This is the post where I share a few things I’d love to receive this Christmas, as well as some things I already own that might be perfect to add to your wish list. I hope it’s helpful! (And that you all had wonderful Thanksgivings – here’s our crew on a post-meal walk!)
Hunter Play Rain Boots | I received the classic tall Hunter boots several years ago, but they’re still pretty much pristine since I find them uncomfortable to wear and hard to take on and off. I think I’d be much more likely to reach for this shorter style! Leopard ballet flats | I love my current pair but have worn them into the ground. I haven’t yet found a replacement pair I love, but I’m on the hunt. A new set of mixing bowls | The glass set of 7 bowls we took with us when we moved to North Carolina is down to three (including one that shattered in the sink last week, yikes). This pretty set would be even better for all the little bakers joining me in the kitchen these days. New Morning Mercies | So many Christians I admire use this devotional, and 9k reviews are probably not wrong. Spoiler alert: this may play a role in my 2022 goals. Kule tee | My favorite striped tee from several years back got a smear of floral glue across the front at the last Southern Weddings shoot (five years ago, yeesh!) and I’ve never replaced it. I also love the rainbow version! Ruffle pie dish | We make a lot of pie around here, and I think this would be a sweet addition to our table! This lookalike is a great option at half the price, too. A new family necklace | If you’ve seen a photo of me from the last five years, I was probably wearing a necklace with a gold “J” disc and a pearl bead. The J stood for John, June, and John Shepherd, but now that we’ve added an S to the crew, my necklace needs an upgrade! This time around, I’m picturing something a little bit different, and would love to custom-design a piece with one inset pearl for each baby and a diamond for John. (Think kind of like this classic Tiffany necklace, though on a shorter chain, with the pieces closer together, and not $31k LOLOLOL.) I’m hoping to go to Diamonds Direct here in Raleigh (where we got my engagement ring!) to talk about options. I’d happily consider this my Christmas/birthday/tenth anniversary present and know it would be a treasure I’d wear for the rest of my life.
And here are a few things I own and love that I think are worthy of adding to your wish list:
— Julie Vos Penelope Demi Studs | I wear these 95% of days. Classic pearl studs with the loveliest gold-rim upgrade. — Ugg Classic Mini II Bootie | I was dubious about adding these to my wish list last year, but I am fully converted. Priceless for staying warm in the winter, especially with walking June to school and hanging with friends and neighbors outdoors. — Madewell jeans | Fact: they put magic in these jeans. This style is the GOAT (and an AMAZING price for Black Friday!) and these are my newest addition! — Summersalt swim suit | I have the Sidestroke and the Oasis and I LOVE them both. I would order up at least one size, as I think they run small. Very fun one-pieces and they’re always getting compliments from other mamas at the pool! — Striped snap tote | I bought six of these for teacher gifts one year when they were marked down to $15, and am SO glad I snagged one for myself, too! They fold up flat and snap open to fit a ton, and I use mine at least weekly! — Lake Pajamas | It’s been approximately three years since I’ve worn any other pajamas besides these ones. I wear the long-longs year-round and they feel so cool and silky. — Round serving tray | I have the blue design, but all three are absolutely gorgeous. They’re a good size and perfect for corralling things on a dresser or coffee table! — Bow sun hat | This hat is going on year six or seven and it still looks good as new! Packable, adorable, keeps my face protected. — Shearling slippers | At hours-of-wear, this item of clothing would probably clock in at the top of my wardrobe – they’re my go-to from when I walk in the door to hopping into bed. — Ellie Nap Dress | Perfect for pregnancy and post-partum and darling the rest of the time, too. I wore it all summer (and into the fall with a jean jacket!) and foresee much more wear in my future. — Tree Skippers | These shoes are incredibly comfortable and cute to wear with everything – dresses, shorts, jeans. Just make sure to wear no-show socks with them, as they are a bit prone to holes. — Boat & Tote bags | Incredibly sturdy and incredibly classic. I like mine open top, in navy, with sans serif embroidery.
