I am in the midst of testing a bunch of new beauty products after maybe six months of sticking with my trieds-and-true. I know a lot of you are waiting for my review of Westman Atelier’s skin drops (which apparently make your skin look like you’re using the Paris filter on Instagram), but mine have STILL not arrived after a shipping issue. I will say that Sephora has a really good return policy and will accept opened, used cosmetics if it’s clear you haven’t, for example, used half the bottle. I’d never returned a beauty product before, but I did just that after trying the Ilia Super Serum, which came so heavily hyped, but I just could not get it to work for me — the formula “broke,” it did not apply evenly, etc. So if you want to take advantage of the sale to test and see what you think and then return if it doesn’t work…
ICYMI, Sephora is running its annual tiered sale at the moment, which means VIB Rouge members enjoy 20% off and VIB members enjoy 15% off through November 7, and Insiders can earn 10% off starting tomorrow.
Below, a few great beauty buys to snag during the sale, most thoroughly tested and adored by yours truly, and some newer items/labels to consider.
01. RMS BEAUTY PRIMER — I ALWAYS STRUGGLE TO ADD AN EXTRA PRODUCT TO MY MAKEUP REGIMEN BUT WHEN I’M GOING OUT FOR THE EVENING, I HAVE BEEN WISHING I HAD A PRIMER TO SET THE STAGE, AND I LOVE OTHER RMS PRODUCTS
05. TATCHA DEWY SKIN CREAM — CURRENTLY USING THIS AND HAVE THOUGHTS. I FIND THIS PRODUCT DOES NOT ABSORB AS QUICKLY/SMOOTHLY AS OTHER FACE CREAMS, BUT IT REALLY DOES PLUMP, HYDRATE, BRIGHTEN AS IT SAYS! I’VE LEARNED TO APPLY AND THEN TAKE A BREAK TO DO MY HAIR / GET DRESSED / ETC TO LET THE MOISTURIZER ABSORB…OVERALL, RECOMMEND
06. SAIE HIGHLIGHTER — THE LILAC SEEMS INTIMIDATING BUT IT IS SUCH A FUN HOLOGRAPHIC EFFECT FOR A DEWY NIGHTTIME LOOK
08. DIOR LIP GLOW — THIS IS MY KIND OF LIP COLOR FOR EVERY DAY…MY LITMUS IS: “CAN I APPLY WITHOUT A MIRROR?” AND THIS IS DEFINITELY THE CASE WITH THIS BALM-LIKE HINT-OF-COLOR PRODUCT
13. WESTMAN ATELIER SQUEAKY CLEAN LIQUID LIP — I’M NOT A BIG GLOSS OR LIQUID LIP GIRL BUT I AM INTRIGUED BY THIS HEAVILY HYPED FORMULA…I FIND W.A. DOES THE BEST COLORS
In the excitement of my reunion with Elizabeth Bishop a week or two ago, I re-read some of her collected prose, including an endearing essay on poet Marianne Moore, Bishop’s mentor-turned-bosom-buddy. Bishop, sharp as nails herself, frames Moore as brilliant and meticulously considered in her writing, which spurred me to read some of Moore’s poetry.
A critic once described Moore as “a poet who controlled panic by presenting it as whimsy.” Bishop took this critic to task, replying: “Whimsy is sometimes there, of course, and so is humor (a gift these critics sadly seem to lack),” and then goes on: “Surely there is an element of mortal panic underlying all works of art?”
Still, my initial and admittedly ursine passes at Moore’s verse deposited me more in the critic’s camp. Her poetry presents as serious thought clouded by form and kitsch and archness. She is, sometimes, difficult to take seriously? Though even I can see just beneath the varnish, and across the poetic remove, her utter conviction. Still, I found myself hungering for the sleek heft of Bishop, the way she will draw us through delicately carved, and often ponderous, detail with the promise of one of her gorgeous clarities. I will swim for miles in search of those buoys. In the margins of one rather prolix essay of hers, my college self wrote: “Why am I bored here? Too much? As always with Bishop, all details must be important, but…” I was too reactive to literature at that time. My opinions took shape immediately, as though flash-frozen, and I found it difficult to mold them after, even if I learned how to mediate or suppress those emotions as a student, in my academic writing. If I found a passage overwrought, that was the end of it. Red ink: “Yawn.” I have learned over time to let my reactions to art congeal more slowly, over time, like pudding in the fridge. With Bishop, I am learning now that I am re-immersing myself, the long view is essential, especially given the fact that I know she was impressively exacting. At a posthumous reading of her poetry, poet and academic Lloyd Schwarz said: “Elizabeth worked fastidiously. Sometimes she’d spend years thinking about a phrase or word.” And celebrated poet Robert Lowell wrote of her:
“Do / you still hang your words in air, ten years / unfinished, glued to your notice board, with gaps / or empties for the unimaginable phrase– / unerring Muse who makes the casual perfect?”
Almost as a matter of respect for her artistic care, then, I am committed to open-mindedness (and if not open-mindedness, forbearance) for what occasionally passes as fustian. And it is always a passing, a costume, or at least a maneuver.
Anyhow, because I respect Bishop, I find myself craning my neck at Moore, squinting and pawing. What can we make of a poem like “Baseball and Writing“? The opening stanza is distressingly pithy or facile — I can’t tell which. It reminds me of the way Mr. Magpie and I often cringe and poke one another at the use of the words “coupon” and “ground round” in Craig Morgan’s country song “That’s What I Love about Sundays.” For context, we love country music, and, “ground round” notwithstanding, still love that song, so this is not a generalized angst against the genre. But these lyrics nettle:
It’s 35 cents off a ground round Baby, cut that coupon out
Far be it for me to censor words from inclusion in any form of art, but ah! Ground round just doesn’t feel right in sung lyrics? I feel similarly about Moore’s line: “pitcher, catcher, fielder, batter.” It is too on-the-nose, too cluttered with jargon? I feel drawn into some kind of other-place between poetry and prose.
But Bishop had this to say:
“Marianne was intensely interested in the techniques of things — how camellias are grown; how the quartz prisms work in crystal clocks; how the pangolin can close up his hear, nose, and eye apertures and walk on the outside edges of his hands ‘and save the claws / for digging’; how to drive a car; how the best pitchers throw a baseball; how to make a figurehead for her nephew’s sailboat. The exact way in which anything was done, or made, or functioned, was poetry to her.“
Here is the cipher; here are the poetics. Years ago, I would have resisted this furnishment of context. I was a textualist then, and both obstinate and jejune in that outlook — a dangerous pairing. Now, though, I welcome Bishop’s deputization. Is that laziness on my part or the kind of due respect we learn to bestow on the talented, the sage among us? Locum tenens.
