A couple of fabulous fashion finds for under $200 — most well under $100. I love the way these more reasonably priced pieces can empower me to try newer/trendier styles and shapes, like an open-weave jacket, or striped poplin pajama pants. Happy shopping!
Q: What to wear to an afternoon church wedding followed by a reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres at a museum in the coastal south in June? Second wedding for my widowed father in law. Most guests in 70s.
A: Congratulations to him! I would wear a pretty floral dress like this, this, this, or this. Something sweet and summery but not too dressy.
Q: A spring jacket.
A: I own and adore this reversible style, which seems to go with everything in my closet. Two other quilted floral jackets in a similar vein to contemplate to get the vibe for less (both under $100): this J. Crew Factory and this navy blockprint/stripe option. I have been wearing my Everlane quilted liner jacket A TON though for the last few weeks. It’s warm enough to handle 40-50 degree mornings but lightweight enough for slightly warmer temps, too. It’s currently on sale for under $100, and I would ABSOLUTELY recommend buying in that chic tawny brown color before it sells. out.
On the sportier side, I really love these Stutterheim Mosebacke rain jackets. IMO, they are totally suitable for everyday wear thrown on over whatever you’re wearing, whether it’s raining or not. I’ve had my eye on one for ages. More color options here.
And! I’ve mentioned this a few times, but am really loving the look of boxy Barbour jackets right now. I have been wearing this oversized Bedale. Looks SO good with classic fit jeans and a feminine top. (See me in this look here.)
A: I was just reading about the swimsuit brand Stylest, which are specifically designed to help you feel your best. They have a “swim solution finder” where you can indicate the areas you want to flaunt versus shape/be more modest with what you don’t. I love this one-piece and the matching swim cardigan. Also really like this rash guard / high waist swimsuit bottom from Nat Note’s new collab with Dillard’s. So unexpectedly chic and fun but modest.
Q: Pool slides. Have Freedom Moses, other option?
A: These Bottegas are loud and fun (and half off), and I love the look of these matte pastel wavy two-strap slides (under $50!). I also just dug out these Valentino bow-topped flip flops (look for less with these) for the summer ahead. Glad I hung onto them.
Q: Black sandals for every day.
A: Hermes Orans or the “inspired-by” style from French Sole. I also really love the well-made styles from Ancient Greek, like these, or the sleek and refined styles (very The Row but less expensive) from Aeyde, like these.
Q: I feel like an idiot, but I can’t really tell time. I can with a few seconds of focus, but not that “glance at my watch and know what time it is” way. Are you aware of any attractive digital watches? I have searched high and low and can’t find anything. I don’t want an Apple Watch. Help!!
A: My husband routinely ribs that I cannot tell time since it also takes me a split second too long to read the clock! You’re not alone (and not an idiot!) – ha! I spent a decent amount of time looking for this and far and away my favorite style was this Nixon one with the bracelet band. I wear a gold bangle every day and could see it looking lovely stacked together with this watch. It’s surprisingly feminine! If you’re looking for something sportier, I do like the slim style of this FitBit. Even if you don’t use all the features, it looks like a sleeker/slimmer version of the Apple Watch, but not Apple. Plus, you can swap out the bands for more delicate styles from this Etsy shop.
Q: 2-2.5″ special heels (block – it’s on grass) for my wedding.
A: Congratulations, friend! Let’s see — these are so, so sweet. Love the little bow popping out beneath a bridal gown. Alternately, these Alexandre Birmans are classic, and I love a pearl detail. I’ve also heard these heel covers can be worn over the heel of your choice for walking in grass and then removed when you’re at the reception, in case you really love a pair with a kitten heels — this or this would be gorgeous.
Q: Evening shoes. Wedding guest dresses for Paris wedding.
A: Lots of shoe requests this batch! FUN summer plans ahead! My top picks for versatile heels that can be worn with basically any cocktail/formal dress are either Alexandre Birman’s Clarita, Aquazzura’s So Nude sandals, or Larroude’s Annie (comes in other colors, but gold/black are probably most versatile). For something with a lower heel, I love these from Larroude. A few other trendier options depending on dress code: these puffy raffia sandals, these platforms, these hot pink babies (on super sale), or these Aquazzura twists. I’ve also been seeing a lot of these heels with the slightly pointed/elongated foot bed — like these and these — trending.
Q: An everyday slip-on sandal for summer that makes me feel trendy.
A: You need this pair from J. Crew! A more approachable/feminine/summery take on the dad sandal / Birk.
