Em here! Caitlin wrote this fantastic Christmas movie must-watch list back in 2022, so we thought it might be time for an update. I added a few more of MY fave holiday flicks to the list, most of which are fairly current. Some perfectly sweet and festive rom coms and plenty of movies the whole family will love. Caitlin’s recs still hold up, so make sure to read on if you’re in need of some holiday movie inspiration!

My Christmas Flick Picks

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021): Absolutely laugh-out-loud funny, and with such a sweet message at the end. This was my favorite holiday movie the year it came out. 10/10

8 Bit Christmas (2021): A real favorite for all of us. Set in the analog 80s, this kid and parent pleaser is nostalgic, sweet, and so much fun.

Spirited (2022): Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell reinvent The Christmas Carol, with music. This is absolutely one of my favorites EVER MADE. It’s a bit raunchy and not for everyone, but I can’t get enough of it.

The Family Switch (2023): Can not love this more. I love a body switch movie, but this one goes so far as to add a dog in the mix. 10/10 in my book (Jennifer Garner always FTW).

Red One (2024): Action, adventure, and just so clever. Y’all, it has the Rock!! My family LOVES this one.

Nutcrackers (2024): Sweet and earnest, with a lot of funny moments. Ben Stiller nails this film (that is more of a 7/10 but still great).

Noelle (2019): So sweet, charming, and checks all the rom-com boxes that I want.

Let it Snow (2019): A sweet YA rom-com that has a fantastic cast, set over one night in the Midwest. Coming of age + holidays = my perfect film.

Now on to Caitlin’s round-up…

It’s time for my yearly magnum opus: an overly comprehensive roundup of holiday movies. In 2020 and 2021, I limited myself to Netflix original films (and you can catch up on those rankings right here!)…but today, I want to expand the pool a bit. After chatting with the rest of the EHD team, we identified four key Christmas movie categories – romantic comedies (because our team is a little corny, obviously), movies that are comfortable to watch with your adult friends and family (no awkward encounters!), classic films that are fun for the whole family (you’ll know these by heart), and picks that kids will love (both new and old!).

The other kicker: the movies had to actually be pretty good (or SO bad that it circles back into being hilarious – it’s weird how that works, isn’t it?). A lot of holiday films are formulaic, or forgettable, or just not worth your time (looking at you, Falling for Christmas – a devastating disappointment!), so I only included movies that are fun to watch. It’s a big list – get ready to skim, and keep an eye out for any new titles to add to your streaming service queue of choice! – but I’m sure there are a ton of other great Christmas movies out there that I missed or haven’t seen yet, so feel free to drop your favorites in the comments. LET’S BEGIN.

Rom Coms

Love Actually (2003): Nine (!!!) intertwined storylines; too many iconic moments to count. (Fun fact: Kiera Knightley was 18 and Thomas Brodie was 13 when this film was released.)

The Family Man (2000): A high-rolling Wall Street banker wakes in an alternate reality to find himself married to his college sweetheart. It’s nice to finally see a man have to choose between career and love in a Christmas movie for once, you know? (No shade to the whole “domineering woman meets small-town single dad” genre, of course).

Last Holiday (2006): After learning of a surprise terminal illness, Queen Latifah quits her job, cashes out her life savings, jets off to Europe, and lives the rest of her life to the fullest. (Spoiler: her work crush follows her across the world, too). This is my favorite Christmas rom-com, y’all!

Love Hard (2021): An LA blogger with a cute apartment (I’m halfway there, guys) spends the holidays in Lake Placid, NY (my childhood haunt!) with the guy who catfished her and his family. It’s sweet and fun.

The Holiday (2006): Two women swap homes for the holidays – one moves into a Hollywood mansion, the other takes residence in an English village – and naturally fall in love with local men. (Poll: would you go for Jack Black or Jude Law? I’m a Jack Black girl all the way!!!)

Holidate (2020): Two strangers-turned-friends agree to become each other’s platonic plus-ones for a year’s worth of holidays before catching feelings. It’s a Christmas movie you can watch all year long!

Serendipity (2001): John Cusak and Kate Beckinsale fall in love after reaching for the same pair of black cashmere gloves (cute). 10 years later – and living on opposite coasts – they trust fate to bring them together again. A must-watch for all my fellow ~woo woo~ “put it out into the universe” pals out there!

Single All The Way (2021): Tired of his family’s pestering, a man convinces his best friend to pose as his boyfriend on a trip home for the holidays. (Added bonus: Jennifer Coolidge also stars in it).

The Preacher’s Wife (1996): An angel is sent to answer a preacher’s prayer and then he, uh, falls for the preacher’s wife. Beyond that: Denzel! Whitney Houston! What else do you need?

