The Black Friday Sales I Shopped Today
The best holiday deals for holiday gift-giving — or to keep for yourself!
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I hope y’all had a safe and lovely Thanksgiving, and that you got a little holiday shopping done, if you were so inclined. I wanted to share a few of my favorite Black Friday finds; most of them could make great gifts or would be pretty wonderful to keep for yourself. I also love that a lot of retailers are extending the “Black Friday” window so that we can safely shop at a distance and online! Here are a few of my favorites!
Draper James
The Draper James sale is absolutely fantastic. Everything is 30% off through Monday, 11/30. I love that they’ve kept last year’s Angie plaid pieces — such a classic red tartan — and added the new Georgia plaid. Shopping for yourself? Pick up holiday plaid or velvet for Christmas (or at least for your holiday card photo…). Shopping for presents? You can’t beat cozy sweatshirts, sweaters, and Christmas ornaments!
For you
For them
Kendra Scott
I will never not share this photo of the time I met Kendra Scott. She’s so lovely and unassuming that it made me love her brand even more!!
Kendra Scott is 30% off through Monday, 11/30. I love giving pieces of Kendra jewelry as gifts — they are so delicate and versatile at a great price point. Don’t tell my oldest niece, but I’m eyeing the heart necklace as one of her presents!
For you
For them
L.L. Bean
L..L. Bean is 15% off through Tuesday 12/1. I love their sweaters, pajamas, and fleeces. It’s also a great time to stock up on Boat & Tote Bags , Bean Boots, and throws for everyone on your list!
For you
For them
Lands’ End
Lands’ End has extended their up to 50% off sale — it’s a great time to stock up on fleece, PJs, slippers and throws!
Macy’s
I love Macy’s for home goods — the absolute best place to stock up on sheets, towels, and cookware! — and their cashmere sweaters are my very favorite!! It’s a great time to stock up on things you’ll need all winter, or to give great gifts!
Nordstrom
You can’t beat Nordstrom for luxe favorites and great gifts! And, if you buy yourself a Barefoot Dreams blanket, I won’t tell a soul!
Target
Let’s just admit it. We’re all going to shop at Target this season. You’ll need Christmas lights. Those Our Generation dolls are so incredibly cute. And I live in their cardigans and joggers.
Happy shopping, y’all!
Draper James Gingham Sweatshirt
Navy gingham for fall from Draper James.
Sweatshirt: Draper James (25% off this weekend!) | Jeans: Lauren (old) | Tote: Draper James x Land’s End (oid) | Shoes: Tretorn
I don’t know about y’all, but I’m really only wearing comfortable clothes these days. Words like “lounge” and “athleisure” describe my style lately, and I’m strangely okay with it. I absolutely love this Draper James Gingham Sweatshirt; it’s so cute that it would even fit in with the normal-clothes world. The best part is that everything at Draper James is 25% off through Sunday, so you can pick this up in a couple of colors (I’m also in love with the light pink!) or in the DJ signature magnolia print!
I’m also wearing this Vote, Y’all tee from Draper James as frequently as possible. It’s a fantastic reminder that this election is so important!
The Draper James sale is online and in-store, and includes almost every full-price item. Their fall dresses are some of the dreamiest prints I’ve seen in a while. I just love the colors and prints, and I may just have to find an excuse to dress up in one of these!
Happy shopping, y’all!
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How to Shop the Lilly Pulitzer Fall 2020 Online Sale
Tried & true shopping tips for the Lilly Pulitzer online sale.
(This post contains affiliate links; I may receive a very small commission per purchase at no cost to you.)
Did you hear that the Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale starts Monday, September 14th? I know a lot of y’all, like me, enjoy stocking up on sundresses, shorts, and lots of Lilly goodness during this event. Over the years, I've developed a few pro tips to help you navigate it quickly and efficiently.
1. Log on early... and prepare to wait. Have a browser window open to lillypulitzer.com by 7 am, and be prepared to be placed in a long online queue once the sale goes live around 8!
