I asked you over Instagram what you were shopping for and loved all the replies! It sounds like many of us are in the market for winter coats and boots, and who doesn’t love a classic camel (as seen above — get the look with this, this, or this, which is on my longtime lust list, and pair with a fun red sweater). At any rate, I had so much fun shopping for you. Below, my answers. If you don’t see your question answered, more coming in Part II in a few days!
Q: Patterned/plaid wool coat — polished silhouette but fun pattern.
A: I am in love with this black watch tartan topcoat — I am all in on tartan this winter. Can’t get enough, and the price is great. I also swoon over this cheery checked style, this tailored houndstooth Smythe (wow), and this textured Mackage. And though not patterned, these two come in such great colors and with such fun details, I had to include: this bow-embellished RedValentino (the color is too good!) and this textured LSF.
Q: Fall/winter dresses! Don’t want to wear jeans for the rest of the year this time.
A: Bravo to that! Here are a few great winter dresses:
THIS HOUNDSTOOTH STYLE — EASY TO THROW ON WITH BLACK TIGHTS AND BOOTIES
THIS WILL BE MY THIRD WINTER GETTING A TON OF USE OUT OF A GANNI LEOPARD SMOCKED MAXI (CURRENT SEASON STYLE HERE) — EASY AND COMFORTABLE AND CHIC, ESPECIALLY WITH THESE BOOTIES
FOR SIMILAR REASONS, DRAWN TO THIS PYTHON PRINT
DRAWN TO SLOUCHY KNIT STYLES LIKE THIS — SO CHIC WITH TALL LEATHER BOOTS
ALWAYS LOVE AN ULLA STATEMENT LIKE THIS WITH CROC/BROWN SUEDE BOOTS
Q: A hearty boot that’s a step below the bean boot with grip but style for winter.
A: Marc Fisher’s Izzie boot! So chic. Have been eyeing these for myself. Kind of a less clunky version of the very trendy combat boot, and love that sherpa detail! Alternately, my No. 6 clog boots. (Look for less!)
Q: Black suede booties — feminine but practical for everyday.
A: I absolutely love a kitten heeled suede bootie — so delicate and chic. I own this pair from Alexandre Birman in a different color and it is THE BEST. (50% off!). I own multiple pairs of Birman shoes and the quality is exceptional. This J. Crew pair is similar but only available in suede in a cypress green color (very chic too!). I also love the profile and heel height of these slouchy ones from Aquatalia (on super sale, and I know a lot of Magpies LOVE this brand). If you like a chunkier heel, these Acne ones are slick.
Q: A dress for family photos like this McQueen that isn’t $2000!
A: Ooh – love its elegance and simplicity. This Stella McCartney is similar in structure (different neckline) and marked down to almost 70% off. I also love this elegant COS style, though its in a seersucker fabric that may not be right for the scene you are setting (since you were drawn to that McQueen in wool!)
Q: Wedding guest dresses for fall!
A: I got you covered! I would also add this statement. Wow!
Q: What are your suggestions for a cotton-loving second grade teacher heading back to school? (Thermal long-sleeves? Trousers? Shoes/boots to teach in?) I am a woman of substance. I do believe that I am not the only one.
A: God bless you! Hoping for a smooth transition back.
For wardrobe, I would buy a few favorite pairs of pants that fit super well in different silhouettes in basic colors: I own and love these in ivory frost, these pixie pants are like dressed-up leggings, and then these bow-front cords are super fun, and if jeans are permissible (I’m not sure how you feel about them as a teacher!), a pair you love. Then mix in a few lightweight layering pieces, a classic button-down or two, and some statement sweaters and mix and match. For shoes, I think a great everyday mule like this, this, or this (so fun) or this would be dreamy for comfort and could go with any of the pants above.
P.S. One way I love to breathe new life into pieces I already own — add on-trend accessories like a wool headband or statement collar.
Q: A dress for my son’s Baptism in an outdoor garden Church ceremony.
A: Ooh, congratulations! #Goalz would be a boucle coat dress like this, which you could pair with tights (Gucci would be extra) and heels and layer under a wool coat if necessary (J. Crew always does great classic styles like their Lady Day for winter, although this in the ivory/beige color is amazing for the price). Alternately, a structured knit dress like this is gorgeous, or an on-trend houndstooth shift (alternately, this), which could be worn with elegant tall boots. Finally, Sandro always does fantastic ladylike-but-not-too-prim dresses, like this beauty. Stunning!
Q: A birthday gift for my 30-something sister.
A: Ooo! Happy birthday to her! A few fun presents at $130 or under:
WEEZIE SHORT ROBE (LOVE AND LIVE IN THIS)
CHIC CHINOISERIE MELAMINE PLATES (OBSESSED)
GORGEOUS BLOCKPRINT BLOUSE FOR FALL
A LITTLE POT OF LA MER FACE CREAM (COMES IN MINI SIZE) WRAPPED UP IN HUGE BOW
STYLISH BOOK PLATES AND A FEW OF YOUR FAVORITE BOOKS
AN ELECTRIC TEA KETTLE AND TEA FROM A FANCY PURVEYOR
Q: A chic work bag — professional but not boring. I’m heading back to work after baby #3.
A: Congratulations! I would recommend Cuyana’s structured leather tote. So polished and great quality for the price, and you can get it personalized, which I think is so chic. Clare Vivier also does great, chic totes with interesting details and Paravel’s Atlantic tote is smart. Pricy, but Anya Hindmarch always does gorgeous handbags. And I think you’d win the envy of the entire world with a Bottega tote. Bottega is so in at the moment!