New Year’s Eve (2011): Not totally Christmas, but still seasonally appropriate. It’s the Garry Marshall version of Love Actually, with an all-star cast and cheesy intertwined plot.

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001): It’s not not a Christmas movie, you know? An early 30s woman finds herself in a love triangle with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant. It’s famously relatable (except for the fact that most of us will never find ourselves in a love triangle with Colin Firth and Hugh Grant).

Happiest Season (2020): A woman plans to propose to her girlfriend at a family Christmas party before learning that her partner hasn’t come out to her conservative parents. (Bonus: it was written and directed by Clea DuVall, who played Marjorie on Veep!).

Last Christmas (2019): Emilia Clarke works as an elf in a year-round Christmas store. Henry Golding sweeps her off her feet. Michelle Yeoh plays Santa!!! Why isn’t this movie bigger?!

While You Were Sleeping (1995): Festive, but not overwhelming, with lots of classic tropes – mistaken identity! A coma! Amnesia! Love triangles! Wedding disruption! It’s an easy watch.

Why Him (2016): This was an EHD team recommendation that’s also not technically a Christmas movie, but still pretty Christmas-y – a dad travels to Silicon Valley for the holidays and realizes that his daughter’s boyfriend, a tech multimillionaire who’s a little bit of a loose cannon, is about to propose. (I don’t know if you can tell from the poster, but he’s not a fan). FYI this is more of a “watch with friends,” not family:)

Friends & Family

The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017): Christmas wasn’t always this big of a deal, you know? Based on a true story, the film tells the story of Charles Dickens – who was nearly broke after three consecutive flops! – and his creation of ‘A Christmas Carol,’ which changed the world (and the literal meaning of Christmas) forever. If you’re going to watch one new holiday movie this year, this should be it.

Four Christmases (2008): After their yearly holiday vacation is canceled, a couple visits all four of their divorced parents’ homes on Christmas Day.

The Family Stone (2005): An uptight career-oriented woman finally meets her boyfriend’s free-wheeling, relaxed family at Christmas…and it doesn’t go as planned. (Also, the casting here is incredible. Diane Keaton should be in every Christmas movie).

Meet Me In St. Louis (1944): It’s the musical that launched “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” everyone! Track a year in the life of the Smith family leading up to the 1904 World’s Fair. (Fun fact: Judy Garland and director Vincent Minnelli were dating while filming, and Liza Minnelli was born 2 years after the film’s release!).

The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009): This is – and I am not joking – the worst movie I have ever seen. I loved it. A dog needs to learn to bark by Christmas, lest his family return him to the shelter for failing to live up to his guard dog duties. Mario Lopez voices the dog. It’s a mess. Make a drinking game out of it or throw it on when you’re a little slaphappy and overtired with friends. It’s awful. You’ll have a blast.

The Knight Before Christmas (2019): This is similar to the film above. It’s supposed to be romantic – a time-traveling medieval knight falls in love with Vannesa Hudgens – but it’s absolutely goofy. My mom and I have never laughed harder at a Christmas movie.

Scrooged (1988): A curmudgeonly but wildly successful TV executive (Bill Murray!) is haunted by three ghosts after firing a staffer on Christmas Eve. (I’m sure you can guess where this is going, right?).

A Bad Moms Christmas (2017): This is an Em recommendation! Three stressed-out moms are overwhelmed by the holidays (they’re juggling crafting memorable experiences for their families while hosting their own moms – woof) and they decide to rebel against expectations.

Die Hard (1988): It takes place during a holiday office party. There are 4 Christmas songs throughout the film. It’s a Christmas movie. Case closed.

El Camino Christmas (2017): But if Die Hard isn’t overtly holiday enough for you, this one may do the trick – a guy ends up barricaded in a liquor store with five other people during a shootout on Christmas Eve. (This is a great choice for those who are looking for something a little less saccharine – like, your stoic dad would probably watch this with you).

Christmas on the Square (2020): A wealthy woman plans to sell her small town to a developer – putting all her neighbors’ homes and businesses at risk – and then Dolly Parton (an angel both in the movie and in real life, I think) shows up. It’s kind of a slog, but you’ve gotta watch it once, you know?

Jingle All The Way (1996): A workaholic dad spends Christmas Eve hunting down the hottest toy on the market for his son. Classic 90s vibes.

Gremlins (1984): This is a movie about what happens when men don’t listen to directions. (I’m kidding…but I’m also not kidding?) A guy doesn’t take care of his new pet (a Gremlin, obviously) and ends up unleashing a horde of tiny monsters on his idyllic town on Christmas Eve. (Bonus: this film was one of the reasons the PG-13 rating was created, so proceed with caution if you have younger kids!).