By: Jen Shoop
Amazon recently came in handy when we decided to go away on a last minute trip to Deep Creek Lake and I wanted to stock up on some car/restaurant activities for the children. The items showed up over night, just in time for our departure! I ordered a few Usborne sticker books (this for my son; this for my daughter), an Usborne maze book, these classic auto bingo cards (I think they were the exact same ones I had growing up?!), and a little parcel of tiny troll dolls which actually had more legs to them than I thought — I find toys this size (same goes for those animal toobs they love) entertain them endlessly! I surprised them with two each during a low point of the car trip and then gave them the rest on the drive home, and they were thrilled. They were also very into the Auto Bingo cards. My son didn’t quite “get” it in that he kept insisting he’d seen things we knew he hadn’t, and this irritated my daughter, who was playing very competitively, but it was even a fun solo activity for her, and it really helped us out since she tends to get carsick when focused on coloring books / things in her lap for a long while. This kept her engaged, with her head up, and also made for great conversation for the whole family. (E.g., “Has anyone seen a silo? What do they keep in silos?”)
I’ve also been a little behind on ordering gifts for the birthday party circuit, but a few of my recent go-tos that typically arrive within a day:
Two other quick asides and then I’ll stop editorializing:
1) this is such a great book for little kids. It’s currently my favorite to read to my son at bedtime, and Mr. Magpie liked it so much we had an extensive conversation about it. The illustrations are fantastic and the messaging is that we all see things differently. It’s a beautiful way to present that concept visually to a young audience.
2) This superfood cleanser just arrived and it is fantastic. It lathers beautifully, smells wonderful, and leaves skin feeling fresh but not tight. It won an Allure award which is usually pretty convincing for me, and it has lived up to the hype. Also appreciate that the price point is half what I normally pay for cleanser (I have been using Tata Harper forever). I ordered mine on Amazon because I wanted it to arrive immediately, but it is also included in the Sephora sale in case you want to try while on rare promotion!
I spent most of the summers of my childhood in Colorado. That other, not-home place to which I returned every July during the most formative years of my life has shaped me in profound ways I am only now beginning to understand. In Colorado, I watched my father fly-fish for hours on the banks of the Roaring Fork. I learned many things about how to live well by observing him in this solitary pursuit: patience, the thoughtful cultivation of technique, comfort in one’s own company, the forbearance to try again after failure. I also learned to entertain myself while crouching on the banks in the shadow of the Aspens: I packed books and notebooks and toys, but I also improvised designs with rocks and flowers, leapt from boulder to boulder, poked around the trees and water.
My father had a shorter temper back then (sorry, Dad, but you did) thanks to a high-stress, high-profile law career and five young children at home, but the mountain air unspooled him. When I think of my Dad, I often think of him happily traipsing down Ute trail in bermuda shorts and black circular sunglasses, his fishing net jostling on his back behind him, a look of open bemusement on his face. He was baldly enamored of the Rockies and the crystalline water of the streams and the whistling silver Aspen trees, and I learned from his open-hearted proclamations of joy that it was good and right to praise nature in its presence. I also learned that nature could be a tonic, could stand as a counterbalance against or cure from the tremendous grind of adult life.
I am realizing, as I write today, that I got a lot of my father during those summers in Aspen. He worked hard, long hours during the rest of the year, but in Aspen, he was on true sabbatical. I can’t recall him doing any work while we were there; he was available to me in ways he wasn’t at home. And so those summers gave me my dad, and the many wisdoms that he carries with him and seems to share so easily, off-handedly, almost without thought. There are about two thousand I could cite but the one that seems to leap onto my page today: I was behind the wheel, and I made a snarky comment about a biker that was driving erratically through auto traffic, and my Dad said — not harshly, almost conversationally — “Don’t ever take a biker lightly. If you hit a biker, it will be the worst day of your life. You’ll never get over it.” To this day, I think of him whenever I pass a biker, and I realize what he was really saying was: “Take tremendous care with the people around you.” That is my Dad: primum non nocere. Do no harm. Give people space, a wide berth.
My one Colorado learning that is untethered from my Dad has to do with the sensation of standing at the crest of a mountain by myself. Even when I was with my siblings or parents, I felt like the last person on earth. I was standing on top of the world, light-headed from the altitude and the modest victory of making it to the summit, and the air was both thin and strident. It was a pleasant kind of vertigo: I recall feeling simultaneously solitary and expansive, a tiny tree in a forest and equally the last one standing. In those moments, I witnessed both my smallness and my wild possibility. I felt myself expand into and contract from the blue air around me. I was everything and nothing.
I think about that sensation when I need to get a grip, and it’s easiest to channel when I’m outside, even if I’m not standing amidst the majesty of the Rockies. It is healthful, I think, to dissolve yourself in this way: to fold into the world, to erase the heaviness of your gait, to remember that you are just eyes and a heart like any other creature who belongs to this earth. Paradoxically, it is that sensation of smallness that restores to me my own potential:
That I am here as I should be,
Living out my one chance in this place,
And that I must “walk slowly and bow often,” as Mary Oliver put it,
But also make something of myself: if not a flame, then a surface to project light.
+During our summers there, we would occasionally attend Sunday Mass at a remote monastery by Snowmass. The services were achingly beautiful. I wrote about them here.
+My Dad has a lot of great advice, but here is one of my favorites: “You’re gonna love it.” I know many of you Magpies have been repeating this to yourselves on the precipice of something new.
Shopping Break.
