My Latest Snag: Hunter Bell Mercer Dress.
I snagged this boho white dress for an extra 20% off using code SALE20. I feel as though it will be the perfect end-of-summer-early-fall vibe — boho-chic. Will pair with lots of delicate gold jewelry and leather sandals now (including my favorite platform fisherman sandals, now on crazy sale for only $130), suede flats (<<I own these in navy and wore them here earlier this week and got so many questions! Love these, whether pairing with jeans or long fall dresses) and chunky knits (<<all Kilte sweaters are 50% off today only!!!) later.
You’re Soooo Popular: Early Fall Finds.
The most popular items on Magpie this week:
HYDRATING CRUELTY FREE LIP TINT
BOLD RETRO-INSPIRED THICK-RIMMED CAT EYE SUNGLASSES — A SUPER CHIC ACCESSORY TO TRANSFORM ANY BASIC OUTFIT
LIGHTWEIGHT OVERSIZED BOXY LONG SLEEVE COLLARED SWEATSHIRT IN A BLACK AND WHITE STRIPE
EMBOSSED GREEN LEATHER RECTANGULAR CROSSBODY BAG WITH TWO-TONE ADJUSTABLE STRAP
MONOGRAMMED LUNCH BOX — BOTH OF MY CHILDREN HAVE THESE
NAVY CANVAS MARY JANE STYLE SHOES FOR THE LITTLES WITH VELCRO STRAP
GORGEOUS MULTICOLOR MINI-LENGTH WRAP DRESS IN A GEOMETRIC PRINT WITH STATEMENT PUFF SLEEVES AND RUFFLE DETAILING
COZY BLACK AND WHITE HORIZONTAL STRIPED RIBBED KNIT TURTLENECK SWEATER
CLASSIC SUEDE AND COWHIDE COURT SNEAKER WITH MAROON ACCENTS FROM ONITSUKA TIGER
WASHED BLUE BREATHABLE LONG SLEEVE JERSEY POPOVER HENLEY
CASHMERE SHORT-SLEEVE CABLE KNIT SWEATER
BRIGHTLY TIE-DYED ZIP UP BACKPACK WITH FRONT ZIP-UP POCKET
OLIVE GREEN SUEDE CLASSIC LOAFERS WITH A CHIC PLATFORM ESPADRILLE SOLE — FALL’S ANSWER TO MY FAVORITE PLATFORM SANDAL! MINE JUST ARRIVED IN THE MAIL!
SLIP ON SUEDE LEATHER FLAT MULES — GREAT TRANSITIONAL FOOTWEAR
CHESTNUT LEATHER WOODEN-SOLED PLATFORM CLOGS
Weekend Musings: Finding My Grandfather.
My father has been giving me boxes of old family photos and memorabilia the past few months — they are contemplating moving out of their house to a smaller condo, and have been doing preliminary cuts of the possessions they’ve stored for decades now. I have been transferring these items into these photo boxes and document boxes, and placing paper and newspaper clippings in page protectors in these binders. The task has been heart-warming. I have spent several afternoons on the floor of my office, surrounded by good and forgotten memories and vestiges of family members I did not even know, including my Finnish great-grandmother Saima, who passed away the year I was born. One of the things I have found most special is reading through transcriptions of speeches made at various events, happy and sad alike. The details in these toasts and eulogies offer beautiful dimension to people I either barely knew or did not know at all. I’ve tucked this insight away for the future: good to ask for copies, if it can be managed. Future generations will use those words, at one time delivered in the face of great emotion, to understand their lineages. As an example, one toast to my Finnish grandfather (Aser Nurmi) references his chipper, and apparently sometimes-cloying, “Aser-isms,” including his penchant for singing “I’m in the mood for love / simply because you’re Nurmi [near me].” Reading the words brought him right back to me. I apprehended him immediately, sitting in the window of his Painesville, Ohio home. His slightly stiff arthritic gait. The way he’d raise his eyebrows and say “Oh, well there” with an easy smile. And, yes, the croon of his voice singing “I’m in the mood for love / simply because you’re Nurmi.” He had a bright, sparkling spirit that is made manifest in the funny inscriptions on the back of various photographs in his hand. On the back of a photo of my father graduating from UVA Law: “June 4, 1972: The kid made it! U of VA, Charlottesville.” The titling is funny only in that it is virtually impossible for me to imagine anyone doubting my Dad would “make it,” as hard working and bright as he is. (He turned down Harvard Law for UVA!) And so I must make the assumption that my grandfather was being jocular, especially because the inscription on another photo of my Dad on the Lawn reads: “Thomas David Nurmi strides at UVA.” The formality, the use of the word “stride” all feel glib. I love these glimpses into my grandfather’s humor. It is a gift to see them these years later, to flesh out a bit of the winnowing silhouette.
Lastly, though — my favorite. On the back of a photo of he and my grandmother from an earlier visit to the campus: “Two lovers at UVA.” They are standing on the steps of the Rotunda, feet from where Mr. Magpie proposed to me. I felt a wonderful, tingling intactness at the symmetry. Two pairs of lovers, separated by a few decades.
P.S. I had some similar thoughts remembering my maternal grandfather here.
Shopping Break.
+I am obsessing over this fabulous dramatic sweater from Mango.
+Mentioned this before, but all Kilte sweaters are 50% off today only!
+All Madewell jeans are $75 this weekend. You know how much I love this exact style. Size down one full size! I also added this pair to my collection — a great, on-trend style. Also kind of digging these flares. Who am I?
+J. Crew just launched its fall outerwear – this reversible quilted style is adorable, as is this teddy sherpa!
+The scallop detailing on this dress!
+Fresh desk supplies for me: new notebooks from Rollbahn and these ultra-fine-tip pens — though I’m still obsessed with these ones! Use them daily.
+This ribbed knit dress is elegant.
+Into the color options for these Nikes.
+Love this inexpensive dark floral dress — wear now, then pair with a chunky cardigan later. Would work with bump!
+I feel like striped button-downs are a good investment — they never go out of style and can be dressed so many different ways. I’m in love with the color, stripe width, and shape of this ALC.
+Shearling Birk season is nigh.
+OK, these Manolo-esque suede mules in the chocolate brown are at the new top of my fall shoe shopping list.
+This reversible puffer vest!!!! SO good.
+Adorable underwear and tank sets for little girls.
+Great, versatile chunky knit for a little one — $25!
Hi! Would love to hear about the fit of the Hunter Bell Mercer dress? I’ve been looking at it all week and trying to decide if I should order to wear for this fall but hesitant because final sale. I am petite and sometimes her stuff overwhelms me. Thoughts as I know you are petite too? And is the fabric thick enough to read fall? thanks! xx
Hi Stacy! Go for it – I was pleasantly surprised at how well it fit despite the volume. The bodice part is cut rather narrow — it fits me perfectly, looks just like in the picture. I am petite — 5’0, size 0, and this works on me. I say go for it!
xx