Fred Claus (2007): Santa’s brother, Fred, gets bailed out of jail and heads to work at the North Pole in an attempt to pay off his debts. It’s a cute sibling rivalry and enjoyable for the whole family (…but maybe skip this one if you don’t want your kids to see Santa getting beat up by his bitter older brother).

Trading Places (1983): Christmas meets social commentary meets insider trading – it’s almost 40 years old (and some of the jokes haven’t aged well, to be fair), but this film still feels relevant. Two financial firm owners take the “nature v. nuture” debate to the next level when they frame a wealthy manager for a crime and hire a street-smart unhoused man (Eddie Murphy!) to take over his position, betting that Eddie Murphy will turn into a rich jerk and that the disgraced manager will fall into poverty. It’s pretty heavy, but served with a big dose of Christmas cheer. (It also apparently plays every Christmas Eve in parts of Italy, which is hilarious).

Edward Scissorhands (1990): Group this in with Gremlins and Die Hard on the “alternative Christmas movie” list. I mean…the whole thing is a long story about why it always snows on Christmas, you know?

Jack Frost (1998): Michael Keaton, a touring musician who prioritizes fame over family, dies in a car accident on Christmas Day (no!) but is brought back to life as a snowman the following year after his son plays a sad tune on a harmonica. Can a father and son make amends? (I’ll let you guess how it turns out.)

A Very Murray Christmas (2015): An all-star cast (Bill Murray, George Clooney, Amy Poehler, Jason Schwartzman, Chris Rock, Miley Cyrus, Maya Rudolph, Michael Cera, Rashida Jones…I’m only stopping because I’m running out of space) stars in a quick and unassuming holiday special. The original song by Phoenix is the icing on the cake.

Classics for Everyone

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992): The Muppets and Michael Caine take on the classic Dickens tale. (I think this is my all-time favorite Christmas movie, everyone! I loved it as a kid and I still love it in my 30s. It’ll never get old).

A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965): I KNOW, I KNOW. It’s technically a TV special, not a movie. TOO BAD – it’s a classic. Charlie Brown is disappointed by the commercialization of Christmas (me too, cutie!) and searches for the meaning of the season. It’s very tender!

Elf (2003): “I thought maybe we could make gingerbread houses, and eat cookie dough, and go ice skating, and maybe even hold hands.”

The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974): Watch this Rankin/Bass original that inspired the art direction of Elf – it’s sweet and heartwarming. When Santa comes down with a cold and a bad case of ennui, Mrs. Claus and the elves need to lift his spirits. SO HEARTWARMING. (And not just because of Heat Miser!).

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964): Tune in for more Elf inspiration here – like, Buddy’s outfit was ripped straight outta this film). The stop motion is timeless and gentle and kind – if it’s been a few years since your last watch, take an hour, grab some hot chocolate, and enjoy. (Also, we need more movies inspired by songs).

The Home Alone Franchise (1990): This is the most popular Christmas movie in America for a reason. (Let it be a lesson to all of us that precocious troublemakers are surprisingly self-sufficient).

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946): Believe it or not, a movie about a man’s suicidal ideation on Christmas Eve was not an immediate hit!!! This film initially tanked at the box office and didn’t even come close to breaking it even – it only became a classic after it entered the public domain, which allowed it to be broadcast without licensing or royalty fees.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020): A depressed toymaker finds new hope when his jubilant granddaughter shows up on his doorstep. It’s like the Greatest Showman, holiday edition – a modern classic for sure.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947): A man named Kris Kringle fills in for a drunk Santa at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade (some stories really do last the test of time, right?) and is eventually hired to make regular appearances as Santa at the Macy’s in Manhattan. When Kringle claims that he really is Santa, he’s taken to court (of course) to judge his mental health and authenticity. It still feels timely, doesn’t it?

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989): I mean…a guy who cares this much about getting the perfect tree and setting up the most beautiful decorations kind of seems like a keeper, no?

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): It’s a Q4 hit. Enjoy it in October! Enjoy it in November! Enjoy it in December! It’s got everything the end-of-the-year needs, from the Pumpkin King to Sandy Claws.

It Happened On 5th Avenue (1947): Two unhoused men move into a seemingly-vacant NYC mansion while its owner is vacationing in the south. It’s a classic tale of “money poor, but rich where it counts.”

A Christmas Story (1983): “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966): Technically another TV special, but…it’s my list, and I’m making the rules. It’s bright, it’s cheery, there are some iconic (and now gif-able) animation moments, and it’s almost entirely narrated (which almost feels fresh today!). Set aside 25 minutes and tune in – it’s worth it.