+This polka dot dress is a total classic. It’s giving Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. So elegant. Imagine with kitten heels like these.
+Currently obsessing over everything from Alix of Bohemia. Love this top, this dress, and these pants! Truly the prettiest pieces.
+My flower pendant necklace arrived and I’m obsessed. It is going to be so fun to layer all summer long. You can get the look for less with this.
+I just recently discovered the brand St. Roche and they have so many gorgeous eyelet pieces — I’m drawn to this strapless dress, these shorts, and this LBD.
+This under-$100 maxi dress reminds me a lot of my Mille dress I’ve been wearing around the clock. My ideal writing dress.
+Did you get anything from the Sephora sale? I shared some favorite beauty buys for spring here, some of which are available at Sephora, and some of which aren’t, but I did buy this cleanser and this cheek color from Sephora.
+In that beauty post, I wrote about wanting a big travel cosmetics kit that can actually fit everything in one place. One other option I came across recently: this clear style. Look at how big it is and with such thoughtful compartments? Also nice that it’s clear so you can find everything easily.
+Having spent a week of last summer at the beach, it is really nice to have a covered area for your little ones. This pop up tent is clever. Could be used wherever, even if camping, on beach, etc.
+This eyelet-trim caftan from H&M is incredible! So chic with a pair of simple leather sandals.
+Love this little tennis skirt with the bright grosgrain trim.
+This enormous silicone painting mat would be clever for little children undertaking an art project.
Today through April 20th, Shopbop is offering 15% off orders of $200+, 20% off orders of $500+, and 25% off orders of $800+ with code STYLE.
I wanted to spotlight this under-$100 blazer as a great essential to buy at a discount (bundled with something else). I styled it here, heavily inspired by an outfit Gwyneth Paltrow wore maybe a decade ago that I still think of regularly, with these trousers from Joe’s Jeans and a Louis Vuitton pochette that I’ve owned since college. I wanted this little bag so badly and Mr. Magpie bought it for me as a birthday gift when I was turning 20. I wore it everywhere. I recently pulled it out of retirement to wear out one evening, and I was tickled to find some nearly identical vintage ones available at Shopbop. It’s not included in the sale but I had to share. This particular style gives me such a strong sensation of nostalgia for my youth.
The blazer looks much higher end than the price tag suggests and comes in both navy and black (I’m wearing navy). I love the classic gold buttons and slightly exaggerated lapels. It runs a tad big. I took the XS and it felt a tiny bit oversized (perhaps the style). The arms are too long for me (I’m 5’0) so I will need to wear with them sort of pushed up to the elbow as I’ve done here, or possibly contemplate tailoring if I end up wearing a lot. If you are looking to make an investment in the blazer area, though, you might consider this Veronica Beard, which is also included in the sale, and is 20% off with code STYLE. I have heard the best things about their blazers. I have a few other pieces from VB that I love! Always impeccably tailored and great quality.
A few items in my closet that I absolutely adore and are also included in the sale:
01. STAUD CROPPED SWEATER — Such a fun and punchy addition to my spring knitwear repertoire. I always gets stopped when I wear this sweater! I love how it looks paired with high-waisted denim.
02. LE SPECS SUNGLASSES — My favorite pair, ever. I own this style in three colors but I wear these caramel ones constantly.
03. AGOLDE RILEY CROPPED JEANS — These are my new go-to jeans. For a long time, I wore a pair by Madewell, and then I tried the Citizen’s Charlotte style, but these are my stand-out favorite. The pair I always reach for in my drawer. They are really comfortable and very flattering on the leg. They do have a button fly, which I don’t love, but I’ve made peace with it because I just love the way these jeans fit. I took a size up and could probably fit fine into my true size as my pair are a bit big in the waist — but these feel great a little looser since they don’t have any stretch. Could not love these more.
04. ALEXANDRE BIRMAN CLARITAS — A great wardrobe investment. These will literally go with any cocktail/evening dress you have and they never feel dated. I bought a pair over a decade ago and they’re still my first pick for dressier events.
05. STAUD WELLS DRESS (ALSO AVAILABLE IN BLACK) — Your Audrey Hepburn moment. This dress runs TTS, fits like a dream, and makes you feel like a million bucks. It runs generally TTS but you might be able to size down if you are narrow in the waist / if your waist is the smallest part of you, as I did this and the dress fits like a DREAM.
