By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

Updating and re-publishing this post to include some recent promo codes we’ve received, now alphabetized for convenience. I always ask brands if they’ll honor one for us! Let me know if there is a brand you’d like to see on this list and I’ll see what I can do to find a code.

My most-used and most-coveted codes are to La Ligne (10% off with MAGPIE10), Julia Amory (15% off with JEN-15), and SoldOut.NYC (15% off with JEN15) and my deepest coupon code is 30% off at Aurate with JENSHOOP. Our favorite lazy girl body care brand, Hanni, just updated our code from 15% off to 20% off with JEN20! Use it to test their brand new Fatty (“lip balm for skin”)!

+Aligne: 20% off with code JEN-20. We all love their Gabriella dress.

+Anablue: 15% off with code JEN15. I have been using this treatment oil and think it has really helped with hair health.

+Appointed: 15% off select items with code MAGPIEBYJENSHOOP. You know I’m an enormous fan of their signature notebooks and planners. Just gorgeous. Good paper products are such a small and meaningful way to transform the mundane task of list-making or note-taking into something joyful.

+Aurate: 30% off with code JENSHOOP. I have been looking for a pretty everyday stud to alternate with my go-to pearls and love these and these.

+Aureum: 20% off with code JENS20. These incredibly lightweight knot earrings are in regular rotation for me — the vintage look without the drag on the lobes!

+Bardelia: 15% off with JENSHOOP15. Top notch mixers, zero-proof cocktails, and N/A beer.

+Cara P Designs: 15% off fun, well-priced stationery with JEN15.

+Christina Dickson Home: 20% off with code MAGPIE20.

+Dear Annabelle: 15% off with code JEN15. Their placecards are so cheeky!

+Coco & Eve: 15% off with MAGPIE15. These bronzing drops are easy to use and don’t smell bad — this coming from someone with serial bronzing snafus.

+Electric + Rose: 15% off with JENSHOOP15.

+Electric Picks: 20% off with SHOOP20. Own and love these.

+Flyte: 15% off with code JEN15. I own several colors of their lip sheers — they glide on like lip balm but leave a really pretty kiss of color.

+Freda Salvador: MAGPIE15 offers 15% off for 1st time customers on full priced styles. I own and love these!

+Glamsquad: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 off for repeat users with code JenniferS15. I’m obsessed with the luxury of having my hair blown out at home!

+Greatness Wins: 25% off with code JEN25. I’m really impressed with the quality of this half-zip. All the details are so well-designed!

+Hanni: 20% off with JEN20. I love their water balm (lotion spray) and splash salve (unique in-shower moisturizing treatment) and use them every time I shower.

+Heidi Merrick: 10% off with JENSHOOP10.

+Janessa Leone: 15% off with MAGPIE15.

+Joy Creative Shop: 10% off with MAGPIE10. I love their vinyl letter stickers for personalizing water bottles and lunch gear, their fill-in-the-blank thank you notes for children (expedites the process and the kids love “owning” the note-writing!), and their sticker tags!

+Julia Amory: 15% off with JEN-15. I basically order everything she releases. The best polished everyday wear. I especially love her day dresses.

+KMJ: 10% off with Jen10.

+La Ligne: 10% off with code MAGPIE10. We know and love them for the striped knits, but I’ve been loving their other ready to wear options, too — silk pants, jeans, dresses!

+Left on Friday: 10% off with JENSHOOP10. My absolute favorite sweatshirt! The perfect vintage, lived-in, faded feel. Also love their ultra comfortable swim and athletic wear. I keep going back to try more!

+LeSportSac: 15% off with JEN15. LeSportSac is enjoying a comeback — I had these bags in the 90s and remember them being on prominent display in the department stores. Like Longchamp, these make great travel bags as they are virtually weightless and fold up flat — you can toss in your suitcase if you need extra room. I have this throwback spectator style.

+Lily and Bean: 15% off with code JEN15. I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of this chic ladylike mini bag!

+Linnea: 10% off the BEST and already-decently-priced candles with code MAGPIE10. These are luxury candles but under $40 and they come in the most interesting and evocative scents. I really love Heirloom Tomato for summer, but their Cashmere scent is a best-seller. I first learned about this brand from a Magpie reader and am so glad I did!

+Look Lifestyle: 20% off this fabulous bedding and sleepwear brand with code MAGPIE20. You can see my favorite pieces of theirs detailed in this post, but I am especially impressed with their down-alternative duvet. A great price for a really high-end feel.

+Lunya: 15% off with code magpiebyjenshoop. I own and adore this soft cotton modal robe and pajama set, but they’re especially known for their washable silk sets!

+March Hare: 20% off with MAGPIE20. The chicest watches — these remind me of vintage styles / have an Hermes flair. Especially love this wrap style.

+Margaux: $35 off an order of $200+ with MAGPIE35 (for first-time shoppers only). I own and love their classic ballet flats in red and these gorgeous ankle wrap sandals. The latter are really flattering on the leg in a neutral color (I have the rose napa).

+Mignonne Gavigan: jen20 for 20% off. I recently ordered these fun statement earrings.

+Mille: 15% off with code JEN15. I adore this brand — especially their Charlie tops and Saffron dresses (I own each in three patterns!). The colors and patterns are always interesting and vibrant. This brand runs really big – size down 1-2 sizes. I take an XXS (I’m typically an XS in other brands) and they are still voluminous on me.

+Nerra: 15% off with JENNIFER15. Love their dry oil spray!

+NEWA: 15% off with code JEN15. I’m currently testing this award-winning wrinkle-reducing device!

+OSEA Malibu: 10% off with code MAGPIE10. Have heard amazing things about their body butter and body scrub. Ordering both at the time of writing this!

+Patchology: 15% off with code JEN15. I love their illuminating eye gels. These make such a cute / easy gift or favor for girlfriends.

+Patricia Green: 20% off your order with code MAGPIE. I own and love these Hermes-inspired sandals. Such great colors! Also love these.

+Pehr: 20% off with JEN-20. Their bins and pouches are absolute perfection. We use the bins for small sets of toys (think Barbie clothes, Maileg mice, etc) and the pouches are roomy and ideal for holding all the baby things in your tote.

+Pistola: 15% off with JEN15.

+RMS Beauty: 20% off with Jen20. They have several products I LOVE, including this blurring/priming SPF SuperSerum (I wear beneath foundation), this bronzer, and this cream. I listened to a podcast in which the founder of RMS Beauty talked about her long, successful career as a makeup artist. She was on the cutting edge of clean beauty, searching for and ultimately not finding cleaner options for her customers, and she then turned to make her own. I deeply respect her as an entrepreneur!

+SoldOut.NYC: 15% off with JEN15. At this point, I think I have all of their tanks and tees in multiple colors. The absolute best quality basics.

+Roz: 15% off with code MAGPIE15. I am obsessed (!) with their Foundations shampoo and conditioner.

+Soru: 15% off with code JEN15. I own and adore these dramatic heart studs.