Friends, I am aware that the majority of my posts for the past few months have been kid-focused. This is natural – with all of the transitions in our family, there have been so many time-sensitive things I’ve wanted to share and discuss with you all! Even if we’re not in the same life stage and some posts aren’t immediately relevant to you, I hope you’ve found something to entertain you, to adapt to where you find yourself, or maybe to just tuck away for the future or for a friend. I know I love to learn from people ahead of me – that way, when I get there, I’ve already got some good ideas tucked away!
Today, however, we’re talking about something anyone can enjoy – fall fashion! After a year of just getting by in the fashion department – wearing what felt like the same four ill-fitting outfits on repeat – I’m eager for some variety and fun. Even in between pregnancies, I’m guilty of switching out my top and wearing the same jeans, shoes, jewelry, and hairstyle five days a week. There’s nothing wrong with this – I pride myself on being able to get from bed to front door in 15 minutes and simple outfits are a key ingredient – but at the moment, I’m feeling inspired to put a little more thought into what I wear each day.
That being said, I am far from a fashion blogger, and not the most naturally creative when it comes to putting together outfits – so I lean on the people who are. To me, that means my dear friend Lisa, as well as my online-friend-who-doesn’t-yet-know-we’re-friends Merrick. Here are a few favorites I collected this week for my virtual cheat sheet:
And here are a few of the elements I’m taking away as I go about trying to recreate these looks myself:
1. All the tucks. Half tucks, full tucks, fancy little waist knots. Maybe it’s just the style of the moment, or maybe I’m drawn to the look because it’s been awhile since I’ve had a waist, but so many of my favorite outfits involve a tuck.
2. Lots of different bottoms. This is the most obvious and probably the easiest thing for me to incorporate. Though my Madewell jeans are beloved, I have many other fun options that sit forlornly in my drawers. Leopard pants, white jeans, black leggings, midi skirts? All present and accounted for – I just need to pull them out.
3. Fun layers. Adding a jean jacket, a cardigan, or a sweater takes the interest up a notch and makes even basic elements feel considered.
4. The extras. To not feel like I’m wearing the same thing every day, it would help to switch up my shoes, jewelry, and/or hair style. For example, Lisa is sporting eight different hair styles in just the photos above, and probably an equal number of pairs of shoes. This isn’t really about buying anything new (I have plenty of shoes!), it’s much more about taking the time to choose a pair each day from the cubbies in my closet instead of slipping into the ones from yesterday that are already on the closet floor.
I’m sure to some of you these takeaways seem beyond basic, and they are! No one is coming here for the fashion advice of try wearing the pants in your closet, ha. But, if you, too, find yourself in a fashion rut you want to climb out of, consider this your friendly internet friend giving you a boost.
The real question: should I take Lisa’s inspiration one step further and photograph some of the favorite outfit combos I find in my closet?! Maybe she should come over for a styling session? Feel free to leave your opinion on that, or tell me what you’re looking forward to wearing this fall, below.
P.S. This is probably where I should insert a big collage of my fall clothing favorites from all my favorite retailers, but clearly, I’m not your girl for that. However, you can find links to all of Lisa’s posts, which include sources, right here. And the sources for Merrick’s outfits are here: red skirt, gingham skirt, red top, and gingham dress.
P.P.S. That being said, I did just buy this gauzy white top and I love it. I think it will be excellent to do all the tucks with :)
My husband and I are both guilty of wearing clothing we owned in high school. I don’t say that as some sort of backwards humble brag (I think most people would agree that is not something to brag about, ha!) but just a simple acknowledgement that we aren’t what you would call “clotheshorses.” For a very long time, the line items for clothing were near the bottom of our budget priorities, and so we just… wore clothes for a very long time. John especially – I could count on one hand the number of clothing items he purchased each year.
In the last year or two, he has increased his budget bit-by-bit, and his sartorial horizons have expanded alongside – mostly into the corners of the internet. After just a few purchases, Instagram gleefully tagged him as a ringer, but he’s not mad about it: in fact, he’s delighted that his new favorite outfits were hand-delivered to him through IG’s algorithm and ad software. (Thus the title of this post – I call it his “Instagram wardrobe” not only because of where it was found, but because most of the companies originated on the internet, have little brick and mortar infrastructure, and are the darling of influencers.)
