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THE BLACK FRIDAY SALES I’M SHOPPING: 2024

Ahh BFCM week (or to non-retail people.. Thanksgiving and a long weekend off work that comes with it). I won’t get into the weeds of how these sales make it to your digital screens, but suffice to say it’s an enormous amount of work – so here is my yearly PSA to be extra kind to customer service people this time of year and be patient with your order shipping times. From the people who are sending out those sale emails, to the people packing up orders.. we’re doing our best.

With that, I’m sharing the best sales I’ve seen and exactly what I’m shopping or what I already own and love that might be of interest. As always, I so appreciate the support of those who shop through my links – it’s no extra cost to you but I receive a small affiliate commission – which helps me share more here! Enjoy the weekend friends. I’m living vicariously through you!

THE SALES I’M SHOPPING:

Denim Trench Coat and Faux Leather Pants

Tweed Jacket, Cropped Jeans and Burgundy Ankle Boots

FAVORITES I OWN, NOW ON SALE:

  • The striped dress shown at the top of this post was one of my favorite things I wore in Paris, now 25% off.
  • I’ve been singing the praises of these wide leg trousers for a full year now – grab them for an extra 40% off their sale price (making them just $60) and thank me later.
  • I picked up this black lace long sleeved top before our trip to Paris and I’ve since worn it on it’s own (with just a black lace bra underneath) or layered under a dress – just one of those pieces that ends up making an outfit.
  • I’ve worn these green cargo pants constantly on weekends since getting them at the end of summer. On sale + an extra 25% off this weekend. I took my smaller size so they’re a lot less baggy than on the model photo, which I like. But size up if you’re curvier through the hips/bottom.
  • I wear these small hoop earrings at least twice a week – they’re 30% off right now and make a great gift.
  • My favorite jeans are 25% off right now ($126 – and my cost per wear on these is pennies by now) – they have 0 stretch and a high waisted fit – take your regular waist size and then break them in to fit like a glove.
  • I’ve had a polaroid mini for about 5 or 6 years now and take it on all of our trips. So fun to have an instant souvenir photo in this digital world. This one is on sale and would make a great gift!
  • Merit, my favorite clean beauty brands, is 20% off right now – I love their mascara, concealer, cream blush and highlighter. 
  • I bought these ankle boots before our honeymoon last year (20% off right now) and I have walked countless miles in them and they still feel brand new and have never once hurt my feet. I have 3 pairs of shoes from Inez now and they are all equally classic (yet feel modern and fashion-y), incredibly well-made and comfortable.
  • For the money, this cropped crewneck cashmere sweater is pretty perfect. I took my usual size but if you want some extra slouch or are on the taller side, go a size up.
  • I’ve had my Sarah Flint black suede ‘Perfect Pumps’ for probably 5 years now and they still look brand new. Timeless and truly the most comfortable stiletto I’ve ever worn. 30% off sitewide this weekend which is I think the best discount I’ve seen from them. I am very tempted to invest in another pair.
  • Completely frivolous but I bought this feather bag 2 years ago and it continues to make every holiday party more fun.
  • This black mini skirt is one of my absolute closet staples. Under $50 today.
  • Likewise, so many of my staples come from French Connection – easy pieces that I end up wearing lots of different ways: this tuxedo mini dress I wore in Paris (layered with shirt and tie), this crinkle striped shirt and this punchy red blazer.
  • I’ve gotten so much wear out of these croc embossed dark brown leather knee high boots the past 2 years. A small walkable heel and they go with so much in my wardrobe. I think this is the best price I’ve seen them ($160).

Striped Top and Black Mini Skirt

Black Lace Top and Black Corset Dress

Grey Cashmere Sweater and Black Patent Loafers

Green Cargo Pants

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FINDING CAREER ROLE MODELS

I’ve found unexpected bedfellows in Martha Stewart and Ina Garten this week. This comes as a particular surprise since I barely cook. But, in a week filled with work stress and pressure (if you work in Ecommerce/Retail/Fashion… you know) it just so happened that my library hold for Ina Garten’s new memoir came in. This will be an easy listen, I thought. Similarly, on Friday night when my mind was mush, I turned on the new documentary ‘Martha’ on Netflix expecting to just sort of zone out…

Wow, was I mistaken. Garten’s memoir ‘Be Ready When the Luck Happens‘ is the recounting of her life with a particular focus on her career path. An incredible example of hard work and passion being met with the courage to try new things, determination to chase big dreams and a fierce commitment to following her gut instincts. I hate to admit that I’ve never watched an episode of her hit cooking show the Barefoot Contessa.. but no matter. Without any other context, I’ve been enraptured hearing her tell her story (she narrates the audiobook) and have been finding so much about her journey that feels inspiring to my own fledgling path. She was 51 when she published her first cookbook!

