Weekend Reading: 11.22.25
Happy weekend, ladies! Welcome to the craziest shopping time of the year. I don’t know about you, but my inbox and mailbox are crowded with notices of great Black Friday Sales. They’re overwhelming, so I’m trying to pick and choose the best ones.
I spotted an incredibly chic woman wearing a long faux fur coat, and she inspired me to go on the hunt. This one is a gorgeous color, but I think I need to be about 6″ taller to pull it off. I’m coming to the conclusion that they actually look better when they don’t resemble real fur. Unusual colors are fun, as are unique shapes. Would you be interested in a faux fur try-on?
Bestsellers of the week:
- Apple AirTags sold like crazy this week. I have many tucked into my possessions, and on our keychains. Linda pointed out a benefit I hadn’t thought of. You can get turn-by-turn directions back to your hotel from an AirTag you’ve left in your luggage. Brilliant when out exploring a new city on foot. I’ve also been known to misplace my car in a crowded parking lot, and this would work the same!
- This Lands End Max Down Puffer Vest was also a very popular bestseller this week. I love that it comes in petite and plus sizes. And because it’s sleeveless, it’ll be easy to move around in without overheating. In fact, they have an entire petite section here, and plus-size section here. I love brands that are size-inclusive! Their needlepoint stocking was a bestseller again this week.
- My quilted barn jacket was also a bestseller, and you can not beat the price!
- My little diamond huggies were a huge bestseller this week, and they are currently 30% off, as is the entire website!
Black Friday Sales: There are many, and they are epic
- RING CONCIERGE has 30% off sitewide! I absolutely adore my petite jumbo diamond huggies and my classic diamond tennis bracelet (I have the small one). Because of the sale, I just ordered these tennis trio earrings and they arrived yesterday! I love them. It’s definitely worth perusing this sale early because things are selling out.
- AMAZON’S Black Friday Sale is huge, and I’ve scored quite a few holiday gifts, including these noise-cancelling headphones to replace my husband’s gnarly old ones. He wears headphones the entire time we fly, and he will love these for our upcoming trip.
- WALMART Black Friday deals include up to 50% off. I know many readers love the value and price of Walmart fashion, so I’ll continue to point them out. I did go down a teeny rabbit hole looking at their faux-fur offerings, which are pretty fun. This blue animal print is incredible and landed right in my cart. At this price, I can afford to try new things that may be out of my comfort zone.
- WAYFAIR’S Black Friday sale is up to 80% off. We’re getting our artificial tree out this weekend, and if the lights don’t work (they were getting finicky last year), I’m going to order this tree. I really like this one, but I know I could never talk my husband into it…but, I’m going to try 🙂 I did order this outdoor swag for our back door, and I’m still hunting for a wreath.
- ATHLETA Holiday Kickoff Event is giving up to 50% off..and I updated a lot of my workout gear. They don’t have nearly as many sales as other brands so I jump on it when they do. I ordered a few new colors of my favorite seamless top, and some new Endless Pants.
- TALBOTS is running a great sale with 40% off all sweaters, accessories, and shoes, plus an extra 40% off markdowns. This sale only runs through Sunday! This is the time I zero in on cashmere because it can be expensive, and they have some beautiful pieces on sale. These caught my eye:
- AWAY Luggage is having a huge 25% off everything sale. This is the luggage my husband and I both use and love. My new red medium flex arrived and it’s amazing! This color will be hard to miss on the luggage carousel. This is the handlheld we love that slips over the handle of our carry-on.
In case you missed it:
- Musings on my week of sea air and simplicity
- How to choose the best winter coat for you.
- Simple ways to look more stylish without trying too hard.
- Helpful travel items I rely on to keep the stress levels low.
- Thinning Hair After 50: What Really Helps and What I’m Using.
Have a wonderful rest of your weekend!
Faux fur is fun and some of them are so soft. I say, go for it. It nice to have a little pick me up on a cold day.
Yes to an updated faux fur try on!
I just bought an ivory faux fur hip-length jacket that zips up the front at Kohl’s – it is a completely ridiculous, inexpensive (coupon plus 40 % discount) impulse purchase that makes me grin every time I open my closet door and see it – I cannot wait to wear it and know my husband will say, “It’s wabbit season!” when he sees it :)! It will go with jeans, black, navy, gray corduroy pants and brighten things up during the long winter. I don’t know how well it will wash but I’ll find out…it is so soft and warm (it is lined) but not the kind of faux fur that I think will trap dirt as the texture is also smooth and silky.