+Spanx: 10% off and free shipping with SHOOPXSPANX. I love their AirEssentials pullovers and half-zips, and of course their magical pants.

+Thomas Grove: 15% off their magical facial oil with code JENNIFERSHOOP15. I shared a review here. I would say this is almost identical in terms of experience and results as Vintner’s Daughter, but less expensive. Love that it comes from a small, female-founded business!

+Tuckernuck: 20% off with YOUROCK.

+UBeauty: 20% off with code JENSHOOP. I wear their lip plasma daily, and love their tinted moisturizer for workout mornings (just a hint of coverage and glow).

+Untuckit: 20% off with code JEN20. I own and love this shirt and this one, too.

+Versed: 10% off with JEN10.

+Vetted Dermlab: 15% off with Jen15.

+YSE: 15% off Molly Sim’s buzzy beauty brand with JEN-15. I’m in a committed relationship with their exfoliating pads.

P.S. A detailed review of my favorite Dorsey jewelry pieces.

P.P.S. My Grub Street Style Food Diary.

P.P.P.S. Beauty products I can’t quit.

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

By: Jen Shoop

A few weeks ago, one of my girlfriends described our Magpie community as “strategic.” She was so right — I am constantly delighted and informed by the thoughtful ways you approach everything, from meal planning to skincare while traveling. I routinely pick up tiny, well-considered insights in the comments section. (Just this morning, I pulled up a Magpie comment from a few weeks ago with recommendations on where to eat in Charlottesville, VA! Thank you Hayden!) We’re just returning from a quick overnight trip there (we stayed at Keswick Hall, seen above), and the visit spurred lengthy conversations on the subject of travel and travel preferences, as we find ourselves with more time and inclination to get away, just the two of us, or as a family. (I found traveling with two young children over-intimidating, and we largely avoided it, for better or worse, for the past few years. Yet another reminder that the only constant is change.) Knowing how strategic and informed Magpies are on the subject of travel (fascinating Magpie tips on better travel days here), I wanted to toss out some nosy questions on how you approach and plan travel for leisure:

01. How do you decide where to visit? Do you keep a spreadsheet of ideas? Is it driven by ticket prices, or seasonality? By recommendations of friends or trusted travel resources? (And what are those resources?)

02. Are you more likely to spend on accommodations or destination/attractions? Why?

03. What are you more likely to splurge on: a convenient travel time, upgraded airplane seats, or upgraded accommodations? Why?

04. How do you select a hotel? Are you committed to one loyalty program / hotel group? Do you have a chain that you tend to prefer? What resources do you use to learn about and vet a hotel? Are there categories of accommodation that you routinely avoid (e.g., bed and breakfasts / AirBnBs / chains), and why?

05. How do you plan an itinerary? A girlfriend of mine recently said that Facebook Groups are a gold mine for this kind of information. Mr. Magpie and I tend to lean on Reddit. But how else do you plan what to do in a given destination?

06. How do you balance structured/planned activities with downtime for R&R?

07. What is the ideal length of trip? (This is probably going to be different if traveling with young children, no children, etc?)

08. Any other guiding principles for planning a great vacation?

09. Is there anywhere you have visited in the past year or two that you found truly exceptional? I’d love to compile a list of “Magpie approved” destinations / hotels / resorts, especially if you can include a quick note, e.g., “Great for family,” “The most romantic place you’ll ever visit,” etc.

10. Where are you traveling next?

I should mention that my perspectives on all of these questions are half-formed at best and am looking forward to being taken to school in your responses. The only element that I have found myself consistently drawn to and happy with: splurging on an exceptional hotel. I find that the amenities, finely appointed rooms, gracious common areas, and typically exceptional service frequently “make” a trip for me and play the largest role in the feeling of getting away and being cared-for.

I also wanted to mention that I recently discovered the travel Substack Yolo Intel and have been obsessing over its posts! I’ve only read a few posts but know I will be mining it for intel!

Please share your thoughts!

Post-Scripts.

+On the magic and mayhem of traveling with young children. I think about the comments on this post a lot. One of you made the point that traveling as a family unit (without extra friends, families, etc) makes a world of difference when your children are young, as you aren’t balancing the needs and routines and moods of your children with those of others. You can eat dinner at 5 without apology, call an audible and quit mini-golf early, stay an extra hour at the pool, etc. We’ve since traveled just as our immediate family and it really does make an enormous difference — feels much easier!

+ Notes on a recent successful family trip to Deep Creek Lake and a fabulous trip with just Mr. Magpie to Napa Valley.

+The saltings of motherhood.

+One thing I love about traveling with just Mr. Magpie: it brings me back to “the befores.” Laying in a hotel bed with no definitive endpoint, no place to be, no drop off to get to, feels like such a delicious luxury at this phase of my life. Of course, we’re always ready to get back to the babies, but it is a really wonderful break, with the tap fully off.

Let’s Go Shopping.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+I wore these $60 mules all weekend long — they were the only shoes I packed for Charlottesville despite three very different outfits (one for wine tasting, one for dinner and a concert, one for wandering around Grounds), and they suited every moment! They look much more expensive than their $60 price tag suggests!

+Another quiet luxury find: this Soldout.NYC “everything shirt.” OMG. The quality is insane — the fabric/material is unlike anything I’ve ever touched, with a silky satiny finish. The top runs oversized/boxy — you can size down, if you can snag one in your size! (Selling fast!)

+Run — my favorite Vitamin C product has finally been restocked. I ordered so fast!

+Have we talked about Glamsquad recently? I know I yapped about them last fall after a string of great experiences, but I find it so convenient to have a blowout at home, and not *that* much more expensive than going to a DryBar (especially if you factor in parking / the time you spend in transit / etc) — plus I find the quality more consistent. I think it ends up being around $80 for an at-home blowout (including tip) versus $70ish at a Drybar. (PS, do you remember when it used to cost $35 to get one?!). I’d happily pay an extra $10 to have it done in my home. Anyway, I’m thrilled because Glamsquad is offering us a discount code: $20 off for new users with code JenniferS and $15 for returning users with code JenniferS15. I will absolutely be using this code myself, as it makes the blowout that much more reasonable. Treat yourself the next time you’re heading out for dinner, have a big meeting, etc. I think it was Mally Goldman who said that (paraphrasing) a good blowout makes your outfit look better. I couldn’t agree more — when my hair is done, I feel like a different woman.

+Speaking of beauty: Emese Gormley has been raving about this splurgey bronzer and I’m totally bought in. I am nearly done with my most recent order of Guerlain’s Terracotta powder (which I have used and loved for probably a decade now) and think I’ll test this one next.

+Recently spotted this cropped trench on the ever chic Lilly Sisto and think I need it!!! I had my eyes on this lace-inset trench style coat from VB but I don’t know…now I might need the Rails one instead.

+I think I need these for the Easter table.

+These little skirt and top sets from Julia Amory are adorable. Like vintage Lilly!

