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01. The Magpies never lie — this Yves Durif brush is incredible (more of your RWIs here, plus the comments have lots of great additions). I specifically like it for detangling after a shower, for just-after-I-wake-up and want to brush out all the snags, and for mild styling after I use my Dyson AirWrap. I also own a Mason Pearson, which is great for different reasons — it’s good for redistributing oil and, for me at least, creating a bit more volume and body when hair is limp. The Mason Pearson is NOT great when you have already styled your hair with the AirWrap — I find it pulls the curl/bend right out and adds frizz/volume where I don’t want it. Yves Durif is the answer!
02. Santa Maria Novella scented clay pomegranate. While in Florence, we visited the iconic Santa Maria Novella shop and I treated myself to one of their clay pomegranates. These beautiful objets slowly release their classic scent — a sort of twist on a diffuser. I put it in my closet and every time I walk in, I’m delighted. The clay has this soapy-clean-rich scent that I can’t get enough of. Sorry, but I think this is going to be my new go-to housewarming gift / possibly what I get my MIL and mother for Christmas. Such an elegant and interesting surprise, and with a fun backstory given our recent visit to Italy.
03. Goop’s collab with New Balance. I need another sweatshirt like I need a hole in my head but how cute is this pink sweatsuit (top, bottom — or pair with the sweat shorts) and matching beanie?!
04. My favorite loafers, restocked but selling fast. These are so comfortable and the perfect balance of chunky and not chunky. I saw so many women wearing loafers in Italy and specifically pairing them with houndstooth / plaid / tweed blazers and am inspired to model myself on them — would specifically love to add this one to my closet. You can use code MAGPIE15 for 15% off.
05. The color kiwi/chartreuse, which I wrote about earlier this season. I’ve added several pops of it to my wardrobe (this Aligne cardigan was a delight with my Italy wardrobe – looks so interesting and luxe with brown) and a few other recent finds in this colorway: this asymmetrical Banana dress, this blazer (under $130), and this beanie, which I actually ordered myself.
06. Lizzie Fortunato jewelry. I wore this statement necklace several times in Italy; the colors are just spectacular with all the browns I’ve been wearing. Also obsessed with these oversized earrings to zhush up a cocktail dress.
07. The Julia Amory Betty dress in silk dupioni. Wow. What a huge statement! You can use code JEN-15 for 15% off. Such a great, festive dress!
08. This dramatic alpine coat from La Ligne!!!!
09. My cashmere sweatsuit (top, bottoms) from Tuckernuck. Wore on the plane to/from Italy and was in love — two women stopped me in the airport to ask about it! It was so cozy and warm. I layered over this Donni tee, which was ideal — it’s ultra-soft and thin. I generally prefer my tees from SoldOut or Uniqlo when pairing with jeans, etc, because they’re a bit more polished, but these are fantastic for lounge and layering. (Heads up that I did have to have the sweatpants hemmed — they run long. Good for taller Magpies!)
10. My classic Barbour Bedale! This was the heaviest coat I packed for Italy and I was glad to have it on a few of the chillier and rainier days. I wore it onto the plane, too, as an extra layer (and because it was the bulkiest thing I packed). I actually received the most questions from Magpies on Instagram about this coat; you can’t beat a classic. I got mine from Tuckernuck and sized up to a 32 because I wanted a very oversized, boxy, borrowed-from-the-boys look. The 30 would probably still be a tad oversized, but I really like the hang/look of the bigger one.
11. My Ex Nihilo Lust in Paradise perfume. I genuinely missed it while traveling and could not wait to get home to have my everyday scent back in hand. I will not travel without it again!
12. These Italian jam jars at the breakfast spread we enjoyed each morning we stayed in Passalacqua in Lake Como!!!! I wish I’d asked the hotel where they were from. Does anyone know where to find these? I want to keep my jam in them! The closest I could find were these from Skye McAlpine!
13. These inexpensive quarter crew socks — plush and comfortable, plus the perfect gen-z-friendly height. I brought with me in Italy. Also seen below while in flight: these noise-canceling headphones, an ULTIMATE must-have for travel. I could not have flown without them! I love the way they reduce the heavy airplane noises, plus any conversation / footfall around you! Really help with sleeping. They also hold a charge for a long, long time.
14. I’ll try to stop yapping about these now, but these VB Valentinas are my most-worn sneaker…ever? I love love love them. Cozy (shearling-lined), chic, in the best espresso brown color, and they add a tiny bit of height.
What are your current obsessions?
P.S. What’s something you’re secretly good at?
P.P.S. My Grub Street style food diary.
P.P.P.S. Favorite fall top layers.
Thank you for the thorough detail in this post- so appreciate that you focused both on what went well and what you’d do differently as both are immensely helpful for others planning a similar trip.
My significant other and I will be headed to Italy next fall, and I’ll be referring back to this post- the spots you stayed at are dreamy and in line with our preferences too so might just copy those!
For the cashmere travel outfit, I’m curious if you wore it on the way there and back without washing or if you got it dry cleaned during your stay. I always feel like my clothes need a wash after air travel, but given the material is cashmere, if you didn’t feel that way, perhaps I’ll try out the same outfit in navy (once back in stock) for a future trip. I’ve always shied away from cashmere wraps for plane travel for the same reason and have always wondered if people just dry clean after each plane trip, once back home, every few trips, etc. Would love your take!
Hi! So funny, a few Magpies asked the same thing via Instagram, e.g., didn’t you want to wash it after the flight?! I don’t have a great answer for this but my slightly cooky thought process was that I spread out the wears by a week and any germs/etc probably had died in the course of seven days. Ha! Probably untrue?! I have no idea. But it felt OK to me because I wasn’t, like, wearing the outfit day in and day out and gave them time to breathe. Maybe I just have a low threshhold for grossness? I did send it to the dry cleaners after getting back though!
xx
Those jam jars are delightful! Not jam, but could this jar of Fabbri Italian amarena cherries be a stand-in once you’ve consumed the cherries?
Yes!! I’ve seen those and thought the same thing! xx