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Mother’s Day Gifts

by Ashley on April 29, 2013

Shopping for Mother’s Day? There’s no one perfect gift for the grandmother, mother, sister, wife, and expectant spouse… Maybe a simple handwritten card or some flowers will do, maybe she’s hoping for the moon!

Here are a few ideas…

Quality, French Cheese Knives that look pretty atop her cutting board.
The most decadent cookies, straight from New York. (Or you could bake a batch, because she’d love those too!)
A classic Breton striped shirt (the new staple).
Pajamas she could stay in all day.
Lamy Safari Fountain Pen in a color she’ll love, because she still prefers handwritten notes.
But she shouldn’t have to waste precious time on the return address, so a custom Calligraphy-style stamp would be sweet.

A gorgeous new cookbook for her collection: Vegetable Literacy
A luxurious (and beautiful) Turkish Hammam Pestemal
Repeat after me: Keep Calm.
A set of stacking rings. (Perhaps pricey for the occasion, but aren’t they gorgeous?)
Gemstone Meaning Earrings (I’d choose the Aqua Chalcedony for endurance—something about marathons versus sprints?)
Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series, because you know she’ll love Tami Taylor and this is ideal summer-time, nursing on the sofa, binge-watching television.

Nespresso Milk Frother, for the perfect latte, even if she never makes it out the door.
Cenitfolia Robe from Anthropologie: that place between comfortable and sexy.
An Air Plant: simple to care for, lovely to look at
Zoku Quick Pop Maker, because she really wants a popsicle, too.

Not pictured:
A brag book with her favorite photos from Pinhole Press. She’ll love it forever.
Well-crafted with a story behind it: something pretty from BRIKA.
A book of essays written and illustrated by women: Equals.

And of course:
Anything made with love.

An offer of help. (True story: A few months ago, I happened to be at an event with the founder of Pinterest, Ben Silbermann. His wife, infant, and mother-in-law were along with him. I got to talking with the last of those three—who was visiting from across the globe—and I’ll never forget it: I said something to the effect of “it must be so nice to be here with your grandson.” And she replied “Oh, no. I’m not here for him. I’m here for my daughter. Everyone wants to take care of a baby; I’m here to take care of my daughter.” Amazing, right?)

P.S. My wedding anniversary falls on Mother’s Day this year, by the way. Just saying. Wink, wink.

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Ode to Salt-Water Sandals

by Ashley on April 23, 2013

Even though I’m perpetually on the hunt for the perfect summer sandal, my trusty standby remains a simple Salt-Water. I’m about to order Hudson his third pair!

Mine, however, have lasted for years. I’m finally going back into our August photos and trying to finish editing Bali (I still want to share a travelogue!), and I was reminded how I would literally snorkel in them because I needed them at the start of the rocky shore. I could go back to wearing them around town and it was if they’d never seen the water. The leather stayed as soft and comfy as ever. I think they’re pretty cute, too.

If they only had a bit more cushioning on the footbed, I think I’d declare them the perfect shoe.

P.S. More summer sandals and the best no-show socks for brogues.

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Denim up top

by Ashley on April 15, 2013

Like so many women, I have a thing for chambray shirts lately (see examples A and B, in my favorite, the JCrew Keeper). I literally would wear mine every other day if I could.

It’s trickier to find a good dark denim shirt these days. Or maybe it’s just trickier to make them look right. They tend to be either made for men, in boxier cuts (though maybe you could add darts to this Cowboy Cut Shirt), or cut slim for women wearing it with a Stetson. But this painterly fashion photograph has me rethinking a search for a true denim, slim-cut shirt (or at least a darker chambray).

While I haven’t tried any in person, these look like potential candidates for styling this right: (from top left, clockwise) Calvin Klein Fitted Denim; JCrew Factory 2-Pocket Chambray; Levi’s Juniors Annie Western Shirt; Calvin Klein Fitted Denim in Medium Wash; Lands’ End Denim; and the Madewell Ex-Boyfriend Shirt in Harvest Wash. Anyone else have a favorite?

[top image via A Well Traveled Woman]

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BRIKA and a Well-Crafted Life

by Ashley on April 11, 2013

BRIKA is a new online shopping site that features makers—artisans and designers—of modern craft by sharing their stories alongside their products with the hope of creating a connection between buyer and maker. The site’s founders hope to celebrate the value following one’s passions and building a beautiful life through well-crafted, everyday objects. I’ve been making note of some favorites.

Mariah Rich, for example, makes beautiful leather clutches, hand-cutting, sewing, and finishing them in her Portland Studio. After eight years of designing leather goods for other big fashion companies, she broke out on her own.

(Sidenote: I really need to come up with more occasions to travel light, and carry just a clutch. So beautiful.)

And Kristen Lombardi of Manimal makes the most adorable baby shoes. She found a Boy Scout’s manual at her local library that had a chapter on how to make moccasins; she sewed her first pair and was hooked.

Right now,

BRIKA is offering a $15 credit to all new customers who sign up through this link.

(Which means that this infinity scarf–that artist Annie Duong made with her own daughters in mind–will cost under $10.)

This is a sponsored post. Thanks to BRIKA for supporting Hither & Thither.

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How to Wear Brogues in the Spring

by Ashley on April 8, 2013

I recently was given the most buttery pair of brogues from the beautiful Australian brand, Skin and Threads. I always love seeing the Oxford trend on others, but I’ve never been so sure of how to make them look flattering on me. I picture wearing them with rolled up jeans, but I wanted some more tips for how to wear these classically-men’s shoes.

Immediately I wrote to Jen Pinkston of The Effortless Chic for advice. (Jen is a wardrobe stylist–who started out on The Ellen DeGeneres Show!) There are three keys, she said, to styling the trend this spring.
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