JULIET DUNN TIE SHOULDER DRESS — I’VE EYED THIS BRAND FOR SEVERAL SEASONS AND JUST COULDN’T RESIST THE PATTERN/COLORS ON THIS ONE
XIRENA MACYN TOP — HAVE BEEN HAVING THE BEST LUCK WITH XIRENA BLOUSES THIS YEAR! THIS ONE IS REALLY FUN AND WOULD LOOK GREAT TUCKED INTO HIGH-WAIST SHORTS
MILLE OLYMPIA DRESS — I OWN THIS IN A DIFFERENT PATTERN BUT WISH I HAD THIS ONE INSTEAD…IT IS SO SWEET AND SUMMERY! FUN TO MATCH WITH ANOTHER BOLD COLOR BY WAY OF JEWELRY/A HANDBAG. THIS BRAND RUNS BIG — SIZE DOWN
SEA FLUTTER TOP — I OWN THIS IN PINK AND IT’S SUCH A FUN STATEMENT…EASY WAY TO ADD COLOR AND INTEREST INTO YOUR WARDROBE. JUST PAIR WITH WHITE JEANS
A week ago, we attended the White House Egg Roll. We’d never been before and it was deeply memorable: perfect azure-sky weather, a lot for the children to see and do, time in the historic center of our nation, and the shock of realizing that going on these little adventures as a family has gotten easier. This last insight tossed me off center, as I routinely mourn my now-gone baby days. The other day, I saw a beautiful video on Instagram in which a baby was smiling and cooing at his father and found tears streaming down my cheeks. I remember those early connections, the way they left me hopeful and intact. The way I felt needed, deserving. I write so much about the agony of watching your babies grow and the pique of wondering: “Did I adequately treasure every first and last?” I find myself sniffling over the outgrown jon jons and placing my hand over my heart when early videos return my daughter’s squeaky, lispy baby voice to me.
And yet. Last Monday greeted me with fresh insight: “Every phase is a good phase.” Yes, the baby years are laden with sweetness and innocence, but this one we’re living out today is just as beautiful, and, dare I say it, less demanding? My children were remarkably patient and enduring in the face of long walks and wait times; we suffered no strollers, meltdowns, or disasters. It occurred to me that life has gotten much simpler in this regard: they have more stamina, more forbearance. I saw us as a unit, building core memories together in ways that felt less frenetic and tinged-by-possible-toddler-inflicted-calamity than ever before. There was no racing home for a nap time, or desperately trying to head off a meltdown with just-in-time snacks, or prying my child’s arms from the Easter Bunny. The day stretched out amicably in front of us, and we laughed at jokes and sang the songs from Trolls (my children’s current favorite soundtrack) and talked about who lives in the White House, and what happens at the Capitol, and my son asked me if God made the Washington Monument, and I didn’t know what to say and so we talked around the subject until he was satisfied.
Still, on the Metro ride from Bethesda downtown, I could not stop staring at the way my son’s still-tiny legs jutted out straight over the edge of the seat, his feet flopping pigeon-toed over every bump and screech in the track. He clasped his hands together in focus, and his saucer-like eyes absorbed everything on the train and outside of it. It was the sweetest reminder, this treasured mama’s view (and his complete lack of self-awareness in it), that he is still so little. Young enough to still want to hold my hand, flop into my lap, clutch at my skirts while waiting in line, and yet sturdy enough to withstand a substantive and stimulating half-day excursion, walking almost the entire 4 miles we clocked himself. (One of the most useful things I learned from my daughter’s first Montessori: children can walk their ages in miles. If they complain about tired legs…well, they have more juice than you think.)
Mr. Magpie and I were on cloud nine on the Metro ride home, ambitiously planning family Nats trips and tickets to the new Lion King performance at The Kennedy Center, and I looked over at my family and felt nearly overrun by happiness. I thought to myself: I am happy for what I have while I have it. I can miss my babies, but I must also embrace them as they are now, before I misplace those tiny loafered feet, and the way his hands still play idly at my hem, and his teardrop eyes as he says: “Mama, you know what? I love you. I love you-hoo-hoo.” He uses this formula all the time: the question to get my attention; the affirmation of love; and then the silly hooting sounds at the end, and —
Oh, friends —
Every phase is a good phase.
If you are weaning, or selling the bassinet, or sending your little one off to school, or retiring the car seats, or helping your son pack for college —
Lean into this: Every phase is a good phase, because your baby is at the center of it.
+I am wearing my trusty Maxwell and Geraldine Kate dress, which is sort of my “go-to travel/adventure dress” because it’s very comfortable, has a nice midi length (not maxi – so easier to walk in/go up steps in), and looks great on its own or beneath a cardigan for varying temps. It also washes nicely in the laundry. I am wearing my trusty Loeffler Randall leonies because they are SO comfortable. I walked four miles in them that day and didn’t once think about my feet. THE MOST COMFORTABLE FLAT I’ve ever worn. Wondering if I need them in another color…maybe will wait until fall and buy something seasonal for then.
+Micro is wearing these Oso and Me pants, which never fail to garner compliments. Oso and Me pieces are specifically designed to “grow with the child” so he will easily get a full two summers of wear out of them! He’s been loving these adorable little Janie and Jack drivers, and this oatmeal-colored rollneck sweater has actually surprised me with a lot of mileage so far this season.
+I meant to mention in my beauty post on Friday that I’m ordering this inexpensive facial sunscreen I keep hearing people rave about. $16? Yes please. Love an unfussy, inexpensive staple. That said, this Supergoop sunscreen remains my absolute favorite for pool days. It applies so easily and really stays put.