But let me take, then, this observation — this invitation — to heart, today:
“The exact way in which anything was done, or made, or functioned, was poetry to her.“
Post-Scripts.
*Image above taken yesterday, amidst the moody, low-lying morning fog. I took this picture using the panorama function on my iPhone and when I returned to my desk, I encountered those words from Lowell, “do you still hang your words in the air,” and the image felt symmetrical to, or suggestive of, the expression in some way. It is striking, how much of our day can color what we read, and how we remember it.
+The smocked cuffs on this velvet mini add so much interest. Pair with patterned tights.
+Sugar Paper x Target is back! Take my word for it and order now or you will end up scrounging the bottom of the barrel if you wait. I made that mistake last year. I should have ordered more earlier!
+So many great brands are offering early discounts (pre-cyber-week!), include Kule, which is offering $50 off orders of $250+; $125 off orders of $500+; and $300 off orders of $1000+ using code KULEYULE. Great time to snag this classic stripe sweater for $50 off, or to stock up on a bunch of striped tees and turtlenecks. You could even buy all your sisters/girlfriends a striped tee for Christmas and save on the bundle! How cute?
+Oh my goodness, these marbled crackers would be such a fun exclamation point on a Thanksgiving table!
+These $30 ballet flats come in the best colors! Perfect pairing with your Thanksgiving dress.
+30% off rugs and entertaining at Serena and Lily. This rug is still one of my absolute favorite pieces we own. It was in our primary bedroom but now we’ve moved it into our family room. While there, note that these happy euro shams (a Magpie favorite last week) are now under $30!
+Love this blazer. Perfect to layer over a turtleneck with high waist jeans and fun flats, or over a fair isle sweater for a horse country moment.
+Zara came out with a lamb sweater reminiscent of the SEA one — but a fraction of the price!
+Make bathtime a little more fun for your little one with these.
+These hand-smocked traditional Christmas nighties for littles — swoon!!!!
+Speaking of Christmas jammies, I am so sad I missed out on these $15 nutcracker jammies in mini’s size! (Upgrade pick: Lake’s nutcracker jammies!)
+Early stocking stuffer idea: cute $5 mini puzzles with different cities!
By: Jen Shoop
Halloween is behind us, and I’m moving full steam ahead towards the holidays. I know a lot of you have already begun shopping, too. Today, gifts for best friends — whether they be siblings, mothers, MILs, or sisters from other misters. I own a lot of these items and/or own items from these brands and feel passionately about all. I aimed to keep these gifts under $200, with a handful of exceptions.
01. LAKE PAJAMAS — MY LONGTIME GO-TO GIFT FOR WOMEN…LOVE THIS CHARTREUSE COLOR
05. CIRE TRUDON CANDLE — I KNOW CANDLES SEEM LIKE AN IMPERSONAL GIFT, BUT TRUST ME, SHE WILL BE LIVING IN THE LAP OF LUXURY LIGHTING THIS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT
07. SPICE HOUSE BAKER’S COLLECTION — WE BUY ALL OF OUR SPICES FROM HERE AND THIS GIFT SET WOULD BE A MAJOR INGREDIENT UPGRADE FOR A LOVING BAKER IN YOUR LIFE
08. TISCH NEW YORK PLATES — WOW, THESE MAJORLY SPARK JOY FOR ME…I WANT TO HOST A DINNER PARTY WITH GIRLFRIENDS BASED SOLELY ON THESE PLATES
14. CURRIN AND CADE GLASS ORNAMENTS — I FEEL LIKE THIS IS THE KIND OF LUXE GIFT ADULT WOMEN GIVE EACH OTHER; THE KIND OF THING THAT FEELS A LITTLE TOO EXTRA TO BUY YOURSELF?
16. MARIA DEL ORDEN BLOUSE — A GRANNY-CHIC STATEMENT FROM A VERY HOT LABEL FOR YOUR FELLOW VICTORIAN GHOST DRESSING FRIEND
17. ROUNDHOUSE DIPPING BOWL SET — HOW CUTE?! THIS IS ACTUALLY MY FRONT RUNNER FOR A FEW GIRLFRIENDS WHO ENJOY HOSTING…IMAGINE SETTING OUT LITTLE NIBBLES IN THESE
18. PROPER TABLE CO ACRYLIC PLACEMATS — HAVE RAVED ABOUT THESE SO MANY TIMES BUT THEY ARE FABULOUS FOR EVERYDAY DINING…GET THE LOOK WITHOUT THE LAUNDRY
19. VONBLOOM CHARM BRACELET — WELL-PRICED, AND SHE CAN ADD CHARMS OVER TIME (OR YOU CAN GIFT HER SOME OVER THE YEARS!)
*Above, I am wearing a past-season Zimmermann silk dress, a vintage faux fur jacket, Shrimps earrings, and a Michelle Wilhite clutch, generously gifted by the brand.
A lot of you have been asking for glitzy dresses for the holidays already. Today, my favorite glam finds for upcoming occasions —
P.S. Sunhouse Children is launching their gratitude sale today at 9 A.M. EST! This is always the promotion I use to stock up on their swimwear, which is my absolute favorite. This was my FAVORITE rash guard mini wore last summer, and these were my favorite trunks for micro. The details/patterns/fit are even better in person.
Below, a roundup of cozy and versatile sweaters to help get you through the next few chilly months in style — each walks the line between classic and statement that will add a little “je ne sais quoi” to your winter wardrobe.
