Why Not Rethink Ravens, Embrace Sweater Weather, and Shop a Good Bubble Skirt?
Plus, the indie mag we can use, a perfect shearling, and more why nots...
I never thought I’d begin a newsletter like this, but I was at a bird show not long ago. It was at the zoo, I place I had avoided like Walmart, but couldn’t any longer when my daughter delighted in seeing polar bears so very much. Anyway, I’m a member now and my husband loves birds so to the bird show we went. I learned a lot about rat poison and owls and the incredible stomach acid of vultures, but it was the raven that got me. I’ve always been an Edgar Allen Poe fan. I’m not into gothic stuff by nature, but his psychological approach appealed to me from an oddly young age (or maybe we don’t give children or ourselves enough room to be well, a little weird). I even went to his house in college when I lived in Baltimore. I particularly love the poem Annabel Lee, it’s tells such a sad and intense love story so succinctly and beautifully. But back to the raven. No one has done more for the dark rep of the raven than Poe. This large imposing black creature carries with it all the bad omens we try to avoid in this life. Its caw and claws and glossy feathers signify death and destruction in Poe’s famed poem. “And the Raven…his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,” is just one of the bon mots he threw at the bird. At the show, the raven swoops in, its wing span nothing short of breathtaking. And then it starts to put on a little show, doing this kind of silly, loping walk as it picks up cans to put in a recycling bin. And it’s so endearing, this goofy plod on this helpful, environmentally conscious bird, I think that I’ve had him all wrong. We got the raven wrong. We judged him because he looks like an imposing figure and a wordsmith with a sense for the macabre has managed to stand the test of time. And it’s just a reminder, when the world seems to be falling apart at the seams, again, that not everything is always as it seems. It is our task to delve deeper and ask questions and confront the ways in which we’ve been conditioned to see the world, and evaluate everything we think we know and have been told. Why not?
Onto something a bit lighter, with our why nots for the week.
Why not go all in on sweater weather?
While doing some market stories for multiple publications, I came across this Mango sweater, a site that I don’t generally frequent. It’s very good and a great price. I love a cropped sweater, it lends so much interest and can be layered over t-shirts or button downs.
In other good sweaters, I love this Jenni Kayne staple cardi that feels like wearing a cloud. Try it dressed up with the bottom buttons undone over a slip skirt. Outerknown is a sleeper insanely good sweater brand, my favorite style comes in cotton now. I love a cotton sweater. And the cut is very The Row. I also love a good polo, Ayr does a perfect one.
Why not get a great shearling now?
This Melina Pinedo coat is epic and truly a forever piece, which is necessary given the investment. I am in a chocolate brown moment (more on this to come). It’s giving Gwyneth in “A Perfect Murder” goes to Aspen. Get 15 percent off of it with this link.
Why not try a bubble skirt?
I have been so inexplicable drawn to fancy mini skirts, I honestly can’t track the origin story here. I initially ordered this Jil Sander skirt and while I think it’s tres cute, it’s pricey and the length wasn’t quite right on me. I’ve of course seen it everywhere since sending it back like on her and on her (in 2 colors!) and her. I also love this Khaite mini. In a bit of a bold decision I ordered this bubble mini from Urban Outfitters in a small and it’s sized wildly tiny so I swapped it for a medium and I would truly categorize this as a successful dupe, though I would not consider myself a dupe girl in general. I think it will be great during the holiday circuit.
Why not French twist?
This Meg Ryan image has been ingrained in my brain, which leads me to feel very ready for a French twist moment. It’s supremely elegant. Obviously you need a good hair pin for it and this is the one, by Deborah Pagnani, which holds more hair than the one pictured.
Why not be fancy af with a white tablecloth?
I loved the above tablescape by Andrea Ricci. I also used a white tablecloth in a semi recent tablescape moment. I love how classic and clean it looks. You don’t need to invest a lot in it, because I also think there’s something romantic about a little red wine ring on it at the end of the evening. This William Sonoma one does the trick if you buy it large and Crate and Barrel has a nice long one too.
Why not subscribe to In Kind?
My friend and former Hearst colleague Leah Melby Clinton launched a hit magazine with Hannah Weil McKinley and it’s such a special publication I wanted to share it. It also aligns so beautifully with Why not? It just made sense. Leah explains In Kind as, “a biannual print magazine and weekly newsletter delivering content that focuses on the conversations we're all having with each other in real life—stuff about career and ambition, relationships and motherhood, personal style and curating a beautiful home. We think a lot about this idea of ‘building a good life’ and how the definition is unique to everyone, as is the path to get there.” We love an inspiring lady who knows how to get things done and make it beautiful. Why not?