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My Latest Snag: Fall Clothing for the Children.
I shared some of my daughter’s fall clothing picks here (loved all of your comments, by the way — had not realized until you pointed it out that many of the items she chose are heavily influenced by my style!), but also did a big shop for my son this past week. I bought him a few of these pocket tees, this Western shirt, these slim cords, and this waxed utility jacket from Gap; from J. Crew, I bought him this anorak, this sherpa vest, this striped sweater, and these chinos. And I already had one of these RL sweaters (!!) waiting for him (bought awhile back) along with these NBs and this Patagonia fleece. My final big buy is going to be a bunch of long-sleeved polos from Lacoste and Crewcuts!
This Week’s Bestsellers.
So many great fall wardrobe staples in this week’s roundup of best-sellers!
01. RALPH LAUREN BUTTON DOWN // 02. APC GRACE BAG // 03. PARIS SWEATSHIRT // 04. J. CREW REVERSIBLE VEST // 05. MADEWELL JEANS // 06. ULLA JOHNSON MARION DRESS // 07. KNIT PANEL SNEAKER // 08. ORIBE ROYAL BLOW OUT SPRAY // 09. CROSSBODY BAG // 10. MADEWELL DRESS // 11. J. CREW GIRLS DENIM JACKET // 12. TALBOTS SWEATER // 13. GIRLS HAIR CLIP SET // 14. B. BOX SNACKBOX // 15. PERSONALIZED PLATE
Weekend Musing.
I only read a portion of The Guardian‘s profile on Ann Patchett because I realized midway through that I didn’t want any critical literature about Tom Lake to cloud my reading of it. I’m reading Tom Lake slowly, savoring each paragraph as though too-rich cake, which, of course, it is not. Patchett is the opposite of too-rich: her writing is more like the simple, butter-dense, deeply satisfying afternoon tea cake that makes you feel good from the inside out. It is a warm oven, a lived-in sweatshirt, the way sunlight plays across your feet in the hammock out back. I am deeply aware of the fleeting joy of reading a Patchett novel for the first time, and so I must siphon it off in small drips, as much as it calls me to sit and stay awhile —
I did, however, come across one quote from Patchett before I stopped reading the profile that absolutely jumped off the page:
“So, people give me grief about being too hopeful or too cheerful or too interested in family – it doesn’t matter. I’m not writing all the novels. I’m not the novelist for the age. You want horror, you can get horror. You want dystopia, you can get dystopia. You want disaffected ennui and depression, you got that covered.”
I’m not writing all the novels. I’m not the novelist for the age. I might disagree (!), or posit that she is my novelist for this age, but her point stood: we cannot be all things to all people. This is not so much a rallying cry to do whatever you want whenever you want to, but to recognize that we can only be good at so many things, or known for so many things, and what do we want those things to be? (Then, deliver those things with excellence.)
So, just a Saturday morning note to remind us to center ourselves. To dig into our preferences, our joys, our idiosyncrasies, our strengths. To slick off the criticism or the sense that we should be something we are not. You aren’t writing all the novels, or living all the lives, or solving all the problems. You are the protagonist in your own story, and you choose your next adventure.
P.S. This reminds me of our conversation about main character energy.
Post-Scripts.
+Help! Do I get the fur-lined Birks in gray or brown?!
+Gorgeous cropped cords available in SUCH good colors!
+Dreaming of this coat for winter. Also love this one.
+LOVE the design of this end table, especially in the new pine finish.
+Iconic shade upgrade.
+OMG this tiny knit set for a baby boy. And these knit booties for a baby girl!!!
+Who else still buys herself “school supplies” at fall? Leuchtterm makes a great notebook, and you know my obsession with Appointed!
+Kind of obsessed with these colorblocked logo sneakers?! Like with Jenni Kayne sweats (<<people rave about these) and a trench for peak model-off-duty vibes!?
+State just released a new style of belt bag…might need it.
+Pretty headband for fall in the olive color.
+Chic crossbody for fall — under $250.
+So curious about this cult following scent. Would love to smell IRL!
+Always looking for ways to keep my (very smart, very curious, very…busy) dog engaged. This toy looks perfect for her, and it’s currently 20% off. She also loves this one.
+Have it on good authority that these faux-leather pants look very high-end IRL.