CREAM AND BLACK RIBBED DROP SHOULDER SWEATER WITH HIGH TURTLENECK COLLAR…THE EXAGGERATED SPLIT CUFFS ON THIS IS SO UNEXPECTEDLY CHIC
NAVY FLARED-SLEEVE 100% MERINO WOOL MOCK-NECK SWEATER WITH ASYMMETRICAL BUTTON DETAILING
PLUSH, YET LIGHTWEIGHT MULTICOLOR VIBRANT FAIR ISLE CREWNECK SWEATER WITH CONTRASTING NAVY RIBBED TRIM
70S-STYLE MULTICOLOR JACQUARD STRIPE CLASSIC CREWNECK SWEATER MADE FROM AN UNBELIEVELY SOFT ALPACA BLEND
COTTON-CASHMERE BLEND RIBBED TURTLENECK SWEATER IN A COMFORTABLE, SLIGHTLY SLOUCHY FIT…CURRENTLY ON SALE, THIS IS A GREAT PRICE FOR A HIGH QUALITY BASIC
SOFT BLACK 100% WOOL CREWNECK KNIT SWEATER WITH RED HEART FROM AMI PARIS
TIMELESS IVORY CABLE KNIT MOCK-NECK SWEATER WITH SIDE SLITS MADE FROM THE MOST LUCIOUS WOOL AND ALPACA BLEND
CHUNKY RIB-KNIT SWEATER WITH RIBBED HEM DETAILING IN A PLAYFUL BUBBLEGUM PINK SHADE — UNDER $75
MERINO WOOL SOFT CREWNECK SWEATER IN A CUTE MULTICOLOR FARM-THEMED TAKE ON THE FAIR ISLE PATTERN
WARM ALPINE-COLORED FAIR ISLE CARDIGAN WITH BALLOON SLEEVES, AN ADORABLE SCALLOPED COLLAR, AND EVEN CUTER POM-POM DETAILS
SHAWL COLLAR WOOL CARDIGAN IN THE MOST INTRICATE PATTERN…IT FEATURES A NATURAL FARM LANDSCAPE WITH A SUNSET BACKGROUND — IMPRESSIVELY UNIQUE WITH AN UNDENIABLY CHIC LOOK
ICONIC EMBROIDERED TEDDY BEAR IVORY RIB-KNIT SWEATER FROM RALPH LAUREN WITH RIBBED TRIM
MONOGRAMMABLE LIGHTWEIGHT CREWNECK PUFF SLEEVE SWEATER WITH RHINESTONE CREST EMBELLISHMENT ON THE CHEST
CAMEL AND CREAM STRIPED WOOL-CASHMERE BLEND SWEATER WITH CHUNKY RIBBED TRIM
P.S. Have you visited the holiday shop? Also, a first look at holiday — all the staples you need from stockings to tree toppers.
Entertaining has always been a big part of my life with Mr. Magpie. We love to cook, we love to be at home, we love to surround ourselves with our friends and show them love through carefully (and sometimes complicatedly) planned meals. When we moved to Bethesda last year, I was ecstatic at the prospect of resuming this cherished pastime of ours with more regularity. It had been challenging to pull off in New York, in part owing to COVID, in part owing to space constraints, and in part owing to the ages of our young children. We still did it, but it felt far more difficult than in years past. But I will never forget a party we threw within the first few months of settling into our new home here in Maryland. I had the worst time at it. I was overwhelmed by the logistics, spent the entire party flitting around without ever really enjoying myself, and found myself on constant errand to refill bowls or fetch drinks or tidy up messes left behind by our littlest guests. I kept trying to clip into conversation, but my mind was skittering elsewhere. The experience startled me. Was I changing? Why hadn’t I enjoyed it as much as I normally do?
Mr. Magpie and I have conducted many post-mortems on this particular event. We’ve concluded that there were too many people there, and it was during a particularly busy time in our lives where we already felt pulled in too many directions. There were also a lot of little children present, which — God love them! — can fray at nerves in even the best of circumstances.
However, in the past few months, we’ve been entertaining more and more again, and I find myself far more comfortable and even joyful when hosting. This is in part because, burned by the aforementioned experience, we’ve been a bit more selective with the guest list, opting for much smaller groups, especially when children included. Somewhere around six or seven children, the numbers start to skew. Three children is three children but somehow seven children at a party feels like seventy-five. But the main difference? In fact, the key to successful entertaining?
Time.
I’d always known this — have always been a great anticipator and thoughtful planner — but recently, I’ve approached events from the standpoint of better time budgeting, and specifically have learned to “round up” rather than “round down” when estimating how much time to set aside for any given task. I’ve written about this elsewhere, but I’ve learned in the last few years that a key to moving through my life with calm is “rounding up,” in nearly every matter. Go up a size if in question — who wants too-tight clothes? Put more money in the meter than you anticipate needing — I hate feeling rushed by the meter! Assume a doctor’s appointment will take two hours rather than the optimistic thirty minutes. Double the recipe and freeze whatever’s left over. In so many ways, I used to cut things too close, and why? I was generating artificial stress and constraint for myself.
For Mr. Magpie’s fortieth birthday, we had seven or eight couples come by for dinner, and the evening went off without a hitch only because I had written every single task that needed to happen in advance, down to “slicing lemons for the cocktail station” and not only “setting the playlist” but “auditing the playlist,” and then organized them according to calendar date for the weeks prior. I’d return to the document every few days to see what needed to be done, what was next, etc. This sounds overly-rigid to the point of insane, but I swear the approach transformed the entire experience for me in a positive way. I found myself looking forward to each step, approaching each task with love and attentiveness. I wrote last week about the mindset of “making everything you are doing the most important thing,” and I applied that frame of mind to the preparations for this party. I remember one of the items on the list was sourcing place cards. Rather than doing it in a hurried huff, or settling for something at checkout at the local plant shop, I had a designated afternoon to poke around online to track down a set that sparked joy and would be delivered on time. So too with preparing the table linens. I mean, if you’re going to be ironing table linens for a crowd, at least light a candle, pour a cup of tea, and tune into an audiobook, and do it on a night where you have nothing else going on and don’t feel that angsty hurry you might if you’re trying to get it done just under the buzzer the morning of the party.
I learned, too, to take care of things at the earliest possible date. Some things must be done the day-of (e.g., procure fresh baguette, light candles, etc), but there are often elements of meals that can be handled well in advance. You can often take care of mise en place the night before and keep in airtight containers in the fridge, so “party day” is more about assembly than prep. This has also entered our calculus when menu-planning. We defer to items — especially desserts — that can be made a day or two ahead of time. For a recent party, I made chocolate cremeux from scratch (followed the recipe in my baking Bible, Bravetart) in large part because pudding keeps for up to a week in the fridge, and I could take care of that early on, enjoy the baking experience, and then clear my plate for day-of.
Overall, it’s about cadence, doing a little each day, so that these undertakings feel more like the treat they are than a slog.
Of course you probably know where I’m heading with this?
That this, in fact, is applicable to so much in life outside of entertaining?
That the more I declutter my day, the easier it is to breathe into what’s in front of me?
Pay attention to what you pay attention to. I’ve been thinking about that phrase a lot and while I think the general thrust is more about clipping the extraneous, I find it galvanizing from the standpoint of: “Be present in what you’re doing. Pay attention. Make what you’re doing the most important thing.” This dovetails with a beautiful quote from a lovely interview with Danica Murphy, in which she stated: “You look where your eyes go.” She was sharing that her father used to get on her case when she’d turn around to see what other racers were doing behind her while go-karting, and that she realized, later in life, that the phrase offered a philosophy for living. If you’re looking at the wall, that’s where you’re headed. If you’re looking at negative thoughts, you’re never going to build a happy life. So, too, with moving through my days. I do not want to fritter away my life in an unfocused haze, the finical bird looking this way and that. I want to point myself in a direction, an archerfish by design.
Onward!
Post-Scripts.