Since Father’s Day is coming up, I thought it was high time to share a few of his favorites with you. While more expensive than your standard Old Navy or Target fare, we have found the quality to be excellent across the board with these picks, and have gifted them to many friends and family members. They’re the type of stuff we’ll be happy to still have in our closet after a decade :)
P.S. You’ll see the words “lightweight,” “stretchy,” and “comfortable” pop up many times in this post. Apparently John has discovered that girls have almost exclusively worn “fake” clothes for the last pandemic year, and wants in on the clothes-with-give game.
Allbirds sneakers | The gateway drug, if you will – one of his first niche purchases. John has a pair of Tree Dashers, which get worn almost daily, and specifically for running. Previously, he had a pair of gray Wool Runners, which he also loved and wore as everyday sneakers. (I have the navy Tree Skippers and am likewise obsessed – so comfortable!) Something else to love: Allbirds is very big on sustainability, from the materials they use to their initiatives as a company.
Olukai sneakers | These “Hawaiian-inspired sneakers” are the newest addition to his wardrobe. He’s only had them for a few days, but anticipates wearing the Mio Li as an everyday sneaker. (In a fun twist, the back folds down to become a slip-on style, though he hasn’t tried wearing them that way yet.) He got them in the limited edition Pavement colorway.
Fair Harbor shorts | This was his original “fancy clothing” purchase! He has several pairs of the One Short and they have become his work-from-home Zoom uniform of choice (paired with a more standard dress shirt, of course) as well as for cycling. Since I posted about them last year, we’ve heard from many of you that have gifted these shorts on our recommendation and received glowing reviews, which makes us so happy!
Why you might love them: they’re lightweight, flexible, and have a soft built-in liner (no need to wear underwear!). You can use them as a swimsuit, though he doesn’t think that’s their highest and best use. John has the Amber, the Blue, and the Navy (which reads as charcoal gray in real life).
Faherty Brand shorts, pants, and tops | Faherty markets itself as the “highest quality clothing with a laidback sensibility,” and I’d say that’s accurate. John owns a polo, two pairs of pants (the Original Comfort Twill in khaki and the Del Mar 5-Pocket in deep navy), the Legends Sweater Shirt, and the khaki All Day Shorts from Faherty, and they have quickly become some of the most-worn items in his closet. The shorts are “stretchy and very, very comfortable,” but look just like dressier shorts with a very clean style.
His favorite of the bunch might be the Legends Sweater Shirt, which he’s become a bit evangelistic about (and even bought as a gift for his Dad!) Says John: “It’s like a fleece sweater, but it looks like a flannel shirt.” (Then picture him dropping a mic.) It’s soft, warm, but lightweight at the same time. “Perfect for a cool evening,” he says.
Vuori shorts | Same general idea as Fair Harbor, but a little sportier in design. They also boast a “buttery soft” liner, so no need to wear underwear! He has the Kore shorts in indigo and mostly wears them for athletic pursuits.
Marine Layer | Our brother-in-law gifted John a tee from Marine Layer from Christmas, and he was immediately hooked (and proceeded to buy several more during after-Christmas sales). He describes their tees as “comfortable and simple, with fun accents of color.” I’d say they have a West Coast sunshine-and-beaches vibe. A few current favorites: this one, this one, and this one. True to their marketing copy, the fabric is absurdly soft.
Western Rise pants | John has the Diversion pant, which he wears for being active (hiking, yard work, etc.). He likes that they fit well, have a little bit of stretch (but not as much as some of the others listed), and are water repellent. They also have a lifetime guarantee!
Bombas underwear and socks | Everyone knows Bombas for socks, but their underwear has been a happy surprise! John describes them as (you guessed it) “very, very comfortable, almost silky.” And yes, the socks are great – he says the no-show are the best he’s ever worn by far, and the ankle socks “shape onto your foot to provide really nice support.” And of course, we love that they donate a pair for each pair purchased.
Shady Rays sunglasses | Last but certainly not least, he ordered the Timber sunglasses when Shep dropped and cracked his Ray Bans (ouch). “Just as stylish for half the price!” was the verdict. There are LOTS of frame and color options, and all are lifetime guaranteed (with free shipping). They also sucked him into adding the “mystery pair” to his cart, and for $18, he’s pleased to find he wears them as much as the ones he selected himself!