For something with a little more flare to it, this Little Liffner bag is amazing — sophisticated but fun — and if you won’t need to carry a laptop, any of the Lee Radziwill bags from TB are ultra-covetable.
Q: A bag that can fit a laptop that also closes.
A: Cuyana’s zip top tote! I used mine for work a lot. Fits your entire world. Only downside is that it’s not structured. Depending on the size of your laptop, this Clare Vivier could also work (love the bag strap). And then Stoney Clover’s totes (newly available in seasonal corduroy) come in fun colors and can be personalized with letters/patches.
Q: A baby play mat.
A: People love these configurable foam tiles (the edges can be positioned upward to keep babies from rolling off) and this reversible style has almost 2,000 five-star reviews.
Q: Affordable black knee-high boots.
A: I love these and these. Both would be so elegant under floaty fall dresses. And I love the profile of this OTK pair (on super sale).
Another reader asked for the same thing, at all price points, so here are a few on the high-end side that I love: these Loeffler Randalls and these from Paris Texas.
If you’re after a slouchy style, consider these.
Q: A dress for my sister’s rehearsal dinner in November in the Midwest.
A: Yay! Congratulations to your sister. Depending on the dress code, some of the dresses here might work. If not, here are a few others I love, at varying degrees of dressiness:
Q: I remember you wearing a long-sleeved blush shift dress with Gucci tights to a shower while pregnant. I’m also expecting and would love to recreate the look. Where was the dress from?
A: So flattered by this inquiry! The dress was from Banana Republic (non-maternity, but fit worked with bum) but a few years old. You can recreate the look with this sweet puff-sleeved dress (such a steal and so pretty). I might size up one size just to be safe, or order both your true size and one size up to compare and ship back whichever doesn’t work. I wore black Gucci logo tights but they appear to be sold out now — would also have worn these ivory ones! Would look precious!
I also love this white shift dress and this ivory Victoria Backham — both would look great with those ivory Gucci tights and would likely work well with a small to moderate sized bump.
Q: Gifts for my mom/mother-in-law for helping with our upcoming pandemic mini-wedding.
A: I love to give Herend pieces as special thank yous / mementos of particular occasions, if your mother/mother-in-law might appreciate that kind of thing. (I know it’s not for everyone.) This XO set is so sweet, as is this bow box. I also love the idea of gifting a set of coupes to “toast” the celebration (also love these), or a pair of special pearl earrings or a cashmere wrap you could give them to wear on the day.
Q: Boots like the pair in this picture.
A: She is wearing these! You can get the look for less with these.
Q: Paris Texas python boot look-a-likes in brown.
A: Sam Edelman! I’m also impressed with their croc pair, which looks a lot like Paris Texas.
Q: A chic backpack that fits a computer. (Does that even exist?)
A: I love my quilted MZ Wallace backpack. Use it more often than I thought I would and it definitely fits a computer. I like to wear it when I’m wearing basically all black everything else. I have also heard good things about Senreve, and I believe you could fit a laptop in there. Finally, I love this canvas and copper style!
Q: A cute clutch to carry to weddings (eventually).
A: OMG where have you been all my life. I am constantly almost buying clutches with nowhere to go. Below, clutches I am drooling over:
MANSUR GAVRIEL’S CLOUD CLUTCH (SO VERSATILE)
FOR BLACK TIE — THIS BOW BAG (BUT ONLY IN THE BLACK; I FEEL LIKE THE OTHER COLORS MAKE THE BAG LOOK CHEAP)
To your reader looking for a laptop backpack: I’m not sure if this qualifies as “chic”, but I love my Tumi backpack. I’m short and I love that it didn’t make me look like I had a turtle shell on my back (lol). It looks sleek and professional, and the quality is excellent. It took me through years of graduate school and travel and more and it still looks good. It has a dedicated laptop compartment. I also love that while the material is black, the inner fabric is light colored so it’s easy to find things. Not sure what price range she’s looking at, but they’re around $200-350 or so depending on style (the leather ones cost more; I have the nylon one). They do sometimes go on sale, I got mine for around $200ish if I recall correctly, but I believe they’re so worth it at full price. The current ones have a luggage sleeve too to fit over your suitcase handles! Look up Tumi’s “voyageur” line. Nordstrom might have it on sale too.
Hi — I love Tumi luggage! It is built to LAST. I have a rollaboard that went on something like 40-50 flights per year for several years in a row (back when I traveled a lot for work) and it held up so beautifully. Not surprised that the backpack boasts similar quality.
Thanks for weighing in!!
I have a Senreve bag, and it is super useful! A couple comments- I don’t think I’d pay full price. I got mine on Poshmark for around $400, and that seems about right to me for the quality. It’s also fairly heavy when it’s full. I don’t often wear mine as a backpack though, so maybe that would help distribute the weight better. The front closure is a bit weird and takes two hands, but the organizational components outweigh this issue for me.
Oo – this is great intel, Michelle! Thanks!
We’re going to be twins in our leopard Ganni dresses this autumn! Haha. I bought one at Need Supply (RIP) last winter and had it tailored RIGHT before COVID hit, and never wore it. I’m going to change that this season, come hell or high water (or a lockdown…)
Also, seconding your vote for the Acne Jensen boot! I love that suede pair you linked; they look so fresh. I had a pair around 5 years ago and they were so comfy.
xx
Chic chic chic! Helloo leopard twin 🙂
xx