*”Archerfish are remarkably accurate in their shooting; an adult fish almost always hits the target on the first shot. They can bring down insects and other prey up to 3 m (10 ft) above the water’s surface. This is partially due to their good eyesight, but also to their ability to compensate for the refraction of light as it passes through the air-water interface when aiming at their prey.” Via.
+I wanted to share a few elements from the dinner party we recently hosted at my home, a snapshot of which is seen above. We served gildas (the original Basque pintxo — highest quality ingredients imperative; drizzle heavily with exceptional olive oil), serrano ham, and brandade (whipped salted cod + potato dish) on baguette from Bread Furst during cocktail hour. The menu was obviously slightly advanced (any anchovy-forward appetizer is a gamble with most crowds) but we knew all of our guests were big food people and they ate happily. I served these pintoxs with the gin-and-aperol-based Billingsley Punch from the Death + Co cocktail book. Punches are just the BEST way to serve cocktails to a crowd. You can prep in advance and I love that they are self-serve and guests can refill without waiting to be invited to another glass. Plus, I love the mild throwback of a punch bowl as a centerpiece. We inherited a beautiful one made of Waterford crystal that sparks major joy for me. For entree, Mr. Magpie served a paella with rabbit, chicken, chanterelles, and special Spanish white bean. He did this the traditional way, over a grill, and then served it the non-traditional way, with dollops of homemade aioli on top. We borrowed the aioli secret from Jose Andres — he serves his with aioli, too. I supplemented the paella centerpiece with a frisee-marcona almond-and blood orange salad dressed in a garlic spiked blood-orange-and-sherry-vinegar vinaigrette. We served a white rioja and a red rioja — both delicious and sourced from our favorite wine shop, Flatiron Wines, up in NYC. We have cases shipped down to us regularly. For dessert, I served up the aforementioned chocolate cremeux, topped with my own whipped cream, and a bit of shaved Mast chocolate on top. We complemented with the most delicious sherry we’d found at Nido in DC (chocolate/espresso notes) and espresso shortbread we’d bought from Bread Furst. We were all very full and happy.
+For the tablescape, I used this very inexpensive gingham tablecloth. I’m so glad I did, too, because the paella pan had a lot of soot from the grill that got all over the table and, even after laundering, it won’t be suitable for reuse in our dining room. Will save for outdoor events / stuff with the kids. I loved the taupe color and used these woven chargers beneath our rustic-looking Haand dinner plates. I offset with chocolate brown napkins (similar here), twist taper candles, and the cheekiest superlative place cards from Marrant Paper (generously gifted), propped up in these ultra-sleek Crate and Barrel card holders. The latter were so fun to assign to my guests and made for amusing pre-dining conversation. I used family silver with the name “Jennie” engraved on it — a great-great aunt! — and I love that she chose a nickname rather than monogram. So unusual. All of the cut flowers were from Trader Joe’s! I actually stopped at a nicer florist in Bethesda but, honestly, the flowers there on Friday morning were all droopy looking and I found the staff kind of pushy, so I left and went to Trader Joe’s instead. I always have fun seeing what’s fresh/eye-catching and arranging into small posies. I’ve learned over time that a few small bouquets are preferable, to my taste, to a big centerpiece because they do not inhibit conversation and make it easy to talk to someone even catty corner from you.
+I usually wear a dress when entertaining but this crowd was a fun one and I wore the feather top seen here with Agolde Pinch Waist jeans because we were all feeling festive. I had a lot of questions about sizing on the top and will say it is pretty cropped, and I’m 5’0 (short short). I feel most comfortable wearing this with high rise jeans that don’t show any belly. If in question, I would size up in that top. I took an XS and it fit me fine but I do think this is the type of style that is meant to look boxy on and you don’t want it feeling too tight — the silk/scarf-like fabric has no give. I styled with my new Hunter Blake earrings (c/o — thank you!) and two Jane Win necklaces — this one and this one (also c/o — thank you!). I have been really into layering heavy gold necklaces lately — so fun. They make my uniform of turtlenecks and jeans come alive!
Shopping Break.
+Just the prettiest forest green colored dress. I love this one because you could pair with burgundy/taupe/navy for a fall moment and then style with red for the holidays.
+Speaking of SEA, this navy ditty is on sale for $100!!! Run! (Check out the entire SEA sale section at Saks, too — do I need this wild patchwork denim vest? this ribbed floral mockneck? this bold patterned top?)
+And speaking of forest green, this green tiered mini is $70 and so adorable! I would layer with a turtleneck beneath and unbutton the front an extra couple of buttons to show off a tangle of gold jewelry.
+You know I love this sherpa funnel collar situation — under $40.
+This patterned puffer!!!! And another great patterned turtleneck, just released and 40% off.
+I am on the hunt for a big fabric pinboard from my office. I found this inexpensive one on Amazon and this latticed style on Etsy but does anyone have a rec? Maybe even one that uses fun patterned fabrics? I have all of these cards, clippings, notes from brands, menus, place cards, etc that I’d love to showcase in one place (e.g., not jammed in my desk drawer).
+I need this little cowhide stool for my son’s mildly Western-themed room.
+This sequin dress is under $200 and ready for festive holiday gatherings. This one is fun, too — also under $200!
+If you’re looking for an update on styling the Ellie nap dress for winter, consider layering one of these lace blouses beneath! I saw Nellie do something similar and it really worked.
PROPER TABLE PLACEMATS + NAPKINS. I’ve written about this small female-founded business a few times, but I have to rave specifically about their acrylic placemats, seen above! The lovely founder sent me a set, and Mr. Magpie enjoyed a midweek Shake Shack lunch on them the first day they arrived — we’ve not taken them off the weekday dining table since! They are great for families, as they are wipe-clean (no laundry) and they have clever “pads” underneath that keep the placemats firmly in place. (Does anyone else have issues with children accidentally sliding their placemats such that they are rocking dangerously off the edge of the table?). These come in such fantastic fabric-inspired prints so you get the look without the laundry/hassle. I am inspired by her Instagram account to incorporate these into more formal tablescapes, too. I am going to share some thoughts on this in an upcoming post organized around holiday tabletop inspo. More to come! But a little plug: these placemats would be such a great gift for a young married couple, or a mom with young children, or even a daughter just setting out for her first apartment!
BALLARD ATOLL MIRROR. If you follow me on Instagram, you know I am sharing more of my everyday outfits, and you can often see my Ballard mirror making an appearance in those selfies. I love the playful rippled edge. So artful!