Kid-Friendly

Klaus (2019): A failed postman is exiled to a frozen town, where he forms an unlikely partnership with a reclusive toymaker. Together, they bring a lot of joy to a dark town that needs it most. IT’S GORGEOUSLY DONE.

The Santa Clause Franchise (1994): A divorced dad becomes Santa (both physically and occupationally) while everyone thinks he’s a nutjob. His son – the world’s cutest kid, I think – steps in to help save Christmas. It never gets old, does it?

The Polar Express (2004): If you’re a fan of the uncanny valley, this is for you. (It’s not for me, but I can acknowledge that it’s still a good movie!). After the entire town has gone to bed on Christmas Eve, a skeptical boy boards a magical train for the North Pole in an attempt to learn the truth about Santa.

The Snowman (1982): This, however, is WAY more my speed. A boy makes a snowman on Christmas Eve; it comes to life and brings him to meet Santa. The animation is so soft and lovely. (Still great for adults, too! It’s like a bubble bath for your eyes).

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000): Little ones love Jim Carrey and his dog in this movie, y’all. Ron Howard directed this version and it’s safe to say that he is a national treasure.

Alien Xmas (2020): This is my favorite Netflix animation special (and it’s from Jon Favreau, the director of Elf)!! When aliens team up to steal the earth’s gravity (and, consequently, all of the presents), a tiny alien named X falls in love with the Christmas spirit and works to thwart their kleptomaniac plans. So much heart and SO, SO CUTE.

Arthur Christmas (2011): When Santa forgets to deliver presents to one child (out of, uh, 600 million), it’s up to his youngest son, Arthur, to deliver a present before Christmas morning. Super underrated.

Eloise at Christmastime (2003): Eloise (of the Plaza Hotel, of course) decides to involve herself in everyone’s business. (Literally, SO much happens in this movie that it cannot be condensed into a small blurb.) Julie Andrews stars as the nanny, too.

The Christmas Chronicles Franchise (2018): After two siblings accidentally crash Santa’s sleigh, they team up with Santa to save Christmas. Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn should play Santa and Mrs. Claus in EVERY MOVIE. They’re incredibly endearing (and a little sarcastic? It’s refreshing).

PHEW. Lotta words here. Did you find anything new to watch? Do you have any recommendations or synopses to share? What’s your favorite Christmas movie? LET’S TALK ABOUT IT. Happy Friday – see ya in the comments 🙂 xx

Opening Photo Credits: Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Emily’s “Messy” But FULL Of Memories Christmas Family Room

Hello there! Your friendly neighborhood blogger is here and reporting for duty. Every year, we work to bring you the best Cyber Monday sale list on the internet – and this year, I’d like to think we nailed it! Below, you’ll find our new, easier-to-use sales guide. We’re walking you through the best discounts this weekend on everything from appliances and furniture to dresses and boots – we’re talking upwards of 40-70% off here! – so if you’re looking to save some cash, you’re in the right spot.

Added bonus: if you’re in the market for a gift or two, an overwhelming majority of the pieces featured in our 2025 gift guides are also on sale over the next few days. (Selfishly, I’ve enjoyed scrolling our “for her,” “for home,” and “under $50” guides while on the hunt for presents for myself. If you have no idea what to ask for this season, you might find some on-sale inspiration there!)

Updated: 12/1, 7:00 AM EST

Home

AllModern: Take up to 50% off EHD favorites like the luxe rug from Mal’s living room makeover, the $500 sideboard from Gretchen’s guest room update, or the pre-lit Christmas tree that blew us all away.

Anthropologie: Take 30% off site-wide and grab an extra 40% off sale styles. If you need some inspiration, might I suggest Em’s holiday decor essentials? (That bow!)

Article: Up to 40% off styles for every room – I’m especially partial to the graphic mirror from Kaitlin’s living room. (This entry bench is so simple and chic, too!)

Brooklinen: Take 25% off site-wide, plus up to 40% off select bundles (looking at you, waffle bath towels).

CB2: Score up to 50% off furniture, decor, and more. We’d recommend stocking up on the Marta drinking glasses – they’re an EHD favorite for good reason.

Crate & Barrel: Nab home essentials for up to 50% off, like Em’s linen family room lamps. (Now offered in a perfectly petite 15″ size – how cute are they?)

Design Within Reach: Take 25% off site-wide with up to 50% off select items. These recycled crates start at $4.50 and would make a great gift box for any of your design-loving friends this holiday!

Elsie Green: Land 20% off your entire order with code THANKFUL. We’re still loving Em’s reclaimed farm table (it’s perfect in her sunroom!), but the entire site is packed with beautifully curated pieces. (Scroll the decor page for some splurgy eye candy.)