+I received a handful of questions about my hair strengthening routine over on Instagram. I have been using Mielle’s rosemary oil and Anablue’s treatment oil (15% off with code JEN15) every few days — basically if I’m going to exercise or know I plan to take a shower early in the day, I’ll wake up and apply a dropper full of each to my scalp, then massage into my hair and apply a tiny bit to the ends, too. This is heavy duty oil and you are really not in any shape to be interfacing with the public while wearing it — ha! — so I will then tie my hair back and put on a baseball cap for my run. Then I get home and shower it all out. I think this has been really helpful as I try to grow my hair out. I was also using Vegamour’s shampoo and conditioner but the scent was not for me, so I’ve been skipping. (BTW, Katie at Beach Reads and Bubbly recently shared these genius terry cloth scrunchies for use while applying a hair mask or hair oils. Really holds hair in place, and won’t stain like my satin scrunchies do. Ordered them immediately.)

+Have heard such good things about these “Find It” capsules for young children — such a clever activity! I have this earmarked as a gift for car travel or maybe just for my son’s fifth birthday.

+We’re all in an indigo mood right now — so many Magpies have bought my Gabriella dress (see me in it here), and these flared “Mer” jeans have also been majorly trending. I have codes for both: 20% off the dress with JEN-20 and 10% off the jeans with MAGPIE10. (Codes also work sitewide.). More great denim finds here.

+Finally, on the denim point: I wore this little denim jacket over this slip dress to go to a concert and it was PERFECT. The unfinished hem dressed things down but has a great, snug, stretchy fit that made me feel still pulled together. I also love this iconic denim jacket from La Ligne!

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

A little digest of discoveries and micro-trends on my mind at the moment.

01. A bit of buzz going on in the fashion editor Substack world, reinforced by French Vogue: olive/army green trending on the runways. I’ve always been a fan of the color and it took minimal convincing for me to order this dress in the utility green and these jeans (!) in the Eloise (green) color. (P.S. Reminder that you can get 10% off your order at La Ligne with code MAGPIE10.)

A few other pieces I love in the color: these wide-leg trousers, this pullover sweater, this bag, these Sandro crochet pants, striped shirt, Adidas Sambas, this quilted coat, and of course the Brylies.

The photo above is from this past fall, but I’m wearing these Joe’s Jeans Cleo pants (on sale for under $100 here and here), Hermes sandals (look for less here), a Talbots coatigan, FRP bag, and J. Crew tee. I love treating the olive green as though a neutral!

02. Toteme’s wildly popular t-lock clutch is now available for pre-order in a pebbled white color that will ship later this summer. Or you can go with available-right-now, timeless brown. So many chic peas I respect own this bag, or its crossbody sister, including my Internet friend Chrissy. It’s very right now, and Scandi-street-style chic (designed as it is by Stockholm Style Queen Elin Kling). This would be my top pick for a designer bag to wear right now.

03. New sportswear label on my radar: Greatness Wins, founded by Chris Riccobono, Derek Jeter, and ballerina Misty Copeland. With professional athletes involved, I’m auspicious about the design and quality. I like this pullover and these leggings.

04. Did you see The Great’s collab with Birkenstock? These are hippie-dirndl-core, and highly charming. I like this pair.

05. If you are lucky enough to score something before it sells out: under-the-radar brand Parke has loads of dressed-down street-wear styles for the in-the-know. I’d love to get my hands on one of their varsity sweatshirts. They remind me a bit in their self-referentiality of Clare Vivier’s “Liberez Les Sardines” hats — I am always stopped with questions about it when worn, which makes the copy on the website spot on: “a great conversation starter because no one knows what it means.”

06. Speaking of the Clare V. hat — their newer hat designs, especially the “Brentwood Country Mart” and denim “Ciao” are also fun investments.

07. I need another woven/straw/wicker bag like a hole in my head, but I found a little trove of Jacquemus panier basket bags on sale here that tempt. The blue is so fun and unexpected!

08. UBeauty reached out to offer us 20% off orders with code JENSHOOP! I still love their Lip Plasma. It’s spendy but the 20% off helps. I am not a lip gloss gal but this stuff is legit — not sticky, comes in great colors, and really fills/plumps lips without any of that tingly nonsense. This is my favorite gift for a girlfriend’s birthday — something she might not buy herself, but that she’d love to have in her handbag. Two other products of theirs I’ve tried: 1) the tinted Super Hydrator, which I fully finished within a few weeks of receiving. This is a fantastic product for mornings where you’re working out / don’t want a full face of makeup but do want a bit of coverage and glow. I’d throw this on before school dropoff or when going for a run. 2) the super intensive face oil. I’m still in the midst of using this — it is oily and rich, and I find I need to let it absorb for a few minutes before applying anything else. But! My God does it make your skin look like a glistening, glowing orb! I do not think it has dethroned my ride-or-die favorite face serum, but then again, it’s not a serum, exactly. I’ve been layering with other oils and moisturizers as my skin needs the hydration in the winter.

09. Sofia Richie Grange launched a collection with swimwear label Solid and Striped! I’m a giant fan of this brand — I have at least three of their suits and especially love the Annemarie silhouette. Pieces like this vest-like top and this knit dress transport us to her jetsetting lifestyle on the Mediterranean. They all feel like they’d be right at home paired with a Chanel tote and sunglasses.

A little plug: you can sign up for my newsletter here! The Friday Digest is sort of a “week in review” that spotlights things we’re buying, talking about in the comments section, reading, wearing.

P.S. Parenting can sometimes feel like long division.

P.P.S. The mystique of my husband’s Jeep!

P.P.P.S. Updated my shop and Shopbop hearts!

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

Elizabeth Gilbert has a one-line writing prompt (discovered via Leslie):

Dear love, what would you have me know today?

On Monday, I sat down to the words, and these fell out:

A few years ago, I was in an intense situation with a friend. I could not make heads or tails of it: I experienced a groundlessness in which I questioned myself, my heart, my motivations. I sought the counsel of my most trusted, and heard many well-intended things that seemed to only further complicate my vision–a mixture of unreconcilable “care for yourself first” and “let it go” messages. Somewhere in there, a dear friend wrote to me and said: “Trust yourself in these situations. Keep that in mind when you’re ping-ponged between pleasing everyone. And know that it is absolutely not your job to please everyone, despite the fact that you do it with grace and smarts.”

Even now, the words wrap me like a hug. (Maybe you need to hear it today, too.) The notion of “trusting myself” had not come naturally. I had in fact sought the imprimatur of other people that I trusted because I was so certain I was misreading the situation, mishandling myself. It felt unnatural to stop and think: “But what, underneath it all, do I really think? When I discard those guard petals related to meeting the expectations of persons A and B? What is at the tender center?” The exercise was terrifying and then empowering because it forced me to recognize how clouded-over my thinking had been with concerns for how others are receiving a situation and my role in it. It is not in my nature to toss something out without careful forethought, or to trot out a truth that has even a small chance of wounding someone. But how often had the impulse led me to contort, diminish, or even erase myself?

