April Edit: For The Moms

I come from a long line of amazing women. My great grandmother DeDe graduated from Oklahoma College for Women in 1917, before most women even got the right to vote, and refused to get married until she did. My grandmothers, great aunts, aunts, my incredible mom and my three older sisters have all paved the way for me and inspired me literally since the day I was born. I could not get through one day without my amazing women friends, and after two decades of working in fashion, the list of inspiring work wives in my life is VERY long. Mother’s day is funny, because seriously, moms get one effing day?! It is low key rude, but also after the entire history of humanity, it is still like, we better take what we can get! Lucky for me I at least get two days, one for US Mother’s Day the second Sunday in May and one for Sweden’s, the last Sunday in May. Apparently I now live somewhere so cold that they had to move Mother’s Day so there would be a better likelihood of there being an abundance of fresh flowers available. Jeez, thanks, I guess? As someone that didn’t have kids until after almost 14 years of trying, at the ripe old age of 44, I know that Mother’s Day can be tough. I also know it takes all types of care givers to get through this thing called life, and that’s really how I like to think of Mother’s Day. It is a day to remember and celebrate all the amazing women and people from your life that have loved you, supported you, inspired you and to reflect on even the ones that have challenged you, because ultimately they all helped shape, and made possible, you and your life.

I have recently read three books centered around motherhood that have radically changed how I see the world. This winter I read Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt. My sister Stephanie told me she would not continue speaking with me until I had read it, and I immediately understood why. One of the most heartbreaking, sharp-witted and profound novels on motherhood and the power, imperfections and impossibilities of love to fix everything. I recently finished reading I am, I am, I am Maggie O’Farrell’s memoir, her life told through the lens of 17 brushes with death. Every essay was beyond moving, but the last one about her staggering journey to motherhood and the terrifying medical struggles of her daughter was absolutely devastating. In the best possible and most life-affirming way. And I just finished Arundhati Roy’s memoir, Mother Mary Comes To Me, and goddamn, to think how she became an incredible writer and activist and has thrived in spite of and directly because of her mother being a magnificently complicated monster. “She was my shelter and my storm.” I highly, HIGHLY recommend reading all of them as soon as you can.

I have created my April shopping edit, which you can find here, with an eye towards all the things I would like to give or receive this year for Mother’s Day, or things in general that I think you or the women in your life would love right now. I will start by carving out time to watch the new PBS documentary on my favorite poet and American treasure Mary Oliver, Mary Oliver: Saved By The Beauty of The World. She is someone shaped by a solitary childhood and never had children of her own, and yet, or precisely because of that, she has been able to share so much of herself and her life and what love and beauty means in this world through her writing. It comes out Saturday. And if I were to continue carving out time for life enriching, female-led experiences, one would be to a retreat with my favorite yogi Maricarmen, happening this very week in Mexico, with my sister and without me, sob. Next year! Add to that a week spent working, writing, cooking, tending animals and making soap at Worlds End Farm with the pioneering mother-daughter dynamic duo of Susan and Sarah Ryhanen of Saipua, who I met a lifetime ago as a florist in Red Hook, Brooklyn. My friend, and mother to many, Anja recently did this, and I will follow this woman to the ends of the earth, or the world as the case may be.

Now to my spring shopping edit, starting with knits, because soon we will go from needing to layer for the seasonal weather changes, to needing to layer for the air conditioning. The Bode Zooligist is my favorite, the amazing hand-embroidered detailing makes me so happy. I also love the Taylor, Nico and Elle from Alex Mill, Ava and Innes from & Daughter with a matching Fionn cashmere scarf in the most perfect shade of spring green. The oversized bandana scarf in pale yellow or ombre yellow from Crimson Cashmere would complete any outfit. I love Linda! Life goals!

Jewelry and jeans, two things I never usually leave the house without. I would not expect or want my husband or anyone to shop for jeans for me for Mother’s Day or EVER, so he can stick with the jewelry. But in my editing for you this month, I have come across some seriously good jeans, so I thought I would include them too. The aptly named Perfect Jeans from La Ligne and my favorite cropped London cut from Slvrlake and a relaxed style from Ossou both in the most perfect pale butter yellow. A nice alternative to the ubiquitous pale pink jeans. Last weekend I lost my favorite lightning bolt Jill Platner necklace that I never take off, but luckily I found it three hours later on the floor next to my PJs. The keychain is a more wallet-friendly option, I have the bronze one and I feel an instant jolt of mojo every time I pick it up. I love this sculptural shell-inspired Findon necklace from Rachel Comey. And here is my favorite charm necklace from Maison Mayle that you can keep adding to. The only downside is anytime I travel with it in my carry-on I get stopped at security because they want to make sure it isn’t a weapon. A solid gold safety pin is always just the right balance of punk and posh. Hand-made in NYC and designed by the cutest sisters in the biz, I would wear this cream beaded Lizzie Fortunato Laguna necklace all the time, in any color. This set of two resin bracelets from Dinosaur Designs might be the start (continuation?) of my statement jewelry old-lady phase as are my new, slightly cat-eyed glasses from Roman eyewear maker L.G.R. They are gorgeous, handmade in Italy and most importantly, logo-free. For springtime sunnies, I love the classic chic shapes of Jaques Marie Mage sunglasses, even though they are stupidly expensive. These from A.P.C. I bought last week are way more affordable, and you won’t feel quite as bad if you lose or break them.

I am turning 50 in less than 3 months, so now I am suddenly embracing a very limited beauty routine in addition to the requisite strength training, protein shakes and creatine. I read this post about skincare by Marlien Rentmeester last week that Joyce Lee posted, and it was like she was writing in a different language. Maybe my Swedish moss forest is sort of like a different planet where one never hears or thinks of any of these things? But it did make me think maybe I should add this serum to my life? And the last line resonated with me, “Perhaps the goal is not to look a lot younger, exactly- but to feel it. Fully, convincingly, from the inside out.” So I would love a trip to the spa, any spa, a facial with my favorite Japanese aesthetician Mayumi, a manicure or pedicure from Jin Soon, and more of the only make-up I really wear, Austinus Bader x Sofia Coppola tinted lip balm and Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush Stick. I am also trying not to get too much sun on my face, which is practically impossible with the now endless sunshine in Sweden, but one of my favorite hats is the Magic Hat which is perfect for gardening, reading on the beach and folds totally flat for taking everywhere. I love everything Janessa Leone makes, and find almost all of her summer styles in packable raffia are super easy to travel with. I might upgrade to the Waverly this summer for more coverage. I also love the Capri foldable fan hat that has been all the rage lately. I would throw them all in a cute butter yellow basket bag from Loeffler Randall x Underwater Weaving of course. To my husband’s chagrin, I still love wearing caps, especially when I play tennis, and this Adidas x Liberty floral embroidery one is super cute. But the real jam is to customize your own which I plan to do with Every Night Studios for my birthday party this summer. They call them “Dad caps” but I would disagree….

I am not usually one for printed t-shirts, but this one from Mother is cute, tongue-in-cheek funny and comes in my favorite shade of lemon yellow.

To all my ladies, I LOVE YOU!!!

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading. I am glad you are here!

Onwards,

Jen