*Image above via Therese Hellstrom. SO chic. Love the way she plays with color.
My Latest Snag(s): On-Trend Fall Finds.
First: I have been wearing this headband NONSTOP the last two weeks, and it is currently on sale for like $6!!!! A couple of fun, affordable finds I ordered this week for my fall wardrobe:
THIS DRAMATIC CARDIGAN WITH RHINESTONE BOW BUTTONS
Currently in my cart? This $119 pilgrim collar dress (seen above on Therese Hellstrom, transformed into a shirt) and this wool blanket scarf.
You’re Sooooo Popular: The Chic Fleece.
The most popular items on le blog this week:
+My favorite boxy fleece sweatshirt — I own in the oat color.
+This $29 flounce cableknit sweater.
+This ultra-chic longline cardigan.
+Darling flounced tunic dress — perfect for Thanksgiving/fall gatherings.
+This condiment server, which I use to serve up little nibbles at cocktail hour.
+Striped maxi dress — perfect with sneakers in fall.
Weekend Musings: How Do You Take Care of Yourself?
A week or two ago, an astute Magpie reader left a comment asking my thoughts on “our culture’s tendency to treat moms having five minutes to take a shower like luxury/self care?” The comment left me deep in thought about the terms “self-care” and “wellness,” which, I have come to believe, mean both nothing and everything and must therefore be summarily excised from my vocabulary. I mean, the terms have become so dilute as to encompass concepts as disparate as meditation, dry brushing, and chia seeds. They’ve been co-opted by clever marketers who are banking on what I will call “the Goop subtext” — that is, the message that women everywhere live in a perennial state of not-good-enough-ness that requires remediation, treatment, tinctures and tonics. On the flipside, I don’t want to be too quick to denigrate Goop. Some of their podcasts have been eye-opening and stirring in ways that have engendered self-enlightenment. (“Why do I follow rules so carefully?”) And I think that at least some of their work on the “wellness” side has empowered listeners to be more proactive in seeking remedies to persistent problems. There is a sad and lengthy history of women presenting their symptoms only to be quieted and dismissed. Goop presents alternatives.
But, let’s set aside Goop for now, lest I unmeaningly write a 24-page treatise on the subject, though I am eager for your comments on the brand and also on the seemingly immaterial terms “self-care” and “wellness.” (Please share below!)
Today, I want to think more generally about things that make us feel — if not outright “good” — then “better.” This year, I have battled not only the flu but a nasty stomach bug and COVID-19. After those health travails, I have had to take a step back and ask what I can be doing to better protect myself and my immune system, especially because I was, candidly, put out by the number of people who asked me “but did you get the flu vaccine?” after I’d told them that I’d caught it (from caring for my daughter, who brought it home from school). The implication, it seemed to me, was that I was somehow at fault for having caught the flu (though yes, I did get the vaccine, and as early as possible, as I do every year). I think this sentiment has in part informed the protracted, uneasy sense of guilt I carry for having caught COVID-19 as well. Do other COVID-19 survivors feel the same way, I wonder? I still feel sick to my stomach over it. How could I have done this to my family and my community? How on earth did I catch it? I felt I was following every rule — masking, avoiding stores, washing hands, wiping down packages. Did I not wash my hands thoroughly enough one afternoon? Did someone cough on me while I was walking Tilly? I have spent hours lingering over these questions, lost in a bitter kind of shame. I cannot quite express the burn of delinquency I felt when I alerted the management of my building to my illness and texted my immediate neighbors with the same news. I felt I had failed them. One set of neighbors took to entering and exiting their apartment from the service entrance (i.e., further away from our front door) and though I could not blame them, I was mortified. The only thing I can say is thank God that neither my children nor my husband became symptomatic — a true miracle as we live in such tight quarters — because I don’t think I would have ever forgiven myself.
At any rate, I have been trying to double down on healthier habits — taking vitamins, exercising regularly, drinking more water, aiming for more sleep (so hard with young children and the desire for some time to myself in the evenings), but am curious to know — how do you care for yourself? Anything I should be doing? I’m game for anything — apple cider vinegar shots, hot water with lemon. Teach me!
A Special Cause: Good+ Foundation Partners with Maisonette.
I’ve mentioned recently how much I admire and support the meaningful work that The Good+ Foundation is doing, and wanted to share another way to get involved: Maisonette is currently running an incredible program where they will donate one item of clothing to families in need (distributed by the Good+ Foundation) for each item purchased from its house brand, Maison Me. I am ordering this plaid dress for mini.
Post-Scripts: Liberty London x Gucci.
+The new Liberty London x Gucci release is amazing. People are going wild over this bag in particular, but my heart is aflutter over these chain-embellished flats! I am sharing a full post in a few days featuring lots of Liberty London/Liberty London-inspired scores, but I shared a little preview of INSANELY CUTE Etsy finds featuring their iconic prints here. I mean, this personalized lavender sachet! Such a cute little gift at an unbelievable price!
+And, these darling Liberty London print sandals for little ones are currently marked down to $18. I bought these for mini for next summer — perfect accent to a simple white dress.
+In case you waited — these Halloween jammies are now marked down to $10 and many sweet baby Halloween costumes are discounted to 60% off.
+Classic toggle coat for a little one.
+URGENT: I own these Alexandre Birman booties in a different colorway, but these in the chicest sage green are marked down 60% off!
+A less-expensive version of the J. Crew fleece everyone loved last week.
+Fun sweater on sale for under $50.
+Majorly lusting after this cardigan and a pair of Le Monde Beryl shoes (love these in inky velvet, these in unexpected corduroy, and these houndstooth ones. (Look for a little less with these in the rust velvet.)
+Dondolo has such amazing fall pieces out for children, with the most spectacular details. I love the idea of this rose bud bubble layered under a cable knit cardigan. And then this sweet pumpkin headband could be the simplest way to celebrate Halloween with a dress you already have in your daughter’s closet.
+CHIC houndstooth longline cardigan. Look for less with this steal from Mango.
+DEAD over this sweater for little ones.
+This Maje dress is on sale for $118 and SO chic with the horsebit print! Adorable with black tights and flats.