At the end of the day, this is my one wild and precious life, and I do not want to experience it as a watered-down version of myself. I want to live it at full-strength. I am working to build up that muscle.

So when I write: “My girl, what would you have me know today?”

I hear back: “Remember to trust yourself.”

What would love have you know today?

One footnote I adored from Gilbert’s prompt: “Another way to tap into your direct line to Love is to use endearments for yourself. It is human nature to create sweet nicknames for people and animals we love but so rare that we apply them to ourselves. In the first few days of this public exercise, I was delighted to read letters here in which people referred to themselves as: my little pebble, my pal, my sweetest baby birdie, little piglet, my little pot sticker, honey, pookie, my little humbug, my Valkyrie, sweet pea, my little boy, my anxious little squirrel. Have fun with your endearments — try to be truly open without fear or embarrassment. In other words, let your guard down, my anxious little squirrels!”

How charming?! I chose the endearment “my girl,” because this is what my mother has always called me (“how’s my girl?” being her routine conversation starter on the phone), and I now use it with my own daughter. It always makes me feel closely held.

A little grid from the week:

01. Tilly’s new perch on my desk. I shared this photo on Instagram and had so many questions about the frame — a lucky Amazon find! The price is for a set of two! I put the second one in my daughter’s bedroom with a framed photo of Tilly she’d chosen.

02. On Sunday, I went for a three mile run in the cold, took a hot shower, and then applied Clarins’ Cryo-Flash Cream Mask, which I know many of you adore just as I do. It feels like ice when applied — chills the skin! — and leaves it rejuvenated. I’m addicted. The combo of cold-hot-cold was a delightful sensory triumvirate, too. Clarins has been running a Friends & Family promo that I hope will still be live at the time of publication — up to 25% off sitewide, plus free shipping.

03. Making my way through the Rita Dove anthology, but more importantly, able to do it outside with the slightly milder temps we’ve been enjoying! Here I am, sitting on our little wooden lawn bench, watching my children scoot, reading. I am wearing the Frank and Eileen Aspen set and my Sambas — I love the pastel combo.

04. Zara has the cutest finds for little boys right now! My son was in need of some more casual bumming-around-the-house-and-playing-outside clothes, so I picked up a bunch of pieces for him: dog leggings, “fun dude” tee, Keith Haring skateboard tee, plain pocket tee, joggers, striped tee.

05. Sweetgrass Home sent me the most adorable tissue box cover for my son’s room! I love finding ways to invite different playful patterns into his room. Sometimes it feels like girls get all the fun patterns! You can see more of his room, slowly coming together detail by detail, here. I also picked up this Amazon tissue box cover for my bedroom this week — the pattern looks like Schumacher!

06. I’m usually a color/pattern gal (you know my Lake obsession), but I have been loving this all-black ensemble from Lunya (pajama set + robe), too. The material is divinely soft. For some reason it makes me feel fabulous to wear after I’ve just blown my hair out?

07. A new nook in my writing studio, brought to you by this $119 wicker side table and this cute Anthro tray. I like to keep whatever I’m currently reading on its top — it’s first thing I see when I walk into the room, and it always invites me to read, or to think about what I’m reading.

08. Another gift from Sweetgrass Home: absolutely perfect spring napkins. The ric rac trim! These are the inspiration for my Easter tablescape. I’m imagining a confetti of differently colored tulips for the occasion. The green stems will go perfectly!

A final little shopping note: I have this dress in utility green, this tweed jacket, and this Mille tunic en route to me now. Also selected these jammies for my children for Easter! Now I must figure out what we’ll be wearing for the actual occasion…

And! Appointed is offering 20% off sitewide with code ANNIVERSARY. You might recall these are my favorite notebooks for hand-drafting, note-taking, list-making. They’re gorgeous, and you can have them personalized. The paper has a great weight to it — no bleed through.

P.S. Treat yourself to a mai tai!

P.P.S. What are we reading next?

P.P.P.S. The stove works for you — and other perspectives and secrets from a well-loved kitchen.

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

I’ve changed the title of my Saturday series from “Weekend Vibes” to “Weekend Drafts.” I’m imagining this as more of an off-the-cuff collection of things I’ve gathered, enjoyed, found the week preceding, plus what you’ve been enjoying, too (drawn from comments, purchases, messages, etc!)

+Style inspiration: Wow. Peach is Brie Larson’s color. I can’t get over it! Also, here I am growing my hair out and then I see photos like this and this and wonder what I’m doing!? (P.S., my current hair strengthening routine here).

+Motherhood inspiration: A Magpie sent me this post on the inconvenience of love by Kate C. Bowler and it sat with me all week. “Give me the good, inconvenient work of love. Link my life to others so that their worries become my own. Give me errands I don’t want which ease the burdens of others.” The lines gave me chills, then purpose. Let me be a channel of love!

It also brought to mind one of the most powerful lessons I’ve learned in motherhood, which arrived last year when I was speeding to pick up my daughter from school for a doctor’s appointment and I caught a look at myself in the mirror. I was harried, agitated — frankly stressed by the interruption to my day. I told myself: “Jen, you’re where you need to be. Doing what you need to do. There is no need to rush through or strain against this chore. This is the work of being a mother.” I say these words to myself constantly when I am frayed by the demands of motherhood. This is the work of motherhood. Not only (in fact rarely) when it nests conveniently into my plans.

I shared these sentiments on Instagram this week and was inundated with messages from fellow moms saying: “I needed to hear this today” and “I repeat this to myself constantly since you shared it.” You are not alone in needing to lean on the mantra! (More on this concept in this essay.)

+Drinking: Have you heard of the gin Monkey 47? Mr. Magpie read about it on Reddit and we have been loving it. It almost tastes like a different spirit — much more citrusy than other gins I’ve tried — and it tastes exceptional with Fever Tree tonic and a thick zest of grapefruit (not lime!)

+Launches: Fanm Mon released a beautiful collection of dresses with wedding-focused e-retailer Over the Moon. What I love about the capsule is that it feels delightfully unconcerned with trends, and instead dialed in on its own aesthetic preferences: feminine pieces in ethereal fabrics and lovely pastels. The idea of unexpected bridesmaid dresses suggests itself, but I also thought this would be adorable for a high school or college graduate, and this for an expecting mama.

+Wearing: My delicate signet ring from Catbird, engraved with a “T” for Tilly, arrived this week, and it is such a treasure. I have been layering it with two thin bands with tiny solitaire diamonds (also gifted from Catbird) and a ring I inherited from a great-aunt.

