The following content may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation. Image via Beacon Hill Bookstore.
+BEACON HILL BOOKSTORE: I appear to be the last person on the planet to know about this charming book seller, but I immediately added Beacon Hill Bookstore to my destination wishlist. Are you kidding?! How beyond! So many of you messaged me on Instagram about this dreamy spot — the intel is that it gets very crowded on the weekends, and to aim for off hours and weekday mornings. This made me wonder: what are you favorite indie book shops? I polled my Magpie readers on Instagram and generated the lists below! Please sound off in the comments if you have additions!
+JENNI KAYNE LOOK FOR LESS: OMG! Thank you to the TWO readers who sent me this look-for-less version of Jenni Kayne’s Cooper cardigan. I’ve been itching to purchase the latter all season but think I’ll try this one.
+A PROVOCATIVE QUOTE ON FEAR: I loved everything in this carousel The Pouf shared this week, but especially the following quote: “Fear can be a good thing – it means you have something to lose.” A serious reframe that really made me stop in my tracks. It also made me wonder how we sift out the moments where we must push past fear to try something new, put ourselves out there, etc. And, an adjacent memory surfaced: in my early 20s, one of my friends told me: “Never get into a fight with someone who has less to lose than you do.” I’m a peace-maker by nature, so it’s not that I needed a warning to avoid escalating or antagonizing, but still: I’ll never forget it. It mainly made me realize how much I have, and how petty and demeaning conflict can be. A good reminder the next time someone says something that leaves you flinty — is it really worth it? Probably not worth putting what you have on the line.
+GUEST IN RESIDENCE: Recently discovered this ultra-cool brand, Guest in Residence, with Gigi Hadid as its creative director. The styling is SO COOL (seen below, via their Instagram) – and pretty different from my own – but I am eagerly imagining giving them a Jen spin. I would love to own several of the pieces from their latest collection, but especially this cropped cashmere jacket (haven’t seen anything like it, and it involves on-trend kiwi/chartreuse), plaid overshirts, and this pointelle cardi.
Here’s how I’d style the fabulous cashmere quilted coat above:
GUEST IN RESIDENCE COAT // MOTHER HALF PIPE JEANS // GAP BAG* // LE MONDE BERYL SHOES
*Get this $79 bag while you can! It’s already sold through once and I’ve seen multiple chic peas styling it and it looks BEYOND fab.
GUEST IN RESIDENCE COAT // JOE’S JEANS COATED SKIRT (25% OFF) // DAUPHINE EARRINGS // SAVETTE BAG // LARROUDE BOOTS
+A FEW OTHER STYLING NOTES: I wore a twist on the second style note above this week and have to rave about a few components. First, I LOVE this coated maxi skirt. It makes me look much taller than I am and is just so chic and unexpected. It’s currently 25% off! (FYI, runs a tad small. I took my true size and it still fits but I’d maybe advise sizing up if at all in question.) And the boots!!! I haven’t worn a heel this high in ages but it’s actually very comfortable and looks so chic on the leg. I love the pointed toe. A perfect deep brown color, too. I paired with this ultra-soft Ann Mashburn cardigan — if you are sensitive to itchy fabrics, this one is for you. Super soft. I layered this on top of one of Tuckernuck’s cashmere tees (mine is the oxblood color). Such a great alternative to the white tees I usually wear. Styling here with these dramatic Dorsey earrings.
+BESTSELLERS: This perfect family portrait dress (also chic for fall cocktail party, Thanksgiving, etc!) was wildly popular this week. Lots of Tuckernuck in the hits list this week thanks to their sale earlier this week. If you missed it, don’t worry – you can still get 20% off sitewide with YOUROCK.
01. PERFECT FALL FAMILY PORTRAIT DRESS // 02. HIGH VAMP FLATS // 03. TWEED JACKET // 04. OXBLOOD BLOUSE // 05. GAP TURTLENECK SWEATER // 06. BANDANA PRINT TOP (20% OFF WITH JEN20) // 07. J. CREW DRESS // 08. QUILTED BABY COAT // 09. AYR TEE // 10. WIDE LEG CORDS // 11. TAYLOR SWIFT STICKER BOOK // 12. BEST COUNTER SPRAY
a few favorites to add to your list:
Prairie Lights (Iowa City, IA)
Kramers (Washington, DC)
The Bookworm (Edwards/Vail, CO)
Next Chapter (St. Paul, MN)
After-Words (Chicago, IL)
The Edinburgh Bookshop (Edinburgh, Scotland)
LOVE – thank you!