Hi Jennifer, you expressed an interest in the Thymes Frasier Fir. Check Amazon; it is on sale during Prime. 🌲 Jo
Yay thannks!
Said with humor…the answer to your question NO 🙄
Did you see that movie of course I can’t remember the name, where DiCaprio kills a furry animal and climbs in to sleep in it in the snow?
That long faux fur coat looks very warm but I would drown in it at 5’1”. I think I will pass on this kind of trend. If I still travelled, I would love your choice in luggage! I always had trouble finding mine on the carousel!
A faux fur try on would be fun to see although I won’t be rushing out to buy one. You would have to be tall and skinny to pull off faux fur without looking like a Maine Coon cat.
I spotted a short faux fur jacket while shopping recently and I’ve been kicking myself ever since for not trying it on. Unfortunately, the boutique where I saw it is far from home, so it isn’t likely to still be there by the next time I visit. Sometimes I need to be a bit more impulsive!
Call the store and see if they can send it to you
A great weekend reading! It has been a very good week!
Happy weekend
I just ordered the Athleta Endless pants to try them. I am hoping they are a winner. I am short 5’2” ish 😳 and shrinking….so i hope they fit well. i am wearing Hoka shoes non stop due to a foot issue so i needed something for the holidays that i can wear with them.
At 5’2” you would need the petite version
Happy Saturday, Jennifer. (Warning! This is a long post. LOL!) I’m a huge fan of faux fur. Go ahead and get the pink coat. I think you would look marvelous in it. Faux fur can be altered for length like any other fabric after all. My own wardrobe contains 3 coats; a classic black knee-length “mink” (Calvin Klein) that I got back in 2019, an inexpensive (Temu) 2-year old fun almost-ankle-length white “snow leopard” spotted hooded one that came with a matching hat that I used as part of a Halloween Cruella de Ville costume, and a brown “leopard” car coat (Joseph Ribhoff) that I saw at Von Maur this past September that reminded me of my Aunt Elaine’s real fur winter “dress coat” that she wore every Christmas back in the 60’s and early 70’s. I found out that hers was dyed & trimmed muskrat, not actual leopard once I was an adult, but when I was 5 years-old I thought she looked like a movie star and wanted one “just like it”. Also, I bought a forest green Karl Lagerfeld wool trench coat that I wear throughout the winter when it gets really cold that has a removable matching green faux fur collar at one of last year’s end of season sales that is wonderful for keeping my neck warm if I forget my scarf. This year I’ve seen some faux fur hats, scarves and even cuffs in fun colors like purple, pink, sky blue, and orange, as well as black, dark brown, rust and white both online and in stores. I ended up buying a purple hat and scarf to wear with my purple waterproof parka on particularly dreary Ohio winter days. I’m wearing the “snow leopard” coat in December over a silver evening gown at a 1940s themed Christmas party and the “mink” to a fancy New Years Eve dance. At our age I think we should wear things that we dreamed of in our past but always skipped buying because “it wasn’t sensible”. If we don’t indulge ourselves now, then when? Be well and enjoy your weekend!
You are so right!! If not now, when?
My climate is barely suitable for corduroy and cashmere sweaters. Fur, real or not, would just look silly in my neck of the woods. And absorb a lot of closet space.
I ordered the grey cashmere sweater from Nordstrom’s rack. I ordered a large because you ordered a medium and you are smaller than me. The large is a little too big and the V neck is too low. Now I am having trouble returning it.
I’ve been on line and getting frustrated. Also is it easier to just place another order for the medium than try to get an exchange?
Or walk it into any regular Nordstorm and return
Hi
I have a thing for faux fur also. In high school in the early 70’s I had a seal skin and a raccoon coat from my grandmothers closet . I don’t know why I wore them but I did. I love that fun blue one from Walmart.
I just read your article on ageism.
Why is a 40 year old reading your blog anyway? You do a great job. On the flip side I also follow a young you tube influencer who has great style and she is so fun. So I get ideas on how to wear something for a younger person on an older frame. Combining two genres.
I just received a faux fur long coat in dark brown I ordered from Macy’s and love it.I think I paid 65$ for it!
Fur coat looks wonderful…..YOU AREN’T TOO SHORT. Looks elegant ❤️