+Shopping: My most exciting shopping this week took place at Alice Walk’s Warehouse Sale! I picked up another tee and sweatshirt. I absolutely love to get dressed, but my uniform during these winter doldrums has been a soft cotton tee layered beneath a sweater or sweatshirt and my looser-fitting jeans. Easy to wear all day at the desk. I am aching for summer, when I can parade around in my fleet of sundresses and caftans (truly my preferred state of being), but for now, soft basics from Alice Walk are helping me add a little zap of color and comfort to my mid-winter wardrobe. ALSO! The Mille sale pieces I featured earlier this week are currently an extra 50% off, meaning this dress is like $60! RUN! I lived in that one last summer.

+Reading: Making my way through my poetry anthology, 1-3 poems per day. It is such a great way to slow time in the mornings, and the first thing I do after my children leave the house. I find it not unlike meditation, forcing me to shut out my galloping thoughts about the day and its plans. My favorite line this week: “Part of a moon was falling down the west, / dragging the whole sky with it to the hills. / Its light poured softly in her lap.” The couplet is from the strange, convention-defying “The Death of the Hired Man” by Robert Frost, which reads more like fiction than poetry, with long passages of dialogue seemingly unbothered with poetic meter, rhyme scheme, etc. It is a long poem but haiku-like in its delicate evocation of a mood, a moment. It lands on soft feet. I also loved the general concept behind Edwin Arlington Robinson’s “Miniver Cheevy,” a poem about an Eeyore type riddled with the curse of perpetual unhappiness, all of life appearing unfair and beneath him. Robinson writes: “Miniver cursed the commonplace / and eyed a khaki suit with loathing,” and I thought to myself: “I’ve known a few Minivers in my time.” A timeless portrait!

+Watching: Making our way through Oscar nominations (we watched “Past Lives,” “Priscilla,” and “Anatomy of a Fall” in the past week or so), with a brief pit stop to watch “The Worst Person in the World,” as suggested by a Magpie reader in response to my empassioned review of “Past Lives.” We’re halfway through it at the time of writing this (Mr. Magpie and I frequently watch movies over the course of two nights), and I was messaging a girlfriend (film aficionado) about it, and she said: “Those quiet type of indie flicks are my fave. Such a nice counter to all the mainstream junk that gets green lit.”

What You Loved This Week.

+The Scent Enclave: Absolutely fascinating rabbit hole of perfume suggestions and seasonal scent preferences happening in the comments section here. I told my husband I felt like I’d stumbled into a Reddit thread! I talked about it briefly in this post, but there is a quiet consensus that Le Labo’s The Noir 29 (shorthanded as TN29 by those in the know) is the scent to wear in the winter. I mentioned this on Instagram and a Magpie said: “Nooo! That’s my secret!!!”

+Films: Exceptionally rich and insightful comments on this year’s Oscar nominees. I loved Aoife’s read on “Past Lives”: “All of these characters orbit her through the motif of fated love, however she is moving through the world and multiple lives so these other characters almost function to explain her living out of these lives — consciously and unconsciously, decisively and indecisively — in all the ways we as the audience do this in our own lives.” And Iris had this to say on the movie’s polarizing pace: “The complaint that the movie was slow or dragging was something that my husband (who is Japanese) and I both really appreciated. The restraint felt very reflective of our cultures, especially the choices that Nora and Hae Sung end up making in the end. Extra love for the movie for just feeling seen in its story.” Jump into the chat here! 

+Shopping: So many of us bought this award-winning $18 caffeine eye cream (I’m using it, too, and I really love the quick-absorbing consistency and even the small tube it comes in — perfect for dotting out just the right amount) and my denim dress from Aligne (runs big!)

A full list of bestsellers below…

01. LE SPECS SUNGLASSES // 02. ALIGNE DRESS // 03. PARIS TEE // 04. FRANK & EILEEN BILLION DOLLAR PANTS // 05. J. CREW POINTELLE CARDIGAN // 06. LEATHER VALET TRAYS // 07. ADIDAS PLATFORM GAZELLES // 08. KOLSVART CANDY // 09. J. CREW TOTE // 10. OLD NAVY KICK FLARES // 11. MILLE CHARLIE TOP // 12. EN SAISON FLORAL DRESS // 13. ROSEMARY HAIR OIL // 14. BEYOU EYE CREAM

P.S. What would your last meal be?

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

ALIGNE GABRIELLA DRESS* // PARIS64 BAG

*Runs big and long. I’m wearing a UK 6. 20% off with code JEN-20

BODEN RAIN COAT // G LABEL CARDIGAN // LESET TEE // SLVRLAKE JEANS // ALTUZARRA BAG // DORSEY HEART ID NECKLACES

CITIZENS JEANS // GOYARD TOTE // VITA GRACE CARDIGAN // CHANEL BALLET FLATS (SIMILAR LOOK FOR LESS)

CARA CARA DRESS // BRINKER & ELIZA EARRINGS // APC GRACE BAG // TALBOTS CARDIGAN (SIMILAR HERE) // ISABEL MARANT DUERTO BOOTS

NIKE INVINCIBLE ROAD RUNNING SNEAKERS // NIKE LEGGINGS // NEW BALANCE VEST // NIKE SOCKS

SHARED ALL DETAILS OF THIS OUTFIT HERE!

P.S. What songs do you secretly love?

P.P.S. Leave the door ajar for joy.

P.P.P.S. Recent children’s finds.

By: Jen Shoop

Sorting through a shoebox of memorabilia earlier this week, I found a photo of myself on the dais at a poetry reading when I was twelve, and behind it, a snapshot of two gift certificates to Crown Books (RIP) — the reward for winning a short story contest I entered the same year. My seventh grade English teacher, Mr. Paul Caulfield (are you out there somewhere?), had encouraged me to apply to both, as had my Uncle Jim, who photocopied short stories by J.D. Salinger and mailed them to me stuffed in thick envelopes, along with notes in blocky all-caps: KEEP WRITING!

I sat in my writing studio and looked at the long, thin line between those photographs and myself. I found each picture a gift from Mnemosyne — and something else, from a fuller pantheon:

Twelve year old me could scarcely believe she deserved a place let alone a ribbon in either of those competitions, and would be astonished to know that, 30 years later, she would be supporting herself as a writer. The $75 in bookstore credit had shocked me: the first time I’d earned money for my words, and it was an embarrassment of riches. (I probably bought a dozen Nancy Drews with it.) But it was Mr. Caulfield standing in the back row of a crowded community center on a Saturday morning, and my mother beside him, on a folding chair, listening to me shakily read my couplets into a microphone, a snow drop with helmet bowed, and my Uncle asking me, “Are you still writing?”, that laid the track.

Will I ever have the goodness of these men?

They set this top spinning. There is no doubt that I sit here at my desk, the squat pen resting between my finger and my thumb, which is to say doing what I love and making a living from it, because of those two voices saying, “Keep going,” and “Why not you?”

Seamus Heaney wrote: “As a child, they could not keep me from wells,” but these men drew me to the winch, and showed me the water beneath, so that now, thirty years later, I draft from Hippocrene.

Post-Scripts.

