Jen's Weekend Drafts: On Sounding Like Yourself.

+ON BECOMING YOURSELF: A fellow writer left me a lovely note saying she appreciated my writing/encouragement on the subject of cultivating discipline with the craft of writing. Writing is mainly about time and trying. I think often of a quote by Miles Davis: “Man, it takes you a long time to sound like yourself.” Yes! It takes a long time to become. (Related: the importance of being an expert in yourself! What do you really sound like, underneath it all?!)

+TEABAG ART: Related, I loved this art video, and especially the caption: “I started with a simple teabag mark — no plan, no pressure — just letting the colour wander. When I turned the paper, a tiny robin appeared, waiting to be painted. Art doesn’t always need a sketch or a goal. Sometimes, it just asks you to slow down… and notice what’s already there.” Gorgeous!

+AN IMPRESSION OF BRITISH THEATER: I can’t put my finger on why, but this made me laugh out loud.

+V. WOOLF ON OCTOBERS: Let the mind swim, Magpies!

+LITTLE WOMEN WINTER: I’m here for this ethos. I feel a blog post forming…

+EYEING + BUYING:

+Wow this skirt has captured my imagination. Currently envisioning with this aubergine fair isle I have from VB. (Look for less with this $49 steal!)

+Loving Jennifer Behr’s Art Deco-inspired gemstone jewelry for the season ahead, especially these and these. Interesting, eye-catching colors!

+Haircare musts: K18 and the best brush known to woman. (Have gifted the latter to many women I love.)

+Chic shoe discoveries this week: these fur-trim boots (!) and these $125 velvet studded mules, which go perfectly with all things holiday Doen.

+Into the slight pilgrim vibes of this sweater for this Thanksgiving season. Speaking of: top contender for my turkey day: this tartan RL. Look at the drop-waist detail and tiers. Much more fashion-y than you think! LOVE.

VB FAIR ISLE (LOOK FOR LESS HERE) // TUCKERNUCK SKIRT // JENNIFER BEHR EARRINGS // SCAROSSO BOOTS // RL PLAID DRESS // K18 HAIR MASK // BEST BRUSH EVER // SANDRO SWEATER // VELVET MULES // NATURA BISSE DIAMOND COCOON SHEER CREAM

+BESTSELLERS: So many of you snagged these incredibly soft, featherweight jeans, and I’m so glad. They are my favorite “cozy writing” pant. I’m not sure if my code expired last night, but try JEN20 to see! A number of you also picked up these incredibly comfortable flats — they are SO good right out of the box. A Magpie reader turned me onto these; she said she travels with them and has walked entire cities in them. I can see why. They’re so supple and soft; there is absolutely no way you can get a blister in them?!