In August, the “dog day” cicadas drown out birdsong and crickets and nature’s other sotto voces — the wind in the trees, the trickle of water in a backyard stream — with their amorous calls. These are not the Biblical broods that emerge every seven and seventeen years in these parts; these are the annual ones, the regulars, the more solitary and less synchronized. They are loud as all get out, the heat amplifying their chorus. Which is to say they lean into the season, permitting the weather to exaggerate their entreaties. I get it: use what you have. Roundly. Scrape the bottom of the jar with a spatula; rebrand the offcut as Maltagliati. Use your full height and hand.
I listened to the dog day-ers during the final leg of my running circuit this morning, leaving my headphones in my pocket. One long, lazy performance of romance. I thought, all of the sudden, how August can feel like a love letter if you tilt your head a certain way, if you see its heat as swelling rather than oppressive, its haze as misty daydream rather than sweat to be swiped from the brow. And I saw too how the cicadas contribute to the script with their slow, buzzing crescendo.
August is as good a time as any for love.
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While I am trying to admire the current season, I can’t suppress the tiny thrill of excitement that rushes through me when I think of fall. It’s good to have something to look forward to. A few things I’m excited about for fall this year:
+Cederberg cinnamon tea from Mem Tea in the evening
+Hugging your arms around yourself while wearing a big, chunky knit on a chilly evening
+The first time we light the fire in the family room
+Horror movie season!
+The clean sluicing feeling of cold air
+Toasted Teddy blush (Rhode)
+Burrowing beneath the covers at bedtime
+Coming in from getting the mail or taking out the garbage — the warmth of that minor homecoming
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Sunday Shopping Notes.
+The collegiate striped tee we all want to wear this fall. (Good look for less for the spendy Gwyn one (use code SHOOP15) I’ve been wearing a ton lately. I like to use these tees as an accessory, too — tie around waist or shoulders to break up a look.)
+Tuckernuck also launched their perfect cashmere cardi in an ideal espresso brown. One way I like to style a cashmere cardigan: tucked into jeans, worn almost like a blouse, with the first few buttons un-done to show some clavicle!
+Mentioned above, but the Toasted Teddy blush is one of those universal wonders that works on, like, every skin shade — sort of like Clinique’s Black Honey? (Remember?) I actually already pulled out the Toasted Teddy and am loving it. I typically think of it as a fall color but it looks good over tanned skin too.
+I’m telling you, these are the jeans you will live in come fall. My favorite workday jeans. Insanely soft, barely touch the body, in a super lightweight (featherweight), brushed material. Run TTS.
+A few seasons ago, Celine had these fair isle sweater cardigans out and I just loved them so much; when I saw this from Frame, I had to have it!
+Treated myself to one of these it girl “BonBon bags” in a fall color. I was torn between this, this, and this, and went with the latter. I love a stripe! The green is so good in that one.
+In my cart right now. (And a reminder to shop their sale section — extra 25% off this weekend!)
+Another coat I’m eyeing — it’s sweatshirt material! (Try code CHEERS at checkout.) Would look super cute with THE Cadets pants (use code EXTRACRISPY).
+I kept getting ads for these makeup bags on Insta and finally pulled the trigger! I got the medium size. I felt like the large looked too big but now I’m wondering if I should have gone with large for travel purposes. Use code WELCOME10!
+Shopbop now carries Daily Drills! I have a few of their sweatshirts (they always sell out super fast; I own this one and this one) and they’re just SO GOOD. I realize these are kind of Gen-Z coded but they really are peak lounge and hygge — what you want to wear when you’re having a good scrolling or TV session with wet hair. They give me throwback college / high school sweatshirt vibes. I also love their “super” shorts (I own in navy). Great fit and perfect for lounge.
+All my Shopbop hearts here. Just updated them — so many great fall pieces. How good is this fringed scarf that TWP just launched?!
+These suede mules arrived and are exactly what I want to wear all fall long.
+Apparently these chartreuse cable knits FLEW the last time it was launched! It’s pricey but look at the fit and color! Divine!
+Extra 25% off sale at Tanya Taylor. Own and love this cool chocolate stripe number — and now it’s under $250.
Magpie Prints!
Thank you so much for all of your print orders this week. I hope you love them. The two top-sellers have been “A Woman of Substance” (my personal north star, framed this for my own desk) and “He Named the Bright Spot on the Moon After Her.”
I also had this reassurance framed for the desk on the top floor, which I’ve recently begun working from. New view, new environment! I got the frame from here on Etsy.
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