misosouper, a shopping blog

Getting engaged on Christmas is a cliche on par with garters, ice sculptures, and that twirled-arm-drinking-a-toast-thing.

In other words, DON”T DO IT, people.

How about getting engaged on Thanksgiving instead?  The sentiment is certainly there; instead of shoehorning a ring on her finger as the obligatory holiday gift, you’ll demonstrate how thankful you are that she’s in your life.

This ring, with its twig motif and lovely rose cut diamond, is appropriately fall-themed.

You have one day to make it happen.

A heavy stone nestled in a bed of fluffy, hand-crocheted gold wire.  Could this ring be a more beautiful juxtaposition of light and dark?

Le Train Bleu is the closet of the girl I want to be when I grow up:  louche, decadent, unafraid of color, careless in the best sense of the word.  Their pieces all feel showstopping, and not in the so-showstopping-they-have-eyepopping-price-tags way.  And in celebration of their 5th birthday, Le Train Bleu is offering 30% off all orders through February 18 with the code “birthday.”  Here’s what I’d buy:

1.  Babysitter Blouse (please don’t wear this over to babysitter my child, because I’d probably steal it); 2.  A Weekend In The Country Cards (did I mention Le Train Bleu also sells small tokens of affection, like this Jane-Austen-goes-Old-Maid game?);  3.  Aztec Shorts, complete with amazing detachable leather ornamentation; 4.  Die Brucke Painted Scarf Dress (how is this only $66?); 5.  Delaunay Scarf;  6.  Acid Floral Dress, which I plan on wearing at least three days a week this summer; 7.  Leigh Ring; 8.  Moravian Love Story Sweater; 9.  Ringmaster Jacket, a topper that would be elegant over both slouchy t-shirts and a billowy dresses; 10.  Shiny Skirt, whose elastic waistband makes it the comfiest summer going-out piece ever; 11.  Gal Collection Strawberry Lip Balm; 12.  Thousand Flowers Votive Holder, which would lovely in groups filled with both candles and flowers (but not at the same time, of course).

This is a whole lot of ruby for not a whole lot of cash.  For $52 USD, you can make like a pirate and wear three.

An old friend of mine is marrying next weekend, and I’m feeling melancholy.  Not for her, certainly, because she’s happy and I’m happy she’s happy; but for the passage of time, for the fact that I used to run through her backyard sprinklers and drive her to school after her sister moved away, and the vertiginous sensation that we are now the mothers and not the daughters playing outside.

Then I remembered this ring, so bright and witty and honest in its transparency, consecrating you as both seventeen and thirty, both ages fused on one finger.  I wanted to e-mail it to her, to shout “Wear this instead!,” but I realized that she might prefer diamonds.  It’s just as well.