leave out any part of you!”). They also led me to ask: “do I agree with this definition of greatness?” What is greatness? Is it the goal? As Pessoa fashions it here, “greatness” seems to have a lot to do with being well-aligned, with drawing out our truest selves, with avoiding the impulse to make ourselves smaller.

What does greatness look like to you?

Post-Scripts.

+How to style Adidas Sambas (and the best new colors to buy!)

+Hill House just launched the cutest short hotel robe. I read that the code TIKTOK20 will get you 20% off your order! I also love this dark floral for fall/winter — comes in a chic dress (note that it’s styled with Adidas!) and fab midi-length skirt. And this would be so cute with loafers now and tights/heels when colder.

+Joy Creative Shop is running a warehouse sale! My weekly planner is included. I use this solely to stay on top of the kids’ meals, activities, playdates, reminders, etc. The sale also includes adorable thank you notes for kids.

+Fun statement heels for fall/winter parties.

+The perfect dress for a fall affair.

+Lots of great Zimmermann on sale at The Outnet — consider this denim top and this spectacular skirt.

+Love this croc boot! If you’re in the market, some more great styles (all under $500) here.

+An enormous, washable pouch for all of your baby/kids gear.

+A great solution for the kids’ bathroom in the middle of the night — keep these plugged in so they can make their way without turning on all the lights. We use something similar to these in our hallways, too, so they can find their way to the bathroom / our bedroom.

+Cute play makeup set for a little one.

+If you’re shopping for fall knits — start here! Upgrade pick: anything from Allude. This one is dreamy.

+This phone sling is so cool.

+I keep hearing rave things about these leggings from Athleta. Has anyone tried?

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!

MAXWELL AND GERALDINE DRESS // PARIS64 BAG // CHIMI SUNGLASSES

JOE’S JEANS CLEO PANTS (MORE SIZES HERE) // TALBOTS TEXTURED CARDIGAN // J. CREW TEE // PARIS64 BAG // HERMES ORAN SANDALS (LOOK FOR LESS HERE)

SLVRLAKE GRACE JEANS // LOEFFLER RANDALL LEONIE FLATS // UNIQLO TEE // VITA GRACE PEARL TRIM CARDIGAN (SOLD OUT, SIMILAR HERE) // DANS LA MAIN KELLY GRASSCLOTH TOTE

GAP HIGH STRIDE JEANS // ALICE WALK TEE // HERMES ORAN SANDALS

Two outfits I tried on and LOVED but have not yet had the chance to wear — will share again when styled properly —

DAMARIS BAILEY ROSA DRESS (WEARING TO A WEDDING THIS WEEKEND, AND CURRENTLY 25% OFF — DISCOUNT APPEARS IN CART)

ZIMMERANN SKIRT // ZIMMERANN TOP // AMAZON BAG — YOU CAN SEE IT IN ACTION/VIDEO HERE, WHERE I TRIED ON WITH BOTH THESE BOOTS AND THESE HEELS

P.S. On building friendships through motherhood.

P.P.S. Lessons in baking.

P.P.P.S. My favorite baking gear.

By: Jen Shoop

Earlier this year, I read a lot of hype about new jewelry label Dorsey, a brand known for its lab-grown diamond necklaces and most notably their “Kate” riviere tennis necklace style, which has been a bestseller since the brand’s launch. The team at Dorsey reached out and generously offered to send me a few styles and I couldn’t wait to test them out. I promise you, these necklaces stand up to the hype. They are incredible, heirloom-style pieces that are indistinguishable from true diamond pieces that would cost thousands (sometimes tens of thousands) of dollars more.

Dorsey Kate Riviere Necklace.

The Dorsey Kate style is iconic. I selected the shorter 15″ length, and when I first wore it to my birthday dinner, my mother did a triple-take: “Did you get something new?!” she asked, her mouth agape, gesturing to my necklace. She thought I was wearing diamonds — this, coming from a woman with a considerable fine jewelry collection and discerning eye. She couldn’t believe when I told her they were lab-grown sapphires, and that the necklace cost under $400! The two questions I field most frequently when I wear the Kate: 1) does it flip around? and 2) do they look “real”? On the first matter, I never have an issue with the stones flipping around while I’m wearing them. It does take a minute to figure out how to put the necklace on so that the stones are facing up / in the right direction, but once you have the hang of it, I’ve literally never looked down and seen my stones facing the wrong way. On the second point, yes, they look real. They are visually indistinguishable from true diamonds. They are, after all, real gem-stones! Just lab-grown white sapphires. They are sparkly and glittery. I’ve had many people ask after them!

I’ve tested styling this necklace up and down and tend to prefer to wear it styled “up” with cocktail dresses and the like — especially when I have bare shoulders, so it really shines and does not interfere with necklines! — but have seen many chic peas style this with t-shirts and jeans to great (ultra-fashionable) effect. I will say I found it easier than expected to style with other metals and gems — I often wear with gold and/or pearls, and it always looks “right.”

Dorsey Clemence Necklace.

This may be a surprising opinion, but the Clemence necklace is my favorite Dorsey piece I own, and the one I’d recommended purchasing if you are only buying one. I find it much easier to style on a daily basis than the chunkier/more dramatic Kate — just a matter of personal style preference, but I think the daintier Clemence is easier to layer with other lightweight gold pieces, and also love the look dressed up, on its own. It feels delicate and sweet, and it hits the perfect part of the neck/collarbone. I took it in the 16″ length. In general, I think taking the shortest length available in the Dorsey styles is advisable; I feel like the shorter lengths feel more modern. The only downside I can think of when it comes to the Clemence is that the clasp has a really small, tight opening that is difficult to maneuver if you’re alone. I’ve done it (many times) but it is slightly irritating, so I often just leave my Clemence on and swap out the other jewelry stack pieces!

I think the Clemence would make a spectacular gift for a bride on her wedding day, and the Clemence bracelet would be such a sweet gift for a bridesmaid! I’m eyeing the bracelet myself. Would be a lovely addition to my daily wrist candy.

Dorsey SmallHeart ID Necklace.

I absolutely adore and treasure this engravable tiny heart pendant. It’s more substantial (in width) than it appears on the site, and has a kind of alluring weight to it that makes it feel different than most of my other delicate jewelry. I frequently layer this with my Clemence and/or my Jane Win Petite Hearts necklace and will not remove the stack for days on end. I even sleep in these pieces! They are lightweight and comfortable. They also have a larger heart necklace that I’m eyeing (would make such a chic stack with the smaller one) and a bracelet version that would be a lovely push present / milestone present.