CRATE AND BARREL CRESCENT GLASSES. I’ve had a few of these in my cupboard for awhile now, and they are in constant use. I like them both for juice and for wine — they are the perfect tiny pour. I had been hunting around for some pretty glasses to serve punch in for a dinner party, and was initially after a set of colored glasses, but I couldn’t find any I loved that would deliver in time, as I was a bit late in thinking this through. I ended up stopping by C&B to buy a few extra crescent glasses for the occasion and it’s the perfect solution because I drink out of them all the time anyhow! (P.S. – punches are SUCH a good trick for entertaining a crowd, as you can prepare in advance instead of shaking/mixing cocktails to order, and guests can serve themselves. We have made many of the punches out of this cocktail book and they’ve all been excellent.
NIDO WINE SHOP AND MARKET. If you are local to DC, you must check out Nido Wine Shop in Mount Pleasant. Mr. Magpie and I were prepping for the aforementioned dinner party, with plans to make paella and serve other Spanish fare alongside. We had difficulty sourcing a couple of ingredients (namely, serrano ham / hamon iberico / spanish cured meat; good cava; and the spears on which to serve Gildas, the most traditional pintxo from the Basque region), and Mr. Magpie heard about Nido, so we drove into town. We were so impressed! I walked in an immediately spotted Raventos i Blanc cava, which has been a longtime favorite cava of ours, but which we’d not seen carried elsewhere in the D.C. area. The owner rung us up and could not have been more passionate about her fares, or more pleasant to be around.
NOPE. Have you seen Jordan Peele’s latest horror movie? I strongly recommend as a candidate for Halloween tomorrow night. Peele is astoundingly original. He has to be one of the most authentic creatives out there at the moment. This movie participates in horror conventions but is entirely non-derivative — what a breath of fresh air in this era of “Marvel Movie VIII.” “Nope” is a fantastic spectacle, gorgeously designed and compellingly framed. Beyond the superficial, though, the movie makes smart commentary on the voyeuristic elements of contemporary culture as well as racial tensions in the film industry (and beyond), and even the overlap between the two. I have found some of Peele’s other horror movies — while invariably original, aesthetically-impressive, and fun — uneven in terms of clarity of theme. Sometimes I feel like they are trying to do too much, or plucking at too many motifs without every drawing any meaningful conclusions. “Nope,” on the other hand, is rock-solid, intentional, grippingly cohesive. I hope this movie earns some serious awards. I was blown away! Note: this is a true scary movie, with suspense and gore and all the rest, so do not watch unless you enjoy the genre!
CIRE TRUDON ABD EL KADER CANDLE. I treated myself to this splurgey candle and my goodness, these are just THE BEST, most luxurious candles out there. The scents are complex in a way that reminds me of that old adage that, in a well-decorated home, you should never be able to easily explain a wall color — it should always be “pinkish-beige” or “bluish-gray-with-some-green?” This is how I feel about these candles, of which I’ve now owned a few different scents. They are difficult to reduce to a single note. They just smell outstanding. They also have really good “throw” so your home smells perfumed throughout. The one I bought is their most popular scent.
SHERPA LOAFERS. Oh my goodness, these are SO fun. These are the kind of statement-making shoes that completely transform your everyday jeans and turtleneck (my personal uniform), and they are reasonably-priced, too! They remind me of a pair by Jimmy Choo. I’ve had a few questions on sizing — take your true size. They accommodate the fact that these shoes are lined with sherpa in their sizing. I was worried that they might fit snug because of the sherpa but they fit wonderfully in my true size!
J MCLAUGHLIN ARLETTE TURTLENECK. I have been eyeing this style for a year now, after seeing it on the ultra-chic Caitlin Fisher. I’ve been layering it with other pieces, like this gorgeous Alice Walk knit cape that has quickly become my favorite top layer. It is designed so that it doesn’t slide off / need a lot of adjustment to keep it in place, and it is surprisingly warm. I like to wear it draped over my shoulders and open in the front, but there are lots of different ways to wear it.
GLITZY FASHION. A girlfriend of mine reached out asking for NYE outfit ideas and I haven’t really been able to stop shopping for her (and me, and us) since. I am obsessed with the blouson style of this Sachin and Babi gown. What an incredible festive dress for a special occasion! Halston has a similar style for less, this fringed statement is BEYOND, and then this HVN has Kacey Musgraves written all over it (in the best way). And then how FAB is this pleated asymmetrical skirt?! Pair with a navy or black cashmere turtleneck and shine on, girl. And then this Rhode dark floral mini is just so — right. Love the shape, pattern, colors. These Jennifer Behr earrings are right at home amidst the glam, although — PSST — I found a very similar style for only $20 here!
PORTE & PAIRE VELVET PLATFORMS. These come in two great fall/winter colors — navy and burgundy. I always encourage my Magpies to take a chance on color. It’s so easy to go with black, but navy or burgundy would invite new fashion constraints and opportunities that will lead to interestingly dimensioned looks. And navy and black look fab together! Earlier this week, I wore my black suede Miu Miu platforms (seen here — I found the exact pair in a gorgeous navy satin here for under $300), and I was reminded how happy I am platforms are “in” at the moment. They are SO much easier to wear and more comfortable than traditional heels!
MICHELLE WILHITE CLUTCH. I am smitten with this brand and its gorgeous clutches. Can you even believe this one with that vintage-style bow brooch and all?! It’s a perfect match with a pair of gunmetal metallic Chanel ballet flats I wear constantly. The owner generously sent me this clutch and I cannot wait to style with all my dressier outfits this winter — will be sharing pictures of this on Instagram / here in the coming weeks.
GARMIN RUNNING WATCH. I have run with both this Garmin watch and an Apple watch and find myself reaching for the Garmin most days. I LOVE the physical button on the side to start/stop, as my fingers can get sweaty and with the Garmin, you can stop/start tracking without even looking at the watch! You can just feel for the button to pause. I also find that since it is ONLY a running watch (not also email/music/text/other apps), it makes getting out and tracking your run super easy. You hit like two buttons and you’re tracking your run. Finally, the face of the watch is big, which, in the case, makes it easy to see a lot of information at once, and it is virtually indestructible!
SHERPA VEST. Been wearing this a lot already this season. I even ran in it the other day, when it was super cold (like in low 30s when I got up), which I honestly wouldn’t recommend because I got very hot, but it’s the perfect top layer for running errands / at-home hygge.
P.P.S. This quote — “At least everything was important” — has colored everything for me these last few weeks. Mr. Magpie and I say it to one another all the time: “this [whatever we are doing, whether watching a movie together, preparing a dinner party, playing with the children] is the most important thing.” And we lean in.
*Took the photo above from an event on Constitution Avenue this week. Peak D.C. fall foliage, and I was reminded of how beautiful this city can be.
My Latest Snag: Mr. Magpie Finds from Todd Snyder.