Etsy: Save up to 60% on gifts, decor, and more – you can see Em’s recent holiday buys right here. (I must confess that I would love to receive those little gingerbread men-shaped candles as a gift!)

Flamingo Estate: Take 20% off site-wide off world-class pantry and home goods. This indulgent soap brick lasts forever and is worth every penny, even at full price; I’d be thrilled to give this box of beautiful kitchen essentials to any hard-to-please loved one.

Food52: Land 25% off site-wide and 30% off product from the Five Two brand. I’ve had this Five Two apron for 6 years and couldn’t love it more – would make a great gift for the chef in your life. (And if anyone would like to buy me Em’s market tote, I wouldn’t be opposed.)

H&M: Snag 15% off $75, 20% off $100, or 25% off orders over $100. I’d recommend shopping the kids section (hello, Rejuvenation hook dupe) and loading up on ultra-affordable textiles.

Interior Define: Take 25% off site-wide and 30% off orders over $3,000. This timeless modular loveseat is one of our bestsellers this year – you can add to it as your seating needs grow.

Jayson Home: Take 20% off site-wide with code CYBER. If you’re shopping for a design lover, Jayson carries the best gift selection on the internet. (I ordered this enormous, under-$15 brass paper clip.)

Joss & Main: Nab up to 50% off finds for every room, like these $109 flush mounts. (They’re a budget-friendly fix and a welcome alternative to the dreaded boob light!)

Leesa: Save 30% on mattresses, bases, and bedding. Em swears by the Sapira Hybrid Chill – she has 3 of them at the Farm House! (PS. Take an extra $50 off with EMILY50.)

Lowe’s: Save big here – they’re offering up to 50% off major appliances, with even bigger discounts (up to 25% more off!) for bundling 2 or more. The biggest savings are on these refrigerators – many even have next-day delivery available!

Lulu and Georgia: Take up to 30% off site-wide, including almost $1,000 off Em’s traditional living room sofas!

Macy’s: Bring home deals for up to 60% off, like Em’s new slow cooker or her kids’ much-loved $99 arcade machine.

McGee & Co.: Save up to 30% site-wide. How charming are the tie knot details on the back of these wood and leather counter stools? (Don’t get me started on these mini easels, either!)

Neighbor: Land 15% off site-wide with 20% off orders over $5,000 and up to 40% off select styles.

Parachute: Save 25% site-wide. Em gave me this linen bedding set a few years back when I first upgraded to a king bed, and they’re broken in like a dream – they’re the only sheets I want to use!

Pottery Barn: Bring home pieces for every room for up to 60% off, like the bookcases-turned-sofa tables from Em’s family room. These French return curtain rods are great, too.

Rejuvenation: Up to 60% off lighting, furniture, and more. This chandelier is gorgeous (and nearly half-priced!); the huge River House living room pendants are also on clearance! (See them in action here.)

Roan Iris: Take up to 25% off site-wide with our new favorite small business! I bought this beautiful brass wall vessel – I’ve been eyeing for months after spotting it above the sink in Les’ cabin. (The whole site is affordable and beautifully curated. It was hard not to add everything here to my cart!)

RugsUSA: Take 15% off site-wide and 20% off orders over $300 – we obviously love this quiet striped number from the River House game room and this textural broken stripe from the dining room reveal!

Schoolhouse: 25% off site-wide has me feeling like a kid in a candy shop! I’m eyeing the sweetest Christmas accessories, the cheery and punchy decor, and these to-die-for quilts.

Serena & Lily: Snag up to 70% off (!!!) everything from furniture and decor to bedding and bath. I’ll never get over the proportions of these Windsor chairs – invite me over for dinner! (Especially if you grab them in Parsley, Blue Bell, or Paprika. So good!)

Soho Home: Enjoy a rare 25% off select designs – we’d recommend these luxe chairs that can work in any room, as seen in this breakfast nook makeover! (This graphic lamp is a total dream, too.)

Target: So many great offers here, but up the 40% off indoor furniture stands out – there are so many fabulous Hearth & Hand and Studio McGee end tables on sale! For scent lovers, there’s also a huge BOGO offer on all Threshold candles – stock up and save while you can.

Terrain: Take an extra 40% off sale – this is a must-visit for the seasonal decorator or gardener! You can see Em’s holiday picks at the farm here. (I’m grabbing these simple floral pins to dress up my pillar candles this winter!)

Visual Comfort: Bring home lighting for 20% off site-wide – I’d splurge on this unexpected chandelier or this cordless, rechargeable table lamp by Kelly Wearstler (perfect for an outlet-less end table!).