+All this to say: cultivating someone’s interests, or talents, is powerful. Even the smallest act of noticing — “why did you put that color there?” and “I wondered about the character’s motivations here” and “how did you learn to do that move on ice?” and “I saw you out there on the field and couldn’t take my eyes off you!” — can transform. Challenging myself to pay this forward.

+On pursuing English as a major.

+Shaking hands with a blank page.

+The funny thing about writing is that you are never really successful at it. By that I mean, my job is to put something out into the world and your job is to evaluate its merits, but the two are only in the loosest of conversations with one another, really. Some adjacent thoughts here.

Shopping Break.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+URGENT: Alice Walk is running a warehouse sale, and I bought this tee and this sweatshirt. I also had this weekender sweater and this half zip in my cart, but I have both in multiples already…still, they are among my most-worn everyday knits! Do not miss this gauze shirtdress either — somehow only $85 now. I have been wearing mine in the evenings lately! A great post-shower, pre-bed-time piece.

+The definition of quiet luxury. So chic.

+Last minute addition to my daughter’s birthday gifts: a Stanley water bottle (couldn’t do the enormous one that I’ve seen other girls her age carry — just did this little 14 oz guy) that I’m personalizing with these vinyl letters. I bought an “E” page, an “H” page (for my son), and an “S” page (last name) so that I can customize other items — hockey sticks, helmets, etc. But I might go back and buy a full alphabet sheet and start giving out those Stanley water bottles with a personalizing initial on it as a standard gift for my daughter’s little friends. I 100% stole this idea from Sarah Tucker!

+My daughter has also been begging me for flared leggings she’s seen on her little friends. I bought her these from Athleta, along with some shorts and a sweatshirt from the same brand. This is how she wants to dress!! How did we get here?!

+Just your quarterly reminder to get rid of the crappy oven mitts you have and replace with these. They last forever and actually insulate your hand from the hot pan. I throw them in the wash when dirty and air dry with the lining pulled inside out. I just checked and we bought our pair in 2017 — still holding strong and looking good as new seven years later. That being said, Michael Ruhlman (who has an excellent Substack) wrote a whole blurb about how much he hates oven mitts and how he will only ever use a chef’s “side towels” when handling hot pots and pans. (Spoken like a true chef.) I therefore bought Mr. Magpie his own set of Ruhlman-recommended side towels, and of course he loves them and looks very cheffy with them, too. The shipping is a small fortune (they hail from a real restaurant supply shop, so I’m imagining restaurants buy these in immense quantities that amortize the shipping fee), so I bought a pack from my brother, also a devoted home cook, to give to him when I see him this summer, to make myself feel less guilty about the $20 shipping. He’ll appreciate the detail!

+This reminds me: kitchen items we love that you may not have, and gear to amp up your cooking game.

+I own several dresses from Marea and absolutely adore them all — they are airy, happy, light, easy to throw on and forget about. This one is the latest candidate for election into my closet. Each of the pieces makes me want to put on Bob Marley, mix up a marg, and dance around in bare feet. I wore this one into the ground last year. (Also love the top version of the aforementioned dress — so easy to tuck into white jeans for lowkey polish!)

+A great detail for a dinner party: these cheeky place cards. You could build an entire evening around them!

+The socks I swear by for my son. Have a cute length and mama mia do boys need the grippies on the bottom.

+Two fun and under-$110 pair of sneaks for spring: Golas and Tretorns! Such great color options.

+The kind of dress no one else will have.

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

A little plug: you can sign up for my newsletter here! The Friday Digest is sort of a “week in review” that spotlights things we’re buying, talking about in the comments section, reading, wearing.

I keep a Pinterest board of all of the items that catch my eye from all over the Internet, and pin to it multiple times a day as I encounter new finds. Usually, the board reads like a beautiful and semi-chaotic pastiche, but this week, I opened it up and saw a page of nearly all neutrals. Everything belonged together! I fell in love with the lot of it. Above: the knits remind me of this $128 set from Free People!

Below, my cherry-on-the-top neutral picks…

01. FAITHFULL DRESS. Looks like Zimmermann, but under $300.

02. MIU MIU SLIDES. Looks for less abound but these are pretty fun on the flashiness meter.

03. RAG & BONE SCARF. Imagine layered over a simple ivory cashmere sweater with ecru jeans.

04. MALENE BIRGER DRESS. Expensive but spectacular.

05. JENNIFER FISHER HUGGIES. Elegant but easy to wear every day.

06. LARROUDE MILAN SANDAL. I’ve seen these pop up on chic peas all over the place. Love the hardware and the new raffia material. I have this pair in my cart!

07. J. CREW STRAW TOTE. Love the shape and long handles.

08. DOEN QUINN DRESS. I know we all think we never need to see a smocked bodice dress again, but this one has legs. See it in motion here.

09. HAT ATTACK RAFFIA SLOUCH BAG. A great price for a trendy look.

10. RAG AND BONE MAXINE SHIRT. A classic you’ll have forever. I love the silky quality of this button-down.

11. ISLA AND WHITE DRESS — A new label for me, and wow. Adore the bustier neckline and the pattern reads sophisticated island hopper. It also comes in a fetching caftan silhouette.

12. AGOLDE HARPER CROP JEANS — I love this denim brand. Great shapes that fit real bodies.

13. NAGHEDI ST. BARTHS TOTE — Love the fresh plaid pattern, and how un-precious these are — you can fling them around at the beach, poolside, etc, but they still look polished. (They’re made of neoprene.)

14. CULT GAIA CARISSA MIDI — I’d wager that this dress would get a ton of wear. It’s sophisticated but unfussy, could be worn with flat sandals or a heel, and is the kind of “in between” style that feels right for about any occasion. Baptism, dinner with friends, baby shower, etc!

15. CAMI NYC DRESS — I ordered this. It just leapt out at me! Perfect date night material.

P.S. Chic sneaks.

P.P.S. Easy and delicious weeknight meal.

P.P.P.S. How do you handle chores in your home?

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

Image via. This chic pea is wearing so many of the things I love right now: vest as top (similar here; more options here); J’Adiors (look for less here); a small square tote bag (look for less here). Even love the full tulle skirt — get the look here or here.

Q: I have a Memorial Day weekend wedding to attend, black tie optional.  I am not one for prints….want to look classic but understated. Can you help? Also, I am 54, so don’t want anything too revealing.

A: This Black Halo is a timeless knockout. If you’re looking for something with color, you might consider this warm weather-friendly Damaris Bailey. Dress it up with high heels and big earrings. On the summery side: I also love this, this, and this.

Q: This year, I’m loving all the pants/jeans options but find myself lacking in great tops. I find myself reaching for my AYR button down, but also love my SEA finds for funky and fun. Maybe I need a few basic/classic options? HELP?!