We did a big shop for Mr. Magpie at Todd Snyder earlier this week. I’ve mentioned this brand a lot before, but I really love the line they walk between classic and contemporary for guys. They have an excellent gift guide if you’re already beginning to poke around for holiday present ideas. Our order for Mr. Magpie —
HAND BLOCK PRINTED PAISLEY LONG-SLEEVE BLOUSE IN A RELAXED FIT MADE SUSTAINABLY WITH LOW-IMPACT DYE AND ORGANIC COTTON
VERSATILE FLATWEAVE COTTON AND WOOL SMALL RECTANGULAR RUG IN A CLASSIC BLUE AND WHITE STRIPE PATTERN…ON SALE!
PAIR OF BEIGE TAPERED SPIRAL SMOKE-FREE AND NON-DRIP CANDLESTICKS
CURVED HEM BUTTON-UP SHIRT WITH DRAMATIC FEATHER-TRIMMED CUFF IN NAVY FOR SOME SPECIAL OCCASION FLAIR
POINTED-TOE BALLET FLATS IN BLACK VELVET FABRIC WITH AN ADORABLE BOW DETAIL…WITH EXTRA PADDING ON THE SOLES, THESE ARE GREAT FOR ALL-DAY WEAR
CHIC FOUR-POCKET KNIT CARDIGAN WITH CONTRASTING GOLD BUTTONS AND CROCHET TRIM
SIX-INCH RISE PLATFORM VEGAN LEATHER SLIP-ON CHELSEA BOOTS WITH MEMORY FOAM — UNDER $40 IS A STEAL FOR TIMELESS AND WEATHER-RESISTANT SHOES
HIGH-RISE TAPERED TROUSERS IN A CROPPED FIT MADE FROM AN EYE-CATCHING GOLD METALLIC FABRIC
TINTED COMPLEXION DROPS FROM WESTMAN ATELIER FOR A LIGHTWEIGHT FOUNDATION ALTERNATIVE WITH ALL THE BENEFITS OF A SERUM — 20% OFF IF YOU HAVE VIB ROUGE STATUS
RIBBED PULL-ON MULTICOLOR STRIPED BEANIE WITH GREY BACKGROUND TO STAY WARM IN STYLE THIS FALL
Weekend Musings: There Is a Crack in Everything.
Ring the bells that still can ring,
Forget your perfect offering,
There is a crack in everything,
That’s how the light gets in.
-Leonard Cohen
This is the kind of language that just feels good to put on. Words that invite us to do what we can and be who we are. I feel a similar surge of reassurance visiting with Mary Oliver, who tells us:
You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your
knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
This is grace, in poetic meter. A benedictio.
Shopping Break.
+J. Crew has a less expensive take on the plaid nap dress phenom! I like the idea of pairing this with a black velvet or suede belt.
+Ordered these to organize my statement jewelry a bit better. In NYC, owing to space constraints, I transferred all of my fun jewelry into clear baggies and had them all in a decorative box. This worked well but now that I have the space, I’d love to be able to see them all laid out!
+Candle download: I just bought one of these Cire Trudon candles for our front hall. I’ve had their other scents in the past but this is their best-selling one and oh my goodness — it just smells like a luxury. It is described as “a fresh, crisp mint, spicy ginger and peppery clove. Reminiscent of the breeze along the Mascara Coast.” I also wanted to mention that these gorgeous marbled candles would make a great gift (and $36!) wrapped up in cello with a burgundy satin bow and Diptyque just released their holiday scents!
+I love these little fabric bins from Pehr for organizing specific sets of children’s toys — especially good for things like Maileg mice, Barbie clothes, cars, etc. Also handy for baby stuff, i.e., bibs, swaddles, etc.
+This cardigan looks much more expensive than it is.
I mentioned last weekend that we are going low and slow with the decorating of our home, but I was looking around my writing studio the other day and realizing how sparse it feels at the moment. I have some cherished possessions, all clustered in the photo above, including an original Inslee watercolor, a tiny glass bird objet my girlfriend gave me, a Jonathan Adler lamp (style since discontinued), my Magpie notepad from Erin Wallace, a Tara Andris desk calendar, a photograph of the Prada Marfa installation and a stretched canvas Prada Marfa reproduction — all items that spark joy. But aside from them, the space is not particularly interesting. Sometimes emptiness is a good thing for creativity: a blank canvas, or a space clear of stimulation. But the room just doesn’t feel much like me at all. I write at the same old, chipped white desk I’ve written at since college, and I don’t feel romantic about that continuity at all, because the desk wobbles when I type and has worn thin on paint in certain areas in ways that distract rather than charm. I also feel hemmed in while seated at it: the desk is petite in dimensions and I’m forever shuffling stacks of papers and notepads around to give myself elbow room. I spent some time this week daydreaming about giving it a face lift — all my favorite finds for the space below.
I mentioned last weekend that I had moved many of my books out of storage and the unsightly triple-layer-deep shelves in our basement into the built-ins we recently installed in our family room. The process felt vaguely like a reunion, where I was confronted with titles, authors, and versions of myself I’d lost track of. “Oh, you again,” to The Anxiety of Influence, a slim critical volume that still sends a shiver of performed, often ursine, academic-ness down my spine. Among the spines, I placed a copy of Elizabeth Bishop’s complete works, and felt nearly dizzy with memory. Bishop was the first poet with whom I organically connected, and the first meaningful subject on which I wrote in college. Bishop is in many ways my opposite, both from a style and ouevre stand point. She was exactingly precise, a purist. She published only 101 poems in her lifetime, each one a carefully polished jewel. She used the constraint of traditional poetic forms (including, famously, the ancient “Villanelle” form, which she used in her poem “One Art”) as a kind of whetstone, sharpening her language against its elected limitations. She strikes me, in other words, as a woman of tremendous creative discipline. I imagine her sitting down to her desk at 5 a.m., drinking a black coffee, and chiseling away.
I, on the other hand, am a late morning start and a milky latte. I am prone to linguistic largesse. Someone once told me: “If you can catch an adjective, kill it.” Bishop herself might have said it. I have on occasion repeated this phrase, believing it to be a kind of writerly standard to which I should probably subscribe, but in practice, I draw adjectives to myself as though accessories, as though ermine or pearls at the neck. I often write in adjectival triptychs. I enjoy the effect of this pastiche, each word qualifying the prior. And I write volubly, publish too frequently. I resist the ultra-formal, let go of my work before it’s polished. I think of writing more as a process than a product, and it shows, for better or worse.