+Gorgeous sunshine yellow cocktail dress. I’m imagining with big earrings like these.
+A great inexpensive bag for toting beach toys / gear.
+A bunch of really great DVF styles just landed at The Outnet — how chic is this pink print mini, this bird-print mini, and this broderie anglaise style? I feel like DVF is really stretching out its fashion wings, as none of them look super “DVF” to me, not that I don’t also love her classic styles. But the patterns are more Erdem and the shapes more Cara Cara? Just feel FRESH!
+Another Saloni slam dunk. I truly love this brand. I have a bunch of their dresses I’ve purchased over the years — I would guess that Saloni and Ulla Johnson are the most-represented dress labels in my closet. They offer such gorgeous, tailored silhouettes.
+I bought my children these rubber velcro-backed sandals for outdoor water play. The last two summers, they’ve worn these, which you kind of can’t beat for the price. They’re lightweight, velcro in the back, entirely waterproof, come in great colors, never seem to give my children blisters — and they’re $10. Both great options. However (!) My daughter has been begging me (?) for flip-flops! How does she know what they are? These bow ones are kind of sweet (also find some on sale at Zulily here) and they remind me of my Valentino ones. I actually hung onto those and still pull them out from time to time. Or maybe it is time to introduce her to the world of Jack Rogers…
+These wavy glass straws are in my cart for summer beverages.
+This sofa is super-similar to the one our interior designer sourced for us and had custom upholstered. I love the slightly modern shape given that we are pretty traditional in the furnishings of our home.
+I love this Liberty-floral-esque sweatshirt. (Imagine paired with a little white tennis skirt.) You can twin with your mini in it!
+We have and love these pasta storage bins. I know it sounds extraneous, but we do buy dried pasta in bulk from Gustiamo up in NYC, and so it’s great to decant the enormous bags into smaller, airtight bins. We’re big pasta people. We probably eat it once a week! (This pasta dish would be my preferred final meal on earth.)
By: Jen Shoop
This week, I spent a lot of time reading (and listening to — I’m currently trying a new mode in which I listen to a few chapters via audiobook and then pick it up on paper to continue reading) Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. She is wonderfully funny and passionate in winning ways. I find her words — ostensibly pointed at the subject of writing, but with lessons that arc over into other realms — deeply encouraging both as a writer and a human. Worth a read whether or not you are trying to give writing a go.
(And P.S., if you are trying to write, I did share some thoughts on how to get started here, with some practical tips, to which I would add/underscore that having good, designated paper to receive your thoughts is a great starting point. I open my little Appointed notebook and immediately find myself in a different, more curious headspace. It is low-stakes and inviting. I am also absolutely loving this task notebook from the brand, which I use more for lists, including quick writing prompt inspo to return to on a later day.)
The vignettes above represents a personal Mount Helicon. I was alone on our back porch on a warm, sunny spring afternoon haloed by birds and bees, enjoying an iced coffee and a thought provoking book, and taking sporadic notes by hand. I used to be a big marginalia girl, but I’ve forfeited that habit because I also often lend my books to people and am then gripped with worry over what I annotated, since a lot of it is half-baked gibberish. Of course, that underdevelopment is very much part of the reading process, and I find jotting my way through provisionally formed observations useful. But I do not need my brother’s friend wondering why I was drawing a butterfly here or spitballing: “Kant?” there. Most of them prove to be red herrings.
At the same time, I love inheriting books that are underlined, asterisked, and notated to high hell: a second discursive layer to the text itself. Did you know that the central narrative in Nabokov’s novel Ada, or Ardor, takes place in the fictional marginalia? He was challenging narrative conventions, and making enormous, stampeding claims about the relationship between text, author, and audience, but the rhetorical emphasis stuck with me. More often than not, those notes in the margins are windows into the inner lives of a reader. I suppose I feel a tad exposed leaving mine out there.
How do you read? Pen in hand? In complete silence? Via audiobook? Some sporadic thoughts on these matters:
+My favorite audiobooks. (Please, please, listen to Tom Hanks narrate The Dutch House! You are in for such a wild treat.)
That beautiful session on the patio was a strong peak of the week, but a few other things that caught my attention:
+I wrote an essay on motherhood and the myth of balance for childrenswear brand Danrie’s burgeoning blog. I shared a bit about this new children’s boutique earlier this month, but I am completely enamored with the curation and the team. I was ecstatic to lend my pen to them, and it gave me the space I needed to round out some of my meandering thoughts and insights on the subject of balance that sprouted here.
+Related, my daughter has been living in this sweet reversible jacket Danrie sent over. She has gotten into a pickier phase when it comes to dressing (one of the only things we regularly agree on are these TBBC play dresses) but she loves this little coat. A perfect weight for the season and the pattern seems to go with everything. Despite the thumbs down below, she was having the time of her life hunting for Easter eggs and eating cupcakes with her cousins on Easter.
