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I think many women dress for other women. Or at least I do — women are my second filter. My primary filter is, of course, what do I feel like wearing today? (I am a moody, fickle dresser in this way. I am right now wearing my Varley sweatsuit (sweatshirt, pants) with a Donni tee and Adidas sneaks, as it’s rainy and my children are home with me, and my son has been struck by a stomach virus, and I wanted to wear something that would enable me to “take charge in comfort.” But yesterday I wore a cropped blazer and brown jeans and felt like a different woman entirely.) Anyhow, after I figure out the fashion mood I’m in, I think about where I’ll be over the course of my day, and what clothing feels appropriate for those venues, and that’s where other women come into play.
Sometimes I dress specifically for Mr. Magpie, but he hasn’t given me much feedback over the years on what he likes versus does not — he pays me a lot of compliments, but has never said “I love when you wear this dress” or “I like those jeans,” except for this one mini skirt I used to wear in college, which he did love and let me know about. I in fact take this as the highest compliment; I think he likes almost everything I wear, and it leads me to double down on my fashion risk-taking.
Still, I thought it would be amusing and interesting to ask his straight-forward take on some of this season’s biggest trends. I saw someone else do this with her husband on Instagram and found the responses hilarious; as she put it, “he’s giving us everything and nothing.” The husband’s blunt responses reminded me of the fact that my Dad calls any shoe he didn’t like “a clog.” Could be a high heel, a sneaker, a Mary Jane — if he doesn’t like it, it’s “a clog.”
Anyhow, below, I isolated a handful of fall 2024 trends for Mr. Magpie to weigh in on. I love most of these looks myself and have admired them on other women — some of them are beyond my skill level; some I have tested myself. His opinions below…
Me: Bubble hems.
Mr. Magpie: That’s not good. No.
Me: The Row jelly flats.
Mr. Magpie: Fine. Don’t bother me. [Looks at a few other examples.] Well, those ones make her feet look like sea turtles wrapped in plastic.
Me: Barrel jeans.
Mr. Magpie: Those are fine. [Ed. note: this surprised me, and I asked my best friend’s husband what he thought. He replied: “Like it.”]
Me: Trapeze dresses.
Mr. Magpie: That’s a joke…? I do like how short it is.
Mr. Magpie: I think it’s fine.
Me: Loafers with socks.
Mr. Magpie: C’mon, man. No.
Dying over the loafers comment, because I’ve been admiring this look from afar and working up the courage to test myself! (See Jessie Loeffler Randall and Lilly Sisto rock the look!)
This conversation left me intrigued. I polled a few of Mr. Magpie’s best friends as well as the husbands of some of my best friends, asking what their favorite outfits on their wives are. I was surprised by the answers — each so idiosyncratic?! I had expected everyone to say: “Jeans and a t-shirt” for some reason? But alas!
“Either leather pants with her red Louis Vuitton coat, or she has a cashmere skirt that she wears with a black silk skirt that I like a lot.” [Ed. note: all of my friends will know whose husband this is.]
“Long colorful dresses. No preference on footwear or accessories, but I do like when she wears the bracelets I bought for each kid.”
“A sundress that’s one size too small (in my wife’s mind).”
“A colorful cocktail dress.”
“A soft, worn fitted t-shirt with classic, old-school mesh workout shorts.” [Ed. note: !!!!]
“Love seeing her in her Chanel suit. Classic elegance and power.”
“A sundress above the knee.”
What do your spouses like you to wear? How much do you factor their opinions into the way you dress?
Post-Scripts.
+Marriage is an act of optimism.
+On ode to Landon’s Jeep — “his foil and ferry.”
+On finding an easy kind of love.
Shopping Break.
+Love this chocolate brown satin headband. Chiccccc.
+Speaking of chocolate brown, eyeing this sweater skirt with this cardi.
+I have been wearing these Rothys clogs around the house constantly. They are SO comfortable and I like that you can run over to the neighbor’s / take garbage out / etc in them.
+Goop has bundled a bunch of their incredible beauty products for a savings, modeled after Gwyneth’s “no makeup look.” Love these sets! I wear the ColorBlur cheek/lip balm daily.
+Lake has launched its holiday jammies! Love this pair for children, and this ruby floral and this red striped kimono set for me.
+One of my favorite small businesses, Alice Walk, just released their outstanding 100% cotton weekender sweater in the perfect moss green. I am in love with it! I also have it in the darker green. She’s so comfortable and soft and I love the button neck. Cannot rec more.
+Missed this whipstitch trim jacket in my outerwear roundup a week or two ago — so good! Borrows from but does not imitate Toteme.
+This $200 tartan maxi is sooo good for holiday. I’d zhush up with glitzy accessories — velvet flats / heels / booties / etc.
+Just re-ordered Glowscreen. So good for mornings when I am going for a run / exercising after dropping off kids and don’t want a full face of makeup, but want a bit of coverage and SPF.
+Sweet little $50 lamp for a girl’s room. You could always swap out the shade for something splashy like this. (Upgrade pick: S&L lamp, or this look for less!)
+An actual perfect Thanksgiving dress for your little lady.
+Two items I’m eyeing for Mr. Magpie: this overshirt and this corduroy button-down.
+Splashy switchplate covers.