Two albums I have been loving as we turn the corner into October:
“Too Close for Running” by Aron! — On Spotify here and Apple here. His sound and vibe is very much in conversation with Laufey. A little old-timey, easy to listen to. Landon and I call this “Saturday morning music,” but I’ve also been listening while working.
Entrance Music by Okonski — On Spotify here and Apple here. I’ve mentioned this group many times (listened to it heavily while writing Small Wonders) but this jazz album is perfect from start to finish. Ideal October cocktail hour listening. If nothing else, listen to “October.” Truly pitch-perfect for the moment.
Other listens:
+For a broody, witchy fall run — my Wuthering Heights playlist! On Spotify here and Apple here. This really brings me into my witchiest self. You can work through a lot pounding the pavement to this!
+Ralph Lauren’s perfect, moody “Fall 2026” Playlist. Love the headlining cover of “Fade Into You” by Gregory Alan Isakov.
+If you like something poppy with a beat for exercise, a few new release songs that have been getting me going on my morning fitness circuit:
“High Noon” (Shaboozey + Gunna)*
“Cleveland!” (Taylor Swift)
“SaWaDiKa” (Lisa)
“Sunshine” (Jungle)
“Hate That I Made You Love Me” (Ariana Grande)
+And for some reason I really enjoy running to Taylor Swift in the autumn months, especially “Midnights” — do others agree this is her best album? I thought I would be in the minority here but I casually mentioned that I still love this album from start to finish and two of my sisters said, “Um, of course. The best.” (!!!) I also love the songs “The Alchemy,” “Guilty as Sin,” “Honey,” and “Wish List” from her other albums. These frequently make it onto my running mixes. They are all so suggestive! I find myself writing stories while listening to them. Good creative company when you need a distraction.
*Before we move on from music, did anyone watch the VMAs earlier this week? Landon and I skimmed it the night after it aired, fast-forwarding to all the performances. Did we not love Kacey’s tribute to Dolly Parton with “I Will Always Love You”? So moving, and I liked the liberties she took with the song itself; she really knows her voice and its strengths.
We were also completely transfixed and blown away by the choreography in Yung Lean’s “Storm” performance. I’d never heard of this Swedish artist before, but the theater and choreography of the performance has been on my mind since watching earlier this week! The movement and tone captures the feeling of clipped youthful rebellion, the contortion of being told to do something we don’t want to, small defiances. And — the flat-out effort, the rigor of the dance performance! Geez! Truly incredible. We thought it was so interesting, we showed our kids. (I’ve since learned it was choreographed by Belgian Damien Jalet with a group of performers called GENER8ION.)
What else are we listening to these days?
Post-Scripts.
+I have gotten a few questions about the turntable Landon bought me for my birthday! It is by Technics and I adore it. Great idea for a Christmas gift for a music lover!
+What are you secretly good at?
+The secretly bad book girl and becoming Theseus.
Shopping Break.
+Two new Tuckernuck arrivals I’m swooning over: these statement pants and this gorgeous midnight-blue dupioni top.
+Mentioned this earlier this week, but these classic white button-downs were just restocked. Julia was just saying that this has been the single most popular SKU she’s ever released — she’s sold over 10,000 of them! I’ve heard from Magpies that it’s just a perfect, perfect shirt. Grab while available! (Use code JEN-15. Speaking of codes, we’re keeping this discount code page well-maintained. Added a few more this week!)
+Final day to get the perfect brown suede loafers on sale. I am shocked by how often I wear these. They work with dresses, jeans, casual wear! I just love them. These are quickly earning “Magpie starter pack” status — a lot of us have purchased during this promotion. (They are joining the AYR Early Morning Tee / Gap Kick Fit jean stratosphere among the flock — IYKYK.)
+On that note, quarterly plug for the early morning tee. IDEAL for this time of year, and back in the blue stripe, which has been its bestselling combo for years. A great mid or top layer. Lighter than a sweatshirt but can be worn as one. Heavier than a tee, but can also be worn as one. I love it with jeans or over athleisure! Also absolutely LOVE this new rugby style shirt. I’d wear it the same way I’d wear the early morning tee, almost like a sweatshirt.
