From the Editor
It’s been a long time since my last Currently… post, and as we start the school year here, I wanted to share what I’m up to.
Inspired by… You’ve Got Mail, of course! It’s my favorite fall movie (can you say #basic?) and now that I’m on the Upper West Side several times a week, I can live out my Kathleen Kelly aesthetic dreams. I promise I’ll relax with the You’ve Got Mail references as soon as September is over. I’m just THRILLED for fall, resuming my commute into the city, and enjoying all the special things I love about Manhattan when it’s not five thousand degrees outside.
An ideal commuting outfit for transitional weather. I’ve cracked the code! Wearing: Ann Mashburn Rosie cardigan (c/o); Frame tee (c/o); March Hare Harriet watch (c/o); Everlane jeans; Belgian Shoes; Longchamp Le Pliage. (I have discount codes for many of these brands/pieces; you can find them all here).
Wearing… I have a lot of new goodies in my closet for fall1 and I’m so excited to pair with my existing favorites. We’ve had a score of perfect early-fall days, so I’ve been living in these jeans from Frame2, and of course wearing my March Hare Harriet watch3. My new cardigan (c/o Ann Mashburn; the biggest pinch-me moment of my blogging career!) has been the perfect transitional weather piece. It’s light and polished, particularly for the city, and I love all the detail that went into this piece: the cut, the length of the sleeves, the jewel-style neckline, and the buttons. This comes HIGHLY recommended from me. I’ve been wearing it over a tee with jeans, but can easily pair it with a blouse, skirt, and kitten heels for conferences and cocktail parties.
I also bought a new pair of bluchers this fall and it’s been SO nice to be wearing this type of shoe again. I found this pair to be true to size, and, more importantly, the only women’s option that’s on the market currently. My retired pair was from LL Bean Signature and it was quite nice; however, this option is great as everything is just in the right place on the shoe—and it has padded insoles, making them as comfortable (if not more so!) than a sneaker. Which is great, as I’ve been putting on the steps lately around town and in the city, and I really don’t like wearing sneakers in urban environments.
Doing… Organizing! I cleaned out my dresser and closet and came out with four bags of clothes to donate. I’m very proud of myself—a lot of these pieces I’m donating are ones that I really haven’t worn in the past few years, and even if they had sentimental value, I’ve come to the realization that it’s better to let someone else use them. So a step in the right direction, and it’s already started to make my life a lot easier.
Additionally, I have a series of rules around bringing any new item into my home—including gifted items. 1) The item must fill a wardrobe gap or be a replacement for something too worn to function; 2) I must donate at least three items for each new item; and 3) I must be able to wear the new item with at least three outfits. This keeps me accountable and also stops me from falling into the trap of overconsumption, which is a very slippery slope. I’m all about fewer and better things for a reason, and these rules are a good reminder for me.
Wishlisting… love the look of this pitcher for mixing up martinis this fall4! The handle is so fun and surprising, and I particularly love the smoky “haze” colorway. I’ll be sharing a post on how to build your own home bar soon, just in time for fall and winter entertaining.
Reading… all my back-to-school favorites (list to come); I’m currently re-reading The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie for the millionth time. It is my favorite book—to the extent that I paid a pilgrimage to the Jean Brodie mural in Edinburgh on a trip there.
The Jean Brodie mural in The Meadows, Edinburgh.
Buying… I shared what’s on my wishlist this week in the post linked below.
Making… I love making cottage pies for dinner on chilly nights, and since we’ve had a few, I made this version. A huge hit in my family, and everyone had seconds. The word of the fall is “organize,” so finding a recipe that 1) everyone loves and 2) I can make ahead and freeze for long days in the city is crucial.
Loving… I’m so grateful to be ending the summer and starting the fall on a series of high notes: getting to decorate my new office for work; finishing the sailing season with some of my all-time favorite people; visiting friends; and so many more things. I also want to say how grateful I am for all of you for reading and subscribing—I hit a number of milestones around my blog in August that I’ve been working towards for years, and I really couldn’t do it without you. Thank you so much for being here!
Some of these new items are gifted, and are marked in the footnotes with “c/o” or “gifted.” In the interest of full transparency, I receive a number of gifting requests from brands and only choose items I’d 1) actually wear, 2) actually want, and 3) actually use. These items often do NOT come with an obligation to post about them, and if they do, I share that in my notes. All the gifted items mentioned in this post are ones I wear and use in my daily life, and not just for blog mentions. I’m always happy to answer any questions! You can reach me at sarah@fewerandbetterblog.com.
c/o Frame; you can get 15% off your purchase with FEWER15
c/o March Hare; I wear this watch every day! You can read my review here and get 20% off your purchase with FEWERBETTER20.
You can get 20% off anything from Material Kitchen with FEWERANDBETTERMATERIAL.
I would recommend Rancourt for bluchers and not Eastland. Rancourt are handmade in Maine and not made in China etc. I wear size 37 or 7. I’m a 7 in S & W and a 6 in Belgian shoes, so a 7 in Rancourt is perfect. You won’t see the women’s blutchers on the website, but you can email them for custom order for no extra charge.
Love this post! Where is the striped sweater from?