The West 5th Weekender No. 10
Emily Deisler
Happy Sunday, friend!
Gosh I love a weekend. This one especially felt like that little break I desperately needed. A jump start if you will. I styled a fun pair of pants three ways, got stranded with a dead minivan, and started painting a vintage teapot.
Fashion, car trouble, and an unnecessary attachment to old dishes. Honestly, a pretty accurate summary of my life.
So happy you’re here! :)
WHAT I’M WEARING
One pair, three ways.
We’re going to be seeing bandana-inspired prints everywhere this fall, and when I spotted these pants, I wanted to give the trend a try. Turns out, I love them.
The fit is what sold me. They’re relaxed and roomy where I want them to be, but still fitted through the waist, which keeps the shape really flattering. The denim is also soft with a little stretch (always my preference), and for a trendier pair of pants, at $35 the price is great. I’m usually size 8 and the medium fits great.
I also love that something this bold can actually be surprisingly versatile. My rule for styling a statement pant is pretty simple: let the pants do the talking. Pair them with a solid top in a neutral or complementary color, then change up your shoes, bag and accessories depending on where you're headed.
I tried them three ways: polished and preppy with a blue button-down, easy and casual with a simple tee, and a little more feminine with a soft blue eyelet top.
Think office > errands > brunch.
And bonus: the relaxed balloon/barrel-style pant is going to be everywhere this fall, so these check two trend boxes without feeling too over-the-top. Available in other colors!
Take a look at my three fits! Which way would you wear them?
WHAT I’M loving
Car Battery Charger Jump Starter
How many moms does it take to jump a minivan?
Does that sound like the start of a bad joke? Because it was the start of my Friday.
In this week’s What I’m Loving, we’re putting aesthetics aside and getting smacked in the face with a little real life.
Friday morning, I found myself stranded with my son after finishing a strength workout and a walk. My van wouldn’t start, but I wasn’t worried. I’ve got this. I have a handy little jump starter/air compressor kit in my van for exactly this kind of emergency. You don’t even need another vehicle to connect to. I’ve seen Adlai use it. My dad taught me life skills. I am a strong and capable woman.
I confidently popped the trunk only to discover...nothing.
I had taken my emergency kit out to clean my nasty, sand covered, sticky floor mats and never put it back. I could picture it sitting in my mudroom at home. Super helpful. Super on brand.
While I am strong and capable, I am also apparently a bit of a mess.
Long story long, after calling through my roster of amazing friends, we eventually tracked down some jumper cables and went full girl boss in the parking lot. I’d love to tell you we handled the whole thing ourselves, but this story had a humbling ending and eventually my husband had to come save the day. Thanks, babe.
Turns out the cables weren’t “seated” properly. Who knew?
So consider this week’s recommendation a PSA: buy one of these nifty little contraptions and never, ever, ever take it out of your car.
Mine can jump a dead battery and inflate tires. Thankfully, I don’t need the jump starter very often, but I’ve used the air compressor plenty of times, especially for the low stroller tire.
Just learn from me: the emergency kit is considerably more useful when it’s actually in the car.
Shop the jump starter + air compressor ! THIS IS WHAT SHE NEEDS FOR CHRISTMAS.
WHAT I’M CREATING
The Art of the Hunt
I’m finally wrapping up my long list of summer house commissions, and this week I felt inspired to start something just for me.
One of my favorite ways to spend an afternoon is grabbing a coffee with a friend and moseying through an antique mall. I love getting to chit chat and hunt for what the other person might love. I’m always drawn to the same kinds of treasures: colorful old coffee tins, vintage floral plates, unique rings, little things to tuck into my gardens and anything that looks art deco. I’m constantly snapping photos and thinking, I should paint that someday.
Well, someday is here.
This fall, I’m starting a little personal series painting some of my favorite vintage finds. First up is this beautiful blue and white teapot that caught my eye on a recent antique hunt with a friend. Isn’t it soooo cute!
She’s not finished yet, but stay tuned. I had little helpers join my painting time.
What if I turned the whole collection into a cozy little calendar?! I’m already obsessed.
Have a treasure I should paint? Send me a photo! I’d love to pull a few Weekender readers’ treasures into the series too.
FREE WALLPAPER
This week’s free phone wallpaper is for the coffee girlies.
Until next Sunday,
Emily