Wayfair: Snag up to 80% off pieces for every room – no one will believe this floor lamp (from the River House family room) was only $179! You can save big on our sofa line, too. (I’m very partial to the Milo sectional!)

West Elm: Land up to 60% off some of our EHD favorites, like this reclining sectional (!!!) and sofa recommended by Arlyn. (See more of her reclining recs here!)

World Market: Save up to 30% on select furniture, like this sub-$200 trestle dining table (the joinery is gorgeous!), this 6′ vintage-inspired entry table, or this cushy, comfortable swivel chair.

Lifestyle

Abercrombie & Fitch: Save 25-50% off everything at the new, grown-up Abercrombie! Em loves this $60 plush, textural cardigan – the sleeve detail is a nice touch. (If you’re a bit more indoorsy, she swears by this sweatsuit – catch her full review here.)

Aerie: It’s 40% off everything! But best deals are on sweatshirts and pullovers, starting at only $29. Several members of the EHD team will vouch for this cozy, drape-y crewneck (seen on Em here!).

Amazon: Everything’s on sale! But we know that’s overwhelming, so consider knocking out your beauty shopping here – you can grab 55% off our beloved pore exfoliating pads or 20% off Em’s go-to makeup sticks.

American Eagle: Bring home 30-50% site-wide. We’re loving this budget-friendly Fair Isle sweater (seen here), but more adventurous dressers might love these ultra-wide leg jeans (they’re easier to style than you’d think!).

Anthropologie: Take 30% off must-have styles, with an extra 50% off the sale section! We’ve been loving this classic trench and these budget-friendly scarves (only $7.50!).

Athleta: If you’re the “new year, new me” type, you’ll love saving up to 50% on everything from tops and bras to leggings and pullovers.

Evereve: Take 10% off site-wide! We’d recommend these Seychelles leather boots – you can watch Em’s quick video review here.

Everlane: Stock up with up to 50% off everything, including Em’s wear-all-day ballet flats (seen here – so cute) and my all-time favorite jeans in a modern silhouette.

Faherty: Take up to 50% off sale – we recommend pieces like this elevated jacket and cozy flannel from Brian’s gift guide. (It’s filled with ideas for all the men in your life!) We’re offering an extra 20% off with code EMHENDERSON20, too.

Frank & Eileen: Bring home up to 70% off styles from the warehouse sale! The savings are massive – this pretty spring dress is over $400 off (!!!); the deeply-discounted travel sets are an indulgence for any frequent flyer.

Free People: Land up to 50% off over 300 styles – we love this cardigan that channels The Great at a fraction of the price. (Size up, she’s a bit cropped!)

Gap: 40% off everything, plus 60% off giftable pieces. Stock up on the basics here, like a $42 oxford made from organic cotton or these $36 cashmere-soft sweaters (I have two – they wear like a dream!).

HigherDose: Take 20% off site-wide or bring home any bundle for 30% off. Go for the Sauna Blanket Starter Kit – it has everything you need. (See Em’s one year review and three year review for more!)

J. Crew: Take 40% off your entire purchase – we recommend saving big on some holiday party-ready dresses! Em’s cropped barn jacket is also an extra 50% off (see it styled here).

J. Crew Factory: I swear that Factory is the best-kept secret on the internet – they’re offering 50-70% off everything (!!!). This belt is less than half the price of Em’s Madewell equivalent; there’s a near-endless selection of sub-$40 skirts that channel 2009 J. Crew. Don’t miss this one!

Lululemon: Score over 50% off (!!!) some favorite styles, like these $49 high-rise leggings or this throw-and-go oversized hoodie, perfect for tossing on after yoga. (This is the best Lululemon deal I’ve seen in the six years I’ve been pulling this guide together – don’t miss it!)

Madewell: This one is huge: you’re going to take 40% off (!!!) your purchase. Em’s favorite flare jeans are jut $50 – down from $148! – and my much-loved cherry merino sweater starts at only $75! (This $42 blouse is adorable, too.)

Nike: Take up to 50% off select styles, and grab an extra 25% off pieces like these $54 throw-and-go sneakers that will elevate any outfit.

Nisolo: Another big one – take 40% off site-wide (and get a free gift on orders over $195!). We get near-daily DMs about Em’s go-to mules, but I’m especially charmed by these grown-up, cherry red Mary Janes!

Nordstrom: Check this one out if you’re looking for great gifts – they’re offering up to 60% off. If you’re just shopping for yourself, Marlee and I both swear by this comfortable wireless bra and this mascara!

Nordstrom Rack: If you love online window shopping, this one’s for you – there’s up to 70% off over 15,000 pieces. You’ll find the biggest savings on accessories and footwear.