And yet – there is much in Elizabeth Bishop’s work to which I aspire and — consciously or not — mirror. There is, across her poetry, a great quietness. She talks crisply, but sotto voce, and often focuses thoughtfully on the granular, especially in the natural world. Like Mary Oliver, Bishop consistently reminds us that nature is a live model for accepting change with grace, or — if not with grace — at least without mitigation or the over-thinking to which so many of us are prone. There is little argument and almost no violence in her words. Her poetry gives the impression of a well-polished wooden table: soundly constructed, burnished to gleam, not a scratch or sharp edge to worry about. For these reasons, I think Bishop is often underestimated. This, at least, was my impression in college, when I remember a classmate referring to her work as “kitchen poetry.” (I still spoil for a fight with this comment when I think of it.)
And yet. How wrong those facile readings of her are. There is a startling emotional prehensility in her work that moves me, consistently, as she writes slantedly around the experiences of loneliness, of loss, of grief.
Anyhow – it is probably obvious that many of her motifs, the traits of her text, her naturalism, on which I model my own work.
When I selected “Magpie” as my avatar over a decade ago, I know for certain I was thinking of Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “The Sandpiper.” A different bird altogether, but for some reason, they fuse in my mind, and this makes me sentimental about Bishop and that poem in particular. I remember feeling that I, too, was like the finical bird, “looking for something, something, something.” Of this bird, Bishop writes:
The world is a mist. And then the world is
minute and vast and clear. The tide
is higher or lower. He couldn’t tell you which.
His beak is focussed; he is preoccupied.
At the time, I saw myself in the bird’s hunger and watchfulness. Today, I read those words as more of an admonition than an identity. I do not want to be staring so intently at the individual grains of sand beneath my feet that I cannot tell you whether the sea is ebbing or flowing. This is the work I am after, not the hyperrealism or pointillism of portraiture. Bishop, of course, had beat me to the punch there. We have an entire strand on which to wander, she tells us, tells the bird: an expanse that shimmers if we sit back to take it all in.
+If you could go to school to study whatever you wanted tomorrow, what would it be?
Shopping Break.
+Alert: If you have VIB Rouge status at Sephora, you are entitled to 20% off your purchase! Use this as your time to treat yourself to some Westman goodies, Merit blush, the best eyebrow gel, or luxurious shampoo. More beauty favorites here.
+Eyeing this velvet bustier top for holiday festive attire.
+Love my new Arlette turtleneck from J McLaughlin. It is ultra soft and warm, and the ribbed style is different from anything else I have in my closet. I got it in the chocolate brown and intend to pair with brown faux leather pants!
+We just did a big shop for Mr. Magpie and one of my favorite things he bought was this ivory cableknit, which he pairs with ecru denim and a denim button down. He pairs them with these boots we also bought him — the entire look is so rugged / handsome!
+My dear friend Inslee did the artwork for this beautiful set of packing cubes. I’m in love with the desk set she designed, too!
+Seriously contemplating this rug for my office. I have eyed it for years now! So fun, so happy!
+Will share more of a dreamboard for my office at some point soon, but thought these lucite valet hooks would be SO handy for styling / steaming items / etc.
+After publishing this post on cold weather gear for littles, discovered the most precious new brand of children’s snow attire — how darling is this bunting?
By: Jen Shoop
One of my favorite trends as of late is marble finishes on classic pieces—I’ve been seeing this pattern show up everywhere, and have been layering the turtleneck above under everything! (Note: this piece runs small/snug.) Below, a roundup of drop-dead gorgeous marbleized pieces I just had to share.
GREEN 18-INCH SQUARE COTTON NAPKINS WITH CHIC SCALLOPED EDGES
OVERSIZED-FIT MAXI DRESS WITH MOCK NECK AND FLUTED SLEEVES
FIVE SHEETS OF RED AND GREEN WRAPPING PAPER FOR A FRESH TAKE ON HOLIDAY GIFT WRAP
ROLL OF HAND-DRAWN SWIRLED PATTERN AQUA AND GREEN WRAPPING PAPER
MEDIUM-SIZED BANANA CLAW CLIPS IN CHIC IRIDESCENT PATTERNS FOR EFFORTLESS UP-DOS
HEXAGONAL ITALIAN-MADE MULTICOLOR GLASS WATER PITCHER…THIS IS MAYBE THE MOST STUNNING PIECE OF GLASSWARE I HAVE LAID MY EYES ON
SET OF FOUR 15-INCH ROUND PLUM-PRINTED WOODEN PLACEMATS — THESE ARE SUCH A MODERN YET GROOVY ADDITION TO THE DINING ROOM TABLE
MARBLE TWIST TAPER CANDLES — ALSO FOUND SOME GREAT, LESS EXPENSIVE, MARBLEIZED TAPER CANDLES ON ETSY!
BLACK AND WHITE MARBLED DINNER PLATES MADE FROM PORCELAIN AND CLAY…CURRENTLY ON SALE AT CB2!
SLEEVELESS SILKY COLUMN-SHAPED MAXI DRESS WITH A HALTER NECKLINE
SET OF FOUR EASY-TO-CLEAN DURABLE PORCELAIN STACKING BOWLS FOR ONLY $20
SMALL SCALLOPED PAPER JAR MADE FROM FABRIC WASTE IN THE JAIPUR BLUE POTTERY STYLE
DOUBLE-GOURD-SHAPED TABLE LAMP IN A NAVY AND WHITE ABSTRACT PATTERN
LONG SLEEVE BROWN MARBLED LIGHTWEIGHT MAXI DRESS WITH FLATTERING WAIST CUT OUT AND LOW V-NECK
PASTEL-TONED RECTANGULAR HINGED GLASS BOX WITH VELVET LINING…SUCH A STYLISH WAY TO STORE JEWELRY OR OTHER ACCESSORIES
DRAMATIC PUFF SLEEVE CREPE BLOUSE WITH A HIGH, GATHERED NECKLINE — ALSO FROM ULLA JOHNSON IS THIS GORGEOUS LIGHTWEIGHT PATTERNED LAYERING TURTLENECK
STUNNING TURQUOISE SILK MIKADO FULL-LENGTH ONE-SHOULDER EVENING GOWN…AND THIS DRESS HAS POCKETS
40-PAGE UNIQUELY PATTERNED LETTER WRITING SET FOR AN UPDATED TAKE ON CLASSIC STATIONERY
GREEN COMBED MARBLE CUSTOMIZED SMALL NOTEBOOK WITH SILK-FINISHED PAGES
Q: List of fall staples — post COVID / post babies, my closet is empty!