+My daughter was on spring break last ten days and we kept her very busy with trips to the museum, zoo, White House, and two days of ballet camp. On Wednesday, though, I took the morning off to ferry her to her annual physical, then to pick out soccer cleats, and then to lunch with my parents. It was so incredibly special to have that one-on-one time with her, to see her dancing to Taylor Swift in the back seat, and linger over pairs of Adidas sport slides (!) in the shoe store, and skip all the way up and down the mall corridor. Six is such a fabulous age. She is still tender-hearted and sweet and in dramatic need of my ministrations, but she is conversational and funny and observant. I just love her company. When we returned home from these errands, my husband had placed the entire box set of Jack and Annie books on the counter (her favorite – she’s obsessed!) with a note that said: “We love you, Emory. Never stop reading!” She was beaming, and then she immediately got to work selecting a book to dig into. The next morning, she’d left a note under our door that said: “Thank you so much for my Jack and Annie books. I think I’m already on chapter 8 or 9. I love you.”
+Talbots invited me to style some of their new collection, and I’m wearing their easy pants (run a tad generous) in the head photo of this post. I plan on wearing them all summer long in clear homage to Nancy Meyers.
+Easter was lovely but a tiny bit odd this year because my husband was battling a virus and felt unwell for most of the weekend, but did rally in time for our small Easter dinner — just the four of us — for which he prepared a rack of lamb. In the past, we’ve always gone big on Easter, inviting friends and family over, baking elaborate desserts, etc. Of course, despite his invalid status, he still managed to pull off a culinary feast, but it was a much quieter and less fussy affair than usual. I honestly did not even plan our Easter tablescape until 3 p.m. because he’d been feeling so badly, I didn’t know it would happen. (I’d even had to fill the easter baskets and scatter the easter eggs alone the night prior!) I ended up using this beautiful bird of paradise tablecloth that my friend over at Sweetgrass Home sent my way. I paired with simple woven chargers and moss bunnies and poured myself a tall glass of champagne. I always get questions about the coupes — one of my most prized possessions! They were sold out for awhile but you can now find them here.
+I can’t get enough of my son’s little look over Easter weekend. Below, he’s running to board an Easter train way out in Maryland. Something about those tiny loafers just kill me. He’s wearing with Gap jeans, which are my favorite fit for him — slim but not skinny — and his beloved “teddy bear jacket” (a Patagonia Retro-X Fleece). Those Patagonia coats are worth every penny. They wear so well and barely show any signs of use. I have kept or passed down every one I’ve purchased, and I usually make them stretch to at least two seasons by sizing up.
Now onto some lighter fare: the items that I cannot wait to style and share with you…
I love the pink faux-Goyard iPhone case you see me holding in so many of my mirror selfies, and I was thrilled when I found a super similar option on Etsy. I ordered the green, but I also loved the red and yellow. Also this week: I re-ordered this “Mama” necklace, which I somehow lost last summer, but which I absolutely adore and used to wear daily, as well as this gorgeous Lizzie Fortunato statement I’d been eyeing for awhile. More of my favorite jewelry finds for spring here. A good week for accessories!
One phrase that has been helpful in working towards a place of “flow” (my intention for this year!) in my daily life:
“Is this the business of today or tomorrow?”
I’ve gotten better, over time, at elbowing out worries by thinking through what is in my control versus what is not. Nearly 100% of the time, when I am up in the middle of the night fretting about something, there is absolutely nothing I can do at that midnight hour, from my bed, to move the needle in any one direction, and I remind myself of this fact and am usually able to purchase enough peace of mind to fall back asleep, or at least to box out the creeping “but what if…”s.
“Is this the business of today or tomorrow?” is a riff on that theme, and I find it helpful when auditing a day’s list of tasks. What absolutely needs to be done today? What can be suitably dealt with tomorrow, or next week? I know myself well enough to recognize that I often gamify my own to-dos, knocking out all the tiny nit-picky things first because that “ticking-off” feeling affords me the sense of accomplishment, when — in reality — a lot of those micro-assignments are neither urgent nor important. (Here, I’m lifting language from Eisenhower’s Matrix.) A lot of those assignments are “tomorrow’s business.”
While we were in New York, we’d made plans with my sister and brother-in-law to have drinks at the Sunken Harbor Club followed by dinner at the famous Brooklyn steakhouse Gage & Tollner. My sister texted as we were en route letting us know her sitter had bailed. As we slid into the booth at Sunken Harbor Club, I could feel my own logistics-oriented inner self begin to bristle at the alternatives and possibilities. Should we bail on drinks? Would they charge us for the canceled reservations? Should my sister join us without my BIL? Should we ask for carry out from the steakhouse? Should I go down and speak to the maitre’d? Then, I hit the pause button. I was sitting in a kitschy cocktail bar, on a solo date with my husband, and why was I looping myself into a knot? I remember looking at Mr. Magpie after we’d loosely agreed on a plan and saying, “OK. The rest is tomorrow’s business.” (Meant non-literally, as in “we can worry about the details after we enjoy this time together.”) I’ll be damned if I didn’t lean into the present and enjoy my tiki drink more than I think I otherwise would have.