2. Know what you want to shop. I usually formulate a list of the searches I'm going to conduct, based on my tried and true favorite styles. I usually search for the Skipper Popover, the Elsa Top, the Sophie Dress (my mom's favorite style!) and for "maxi", for the landing page for maxi & midi dresses.
3. Place a couple of smaller orders rather than one large haul. This will ensure that you don't "lose" as many items in your cart to faster shoppers.
4. Run a filter for your size. See what's available to fit you. After I look for myself, I run quick searches for my mom's sizes and my little nieces. (We take Lilly pretty seriously in my family!) I find this helps me discover styles I’ve maybe overlooked in the past — like my new favorite, the Kaia tunic!
Happy Shopping, y’all! Let me know if you score anything good!!
My Favorites from the Draper James Anniversary Sale
Draper James just dropped a fabulous Anniversary Sale, y’all. Through tomorrow (Saturday 5/16), they’ll automatically take $15 off a $75+ purchase, $50 off a $150+ purchase, and $100 off a $250+ purchase. That adds up to great sales in a hurry. The best part is that wear-now spring dresses that are already on sale apply to these discounts!
Draper James is one of my very favorite brands for several reasons. I love their commitment to a classic, Southern aesthetic, and I love that, in the brand’s five year history, they’ve listened closely to shoppers’ concerns about price points and sizing. I also absolutely love that founder Reese Witherspoon has worked hard to diversify her career into new interests like the DJ label.
I thought I’d show y’all a few things I own and love from the current spring and summer collections, as well as a few new picks. First off, there’s what I call my “Jordan Baker” dress; it’s a little bit flapper and a little bit sporty, just like the golfer character in The Great Gatsby. Technically, it’s the DJ Sailor Stripe Flounce Dress. Whatever you call it, it’s so fun and will be a staple in your spring and summer wardrobe.
I’m also all about this navy ponte dress. It’s so versatile and can be dressed up or down. I LOVE pairing it with my Tretorns for an effortless everyday outfit.
Now, I’m not going to show y’all photos of myself in my unmentionables, but I did I put together a couple of cute flat lays of my favorite DJ x Lands End swimsuits. Harry insisted on helping with a few of those shots!
I am so excited about the Draper swim line this year. Swimsuits are such a personal decision, and I love any line that’s inclusive in sizing and coverage. I absolutely adore the retro bikini bottoms — they’re so stylish and provide such great coverage! I went with those in both the magnolia and gingham prints!
I will say that it took me a minute to find the right pieces in the swim collection. The one-piece swimsuits didn’t fit me on top at all, but the two-piece sets were. perfect. I plan to pair the magnolia bikini set with the coordinating rash guard as soon as we can venture out to beaches again!
There are a few pieces I’m considering picking up on this weekend’s sale. I’ve deliberated this embroidered chambray shift since I first tried it on back when we could go to stores.
I’m also in love with the gingham Keds sneakers and this linen wrap dress. OK, I pretty much love their entire spring and summer collection.
How to Write a Sorority Recommendation Letter
Tips for recommending a college woman to a sorority chapter.
As summer nears its end and school starts back up, I find myself getting a few requests every year for recruitment recommendation letters. And, in recent years, I’ve also gotten some requests for a blog post about how to recommend a young woman to a sorority chapter. I actually completed a recommendation yesterday, and I have to say that it’s way easier than it used to be!!
Striped Tee: Vineyard Vines | White capri jeans: Denizen by Levi (can’t find a link, but they were at Target last week) | Sneakers: Superga 2750 | Necklace: Elva Fields
When I was in undergrad, I served my sorority chapter as Recommendation Chair. In those days, as well as when I was a new alumna and an adviser to my chapter, we relied on handwritten letters that were mailed directly to the individual sorority chapters. With stamps and everything! Over the years, this shifted first to “download a PDF, complete it and mail it to the chapter” to the new standard of “complete a quick recommendation form on the sorority’s national website and it will be integrated into the ranking portal. It’s a little less personal, but a whole lot easier — not to mention more reliable and standardized!!! I’ve put together a few tips to remember when writing a sorority recommendation letter. While, of course, I only have first-hand experience with my sorority, Phi Mu, most of these tips should extend to your organization. You may want to check with your sorority’s national website and with the chapter to whom you’re recommending the Potential New Member for specifics!