And Martha’s documentary… well, I already want to rewatch it. From my vantage point, she’s a brilliant business woman, a master of reinvention, an unapologetic perfectionist, and extremely savvy when it comes to filling gaps in a market and understanding her audience. She really was the original influencer – and all these years later she’s still defying expectations.

Both were repeatedly underestimated, dismissed by men in positions of power, and met with skepticism for their big ideas. Sound familiar? It’s because it’s every great career woman’s story. But Stewart and Garten both kept moving, letting their work and success speak for itself, and have maintained incredible career inertia over decades.

Both of them inspire me to trust my gut, dream bigger and focus on working hard, learning more, and surrounding myself with a great team and support system. Reassurance from their stories has felt like very welcome company in a week when I feel very much out on a ledge.

Do you have career role models? Just for fun – a few other famous career women, across a range of industries, that I’ve always admired: Tina Fey, Julia Child, Dolly Parton, Joan Didion, Mindy Kaling, Iris Apfel. Each one forged new paths, has/had an incredible work ethic and defied the odds in spite of barriers, rejection and criticism. And, perhaps most importantly, each one remained true to themselves while doing it.

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IN LIFE.. ARE YOU A HOST OR A GUEST?

A friend once recounted to me that, while on a date, a man had asked her if she considered herself to be a “host” or a “guest” in life – inferring that everyone fell into one of these two categories. She deemed herself a host (she owns her own small business, has organized countless community gatherings.. a definitive host). Without hesitation I knew myself to be a guest. I love getting an invite and, some level of social anxiety aside, am usually game to go. However, initiating the plans and gathering the guests has always fallen just outside my purview. Could it be a younger sibling thing? My sister has been generously allowing me to tag along with her for 3 decades (she’s another natural host), and so perhaps that’s just still what feels most comfortable. Or it could be as simple as introverts vs. extroverts – some of us feel at peace in a corner chair, getting to duck out early while others are fueled by the orchestration of an event.

I don’t think one is necessarily more noble than the other – a party needs both, right? Every enigmatic host is in want of a gracious guest. But ever since she (or really an unknown he) posed the question, I’ve been wondering if it wouldn’t kill me to play the host a bit more in life. Be the one that reaches out to initiate plans with a friend or family member. Propose, with concrete details, a time and place. Give the hosts a break.. they might be secretly craving it.

For the past few months I’ve been working on this – and I have to say, it’s not as scary as I’d made it out to be. I saw a new play had opened and immediately asked a friend to go. We’re getting tickets for December. Adam and I suddenly had a free weekend with clear weather – I invited my parents to the city and booked us a boat tour around lower Manhattan. The more often I find myself doing it, the less pressure there seems to be to organize some perfect outing. It’s starting to feel like simply another muscle to be flexed. And as a lifelong guest, I know exactly how nice it feels to have someone reach out with an invite. Turns out, it’s equally nice to give that feeling to someone else.

It’s an interesting question to consider as we head into a week where so many of us will succumb to one of these two roles. You, like me, might want to consider putting the shoe on the other foot this holiday season.

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MY 2024 HOLIDAY GIFT WISHLIST

I’m fortunate enough to say I don’t *need* a thing on this list. That being said… I started making these personal wishlists each year after I stopped churning out ton’s of gift guides – purely because they’re fun and cause me no stress (unlike the latter). So why not dream a little, shall we?