A: I would start with a pair of jeans and a pair of corduroys that you absolutely love and that fit you well. For jeans, to good starter options that feel contemporary and classic at the same time are Citizens’ Charlottes and Madewell’s Perfect Vintage fit jeans. (Third option that I have been wearing a ton this season: Agolde’s Pinch Waist jeans.). For cords, I am obsessed with this pair from J. Crew, which I have in the pale mocha color. From there, pick up a couple of great layering tees in solids and stripes, some turtlenecks (including a fun patterned one), and a few great sweaters that can mix and match with a lot of pieces. I especially love the striped styles from La Ligne (still some available for under $40 from their diffusion line with Target), the solids from Alice Walk, and this classic cableknit cardi to throw on over turtlenecks/dresses. Finally: a blazer! I have been wearing this one so much, but there are tons of great options here and here depending on your appetite for color. For shoes: a loafer! This chocolate brown Sebago turned my head the other day, but of course Guccis are forever (see above) and there are lots of great loafer options here.
Q: Can you suggest any leggings or fitted pants to go with boots, booties, flats? I’m after something nice that isn’t athletic wear.
A: Try this ponte pant from Emerson Fry! For something more fashion-forward, these LeSet stirrup leggings have been causing quite the stir. See them on the ever-chic Laura Wills here.
Q: I have a few lovely silk scarves and I struggle with how to wear them. I’d love some new ideas.
A: I just shared a new trick for tying silk scarves and it’s breathed new life into my scarf collection! In general, I like to layer these scarves over striped tees from Ayr and Kule or with patterned dresses to prevent the look from feeling too stuffy/contrived.
A: Have you tried Rothys or Birdies? Both get rave reviews in terms of comfort/wearability. My mom loves Rothys and often travels with hers. I have owned one pair of Birdies (their mule style) and can attest that they were supremely comfortable — more like a slipper than a flat. I personally LIVE in Vibi furlanes, but they do not have much of a footbed support, so I’d try Rothy’s or Birdies first if I were you!
Q: How do you keep your bed so clean and lovely with a pup and kiddos?
A: Ha! I am forever telling our dog to get out of our bed! We do make our bed daily, and I find decorative shams (we have this exact set in the gray) hide a whole manner of sins (e.g., conceal wrinkly sleeping pillows and the splatter of milk from my son’s cup) and do not need to be ironed constantly to look finished/polished. Beyond that, we just try not to be too precious about things. Those inexpensive Target sheets have been helpful in this regard — knowing that my children are not mucking up Frette sheets helps abate some of the stress! P.S. All our bedding favorites here.
Q: White dresses for a bridal shower in PA in November. Ideally around $200 or less. Looking for something weather appropriate (maybe midi length/short sleeves or mini length/long sleeves combo?), and little bit trendy that will make a statement.
A: I love the idea of a white/ecru knit dress paired with big earrings like these or these. Alternately, this mini or this one are adorable — could be worn with tall boots or fun heels, and I’d again pair with big earrings. For something a bit louder, look at this darling lace dress!
A: AH! This is too hard. My most-worn at the moment are Chanel ballet flats, Vibi Venezia furlanes, these navy suede drivers from Talbots (!), these No 6 clog boots, and a pair of plain black suede pointed toe pumps from J. Crew — their Elsie style, which they have tragically discontinued. I own the Elsies in at least four or five colors and think they rival (surpass?) Manolo BBs in terms of comfort. You can sometimes find them floating around the internet from seasons past. My most treasured are a pair of hot pink Louboutins with a bow at the toe, seen here. I have them prominently displayed in my closet and every time I see them, I remember to have fun with fashion, to not take myself too seriously.
Q: Christmas stockings.
A: I shared a few options in this post, but my personal preference is a classic velvet quilted style with the name embroidered across the top! This is what we have!
Q: Chic navy blazers for the preppy look that’s in?
A: Investments: Smythe or Veronica Beard. The fit/style will literally never go out of vogue. You can wear this at 19 or 79. So chic. For a big splurge — the style is a bit more trend-conscious / distinctive, and costs more — check out Blaze Milano. A solid, more reasonably priced take on the classic: J. Crew or Banana (personally slightly prefer the Banana here because of those iconic gold buttons). For a budget buy — check out Lioness! I have read a lot of fantastic things about this under-$100 blazer, the TL;DR being that it looks much more expensive than it is.
Q: Long strand pearls — saves and splurges.
A: Tiffany or Mikimoto for investment. For less expensive, I would skip the long strand style and go for something trendier from chic label Eliou, like this, this, or this.
Q: Kitchen gear for entertaining. Starting from scratch after living simply.
A: Love this! My first thought was — treat yourself to a bunch of REALLY fun styles from In the Round. That brand just really sparks joy and makes me want to pour a glass of wine and entertain. However. The practical side of me wants to urge you towards white plates. Can’t recommend all white plates enough. They show food wonderfully and you won’t get bored of them. You can always swap out the linens/flowers to pack a punch. I like something with a bit of a twist like these ruffled ones, these square ones, these lipped ones from CB2, these color-trim ones from In the Round, and these rustic ones from Haand. For glassware, we love these short juice/wine glasses, these cooler glasses, and these elegant white wine glasses. Those white wine glasses really are highly versatile – my husband even likes to drink sparkling wine and cider out of them. For servewear, this is the kind of thing you should collect over time, finding idiosyncratic pieces you love, but I’ve also acquired a pretty solid collection of white servewear from World Market for various specific uses that have then been in heavy rotation ever since. Love a bowl like this or this, and this platter is perfect. Also! We have a couple of long white rectangular serving dishes like this that are PERFECT for serving up items to high dramatic effect. I like to pile it high with salad, or criss cross halves of sandwiches along the length, or place a heap of chips on two thirds of the dish with a little bowl of dip on the far side. Fun! More entertaining thoughts here and here. Cheers!
Q: Gift ideas for my SIL’s 30th — spending $300-$500.
A: What a generous SIL you are! A few things I’d personally love to buy for myself in this price range that might make good candidates depending on her interests…
A: We have been loving this one from Missy Robbins. The title is absurdly non-descript, but she has fantastic recipes and Mr. Magpie is borderline obsessed with everything she does. I also find the recipes from J. Kenji Lopez-Alt on Serious Eats almost unfailingly good.
Q: Inexpensive Xmas ornaments sets this year as a starter set?
Q: Baptism outfit advice — have a dress but want some investment heels.
A: Congratulations! And FUN! If I could buy one shoe that I know I will wear forever and ever again, I would pick the Manolo Maysale. I am wildly impractical, so I would probably pick one in a pattern or color and then make my outfits conform to it from now until eternity, but the taupe is the most versatile. But a little evil birdie on my shoulder is telling me to tell you to buy these trendier Dior slingbacks. OO LA LA.
Q: Wedding guest dress — Boca, November, will be 7 months pregnant.
A: A gift card you think they will appreciate — to a local coffee/bakery shop, to Amazon, to a book shop. For something more personal, pretty stationery, a personalized LL Bean tote, one of these Gap fleeces in a fun color, a cashmere beanie, a monogrammed pouch.