ALWAYS down to talk bookstores — I work in the publishing industry and therefore have heavy biases, but here are a few of my top faves:
Arcana: Books on the Arts (Culver City, CA) — my absolute favorite bookstore for illustrated books in the whole USA
Artwords (London, UK) — excellent spot for art books! Go on Saturday to take full advantage of Broadway Market
Brookline Booksmith (Brookline, MA) — the most vibrant bookstore in Boston
First Light Books (Austin, TX) — newish, lovely bookstore in Austin with a fantastic staff picks section and a cute café
Rizzoli Bookstore (NYC) — my personal favorite bookstore in New York
Yvon Lambert (Paris) — wonderful art bookshop/gallery in the Haut Marais
xx
Thank you so much! These are great! Is the Rizzoli in NY the one in Flatiron??
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Yes! Slight caveat — the current (Broadway) store can’t top the original location on West 57th that closed around 10 years ago, as the architecture of that space was SO breathtaking and unique! The new store is not nearly as grand, but it still makes my top picks list because of the buying, not just for trade books but also for illustrated books! They have a great selection of interior design and architecture books, for example. Also, I always give bookstores high marks if they have a good sense of discoverability, which can sometimes be hard for me to find since I am generally tapped in to many new releases, etc. as a part of my job. That said, I consistently find new-to-me discoveries at all of the bookstores above 🙂
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Love – thank you!!
The Ripped Bodice (run by 2 sisters!) in Culver City (LA) and NYC! The pinnacle of romance bookstores. And if you buy digital books through Libro.FM, make sure to associate the purchases with a real world bookstore! I always pick TRB. I love their “Blind dates” (discount books wrapped in brown paper with a few words of description on a name tag), I’ve found some favorites that way. They are true experts and they know romance beyond the last decade, too.
Books are Magic in Brooklyn is owned by the author Emma Straub. I remember she did a post on Cup of Jo around her last book and she’d had a jumpsuit made to match the cover. She has such joyful energy.
Those Dorsey earrings! We bought that exact pair for my MIL (60) last Christmas, and she bought a pair for her MIL (83), and yesterday and my little SIL’s birthday party (22) she unwrapped a pair! (And she got Dorsey studs for my BIL, both twins loved the gifts). I can confirm they look equally fabulous on all ages, and everyone who has opened them has loved them. A really special gift. I’m eyeing the Dorsey pendants that slip over the tennis necklaces for my next birthday. It’s also been the one brand where all the siblings manage to agree to go in on a shared gift!
Love these recs – the “blind date” idea is SO cute. I really want to try that next time I’m up in NYC! How fun!?
Agree that the Dorsey earrings (and honestly most of their items?) have a strong trans-generational appeal. Love!
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Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis, MN – very sweet children’s bookstore, complete with a child-size purple door for the kids.
How cute is the door?! My kids would flip!
Honest Dog Books in Bayfield,
WI – BEST bookstore ever
Tropes & Trifles in Minneapolis, MN – romance bookstore!
Love!! I also love how many Magpies have shared their favorite bookstores and said, as you have, “BEST bookstore ever.” Obsessed with the passion we have for these shops!! Thanks for sharing!
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Oxford Exchange, Tampa, Florida!
Love – thanks for sharing!
Leigh’s Books in Sunnyvale, CA
Bookasaurus in Sunnyvale, CA (children’s bookstore, right next door to Leigh’s) — such a happy place. It’s tiny, but they have the best items. It’s the kind of charming place run by lovely people, and there is a specific spot in the wooden floor that creaks when you step on it.
Linden Tree Books in Los Altos, CA
Not indie, but the Mill Valley, CA public library has stunning views of the woods.
Malaprop’s in Asheville, NC (where I first encountered this “blind date with a book” concept — they have a set of books wrapped in brown kraft paper so you can’t see what it is, and instead the bookseller has clever descriptions written on the kraft paper)
This blind date idea is SO cute! Another Magpie wrote about this at The Ripped Bodice in NYC/LA. I would love to try that! What a treat / joy!
Thanks for all of these suggestions!
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There is a new bookstore called Godmothers in Summerland, CA (near Santa Barbara) that looks absolutely dreamy — and their opening included the Duchess of Sussex and Oprah among others. The space looks incredible!
OMG! A true dream!! Thanks for sharing! xx
Mrs Dalloways Bookstore Berkeley, CA
Thank you!
Hatchards in London. Galignani in Paris!
Thank you!! xx
You must add ‘Books Are Magic’ in Brooklyn to your list. As the name implies, it is simply magical!
Thank you!! xx
Indie Bookstores are my favourite places!
1. Gleebooks, Glebe NSW AUS
2. The Bookies Bookstore, Denver, CO
3. Pages, Manhattan Beach, CA
4. The Strand, NYC, NY
5. Boulder Bookstore, Boulder, CO
6. Where the Wild Things Are, Brisbane, AUS
7. Tattered Cover, Denver, CO
I have been to each of these many times and the staff at all of them are super helpful and they have great selections, esp for children at the bookies and where the wild things are!
Love!! These are great – thank you!