The next time you feel yourself getting out over your skis, pause and ask: “Is this the business of today (right now) or tomorrow (any time in the future)?”
A helpful mnemonic to help you live where your feet are.
+Would be cute with these inexpensive sandals in the blue.
+Love this upholstered swivel chair as a reading perch for a little girl or boy.
+It’s the little things, right? Just ordered myself one of these pastel desk calculators.
+Zara is just killing it! Another great, trend-conscious dress. This would be so chic for a European/beach vacation. (Are you into the crochet trend?) Would look amazing with platform fishermen sandals like these (in my closet in a different color) or these.
+Bathtime toys like these are always a big hit with children. I so clearly remember when I was pregnant with my son, my daughter used to put up a fuss about getting into the tub and I had close to zero energy to combat that by the end of the day. What always worked was telling her she could “put the color in,” and letting her pick one or two of these Crayola fizzy tablets to dye the water.
+Gasp/swoon — dreamiest early summer wedding guest / special event / garden party / graduation dress.
+I have a few of these fantastic sugar keepers (specifically the ones for brown sugars) that really work at keeping them from drying out. I wish I’d ordered the whole set years ago — this brand really makes products designed to preserve/keep baking ingredients and each one is well-designed.
Target is releasing three capsule collections with fabulous brands Agua Bendita, Rhode, and Fe Noel tonight at 3 A.M. EST. You all know how much I love Agua Bendita in particular — I am really hoping to snag this dress and this pareo and think I will set an alarm to make sure that happens. (These collections tend to sell out in a New York minute.) My other favorite pieces from the collection:
Talbots is one of those brands that has been in my fashion imagination for as long as I can remember. My mother loved shopping in their red-door boutiques when I was growing up, and I remember standing next to her at a picnic eating Grandma Utz kettle chips from a paper napkin when she asked one of her girlfriends, “Where do you get off looking like that with three young children?” Her friend was meticulously dressed and smelled like expensive soap. “Well, Elaine,” her friend said, “Talbots.” When I was 25, I was standing behind an elegant woman wearing a gingham dress at a Fourth of July parade, and I asked her where she’d purchased it. “Oh — Talbots, honey!” I ordered it immediately. And at my ten year high school reunion, a classmate arrived immaculately attired in a pair of linen pants and a statement blouse. “Talbots pants,” she said, knowingly.
I’ve worked that knowing insidership into my own shopping habit, and have often struck gold over the years, especially in their shoe department. (If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know I lived in their navy suede drivers and sherpa-lined loafers this past fall and winter. I wore the sherpa loafers so much that when I gave our nanny a sherpa-trim tote for Christmas, she commented, “Just like your shoes!”)
I love their latest spring collection, which is full of the feminine details (eyelet, scalloping, trim) to which I am always drawn, and was shocked and delighted when they asked whether I would be willing to style a few of their pieces.
I selected this delicate flutter-sleeved blouse, this joyful striped popover, and these perfect white pants, as I am firmly planted in my Nancy Meyers protagonist era, and these make me feel like I should be walking down a hydrangea-lined path onto a private beach. On sizing: I took a petite P in everything, and found they run just generous of true to size.
All of my favorite pieces from this collection are linked below.
Compiling this post sparked peculiar joy. I don’t know why, exactly — I suppose I’m particularly enthusiastic about everything I found, some of which I own/ordered and the rest of which I am fiendishly plotting to purchase. So many fun new brands, clever products, and appealing packages.
If you buy only one thing from this post, I hope you will try Merit’s incredible bronzing balm (review below) because it is my favorite beauty product I’ve purchased in the last year. Hands-down. Merit’s blush balm comes in second. I have their cheerful new “Stockholm” color in my cart for spring!
I did want to mention that Sephora started one of its labyrinthine tiered sales today, with 20% off for VIB Rouge members from now through 4/24, 15% off for VIBs starting 4/18, and 10% off for Insider members starting 4/18 as well. This promotion is not as exciting as it used to be for me since I only have Insider status there because I have increasingly found myself purchasing items directly from the brand websites, as they often have better promotions, or at least an inaugural 15% off your first purchase, which tops out the 10% I save at Sephora during these tiered sales. Still, I know some of you are more strategic shoppers and now is a good time to stock up and save on items you know you’ll use, so just thought I’d flag. Below, I’m including wherever possible links to the items at Sephora and elsewhere in case you’re in a similar boat (as sometimes you can get better discounts directly from the beauty brand).
01. AQUIS HAIR DRYING TOWEL — Mentioned this earlier this week but very excited for this to arrive in the mail. It apparently cuts hair drying time in half.
02. CARRIERE FRERES CANDLE — They had me at pepper-rose, and of course the packaging is divine.
03. MERIT CREAM BLUSH — One of my absolute favorite, favorite products. Have been using daily for weeks. I am such a Merit stan! Everything they release works exactly as I want it to. I have this happy pink stockholm color in my cart. (Also available at brand’s site here.)
