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A few weeks ago, I joked that the Early Morning Tee by AYR is “Magpie Core.” Like, so many of us own and love that shirt that it’s become a kind of visual patois between us. This made me think about other “Magpie signatures” — what might they be? The first few that came to mind: listening to movie scores; the Gap kick flare jeans; Circe and Sally Rooney; strategic thinking about vacations, Disney, skincare, and meal planning; “you’re where you need to be”; great at-home cocktails or mocktails; a curious obsession with pouches; running; upgraded air plane tickets; “just move the dirt”; the Tory Burch Romy bag; carrying a Kindle everywhere. What else?
I had fun, then, thinking about the “signatures” of a few people I love.
My mother: Quelques Fleurs perfume // Hermes scarf // Crispix and skim milk // the newspaper on the dining room table // loopy script // immaculately ironed clothing // notepads // “bacon, extra crisp” // peonies // a fully-charged phone battery // tissues in every pocket // “mmm, buh-bye” at the end of every phone call // kindness personified
My father: Legal pads and accordion folders // Montblanc pen // his “running closet” (a closet with only his running gear in it) // bamboo fly rod // Hechingers (RIP) // squat historical tomes // tall pour of Chardonnay // cold cut sandwiches // WWI poetry // either responds immediately to a text with a thumbs up or three word sentence, or doesn’t respond at all // “atta girl! alright!” // self-deprecating humor
Landon: Hedley and Bennett apron // obscure Japanese knives // Reddit // gray UVA sweatshirt // black Jeep Cherokee // pho 75 // all caps // keys with a sailor’s monkey fist knot // very loud music // very good gin // “why not?” // the number 18 // the best time ever
What might yours be?
Post-Scripts.
+Sometimes, love is a salad.
+What are your non-negotiables?
+On the friendships of girlhood. There’s just nothing like them.
Shopping Break.
+I own many Dorsey pieces, but their Clemence necklace is my long-time favorite – easy to layer but elegant on its own against a bare neckline!
+Tory Burch Romy Tote – perfect work/everyday mom bag. Find more of my spring tote picks here.
+Obsessed with these Rag & Bone widelegs! Probably one of my top two or three most worn pairs of jeans.
+One of my all-time favorite tees from Ayr – a perfect hybrid between a tee and a sweatshirt.
+One piece swimsuit for summer – flattering but cheeky, and come in the best colors.
+This depuffing face mask from Clarins is the GOAT. I didn’t even know my skin was puffy sometimes before I tried this.
+Crisp white bed sheets at a great price. I bought these as back-ups for our higher end sets, but now use them interchangeably. Remarkably good quality relative to cost.
+These pants make lounging feel luxurious. I wore these on an overnight flight to Italy last fall!
+Hotel standard pillows – our favorite inexpensive sleeping pillows. We use throughout our home.
+I swear by this red light therapy mask; reduces wrinkles and promotes collagen production. I’ve noticed a huge difference around my eyes in particular. Use code JEN10.
+An elevated plain white tee is worth the investment, and this is my favorite of all time. I own several white and most of the other colors, too. Use code MAGPIE15 for a discount.
+I love the size and silhouette of this chic bucket bag! Bonus: I’ve never seen anyone else carry it.
+Any and all Chappywrap blankets – my family is obsessed. We have one for each of us! The most gorgeous, elevated patterns, and the perfect cuddle/share size. Use code JEN15 for 15% off.
+One of my all-time favorite moisturizers.
+This Lake lounge set is a long-time Magpie reader (and personal) favorite. The softest, swingiest material – it’s what you want to put on when you’re not feeling well, are tired, etc.
+Quince has become one of my most-loved brands – excellent quality for less. I always find myself reaching for this cardigan to throw on over any outfit!
+I use my Ugg platform slippers daily – perfect for school drop-offs or running to the mailbox.
+High-end fit on these kick-flare jeans from Gap.
Gosh! How reflective and fun!! Here are mine:
Pink peonies/ the scent of jasmine / hyacinths in spring/ Valentine’s/ countdowns of all kinds, especially advent calendars / sparkling beverages: water, Prosecco/ bracelets of significance/ celebrating EVERYTHING!!/ yoga/ running/ leading with love
I love these so much, Chrissy. “Leading with love” — !!
xx
This is a fun one! Echoing another comment, your dad and I are very in sync! Xx
Mine— Manhattan x Memphis/ family over everything/ girls girl/ Big Kisser/ Bikinis as outfits June to Oct/dinner parties with psychotic precision/Steel Magnolias (every word)/ to or from a workout/can’t deny Catholic girl/ Notre Dame football/first on the dance floor/ unabashedly happy to see a friend/pen to paper daily/ I’ll just make it from scratch/Chanel slings and ballet flats with everything/ditto on crop tops/ iced lattes year-round/ bar sit for dinner/ hand holder/diamonds for every occasion/ vintage always/ beaming sunshine optimism
I love these so much – such a beautiful and inspiring self-portriat! Big Kisser?!!? Tell more!
xx
Chanel Gabrielle in Winter, Kate Spade Sparkle in Summer/Having a ‘daytime book’ and ‘nighttime book’/Breton Shirts/U2/pretty handwriting/paper planner/library card/using old library cards, metrocards etc. as bookmarks/podcasts/DIY/baking/cake decorating/needlepoint/fresh flowers/kitchen garden/thankful beyond measure.
