LE CATCH

This past Thanksgiving was among the few in my lifetime I spent without my mother. She stayed safely at home and made a big pot of chicken soup, while I cooked for my family 2500 miles away. I know we were not alone in spending this holiday apart, and I expect that Christmas will also have us celebrating separately. So, I thought I'd treat her to a few presents that will evoke our family's presence and enhance her at-home entertainment, starting with afternoon tea delivered to her doorstep from Harvey Nichols, along with beautiful table top pieces with help from Urban Outfitters (below), Anthropologie, Etsy (above), CB2, and Ardmore (hoping this will show up under the tree for me too!). For extra warm and cozy vibes: this gorgeously scented Cire Trudon candle and this new page-turner.

$220, the outnet

Yes, this fun Zimmermann bag may be impractical now, but it's also an investment in a fun future. Plus, it's on sale!

1. Zimmermann dress, $475, theoutnet.com

2. Bauble Bar necklace, $42, baublebar.com

3. Gucci Baume a Levres in Rene Pink, $42, sephora.com

4. Zimmermann satin print tote, $220, theoutnet.com

5. Gucci slides, $630, netaporter.com

My youngest son started wrestling with a severe case of back-to-school blues on Saturday. Among the symptoms--grouchiness, grumpiness, intermittent tears--he refused to change his clothes for days on end! And he is still wearing them, crumpled and wearily, this Monday morning. Looks like he is not alone. Amsterdam-based ceramicist Anouk Yve is sticking to her weekend sweats this week and, inspiring us all, creating different looks to get through it with style. Of course, not all sweats are made equal. H&M is offering up loads of well-cut joggers that are 30% off this Cyber Monday, but I really love these by The Frankie Shop, The Reformation (30% off) and Everlane. She layers her sweats with chic toppers like a down coat (Tory Burch, Uniqlo), a tailored blazer and her wear-with-everything sneakers are by Veja. Let's get through this together!

Photos: Anouk Yve

This year Black Friday is delivering exceptional and some very much-needed retail therapy for me. Truth be told, there is almost a scary amount of good stuff on sale, starting with Shopbop's 20%-off assortment, which includes the most desirable pieces, like Sea's printed collar sweater, above, Agolde's most flattering jeans, Vince's lug-sole boots, striped sweater perfection from Demylee, and this Lele Sadoughi charm necklace. P.S. The denim discounts are particularly staggering--and beneficial for our blue jean blues. Also spectacular: the steep markdowns on high-end designers at Harvey Nichols (this Stella McCartney, this Isabel Marant and this Saint Laurent), plus Zimmermann's take-me-away sale, where I scored the stunning suit below, and this embroidered blouse, which I've had my eye on for months!

If we're going to keep wearing our leggings all day long, we might as well make them look as cute as possible, right? How about elevating them with a pair of ankle boots (these or these) and an oversized knit sweater (this, this or this), similar to the pic, above? As for the leggings themselves, now's the time to get some for way less. Lululemon is staging a Black Friday Teaser sale as is Net-a-Porter, which, of course, also offers "dressier" leggings, not made for the gym, but absolutely designed to work!

Photo: Smyth Sisters

If you'd like to beat the Black Friday crowds, might I suggest you make a beeline for Nordstrom's post-Thanksgiving sale, already in the works?! You can scoop up steals (read: holiday gifts) like the cute Madewell sweater, above, for $39! and these classic Stan Smith sneakers ($49!), but the best part is all the HOME stuff. On my wish list: this Gwyneth Paltrow-caliber Staub cocotte, this All-Clad Slow Cooker, this chic Dansk casserole dish, and Le Creuset baking dishes. So much home-sweet-home goodness right here!

It used to be I would steal my husband's hoodies, but now there is a new sweatershirt-swiper on the loose: my son, who targets mine! So, I made a very tactical decision to team up with my friends at Willy California to design the softest and cutest hooded sweatshirt that everyone in my home can wear! Plus, a portion of the sweatshirt's proceeds will benefit the Just Keep Living Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering inner-city children with tools to make healthy choices. You can find the hoodie here, along with other great holiday gifts for the boys.

Today The New York Times came out with its annual list of 100 Notable Books--which should keep us busy on the couch for weeks on end. I'm diving right in with this delightfully new best-seller, and while I'm at it, freshening up my coffee table reads, with the vibrant Anthology of Imaginary Concerts, below (think Bob Marley and NWA!) and Assouline's St. Tropez Soleil. I'm also perusing the contents of Shopbop's one-day-only designer sale, rife with riveting statements like the floral Ulla Johnson, last pic. Also worth a read: Goop's streamlined Thanksgiving menu. Perfect this year's teeny gatherings and (my lack of motivation!), and while you're there, check out its I-want-it-all gift guide. Stay safe this weekend!

Photos: Ulla Johnson

I bumped into a friend yesterday whom I haven't seen in what feels like forever. She looked as chic as ever though in a pair of gorgeous knee-high Loeffler Randall boots, Citizens of Humanity denim culottes, a tailored ALC blazer and an ah-mazing nylon olive green Birkin-like tote bag. After our quick catch-up, I thought about the significance of getting dressed these days, and, for me, how this daily ritual helps life feel a little more normal. Despite the limited number of places I can go, I still want to look like I am ready to go anywhere and everywhere (see versatile outfit above)! And I still want to buy cute things that aren't 100% practical, like this glamorous H&M sequin blouse, below, and the blingy Bauble Bar initial necklace, second down. Makes sense to stock up now at Forward by Elyse Walker's epic designer sale, featuring the prettiest dresses like the under-$300 Alexis, below, these Isabel Marant strappy sandals, this mini Givenchy bag, and this Nili Lotan shirt dress.