Musings + Essays
3 Comments

Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 286: Going Slow.

By: Jen Shoop

My Latest Snag: Oribe Shampoo and Conditioner.

I’ve written elsewhere that I exclusively buy either prestige or budget hair care products for myself, and I’ve been on a Pantene kick for nearly a year now. After getting my hair cut and colored at the George Salon at the Four Seasons DC a week or two ago, I decided it was time to refresh. My stylist told me that after you’ve been using a product for awhile, your hair grows accustomed to it, and needs a kick-start. I am toggling back to my tried-and-true favorite luxury haircare line: Oribe. I’ve tried nearly all of their variations (e.g., for blondes, for color-treated hair, etc) and they are all excellent. This time, I went with their signature. It is peak luxury shower experience. The smell, the lather, the results! Heaven. A lovely little upgrade.

P.S. More shower experience upgrades here.

You’re Soooo Popular: Early Fall Finds.

The most popular items on Magpie this week:

Bestselling fall fashion

HIGH NECK BLACK MAXI DRESS WITH SMOCKED BODICE AND STUNNING OPEN BACK DETAIL

VINTAGE-INSPIRED (AUDREY VIBES!) FIT-AND-FLARE DRESS

CLASSIC MIDI SLIP SKIRT WITH ELASTIC WAISTBAND — COMES IN SO MANY COLORS

KNEE-LENGTH BUTTON-FRONT COLLARLESS SHIRT DRESS WITH VOLUMINOUS LONG SLEEVES AND WAIST-TIE IN A MUTED OLIVE GREEN — NOW 40% OFF!!!

MAGNOLIA WREATH PRINTED PERSONALIZED WEATHERPROOF RETURN ADDRESS LABELS

MOCK-NECK IVORY CABLE KNIT COZY SWEATER IN A CROPPED LENGTH

MEDIUM SIZED TAN WOVEN PUMPKIN TO LEVEL UP YOUR FALL-THEMED HOME DECOR ON A BUDGET

GRAY AND BLUE STRIPED COTTON-POPLIN BUTTON UP SHIRT DRESS WITH CURVED HEM

V-NECK COLLARED CASHMERE LONG SLEEVE SWEATER IN NAVY — A TIMELESS WARDROBE STAPLE

LITTLES’ RELAXED FIT CLASSIC NAVY DOUBLE BREASTED PEACOAT…DOESN’T HURT THAT THIS PIECE IS ON SALE FOR FORTY PERCENT OFF RETAIL CURRENTLY

TEXTURED GRAY 13-INCH ORGANIZATION CUBE WITH HANDLES FOR EASY STORAGE OF LITERALLY ANYTHING

SIMPLE BEIGE CREWNECK SWEATSHIRT WITH RIBBED EDGES IN AN OVERSIZED FIT WITH DROPPED SHOULDERS

BLACK ITALIAN LEATHER ROOMY STUDIO BAG WITH ORGANIZATIONAL ZIP POCKETS AND ADJUSTABLE STRAP

POINTED-TOE SUEDE SLINGBACK KITTEN HEELS

STAINLESS STEEL JULEP CUP

SET OF SIX FOLDING QUILTED ZIP-UP ORGANIZATION BINS — HOW I’M STORING MY OFF-SEASON CLOTHES

Weekend Musings: Slowly Is the Fastest Way to Get to Where You Want to Be.

In 2019, actor Andre De Shields won his first Tony at the age of 73. On the dais, he said:

“Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be. The top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so keep climbing.”

Is there anything worthwhile in life that comes quickly? Besides, perhaps, the first blush — the first hunch — of love? Everything else requires time, dedication, recursions, frustrations, highs and lows. I was thinking about this the other day while running. Running offers an obvious metaphor for persistence towards a goal. Most of running is boring and repetitive — at least for me. I know some runners find the act thoroughly meditative, but most of the time, I’m just out there, hoping to finish. I find this particularly true when I have a lot going on and am chomping at the bit to just get home and get my day started. But running in this mode is good practice for the stamina required of most worthy pursuits in life, where we spend a lot of time “in the middle,” just putting one foot in front of the other.

One of my chief grievances with start-up culture is the romanticization of the entrepreneur. In reality, starting a business is a long slog “through the middle.” It takes years and years of thoroughly unglamorous work. Think about the most monotonous and unpleasant part of any business — whether cleaning toilets, packing boxes, coordinating transportation, etc. At one point (often for a sustained period), any entrepreneur has given days — even weeks, months, years! — of her life fulfilling that role. The gritty few know that “slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be.”

The same is true of countless other pursuits, too. Even pregnancy! Ten long months! Often preceded by a journey to conception! And any degree or specialization in a field — years of work, late nights, jobs at the bottom of the totem pole.

Throwing these thoughts out there if you’re feeling stuck in the middle of whatever you’re engaged in at the moment. Slowly is the fastest way to get where you want to be.

slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be

Shopping Break.

+This Saloni dress has been released in variations the past several years but I think I might have to pounce on the hot pink!

+Great Thanksgiving option. Sorry, I can’t help myself – always thinking ahead. This dress reminds me of La Ligne!

+$10 tee — love the slight drama at the sleeve.

+Swooning over this coat. Reminds me of a Zimmermann style but about half the price.

+Cutest $130 sweater.

+My dream “going out” top. Perfect in every way.

+…And my dream “staying in” ‘fit. Also perfect in every way. Ha!

+These brass salad servers would be a great hostess gift wrapped up with an enormous grosgrain or velvet bow.

+Madewell’s new sneaker has Loewe vibes.

+This popular shearling vest is back this year!

+FUN cocktail party dress. Love the pattern.

+Another great “desk sweater.” I should also mention that I often use this inexpensive sherpa fleece as my desk sweater in the winter — it’s like snuggling with a teddy bear! I bought my daughter one to match.

+This $22 blouse looks like Staud!

+My word. The sale section at Elyse Walker is insane. A chic white dress from Toteme for $135?! Johanna Ortiz cocktail number for 75% off?

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *.

3 thoughts on “Weekend Vibes, Edition No. 286: Going Slow.

  1. There’s something satisfying about being in the middle yet at times it is challenging. This reminds me of the fable the tortoise and the hare.

    That pink dress is fab. Like an Audrey Hepburn in a pretty in pink film vibe. And those pink pajamas with the fringe should be for a bachelorette party or something fun. Like from a Doris Day film or something of that era. And confession here, I’ve never colored my hair; good tip on changing up the products. I’m getting mine cut later this month and always end up with a similar look.

    1. I like the idea of finding “satisfaction in the middle.” This is really a great mindfulness prompt — how might I find joy “in the middle”?

      Isn’t that dress great?!

      xx

Previous Article

Next Article