+Promising look for less for the early morning tee.
+My beloved rain jacket in fab new fall colors.
+The best cashmere turtlenecks were just restocked. THESE ARE FANTASTIC. A really soft, stretchy material (adds no bulk) and look great layered beneath cardigans, tucked into fall skirts, etc. I love the new chocolate brown! In my cart. (Use code JENSHOOP).
+While you’re there, in case you missed it before it sold out: the red windbreaker is back. (Use code JENSHOOP).
+Gorgeous “barolo red” maxi skirt.
+Just ordered this henley for Mr. Magpie.
+For fans of Ballerina Farm’s Bone Broth cocoa (of which there are many…!), they just released a new caffeinated version!
+Just ordered these cute lunch box notes to tuck into my son’s lunch!
+Trending among Magpies: these track pants!
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I like a bit of gravelly stomp and holler come October! Stuff for driving down a lonely lane with the sun coming through autumn leaves, or scooched close on a Biergarten bench. I always love a bit of folk or a bit of classic rock. Elle King, Rhiannon Giddens, Sarah Jarosz, Kaia Kater, Kate Rusby, Dusty Springfield, Ninebarrow, Vance Joy, Patsy Cline, CCR, and embarrassingly, covers of songs from Scooby Doo and the witches ghost. I lost my voice for almost two months and was worried I’d never sing along to anything again! I’m not a great singer but I’m so happy to be able to croon along.
That would be so maddening!! Glad it’s returned.
“Gravelly stomp and holler” — lol!! Love! Made me think immediately of both Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers.
xx
Hi Jen! A couple of questions…
– How does the Varley rain jacket compare to a more “established” brand such as Barbour for example, in terms of function/performance? We are anticipating a very rainy winter (it doesn’t snow here) due to El Niño and I realized I don’t have a proper rain jacket except for a very thin Marmot which is more for the water repellant feature than warmth, and I’d love something more polished for going to work and walking in a university campus.
– Post idea! If your heart feels called to and if you haven’t done something like this yet (?)… I think it would be so interesting to see a comparison of different white long sleeve button downs (ooh can we now have an acronym for this – WLSBD!!). I am partial to Sezane’s tomboy shirt – I have it in white and absolutely love it, as well as AYR’s Tate (though I have it in the blue stripe, not white), and an oversized $20 Old Navy that is so unbelievably soft and in the clothes-that-barely-touch-my-body category. I know you’ve sung praises for the SoldOut WLSBD as well as the Tuckernuck one that looks a bit like the AYR Tate. I am sure there are others! Your attention to detail is always so helpful – I remember wearing my Sezane one and thinking, “why does this work so well?” and I couldn’t put my finger on it. And I remember you had mentioned in a post a while back, that it was the button placement! So the next time I wore it I paid attention to that detail and thought, that’s EXACTLY it. Anyway, I think it might be fun to see different WLSBDs styled in various ways. Thank you!!
Varley is performance-grade! I wore through a very rainy and chilly week in Norway (some driving rain, some misting), even on hikes, etc, and it worked wonderfully. Strong rec.
Great idea for a post – love it! Putting in my hopper!
xx
Hi Jen! I put together a classical playlist for fall (#nerdalert) earlier this week. It’s contemplative but not depressing. Here are a few of its pieces: Berceuse Op.16 (Faure), Anitra’s Dance (Grieg), The Lark Ascending (Vaughan Williams), Piano Invention No. 8 (Bach) and just for fun, “The Ludlows” from Legends of the Fall. Cozy! Happy weekend to you!
Love!! Adding these to my classical work playlist! TYSM!
I’ve been listening to Julia Jacklin’s new album The Gem–I’ve been a fan of hers for years and this album is just IT. Jen, I think you’d really like it–the melodies are great but the lyrics are really what stand out, particularly as she wrestles with her faith. I have it on repeat!
Ooh, will check this out! Thanks Sarah! x