Keep your purpose in mind!
A recommendation is an introduction. It’s a way of saying to a sorority chapter that you, as an alumna, would like to make an introduction. Think of it as serving as a reference for a job interview — the hard work is there for the applicant to do, but you’re laying the groundwork to make it a little easier for them! Now, a lot of mythology lies around the value of a recommendation letter, and I’ve found that these things vary strongly among individual sorority chapters. Some chapters are rumored to find more value in recommendations from alumnae of their own chapter or from in-state alumnae; others count all recommendations as equal. Regardless of these variations, your recommendation isn’t a guarantee that a potential new member will be invited back to multiple rounds of recruitment parties or that she will be extended a bid. You’re simply alerting the chapter that an alumna vouches for her.
Gather as much information as possible!
Just as with nearly anything else in life, the more prep work you do ahead of time, the easier your letter-writing process will be. Ask the woman whom you’re recommending for digital files of her resume and photo. Be specific — my sorority’s portal asks for high school GPA, high school activities and leadership potential, and any sorority legacy information. This helps introduce the young woman to a sorority chapter and it reinforces that you’re recommending someone whom you actually know! Additionally, make sure you know the recruitment dates for the university where she’ll be rushing, and get your recs in on time!
Be honest!
I know that I shouldn’t have to say this, but be as candid as possible in your recommendation process. Don’t claim to know someone better than you do; you’re doing a disservice to both the rushee and the sorority chapter!
Be gracious!
Again, I know that HerKentucky readers are, as a general rule, a polite and gracious group. But, I do want to remind you to mind your manners when interacting with the sorority chapter. The chapter doesn’t owe you an explanation if the woman whom you recommended is ultimately not invited to join your organization. Remember that recruitment is a very stressful time for collegiate members and recruitment members alike; as an adult who is at a remove from the situation, please ignore the temptation to incite additional drama. It doesn’t matter how involved you were with your sorority during your college years — the sorority chapter has, very likely, evolved since then. A woman who may have been your “rush crush” back in the day may find a far better fit with another organization.
“I believe in pink” — Audrey Hepburn
I hope these simple, common-sense tips help you introduce a PNM to a chapter of your organization. Let me know in the comments if you’ve written a rush letter this year!
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Old Forester 100 Proof
My go-to bourbon.
Sometimes, people, especially non-Kentuckians or bourbon newbies, often ask me what my go-to bourbon is. Of course, that’s never an easy question. Everyone in Kentucky knows that a whole lot of factors go into that answer. Is there someone in the room who works at a particular distillery? Then their employer is definitely your favorite. Other factors include where your tastebuds are at the moment, whether you’re sipping or mixing in a cocktail, etc., etc. But, even with all of those disclaimers out of the way, I find that my answer usually is Old Forester 100 Proof.
I straight-up love Forester 100 as a sipper. I’m a huge fan of the warm butterscotch aroma, the apple and spice palate, and the toffee and clove finish. I also love that it’s at an incredible price point, and that it makes a fantastic cocktail. I think that this one belongs on every home bourbon bar.
I’ve had the opportunity to get to know a few of the folks on the brand team at Old Fo, and I can tell y’all that they are incredible. Master Taster Jackie Zykan is the coolest lady ever, and the entire team has an incredible vision for the future of the label. If you love Kentucky history and good whiskey, you should definitely visit the Old Forester Distillery and learn all about the first bottled bourbon! (My t-shirt is available in the distillery gift shop!)
I’ve also had a few people ask about my bourbon barrel bracelets — I always wear these to whiskey-tasting events. These are by Bourbon & Boweties and are available exclusively at Sweet Mash Goods in Lawrenceburg. These are my very favorites, and are a subtle way to reflect my love of bourbon every day!
