Jen’s Weekend Drafts: Glen Powell, A Poem on Love, + Fall Buys.

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+GLENERGY: Glen Powell is everywhere all of the sudden. One of my guy friends said he was going to see “Twisters” in theater “because, Glen Powell,” as if that were a full explanation. At first, I didn’t understand his appeal (he seemed to me somehow a CGI version of a movie star? Clearly handsome but somehow manufactured?), but this sharp essay by cultural analyst Anne Helen Petersen piqued my interest, and I’ve since watched both “Hitman” and “Anyone But You,” — and, I get it now. The man has undeniable magnetism on the screen. I was fascinated by Petersen’s commentary around actors who seem to “like women” (versus not) and how this shapes part of Powell’s appeal. (And the way he performs the scene in “Anyone but You” in which he blows into Sydney Sweeney’s mouth to cool it off makes it difficult to read him any other way, IMO.) I now find myself applying this litmus to other screen actors, and it’s shaped several fascinating conversations with men and women alike. One of my biggest pet peeves is men who only speak to other men in social settings — Mr. Magpie and I have observed this many times over the years and find it a big turnoff, even if Mr. Magpie would otherwise be friends with the man in question. (I should add that this does also happen the other way — women who won’t engage with or speak to Landon, or who seem to only direct conversation toward the other women.) Anyhow, I might just need to go see “Twisters” this week…and P.S., if you’re a Glen girl, you will appreciate the way I absolutely sprinted to the comments section of this post, and it did not disappoint: “It should be illegal to let Glen Powell wear a backwards hat.” Dead.

+OUR SECRET PLAYLIST: I am bowled over by how many of you love to work to orchestral soundtrack music, too. Lots of great recs from Magpies that I’ve since added to our secret playlist. I also copied all the soundtracks over to a Spotify playlist, in case you’re not an Apple Music girlie! Happy working / creativity vibes!

+THE PARKER THATCH CHARLIE BAG: Ever since seeing this little mirror selfie, I couldn’t get this chic suede Charlie bag out of my head. It’s so unlike anything else I’ve seen, and I think it’s the perfect size. Also, not that it’s original to this fall, but suede seems to be a dominant texture in this fall’s assortment.

+THERE COMES MY HEART: This poem was just right as a morning read for my 14-year wedding anniversary this week. We celebrated with a bottle of champagne and dinner at Rabbit Moon, and talked about how lucky we are to have been in one another’s lives for more than half of our time on this earth.

+STEPHEN NEDOROSCIK LOVE: I’ve been laughing at all of the memes about American gymnast and pommel horse specialist Stephen Nedoroscik: “This is possibly the greatest moment for glasses in Olympic history”; “Gymnastics guy took off his glasses and turned into game 6 LeBron.” There was also a hilarious comment I can no longer find about how Nedoroscik’s stuck landing was “the sound of hundreds of romance novelists creating a story about a bespectacled nerd-turned-superhero-gymnast.” I love the way we are reading that moment as a text, as a culture.

+WEEZER LIVE SPOTIFY PERFORMANCE: Mr. Magpie was so into this recent live performance by Weezer in Spotify’s studios to celebrate the thirtieth (!) anniversary of their Blue Album’s release. Worth a watch if you were/are a fan — his editorializing between tracks spotlights his tremendous gift and creativity as a musician, and the allusiveness of his sound.

+READING: I started reading My Brilliant Friend, per your rec! (Many of you love this book so much you repeat it! More of our favorite books to repeat here. A lot of Austen with a side of The Idea of You — ha!) I had been warned it would be slow to start, but it’s been moving apace, and I find her stripped-down writing exceptional. She captures the shard-like, imprecise way kids internalize information so accurately. Will share full thoughts soon – please read along with me so we can talk!

+EYEING + BUYING: Alex Mill launched a new collection, and sent me this perfect striped cardigan. I wore it constantly this week. // Fall denim on the brain — I ordered these VBs in the coolest shade of brown. // Loving dark denim tops right now — how cool is this one (20% off with JEN-20)? // Currently reading, and I hope you do, too! // Blake Lively launched a hair care line at Target and I’m intrigued. // The perfect level of loudness on a belt. 20% off with JENS20. // An ideal fall everyday bag.

Not seen below, but don’t forget about the Minnow sale, still ongoing!

CARDIGAN // JEANS // DENIM TOP (20% OFF WITH JEN-20) // CURRENTLY READING // BLAKE LIVELY’S SHAMPOO // PERFECT BELT (20% OFF WITH JENS20) // CHIC FALL BAG

+BESTSELLERS: Lots of you invested in this chic fall blazer this past week. (It’s also in my fall wardrobe! Everything in my fall closet already here.) A brilliant buy, I must say – perfect with white jeans or shorts now; transition to pairing with full length denim and over dresses and blouses come fall.

01. MABEL BLAZER // 02. BEST STRIPED BLOUSE // 03. DENIM MAXI DRESS // 04. MADEWELL DARTED BARREL JEANS // 05. LONGCHAMP BAG // 06. SUMMER’S-NOT-OVER YELLOW DRESS // 07. LA LIGNE COLBY PANT // 08. J. CREW CROCHET TOP DRESS // 09. MY FAVORITE MASCARA // 10. MIGNONNE GAVIGAN NECKLACE // 11. ONE OF MR. MAGPIE’S FAV COOKBOOKS // 12. HAIR CLAW