  1. Waffle Knit Scarf: I have a love hate relationship with scarves. I love that they keep me warm, I hate that they generate so much static electricity that my hair could power most of Manhattan. This waffle knit option (unlike something like a brushed wool) seems like it may be an exception? Available in lots of colors, but I like this chocolate hue.
  2. Ski Trip to Mont-Tremblant: We said we were dreaming here, right? I’d love to take a trip to Montreal this winter and then head to nearby Mont-Tremblant for a couple of days skiing (or snowboarding in Adam’s case).
  3. No. 13 Poker Chip Pendant Necklace: Thirteen has always been my lucky number (just like my bestie Taylor) since it’s my birth date – and aside from the stacked custom bands I wear on my pinky, you don’t tend to see a lot of jewelry with these numbers. This poker chip pendant was said to have been inspired by a vintage one found in the South of France and the horse shoes that shape the ’13’ convey a message of making your own luck. How perfect?
  4. Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik: A look at the crossover between Joan Didion and Eve Babitz – two of my favorite writers of the 1960s/70s.. sign me up. This is one of my most highly anticipated new non-fiction releases.
  5. Brooklyn Candle Studio Candle: They opened a pop-up in the complex where my office is and when I tell you that walking by smells like heaven. I’ve long been a fan of the brand and have my eye (or nose rather) set on Ginger Bread or Cardamon Spice scents for the holidays.
  6. The Met Sweatshirt: The liberal arts equivalent of a NY Yankees hat in this city. Touristy or not, 15 years living in New York and I’ll never stop swooning over The Met. This could come with a yearly membership if the gifter were feeling particularly generous.
  7. Oysters Ornament: So fun! Oysters signify a celebration to me – when I think of them, I picture being out somewhere, probably dressed up, maybe sipping champagne. And there’s been plenty to celebrate this year – so this ornament feels like a fun one to add to our tree.
  8. Cherry Print Pajamas: I like to pick up a new pair of pajamas around Christmas with the intention of hibernating in them all winter long. This smudged cherry print caught my eye this year.
  9. Tortoise Sunglasses: I’ve lived in the same pair of sunglasses for the past 3 years because they have my prescription in them.. but after finally getting fitted for contacts I can actually buy a novelty pair of non-prescription sunglasses again! I love the oval shape of these.
  10. KitchenAid Mixer: Realistically I don’t think we have the counter space for this, but in my mind a KitchenAid Mixer has always been the hallmark of true domesticity. And now that I’m in my baking era, this feels like a rite of passage!
  11. Puffy Heart Earrings: I rarely buy myself costume jewelry (thanks to a generous allowance at work I have a hard time justifying buying anything more) – but these puffy heart earrings would be a playful addition to my collection.
  12. Black Carel Mary Janes: There are mary janes.. and then there are Carel Mary Janes. Handmade in Italy since the swinging 60s I have wanted a pair of these since swooning over Alexa Chung in them in the early 00s. I finally took a closer look at a pair in Paris this Fall but didn’t bite the bullet and I’ve been regretting it ever since.
  13. Matte Red Lipstick: This matte (but soft) lipstick in the shade Vermillion has become my most worn of the year after I tried it for our trip to Italy back in May. So much so that I’m almost out! Time for a restock.. perhaps in my stocking?
  14. Faux Fur Ear Muffs: Similar to my issue with scarves.. winter hats do a real number on me. I prefer an ear muff situation and these feel very aprés ski, no?
  15. Champagne Glasses: A nod to our trip to the Champagne region of France this fall.. and because we don’t have any proper coupe glasses! I’d love a nice set of these to keep on our bar cart.
  16. YSL Card Case: I saw this little cutie in Paris too and loved the color, the patent leather and the size. I’m a couple of credit cards, ID and a $20 bill kind of girl on the go, so this is way better than a true wallet to me. Hey Santa..
  17. Leopard Bag: I tend to think of leopard print as a neutral so I’m surprised to realize I don’t have any handbags in the print. This would be so chic against the doldrums of a winter coat for the next few months.
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LET’S CATCH UP 11.10.24

What. a. week. If we’re counting though, it’s actually been about 3 weeks now of a series of unexpected gut punches. Personally, professionally, politically… I swear lately Adam and I just stare at each other wide-eyed and incredulous every evening, like – are you kidding me universe? I won’t bore you with the details (and in the case of the political one, you’re all quite aware) – but I will share this tiny, almost laughable incident that seems indicative of the streak we’ve been on. Last Saturday night, feeling low over bigger upsets – we ordered a pizza from the place where we’ve been ordering for a decade (it was a true concern of ours when we moved into our current apartment six years ago whether or not we’d still be in their delivery radius). The pizza showed up and our regular delivery man reached out and shook Adam’s hand and solemnly told him that it would be our last pizza – they closed shop this week. It’s obviously not life-ending, but in a string of events that already felt heavy, I swear the demise of our beloved pizza place almost put us over the edge.

