What You’re Shopping For, March 2022 Edition Vol II.

*Image above via Moda Operandi featuring Markarian.

Q: Gifts for my mom for her birthday.

A: Love this question — so sweet. Personally, I love to give my mom luxurious beauty products, as we’re both beauty enthusiasts. I would give her these new Ilia pigments I’m obsessed with and this cream highlighter, which is currently at the top of my beauty lust list. I played around with it in Sephora this week and it is absolutely gorgeous. I have so many other highlighters, though, and so felt chastened by my attempt to only have one product in each category, and I already have two highlighters I use and love regularly (Westman Atelier’s Lit Stick and Saie’s glowy super gel). But that’s neither here nor there — I would love to gift my mom a pretty new highlighter!

Another thought: a pretty new resort wear dress. My mom and I both just purchased this Emerson Fry number, but something like this would also be a sweet gift, too.

A pretty straw bag like this for all of her spring occasions would be lovely, too, or maybe a classic LL Bean bag monogrammed with her nickname? (I had this done for my MIL, whom my children call “Gigi,” but it doesn’t need to be a grandma name — could also just be a special nickname you have for her.)

A few other pretty finds that I would happily gift a beloved friend/family member: recipe book, wedgewood earrings, Alice Walk wraps, or a printed tablecloth. I am also personally eyeing these personalized ballet flats from Margaux — a bit more expensive, but so special.

Otherwise, I feel like a broken record, but I have lost count of the number of times I’ve given Lake Pajamas to women in my life. Who doesn’t love a new pair of pretty, super-soft pajamas?

Q: Spring and summer placemats.

A: I am still loving the scalloped-and-embroidered placemat trend — love these, these, and these! I also love the piped edge styles here and here. This Etsy shop does amazing table setting “sets” that include placemats, runners, and napkins that all coordinate perfectly but look a bit more styled/eclectic. For outdoor dining, I love these and these! (And more outdoor dining finds here.)

Q: Snowboots.

A: Ha! I’m full steam ahead on spring and yet I, too, am still wearing my heavy duty parka and clog boots close to daily. So, if we’re talking heavy duty snow (like you live in Chicago), I can’t recommend Sorel Jean D’Arctic boots enough. They are heavy duty, legit pieces of equipment. They feel like they weigh five pounds each. They are insulated and your feet stay dry and warm for ages. If we’re talking the occasional snow day, I love the look of Sperry Saltwaters, Marc Fisher Izzies (very limited sizes on sale here!), and Sorel’s fun explorer boots in the teddy or white.

Q: Tortoise shell glass dinner plates on the budget friendly side.

A: These melamine ones! Related: these reasonably priced tortoise tumblers! Also cute as pen cups.

Q: Wedding guest dress for March. At a total loss.

A: A few of my favorite dresses out at the moment that might fit the bill, depending on formality of occasion:

THIS LA LIGNE

THIS ALEMAIS

THIS CIAO LUCIA WITH EARRINGS LIKE THESE

THIS DAMARIS BAILEY

THIS FLOOR-LENGTH PINK COLUMN

THIS CORAL STUNNER FROM PEONY

THIS CAROLINE CONSTAS (ALSO LOVE IT IN THIS PRINT)

DE LORETA

THIS COCO SHOP

THIS AMUR

THIS MILLE

P.S. More options in my wedding guest shop or here.

Q: Gift for my wife as we prepare to welcome a second child.

A: This is the absolute sweetest. My husband gave me an Hermes scarf with a “soldier motif” on the eve of the birth of my second, telling me that I was brave. (This similar one is wild and fun.) It was such a thoughtful and meaningful morale boost. I also love the idea of a personalized piece of jewelry like one of these Aurelia Demark bracelets, which you could have engraved with each of your children’s names. For something less expensive, you can achieve a similar effect by engraving both children’s names (or new baby’s name!) on this heart necklace or this layered charm necklace. I also wear this ring with my daughter’s initials and birth date on it daily, and you won’t believe how inexpensive it was!

A gift certificate to a salon/spa for her to use in the first few weeks/months after baby comes would also be thoughtful — I remember I gave one of my girlfriends a gift card to get her hair blown out at DryBar right after she’d given birth and she almost wept with relief! Finally, and this is very personal to me probably, but I would have wept with relief if my husband had surprised me with a housekeeper the first few months after baby arrived!

Q: Dresses/tops without a puff sleeve or dramatic sleeve.

A: I love this Khaite-inspired sculpted knit top, this gorgeous gingham shirtdress, this eyelet mini, this navy dress, and I don’t know if this sleeveless style fits your criteria but I think this is the best statement top out there at the moment.

And then of course I adore all things striped, especially this Sezane, Kule tees, Ayr tees and button-downs, H&M tees, and these striped button-downs.

Q: Wedding shoes – low heel, open toe – for my summer wedding.

A: Super lust list: these Jimmy Choos. Just bananas! These Birmans might be just a tad high? Not sure — but j’adore. I know a lot of brides have loved these LRs, though I have to be honest and say they have been worn so widely that maybe they’ve lost their oomph? Still, I always believe that if you love something, you should go for it, and they are super pretty and bridal and have that great low heel.

Q: Dress for my godson’s Baptism in Colorado in April or May. Hoping to find something without insanely poufy sleeves so I can wear a cardigan.

A: I shared some lovely options in this post (anything for the mother of the baby would be totally suitable for godmother, too), but some top picks would be this (bought for myself!), this, or one of these gorgeous shirtdresses from Carolina K. DVF also has some really fun spring wrap dresses out — this is lovely. And then of course I love a tweed moment for an occasion like this — something like this or this.

Q: I bought Vejas but don’t know how to style them and don’t think I can pull them off with a dress. Help!

A: For me, it’s about finding an on-trend pair of cropped-length denim. I feel like this is the key for making it look intentional. So imagine these with jeans like this or this, and then pair with an Ayr tee for a casual moment or a crisp white top like this or this for something a bit more elevated. I also like sneakers paired with utility trousers like this, a fitted tee, a navy blazer, and a scarf from Hermes. Gwyneth Paltrow wore a variation on this look like a decade ago and I’ve been recreating ever since. Throw on a neutral ballcap for a model off duty moment.

Q: Which of the skirts you wrote about would you recommend?

A: So many good ones out this season, but I am preparing to buy this hot pink one. It just screams my name. I imagining wearing it with whites/neutral tanks and tops and woven accessories like this, this, and this. I desperately wish this floral was still in stock in my size but it’s not — that would be my second top pick!