What’s your go-to bourbon?
Steel Magnolias Thirtieth Anniversary
Reflections on sisterhood, aging, and the classic chick flick.
Yesterday, I went with a group of girlfriends to see the thirtieth anniversary rerelease of Steel Magnolias.
Now, I’ve kind of grown up with Steel Magnolias. I was in high school when the film came out, and of course I loved it right away. In college, I felt a huge bond with the Shelby character, as she was based on a real-life woman (playwright Robert Harling’s late sister Susan Robinson) who’d been, like me, a member of Phi Mu Fraternity. Not only did Shelby, Julia Roberts’ character, have big curly hair, a Southern accent, and an obsession with the color pink (just like me…), she was my sister. There were little tributes to Phi Mu all over the film: pink carnations, a Phi Mu composite, a Phi Mu badge on Shelby’s wedding reception suit, etc; when I was in college at Transylvania, our Phi Mu chapter loved to watch the film as a sisterhood event and note these details. And, of course, the mother-daughter pair of Shelby and M’Lynn had that sometimes rocky, always honest and unshakeable bond that only happens when both the mother and the daughter have strong personalities and deeply-held convictions. Ask me how I know…
It’s really odd and lovely to go to a theater and revisit a film you’ve loved for decades. You’re not flipping through commercials or taking breaks or getting distracted by your phone. You’re giving the film your entire attention, and you notice things you’ve forgotten along the way. And, I have to say, there are A LOT of differences between watching a film at 13 or 23 and watching it as an adult.
At one point in the film, Dolly Parton’s character, Truvy, says “Time marches on and sooner or later you realize it is marchin' across your face.” Now, in 1989, the year that Steel Magnolias was released, stars Dolly Parton and Sally Field were both 43 years old, the age that I am now. Olympia Dukakis was 58 and Shirley MacLaine was 55. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by this, but I found that, in watching Steel Magnolias yesterday, I identified way more with those actresses’ characters than with the then-22 year-old Julia Roberts.
Of course, Dolly was, is, and always will be The Queen. I think basically anyone who’s read my blog or followed my instagram knows that I’m obsessed with Dolly Parton. Her Truvy is the moral center and the comic relief of Steel Magnolias. Previously, I hadn’t really thought about the portrayal of Truvy’s marriage and the arc of her depressed, out-of-work husband, but Dolly and Sam Shepard really do convey a lot of big statements about relationships in a relatively brief number of scenes. It isn’t one of the laugh-out-loud, imminently quotable storylines, but it’s beautiful, as is the late-in-life, reluctant romance between Shirley MacLaine’s character Ouiser and her sweet suitor Owen. (The character Owen was played by the late actor Bill McCutcheon who, IMDB tells me, is from my husband’s Kentucky hometown. Small world!)
Watching Steel Magnolias in my forties, I realized I felt more kinship with M’Lynn’s pragmatism than Shelby’s dreamy optimism. Like Ouiser, I grow vegetables, wear funny hats, am not as sweet as I used to be, and would donate a kidney to my dog. And, like Truvy, I firmly believe there’s no such thing as natural beauty. It’s interesting to see how my tastes and opinions have grown up in relation to a film I love. It’s also interesting to see elements I may have missed when I was younger, like dialogue in which Robert Harling signaling his own gay identity at a time when sexual orientation politics were far more coded than they are today. I’d also forgotten how very terrible Daryl Hannah’s Southern accent is, and hadn’t realized that Harling himself appears in a cameo as the wedding minister.
It was great to see that Steel Magnolias holds up as an incredible film after 30 years. All of the quotes you remember are as hilarious and heartbreaking and all-around perfect as you remember. I loved being able to celebrate female friendship with a group of dear friends, including a lovely mother and daughter pair. If you can make it out to a showing of the film this week (there are additional showtimes in Lexington and Louisville on Tuesday and Wednesday!), you absolutely should. And, if you love the film as much as I do, you should probably check out the coverage that Garden & Gun has given the play and the film in recent years, especially their excellent podcast episode.