All this to say, if you’re also going through it – and I know a lot of us are – let’s keep going, shall we? Now, onto what’s on my mind, on my bookshelves and in my cart lately:

ON MY MIND:

  • As an OG Seth Cohen stan, I feel a particular point of pride that the world is falling in love with Adam Brody in the new Netflix romcom series ‘Nobody Wants This’. We’re watching slowly as to savor it and still have a few episodes left, but if you haven’t tried it yet – do yourself a favor. It’s smart writing, a great ensemble cast and one of the more realistic looks at adult relationships I’ve seen portrayed on TV in a long time. Plus.. ahem, grown-up Seth Cohen. Need I say more?
  • A couple of weeks ago we booked a spontaneous trip upstate and we stayed at the Kingston Carriage House – I can’t stop thinking about the well-curated mix of furniture in our suite and it’s making me itchy to update some things in our own apartment. Highly recommend it if you’re looking for a place to stay in the Hudson Valley.
  • Speaking of getting away, I’m almost always thinking of where I’d like to travel next and lately I keep thinking about Montreal in winter. We’ve been once before for a single night in maybe 2017 (Adam had to go for work and so I tagged along) and it was snow-covered and charming. I think I’d like to go back to explore more and perhaps couple it with a visit to Mont Tremblant for skiing?
  • These next 6 weeks are always my busiest/highest pressure at work. I know I’m not alone in this – from jobs to family life – most women I know carry a lot of stress this time of year (notice how I just said women..?). I finally learned last year that my best chance at staying sane is to continue to prioritize my own health and habits: squeezing in doctor’s appointments I’ve been putting off, meal-prepping my lunches, putting my work-outs on the calendar so that they’re un-skippable, getting into bed at a reasonable hour to read a few pages before a solid night sleep. I encourage you to do the same so that you don’t arrive to 2025 as burnt out as I have in year’s past.

ON MY BOOKSHELF:

  • I’m nearly done reading Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo – she is such an incredibly astute observationalist when it comes to the inner workings of marriages and families. I’m not sure this one will top The Most Fun We Ever Had which I really loved, but I’d still highly recommend it if you like literary fiction and character-led stories.
  • I went a little overboard with the book-buying while we were in the Hudson Valley (it’s not my fault all of the bookstores there are so damn charming!) – and I’m particularly excited about Lady Macbeth by Ava Reid and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (I know, I know.. I’m late to this one).
  • A friend of mine self-published an incredible guide to shopping local gems in NYC and it’s now available to purchase in her Greenwich Village store (The Locavore) or at various independent bookstores around the city like Strand and McNally Jackson – would make a great gift!
  • I had been slightly reluctant to pick up James by Percival Everett, thinking I would need to re-read Mark Twain in order to grasp it. But it was completely accessible, deeply moving and, in my opinion, should be added to high school course work alongside The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
  • I read and loved Left on Tenth by Delia Ephron last year and they’ve since adapted it into a play, starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher (speaking of The O.C. again – my beloved Sandy Cohen!) A friend and I have plans to go see it in December.

IN MY CART:

  • Excited to note that I’ve finally joined ShopMy to better organize all of the various the links I share (will save them there after they disappear from IG stories for instance) – browse by category here – I’ll keep adding as I go!
  • Is it too early to decorate for the holidays? My inclination is to do whatever sparks joy this season. I have a vision of these bows at the base of candlesticks or with a garland on the mantle in our bedroom.
  • I’m also eyeing new holiday stockings this year and think I like these block print ones that can be personalized.
  • It’s nice when you find pieces that feel festive this time of year but don’t necessarily scream Christmas (aka they can still be worn in Jan/Feb) – this floral cashmere sweater does exactly that. As does this cute sweater vest and matching jacket combo.
  • I’m loving all of the fun party tops this season like this metallic one, this feather one or this red bow one – wear them with tailored trousers, easy denim or faux leather pants, toss on a great pair of heels and you’ve got yourself a night on the town.
  • Also loving fun tights! Planning to grab this floral lace pair as well as a bright punchy red pair.
  • This lipstick is a $16 winner – matte but not overly dry looking at all and so long-lasting. I got the ‘No Drama’ shade. A berry brick red. Would make a perfect stocking stuffer!
  • This clear wall planner would make such a great gift for anyone from a busy Mom to a college student. I got a similar one for my sister a few year’s back and the whole family uses it.
  • Do I have an occasion to wear this slinky chocolate brown sequin dress? Not yet. But that doesn’t mean it won’t find me? On the other hand, this black velvet number seems like it would work for lots of occasions this season – from a work party to a holiday concert.

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