A: I feel like a broken record here, but I reach for these pointelle tees several days a week — like a white tee but more interesting, and so soft. I like the texture/pattern contrast layered beneath a cardigan. I also like my Frank & Eileen Patrick henley in the jersey material for this reason — a good twist on a basic white tee. Stripes are also a great way to mix things up; I love the ones from Kule and Alice Walk. Amazing what a stripe in a fun color can do for your mood! If you’re looking for tops that are less like a tee and more like a statement, check out Mille’s Charlie top (run really big); Emerson Fry’s Frances blouse; and Doen’s Jane blouse. Other good sources: Anthro (love this!), Farm Rio (love this!), Alix of Bohemia (best prints!), Sezane (especially their recent launch!)

Q: Could you do dresses somewhere closer to formal but not traditional black tie for a “black tie preferred” wedding at the end of March in Baltimore? Ordinarily I would just wear black tie but I feel a little odd going full black tie here because the venue is very rustic and somewhat funkier.

A: Hi from down the road in Bethesda! I would look at these options: Zimmermann, Farm Rio, Tuckernuck, Agua Bendita, Anna October, or Doen.

Q: I love the La Ligne Mer jeans but do you have any recs that would work for petites?

A: Try the Veronica Beard Carsons! They’re listed as crops but I own them and they are full length flares on us shorties. (I’m 5’0.)

P.S. More jeans well-suited to petites here.

Q: The raincoat you were wearing on Instagram the other day.

A: This Boden!

Q: A look for less for the Jenni Kayne Cooper cardigan.

A: I got you!

Q: Dad sandals. Love the Chanels and Guccis but less expensive.

A: I just got these ($130!) in the raffia but also love the other color options. (The shape / raffia pattern remind me of the LRs, which are twice as expensive.) Also think the backless Glyn sandals from See by Chloe are super chic (on super sale here; more sizes here).

Q: Spring tote bag for mom life.

A: A Naghedi in a bold color that can add fun to whatever you’re wearing — jeans and a tee, leggings, a simple dress. Ditto a Dragon Diffusion. Also thought these monogram totes were fun, as are the canvas options from Kule!

Q: Daytime garden party wedding.

A: Anything Cara Cara! Also love this Tuckernuck, this Ref, this Wayf.

Q: Low-heel Easter Sunday shoes to wear with a floral dress.

A: These Larroudes, or I think you could go with an elegant flat sandal like this or this.

Q: Dress for my son’s First Communion.

A: I’d reach for something like this, this, this, or this!

Q: Seashell earrings.

A: Love the ones from RDR. You can also sometimes find in great condition on TRR. (Not seashells, but I own these earrings and LOVE them for dressier occasions or just dressing up a tee/simple dress.). Different vibe but also chic: these $13 earrings!

P.S. A cold spring.

P.P.S. Things must end to begin again.

P.P.P.S. What advice do people seek you out for?

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

I have to say, Hailey Bieber in these St. Laurent Sulpice sunglasses had me contemplating the style seriously. Once I tumbled out of my stupor, I realized I could get the look for less with classic Ray Bans. This inspired me to put together a little roundup of trending pieces for less. (BTW, has anyone tried Bieber’s beauty line, Rhode? I know people go insane over their new product drops. I think there was a wait list to check out for the most recent one? The peptide lip treatment is $16 and seems to be similar in concept to our Magpie favorite UBeauty lip plasma.)

Anyhow, 12 trending finds for less…

01. If you love the Dragon Diffusion totes, you might like this J. Crew style.

02. If you love my Veronica Beard vest, you might like this or this.

03. If you love the Julia Amory Betty dress, you might like this J. Crew.

04. If you like the Doen Skylark top, you might like this Anthro.

05. If you like the Jenni Kayne Cooper sweater, you might like this Modern Citizen style.

06. If you like the Loeffler Randall mesh flats, you might like these Dolce Vitas.

07. If you like this Agua Bendita maxi dress, you might like this Tuckernuck.

08. If you like the La Ligne Mini Marina sweater, you might like this Quince.

09. If you like Staud’s mini Vincent dress, you might like this English Factory.

10. If you like the Loeffler Randall platform raffia sandals, you might likes these.

11. If you love Loewe’s raffia bag, you might like this J. Crew option.

12. If you love the St. Laurent Sulpice sunglasses, you might like these classic Ray Bans.

P.S. February Amazon finds.

P.P.S. My favorite details in my son’s room.

P.P.P.S. On taking your own joy seriously.

By: Jen Shoop

Which movie do you think deserves the Oscar for Best Picture next Sunday (3/10)? ( A full list of nominations here.)

We have an ambitious viewing program to watch several that we’ve not yet seen (or that were just released) over the next ten days, but I want to make a heartfelt plug for “Past Lives,” a quiet, resonant movie written and directed by Celine Song about the people we meet in life, and the connections we make or miss with them. The story asks: can we reclaim the lost ones, and at what costs? The movie’s grappling with the age-old tango between fate and coincidence is refreshingly modern, especially woven as it is into an immigrant story: how can Nora (nee Na Young) choose between a childhood friend-turned-long-distance-confidante, with his ties to their hometown of Seoul, and someone she has learned to love almost out of convenience, or happenstance (she meets her husband at an artist’s retreat, and they advance their wedding date in order to procure her green card)? And is she choosing, anyway? Or is her romantic arrangement pre-ordained? The movie makes much of the Korean concept of “In-Yun,” or the notion that in our incarnations past and future, we have encountered and will encounter certain special people to whom we will be drawn over and over again. Midway through the film, Nora rejects the concept as a romanticization, but Hae Sung’s whole-hearted embrace of “In-Yun” as an explanation for why they cannot be together lodges firm at the other end of the line.

I could not take my eyes off of Teo Yoo (Hae Sung), who acts beautifully with his eyes, and with his body, too. The subtlest movement of his hands — say, the pushing of a suitcase to his side, or their stiff placement at his sides — communicates volumes. I cannot believe he was not nominated for Best Actor. It’s not that I don’t appreciate a Cillian Murphy or a Paul Giamatti, but this was a movie of intimate, artful scale, without much apparatus around its quiet script, and he shone brightly and believably in its center. On this point: the pace is meaningfully slow, and the dialogue dances effortlessly between the convincingly extemporary and the profound. I think it is heartily deserving of its Oscar nomination, though it is difficult to imagine it squaring off against the gargantuan proportions of an “Oppenheimer” or “Barbie.” For this reason, I doubt it will win, but I wish it would. Perhaps Song will win for best screenplay? (I enjoyed “The Holdovers,” which is somewhat similar in scale (dialed in on the dynamics of a relationship) and also nominated for best screenplay, but I find no contest comparing the two on the merits of craft and theme: “Past Lives” is melodic and full-bodied in ways “The Holdovers” is not.)