Whew – that’s a lot! Though I wouldn’t expect anyone to run out and duplicate all of these purchases in one fell swoop, if you’re looking for a great Father’s Day gift for a husband, brother, or dad, we can happily vouch for any of these items! Happy shopping, friends!
P.S. I’d love to hear if you have a favorite “Instagram brand” that has lived up to its reputation!
This is my third pregnancy, but will be my first time doing any sort of official maternity photos! Instead of something more traditional, we’re taking the opportunity to squeeze in photos as a family of four… where I just happen to have a bump :) I’ll likely be between 28 and 31 weeks for our shoot. This is what I’m hoping for:
I can pull photo inspiration all day, but choosing outfits for the family is always a challenge for me. I do find it’s helpful to start with one person’s outfit, and then build out from there. This time around, that person gets to be me :) I’ve scoured the internet (with the help of a few friends!) and rounded up a few options that might work. Note that only two are actually maternity dresses! Most of the maternity options I found are either too flowy and fancy for my taste, or cute but too casual for what I’m picturing. The non-maternity dresses I’m eyeing have bump-friendly features, like a higher waist, smocking, or a loose silhouette. Once I narrow it down (with your help!), I’m assuming I’ll need to order several options to try on at home to make sure they fit as I’m picturing!
Here’s what I’ve got…
1. Cornflower Lolita Dress | This one is lovely and looks quite bump-friendly, but won’t be back in stock until after we expect to take our photos.
2. Liberty Mini Floral Dress | With a high tie waist, I think this one will work nicely with a bump. The floral pattern would be fun to pull colors from for everyone else’s outfits!
3. Ellie Nap Dress | My dream Hill House dress is this pattern in blue and white, which seems to have disappeared from their website (argh!!). I have a gift card and would have loved to use it for this occasion but I think I’m going to hold out until my blue and white dreaminess comes back in stock – fingers crossed. [I ended up wearing this dress in another pattern and can confidently say the nap dresses are a DREAM for pregnant people!! I wear a small, and I typically wear a XS or S!]
4. Yellow Gold Mini Dress | I think this color is so fun! I’ve been crushing on yellow in family photos after my friend Katie wore it for hers. The fact that it is a mini dress concerns me a bit, since the bump will bring up the hemline, but might work if I size up a bit? [Tried on and updated to add: length was too short and didn’t love the sleeves on me!]
5. Rainbow Gingham Dress | This is such a happy dress (with smocking!), but I’m not sure if it’s “me” enough for the occasion?
6. Embroidered Sundress | One of the maternity options! It might be too casual for what I’m shooting for?
7. Ruffle Tiered Dress | I’m not convinced I’d love the fabric on this one, and though I love the pink color online, it’s billed as “neon,” which again, is not exactly what I’m looking for.
8. Navy Polka Dot Dress | I LOVE THIS DRESS! It’s maternity, and it probably would have been my pick without all this discussion, but it’s currently sold out in every size (argh!).
9. Ruffle Stripe Dress | I own this dress! It’s very sweet and comfy and I look forward to having it in the rotation for the next few months and beyond, but I don’t think the quality/fit is good enough for lasting family photos.
10. White Sleeveless Dress | This dress has been on my wishlist for months! I think the style is so chic and classic, and other family members could wear fun patterns or colors to complement it. Will probably order to see if the fit works. [Tried on and updated to add: I LOVE THIS DRESS!! I actually don’t think it’s great for maternity photos, since it doesn’t really show off the bump, but I’m going to keep it to wear both during and after pregnancy. A reader also pointed out that it’s very breastfeeding friendly, which I love!]
11. Green Floral Dress | Gah, this one is fun, too. I think the waist is high enough that it would be bump-friendly.
12. Chambray Dress | I have also loved this dress for a long time, but alas, it is currently sold out in every size.
Let’s vote! Which one do you think I should wear, or at least order to try on at home? If it helps, the setting will likely be some sort of grassy field.