04. MERIT LIP COLOR — I’m really not a lip gloss girl but I’ve been so enamored with everything Merit’s put out there that I’m dying to try this cheerful pink color. (Available at brand’s site here).
05. YOUTH TO THE PEOPLE CLEANSER (OR BUY ON BRAND’S SITE HERE). One of my girlfriends introduced me to the gorgeous Asad sisters of TikTok fame, and we can’t stop talking about how beautiful and intriguing they are. The middle sister uses this cleanser and I have been contemplating finally moving away from my beloved Tata Harper Exfoliating cleanser since I now use one of Biologique Recherche’s liquid exfoliating toners and feel like the combo has been too drying on my skin. (Side note: I feel like people have lost their minds over the Biologique Recherche toners since the 70s, and my mom truly raved about hers once she started using last year, and I’m sort of…in between on it? Like, I do think it has helped lighten a few dark spots and even out my skin but it’s not been a dramatic difference for me. For me, the most marked change I’ve ever seen in my skin took place when I started using Vitamin C drops. I’ve tried a bunch of brands/formulas and my favorite is Biossance’s Rose Vitamin C oil (also available on Biossance’s site here).) Anyhow, I think I’m going to put Tata on the sidelines to try this gentle cleanser recommended by one of the Asad sisters.
06. SISLEY BLACK ROSE CREAM MASK — This pricey mask has been popping up all over the place as a skincare essential among in-the-know women. I’m intimidated by the price but very intrigued. A few Magpies have also recommended this one (also by Sisley) for hydration.
09. TANGLE TEEZER — My mom gave me one of these in my stocking a few years ago and I use it every time I get out of the shower. Total must for those of us with tangle-prone hair. Not only are the teeth good at unsnarling hair, but I like the way you hold it in your palm for more control.
10. LIBERTY WEEKENDER WASH BAG — I’ve been on the hunt for a generously-sized cosmetics/beauty products travel bag like this ever since seeing Nellie Diamond post about her D. Porthault ones, in which she keeps every possible tincture, remedy, skincare product, etc she could possibly need while traveling. (#Goals.)
11. MAKE CONCEALER — Bradley Agather has been raving about this buildable concealer. I’m intrigued! She rarely steers me wrong.
12. BOBBI BROWN EXTRA LIP TINT DUO — This is one of the top ten bestselling products I’ve ever featured on Magpie. Such a good deal at Nordstrom; it’s price BOGO. I love these tinted balms — they afford a tiny bit of color but are easy to slick on and deeply hydrating.
13. L’OREAL LUMI GLOTION — This stuff is really quite good for the price. It’s a tad runnier and tackier, but very similar in result to Saie’s highlighter. I’ve been using as a primer and also dabbing on top of my makeup.
14. BEAUTY/MEDICINE CABINET LABELS — This is mildly over the top but of course makes my organization-obsessed heart sing. You can attach the pre-printed labels to bins like these.
15. SAIE GLOWY SUPERSKIN SERUM FOUNDATION — Also have my head turned by this relatively new product. (Buy from brand’s site here.) I love everything it purports to do and have been generally very impressed by this brand.
16. DIEUX INSTANT ANGEL MOISTURIZER — My fellow beauty-lover Nan recommended this moisturizer to me when I was up in NYC. Planning to try next!
17. LINNEA CANDLE — I’d not heard of this scent company, but a Magpie reader raved about them in a comment and I’m about to try a couple of their scents. I love that this small business is female-founded, and she has such fabulous scent options. Cashmere is one of their best-selling ones, but I’m intrigued by this heirloom tomato scent for summer.
18. BRONZE BALM — This is my no. 1 favorite beauty item I’ve purchased in the last year. Bold statement but true. It deposits the perfect sheer, buildable, natural bronze. I swipe across cheeks and nose and along my hair line and then blend with their brush (below) and I swear it looks like I’ve just been sitting outside reading in the sun for an afternoon. Glowy, happy, natural. Cannot recommend enough. Buy at brand’s site here.
19. MERIT BLUSH BRUSH — Another one of my absolute favorite items in my current beauty regimen. This little stubby brush works SO well at blending bronzers and blushes. I even sometimes use for foundation if I’m in a rush. Strongly recommend purchasing if you are getting their cream blush or bronzer stick. You can buy at brand’s site here.
P.S. A recent installment of my “honest beauty reviews” series here.
We’ve established here that I shop like my namesake bird, the Magpie: I am drawn to shiny things. I tend to be opportunistic in my purchasing, buying what speaks to me at the moment, rather than wondering what I’ll wear it with. This means I have a lot of fun getting dressed, but also tend to find gaping holes in my wardrobe. Below, 20 fashion buys that will go the extra mile: basics that you’ll never get bored of and that can be remixed in myriad ways. These are timeless, versatile pieces that you’ll never regret. I’m taking some of my own advice here and looking to buy a few of these myself.