Of course, reflecting on “Past Lives,” I find yet another instance of Gretel and her breadcrumbs: in one review of “Past Lives,” film critic David Ehrlich draws a connection between Celine Song and Richard Linklater, writing: “On paper, “Past Lives” might sound like a diasporic riff on a Richard Linklater romance — one that condenses the entire “Before” trilogy into the span of a single film. In practice, however, this gossamer-soft love story almost entirely forgoes any sort of “Baby, you are gonna miss that plane” dramatics in favor of teasing out some more ineffable truths about the way that people find themselves with (and through) each other.” Ehrlich concludes: “It’s a movie less interested in tempting its heroine with “the one who got away” than it is in allowing her to reconcile with the version of herself he kept as a souvenir when she left.” Perfectly put, but of course, I would have lacked all reference points were it not for you Magpies, who upvoted the Linklater “Before” trilogy in my recent request for under-the-radar romantic comedies (see the full crowd-sourced list here). Astounding, how often it is that we find the exact words, references, texts we need at the exact right moment. I continue to live by asterism, a realization that feels perfectly at home within the hazy after-math of “Past Lives.”

Please watch!

And circle back to share your thoughts.

What are your bets for the Oscars?

Post Scripts.

+It’s OK if you don’t have the answers.

+If you’re debating jumping into something, take a page out of my Dad’s book: “You’re gonna love it.“

+Dear Dad, you were right.

Let’s Go Shopping.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

+This $110 skirt looks just like SEA. I’m digging the idea of styling a full white skirt a la Doen, who was running this chic ad I can no longer find of a gal wearing the skirt with a gray sweatshirt like this. You can see me in a white circle skirt from Staud here, too — looks for less here and here.

+If you’re thinking about a low-key Oscars party at home, may I put in a plug for truffle popcorn, Kolsvart candy, and champagne? Theater snacks, gussied up!

+This dress sold out once but was restocked. She’s perfect for spring — very flattering. Runs TTS.

+This striped button-back top is adorable as a part of the matching set, or with white pants/jeans. Also love J. Crew’s just-launched Quinn ballet flat – perfect for those of us curious about the mesh trend but not willing to go all the way.

+As the thaw sets in, I have to mention that I own this top in several patterns, and it’s on sale for 50% in several right now (of course, I also love the full price options…). SO good to tuck into jeans for those first few milder days of spring. This brand runs really big. You can size down one or two sizes. I also lived in one of their Saffron dresses all last summer, and this cheerful pink floral is 50% off ($119!). Also runs really big, FYI. So easy to toss on and go!

+Fun denim silhouette.

+Tuckernuck re-released its ruffle collar Louise dress in a pretty spring floral. A great way to get the Thierry Colson look for less.

+My most-worn bag last summer. Super roomy and no one else has anything like it. I promise you will be the talk of the town! I already pulled it out for the spring/summer season. I’m wearing woven bags now.

+It was mild enough to wear this rain coat / lightweight jacket yesterday! Such fun colors.

+In the fitness lane, currently eyeing these dry-fit tanks, these Vuori sports bras, and this perfect half-zip. I have the Amazon lookalike for the Lulu half-zip, which I love, and which means I do not need another, but…the color!

+These underwear are a splurge and I only have one pair that I compulsively grab out of the laundry basket as soon as clean, but how fun in the new maritime stripe with the matching tank or bra?!

By: Jen Shoop

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.

A little digest of discoveries and micro-trends on my mind at the moment.

01. Waistcoats as tops. Aligne sent me the gorgeous black one above (20% off with code JEN-20) and I wore it to dinner at Petite Cerise on Friday with some friends. I felt like a proper lady, especially because I paired it with my Dior slingbacks, out on their maiden voyage (10/10 would not recommend from a comfort standpoint, but damn are they chic! — you can usually find a good cache of them on TRR. Caveat emptor!). Similar waistcoat looks here, here, here, here. I prefer the ones with a bit more length versus the cropped styles, which feel a bit costumey to me?

Originally, I wore with these Spanx kick flares, but I swapped out for my denim Gap kick fits because I felt too all-business, and the frayed hem dressed everything down. The bag is FRP Collection, and I wrapped a vintage Pucci scarf (TRR is again a treasure trove for this kind of thing) around the handle; earrings are Brinker & Eliza, and under $100 — I get so much wear out of these, and reach for them when I want something that skews modern, as I tend towards classics/feminine.

02. Perfumes! Magpies have created a vibrant little “scent enclave” in the comments section here, sharing their favorite seasonal perfumes and layering techniques. One of the brands that came up a lot in the still-unfolding exchange: Le Labo, and specifically its The Noir 29 (shorthanded as TN29). Color me intrigued! My first interaction with Le Labo was in San Francisco, when I stayed at the Mark and discovered toiletries from the brand in the bathroom. I immediately ordered a set for myself, and don’t know why it hasn’t crossed my mind to revisit the brand since. I’m contemplating ordering to test myself; my go-tos for the past two years have been Byredo’s Blanche (a fabulous clean scent that is easy to layer with other scents) and Mojave Ghost (my tippy top favorite — immediately makes me feel more elegant, pulled-together, and interesting), and Jo Malone’s English Pear and Freesia (which my girlfriend and I call “The Midge Perfume” — it smells like something a fancy woman who wears silk scarves and leather gloves would wear, in the best way). The perfume brand Who Is Elijah just coincidentally reached out to me this week, too, and is sending me some samples to try (I requested their woody-floral Nomad based on description, and also this sampler set). A Magpie commented: “I’ve used Who Is Elijah in the last 12 months. They’re an Australian niche fragrance start-up whose goal is to make luxury, niche-quality fragrances at an accessible price point without compromising on the perfumes. I’ve worn Eau and it’s sexy and summery while also being intriguing for the cold months. I’ve read great things about Nomad and His/Her from the range.” Please join the conversation with your favorite scents!

03. Chartreuse! I think I started loving this color because of Julia Berolzheimer, who often wears it paired with other rich and vibrant gem tones. A few items in this colorway that I adore: this silky suit, this short-sleeved cardigan from Zara, this top from Sandro, and this clutch from Cult Gaia.

04. I’ve been seeing variations on this Khaite hoop bag all over the place, including here and here for less.

05. I haven’t worn a slip dresses in a hot minute, but I had to order this Cami NYC. It leapt off the page! I immediately imagined styling it with a jean jacket? (Who am I?) I ordered it for a little romantic overnight getaway with Mr. Magpie coming up soon, along with this red dress as back-up option.

06. SoldOut just launched an “everything shirt.” This brand is very serious about nailing the basics, and a great starting point if you’re looking to source the ingredients of a well-made capsule wardrobe.

07. Mentioned this yesterday, but Sezane really killed their latest Rome-inspired collection, which launched on Sunday and promptly sold out in many styles. I can’t believe their Domitille dress is still fully stocked — I ran for this one because I wore a long-sleeved rib knit dress of theirs with a similar, non-itchy material composition all winter long. The colors are very Missoni. Loveee and cannot wait to style with a straw/woven bag and leather sandals. Also wanted to mention that if you liked the little roundup of lace/macrame jackets I shared on Saturday, you may love this sweater from Sezane.

P.S. Beauty favorites I can’t live without.

P.P.S. The friendships of my girlhood.

P.P.P.S. I worry (too much).

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