Old Navy: ICYMI, Old Navy is having a renaissance! Bring home 50% off some great steals, like these $30 matching family pajama sets (like Hanna Andersson on a budget!) or this $30 puffer with near-perfect reviews.

Pistola: Nab 30% off site-wide, plus up to 75% off sale styles (like our favorite romper – see it on several of the EHD gals here!). The holiday collection is great, too – it’s filled with elevated essentials you’ll be able to wear year-round.

Quince: Shop a rotating cast of daily deals – Quince’s prices are already great, so these are a total steal. We own and love this long, responsible down puffer coat and this classic washable silk slip dress (I’d recommend this over the skirt version – it’s a bit more versatile!).

Sephora: Snag up to 50% off select beauty and tools – check here for the day’s biggest savings. EHD loves these eyeshadow sticks – they make application a breeze, even for novices!

SKIMS: Grab 30% off site-wide – we’d suggest going for this ultra-soft PJ set, which Em reviewed in depth here! (Spoiler: it was the most flattering pair. I’m not surprised.)

TA3: Bring home our all-time favorite shaping swimwear for 40-70% off! I keep this semi-modest suit in my car for any swim emergencies – it makes me feel like a million bucks.

Taylor Stitch: Bring home 20% on select styles – Brian loves the workhorse hoodie. (You can’t go wrong with anything here, though – they design ultra-sturdy, heirloom-quality basics for men. I’m eyeing this wool sweater for Dennis!)

See you back here soon! Check in often – we’ll be updating all weekend as new deals drop. Happy saving!

Every article I’ve ever read about Tramp Art starts out something like this: “Have you seen this art? It’s grotesque! It’s hideous! It’s so ugly, it’s beautiful! Can you believe this awkward and/or magnificent piece was carved by some hobo in exchange for a can of beans?”

You can almost hear the banjo twang under the headline. It’s the kind of story America loves to tell about itself – a tale of grit and ingenuity, wrapped in a little hardship and a lot of myth. A nameless drifter! A pocket knife! A railroad! A miracle of folk creativity born from nothing but hunger and cedar! It’s a compelling story. It’s also a lie.

The real story of Tramp Art doesn’t start with a hobo and a can of beans – it starts with the IRS. (Because of course it does. This is America, after all.) And like most stories that involve the IRS, it only gets weirder from here. Ready to dispel the myth?

What Even Is Tramp Art?

19th-century Tramp Art Mirror, $6,726.70

Tramp Art looks like what happens when someone gives a perfectionist a pocketknife and a little too much time. The pieces are covered in repeating notches, layers, and angles – they’re a little gothic, a little homemade, and completely hypnotic. (How anyone could describe the above as “unsightly” is beyond me – we have slandered our homegrown crafts for far too long!)

Tramp Art was born from the great American tradition of making do – nothing went to waste if it could be turned into something else. People built with whatever they had on hand – bottle caps, cigar boxes, spools, crates, even the occasional scrap of tin or bone. (Folk art from this era presents like a census of what was lying around the house. I’m focusing on the wooden pieces today, but would happily write a similar novel on the bottle cap bowl.) Tramp Artists created everything from tiny ring boxes and picture frames to full-sized grandfather clocks and vanities. The work is maximalist. It’s fussy. It should not work. It completely works.

Historians have sometimes referred to the whole practice as “men’s quilting.” The materials were different – cedar and glue instead of cotton and thread – but the impulse was the same: take scraps, sit down, and make something beautiful and useful for the home.

The Big Myth: “Tramps Made This”

1890 Tramp Art Box, $1,800

Despite the name, Tramp Art wasn’t made by tramps. Or transients. Or hobos. Or anyone of that ilk, hopping trains with a knife in their boot and a dream in their heart. The term actually didn’t even exist until 1959, when a Pennsylvania folklorist needed a catchy title for a magazine piece and landed on “Tramp Work.” (You can read a scan of that magazine right here – the dressing cabinet on page 6 is to die for.)

But the name stuck, and for decades, people (including yours truly) pictured men carving frames beside campfires, swapping chip carvings for bread. It’s a good story! …just not the right one. The real makers were settled folks: farmers, factory workers, miners, carpenters, shopkeepers. They were normal people who sat down at night and made things because it felt good to make things. Some carved a single frame in their lifetime; others built entire bedroom sets from cigar boxes.