OMG the description “metrocards as bookmarks.” SO charming! Thanks for sharing!
scent enclave: h/t Kelly and Aoife//running//Levi’s//chunky silver Scandi or Taxco jewelry//minimalist in all things except art, rugs, and jewelry//writing reading thinking poetry//always have 2 books going at once//extreme extrovert who hates being the center of attention//Mitsouko//hard-bop jazz or trip-hop//crop-dust my food with good salt//mah jongg fiend//can make anyone laugh
What an incredible gift: “can make anyone laugh.” WOW! I love this trait — my sister and brother are this way. To know them is to laugh with them!
xx
Based on the descriptors, I am 90% your mom… ha!
I knew I liked ya 🙂
This is so fun!
Mine are:
Scent enclave (h/t Kelly) // Water from a 500ml bottle/glass // Vintage outfits with one element gifted from my mother // Playlists for every occasion & month // Red passport-sized Moleskine/Muji notebook // Pure rosewater face mist + jojoba oil // Dried & fresh figs // Merino everything // Gold jewellery // Quizzing/ranking obsessive // Matte red lip // Almond croissant // Reading for 10 mins in bed // These emojis: ❤️❤️☺️ // Being the dog in the relationship i.e. here to be next to you // Gratitude/glimmers/bliss moments // Full moons // Thoughts, feelings, silliness // Arugula as a side // Cackling laugh // Cosiness // Alarm snoozer // Food as a love language //
My husband’s:
Lemon in water // Vibe creator // Cholula hot sauce // Digital-forward // Espresso w honey [Aeropress & Italian espresso doppio] // Routine-planning-organisational king // Autodidact // Impeccably groomed // Collared shirt or solid colour t-shirts // Gentle giant // Music maestro // Nap expert // Diablo game + soundtrack // Man of his word // Secretly competitive // “I did some research”; “I’ve come up with a system” // Kindest eldest brother & eldest grandchild // Whisky & whiskey // Heart on his sleeve // Salami //
I love these details SO much Aoife. Especially this: “Being the dog in the relationship i.e. here to be next to you.” It made me feel weepy! So sweet. Your friends/family are lucky to have you. And your glowing description of your husband was beautiful, too. “I did some research” — this sounds very familiar!
xx
I love this idea! It reminds me of Gretchen Rubin’s 5 senses portrait. Mine is:
Striped shirts // high-maintenance coffee routine // reading multiple books at once // Ambre blends Ahnu // rigid workout schedule // Beaver Island // madewell kick crops // leisurely breakfast // sleeping bag coat // 72% dark chocolate // toast //always baking // Cadbury mini eggs // Downton Abbey // waking up early
My husband’s: quarter zips // spreadsheets // RBC (Raisin Bran crunch) // golf // sleeping in // cherry or blueberry desserts // fantasy sports // podcasts //poker // old fashioneds// petting every dog he meets
RBC! Love that he uses an acronym for that. Thanks for sharing these sweet details!
I recently sampled Linnea’s Heirloom Tomato scent at a local shop that carries their candles. It’s very good, although it’s very much still winter where I am and a feels a bit too early for summery scents. I walked away with their Moss candle instead, which smells very upscale spa to me.
Thanks for that rec!! I don’t think I’ve tested that one yet, but I’ve probably tried 90% of their other scents. Will pick up 🙂
Mine are: scent enclave / thrice-repaired designer handbag / artipoppe carrier / tortoiseshell glasses/ gucci goldie red lipstick / monochrome max Mara x Zara outfit / no earrings or eye makeup ever / remembers everyone’s name / Francophile expat / 150 books a year / fangirl for my husband /BLTs for breakfast with a runny egg / ride or die for any new mom or postpartum family / gentle parenting / constant researcher / wordy AF / same jokes on repeat / Paprika Recipe Manager / KC Davis (nonfiction) / Celia Lake and Terry Pratchett (fiction) / Lindt Dark Chocolate with Mint / craft beer / folk songs / fairy tales / Sister Act / cosleeping / Martha Stewart’s Mac N Cheese
My husband’s would be: Nachos / Seeking Alpha / P/E Ratio / Minecraft / physics / Greek yogurt/ cold brew coffee / Berwich trousers / Wings + Horns henleys (RIP) / javelin / golden retrievers / dad jokes / suede jacket / Armani mesh blazer /black socks only / silly baseball hats / doing pushups with the kids on his back / Athletic Brewing alcohol free beer and Oscar Blues Ten Fidy (10.5% ABV) / Italian hoagies / fried chicken / soft serve ice cream
My son’s are: cotton sweaters / Ten Little shoes / saying his full name when he meets people : “that my little tiny dream” when he’s asking for something he thinks I’ll say no to / applesauce / my husband’s cologne / sunglasses and a baseball hat / new Simon Lapin books every library day / Daniel Tiger / Spiderman / Dot markers / playing pirate / French toast / mint chocolate chip ice cream / playing chase
My daughter’s are : lamb curry / getting naked / The Wiggles and Bounce Patrol / pink faux fur / chocolate / Dada / barking at dogs and quacking at ducks / orange blossom / Jacadi baby perfume / singing / scratch and sniff books / comptines / roaring like a lion / soccer / taking every cell phone in her reach / hair in her eyes / 4 different beverages at once / rompers and long socks / matching her brother
These are so gorgeous — thank you for sharing. I feel like I know them all!
xx