Jen's Weekend Drafts: Middle Age Flexes.

+MIDDLE-AGED FLEXES: This made me LOL. What else is a niche middle-aged flex? Maybe having your lawn in ship-shape? Knowing a secret gas station with lower prices? (Related: weird things in my 40s.)

+POWERFUL REFRAMES: I’ve written about reframes in the past, but one of my most-heavily-used ones this year has been: how do I approach this with curiosity rather than expectation? The provocation changes my entire posture. It helps me drop unnecessary worries/anxieties and lean towards neutral, even excited, interest in what the experience or day holds. Another gorgeous one I read this week, from Vex King: “We live in a world that constantly asks, ‘What are you doing with your life?’ But maybe the better question is, ‘How are you living it?‘ You don’t have to turn your existence into a performance.”

+JENNI KAYNE SEMI-ANNUAL SALE: Ummm, some truly swoonworthy and deeply discounted pieces to be found here, starting with this cashmere cocoon of a cardigan (desk sweater material — my desk sweater is this La Ligne but the Jenni Kayne is a great pick). Also love this striped crewneck (60% off) and this gorgeous structured poplin top (J. Crew price for much higher quality).

+MAREA SECRET SALE: 25% off this edit!!! Includes eyelet, seersucker, flag knits!! Happy shopping to us.

+I HAVE FOUND SUCH JOY: A reader sent me this sweet poem. It is canonical Magpie 🙂

+DOEN’S LATEST DROP (AND OTHER GREAT FINDS): Doen** released a truly fabulous summer collection a few days ago. I love this throw-on madras dress — pair with Birks or flip flops and a sunhat and you’re ready for whatever the day holds. Speaking of sunhats: here’s a really good one, and it’s so popular it’s slightly back-ordered. You can get different colored cords to thread through! I’ve become something of a fanatic about sunhats this summer. I’m so determined to keep the sun off my face, and these make it chic and easy. (Plus hides second-day-old bangs…). I even like the way they look paired with athletic wear / athleisure: tennis dress (use code SHOOP20), fun sneakers, hat! Beneath the collage, I’m sharing two casual everyday looks with a sunhat.

SUNSHINE TIENDA HAT // MADRAS DRESS // $59 FLIP FLOPS IN THE BEST COLORS // DOEN BOW-SHOULDERED TOP // BUCK MASON JEAN SHORTS // AMANU KIBERA SANDALS // J. CREW CROCHET TOP // HEREU WOVEN BAG (ON SALE*) // J. CREW OCTOPUS BAG CHARM // DOEN TOP AND SHORTS SET // TUCKERNUCK BANGLES // TUCKERNUCK CROCHET SWEATER AND SHORTS

*Truly finding so many treasures at Ssense right now. This bag is on sale and don’t forget the trove of Ancient Greek jelly sandals!

**Great Doen looks for less at J. Crew here and Madewell here!

LEFT: HAT // TOP // SHORTS // BAG // BANGLES // SANDALS

RIGHT: HAT // ATHLETIC DRESS (USE CODE SHOOP20) // STRIPED LONG-SLEEVED TEE (PERFORMANCE WEAR — ON SALE!) // TOWER28 LIP PLUMPING OIL (28% OFF THIS WEEKEND!) // GOYARD BAG // NEW BALANCE SNEAKERS (I GOT THESE!!!)

+CARO CLAIRE BURKE + RAGEBAIT LIT: For those of us still grappling with Yesteryear (my thoughts here), I found this clip of the author defending her book fascinating. The discourse and even the way she links it to her commercial success is so complex and fraught, but there is a lot of talkback in response to Harper Bazaar’s labeling of Yesteryear, Strangers, and Famesick as “rage-bait.” Read the comments here!

+DAD LOVE: How sweet is this carousel of a Dad encouraging his artist son?! I was so moved. You’re never too old to be encouraged by your parents.

+BESTSELLERS: THE everyday “chase your kids around in summer” athletic short continues to be wildly popular among us! I have two colors already. Fit is a 10/10, they DO have pockets, and they feel like you’re wearing nothing at all. Quick-dry, performance-y material.