Just your run o’ the mill all over the place post on what’s been creeping through my pea brain these dayz:
I just finished the book The Couple Next Door ($18) for my book club, which has been touted as “the New Girl on the Train” and “The New Gone Girl.” We all agreed it was pretty shoddy writing — especially the problematic representation of female roles, i.e., “the temptress next door who doesn’t want children and who seduces married men” and “the tired, mentally-unstable mother who has lost her good looks and attractiveness” — but that none of us could put it down! Lots of twisty turny moments — a great mental vacation. I read it in 2 days flat and it felt like a little treat — a little bowl of ice cream! — after a hard day of work. I decided I needed another book of that ilk to save for a future day when I need a mental break, and this one ($13) came highly recommended. We’re reading this non-fiction piece for book club next. And, for my other book club, we’re reading the fantastic book The Silent Duchess — super quirky, super rich, lots of meta-fictional elements to contemplate. It’s one of the more intriguing texts I’ve read this year.
This is going to sound super fangirl-ish but ever since I read that the uber chic Emily Weiss (founder of must-read beauty blog Into the Gloss and sister cosmetics brand Glossier — love their boy brow eyebrow gel/wand, and have a few friends who are VERY impressed with their affordable serum collection) only travels in cashmere sweatpants (zomg, what a luxury), I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for options. They’re typically too pricey for my blood. Then I found this affordable pair from Everlane ($140). I’m going to start with the navy!
Bow-front blouses and dresses are all the rage this season (AHEM, love this button down), and these bow-bedecked sweaters ($80) felt like a unique take on the trend. LOVE. I like the idea of layering it on top of a white oxford with black skinnies or a black mini skirt and my Gucci mules.
I saw the chic-est lady with her golden doodle at the dog park last week — she was wearing all black except for some cheeky leopard loafers. Along these lines:
I intend to recreate with these $128 loafers from Madewell.
I’d been on the hunt for a good fall candle for awhile. I’m slightly picky/weird about candle scents — I really cannot stand all these pumpkin chai spice latte scents; they all feel so manufactured and sickly sweet. In general, I’m not huge into candles that smell like food (vanilla, cinnamon, cake, etc.) I popped into the Diptyque up in Bucktown over the weekend and discovered their Feu de Bois ($62) — basically, burning wood. It is so cozy and rich — even a little masculine. Mr. Magpie loves it. SOLD.
This pleated, faux-leather skirt is $95 but looks so much higher-end. I envision wearing it with a silky blouse and some simple pumps (I own these in like 4 colors).
Gap nailed the current trends with this chunky knit turtleneck dress ($69). I even like the idea of layering a tissue-thin turtleneck ($34) underneath as temperatures plunge.