1900s Tramp Art Mirror, $1,250 | Tramp Art Mirror with Geometric Motifs, $2,750

Many were immigrants, especially from Germany and Scandinavia, who’d brought the centuries-old European tradition of chip carving that’d once been used to decorate peasant furniture. They applied those skills to the American waste stream of discarded cigar boxes and packing crates, landing on a new type of folk adaptation: an old-world art meeting new-world excess. (Feels like we could use a bit of this ethos today, don’t you think?)

The “tramp” myth stuck partly because it flatters us – we like our folk heroes poor, wandering, and pure of heart. It also let serious collectors treat the Tramp work like charming outsider junk instead of acknowledging that working-class men – many of them immigrants, some even prisoners – were making serious, time-intensive, technically sophisticated decorative art inside the home. So the story of Tramp Art isn’t one of a wandering, romantic poverty – it’s about staying put, working with what you have, and making it beautiful anyway.

Wait, Why Cigars?

Nautical Tramp Art Desk, $6,000

This all comes back to the IRS.

In 1864, the U.S. government started taxing cigars in an attempt to raise funds for the Civil War. And our bureaucrats did what bureaucrats do best: they invented a bunch of annoying paperwork that unintentionally rendered good wood worthless.

Every cigar had to be sold in a wooden box, sealed with an official revenue stamp. Once opened, the box was done – the stamp couldn’t be reused; the box couldn’t legally be sold again. Every puff of tobacco created a small pile of perfectly usable trash: sheets of Spanish cedar and mahogany, ripe for reuse. Men at home took one look at the pile and thought, I can work with this.

And for the next seventy years – between 1870 and 1940 – they did! Those wood scraps became jewelry boxes, frames, and furniture. When packaging shifted to cardboard and cellophane in the 1940s, the steady stream of scrap dried up, and the art form went quiet.

Seeing the Humanity

1900 Tramp Art Cabinet, $1,785

A few other things happened between 1870 and 1940 – a series of farm busts, Prohibition, and a little economic collapse called “The Great Depression” that reinforced America’s moral obsession with productivity. Men who were out of work or in seasonal jobs were under enormous pressure to stay busy, and carving became an acceptable kind of stillness.

Sitting at the table after dinner, knife in hand, cutting small V-shaped notches into the sides of old cigar boxes was a way to stay respectable, to keep the hands moving when the world had stopped offering work.

Carved Tramp Art Box, $1200 | 19th-century Tramp Art Box, $695

The motifs tell you everything: hearts for love; sunflowers for nature, care, and constancy; anchors for work, identity, and pride in trade; crosses and shrines for faith, memorial, grief. Some of it was sweet. Some of it was devotional. And some of it was exactly what it looked like: I love my wife, so I spent weeks carving her a jewelry box out of cigar boxes instead of drinking.

I think this is what I love most about Tramp Art – the mix of ego and devotion. The idea that you have the talent to build something beautiful, and the determination to spend weeks bringing that vision to life. The work isn’t minimalist, it’s not traditionally tasteful, and it’s definitely not ironic. It’s “I love my family, I love my country, I love God, and I own a pocketknife.” It’s personal. It’s earnest. It’s true. And aren’t those traits defining characteristics of all great art?

Condition, Value, and Why It Costs $75,000 Now

Late 1800s Tramp Art Mirror, $18,364.16

For most of the twentieth century, Tramp Art was the hillbilly cousin of American folk art. Dealers sold it from cardboard boxes for beer money; art experts called it “tacky,” “too much,” or “overdone.” (Translation: working class hands made this.) The fancy museums didn’t want it. You could practically hear the class bias humming: “real art” was marble and restraint, not a mirror made from old cigar boxes. For decades, no one looked twice – until the research caught up.

In the 1970s, an antiques expert named Helaine Fendelman began tracking Tramp Art makers – actual names, lives, places – and began to prove that these men weren’t hobos by a campfire. Her books and early shows were the first time anyone treated the work like design history instead of roadside kitsch. Once the myth cracked, scholars began paying attention.

Tramp Art Cabinet, $75,000 | Tramp Art Chess Set, $18,500

Fast-forward forty years: in 2017, the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe opened No Idle Hands: The Myths and Meanings of Tramp Art. More than 150 pieces filled the galleries – boxes! Frames! Clocks! Dressers! – that had all been carved by working people from scrap. Curator Laura Addison made the case plainly: this wasn’t “hobo junk”; it was a material record of thrift, faith, and discipline in America.

That show flipped the market. Overnight, the stuff that once sold for gas money became institutional. Collectors realized these weren’t curios – they were blue-collar masterpieces. Now, the spread runs wide. A rough jewelry box or frame might still be a hundred bucks (I can confirm – just bought a busted frame from the Pierce & Ward warehouse sale for a hundred smackers!). A painted piece or a clean frame can hit the low thousands. Anything with a named maker lands higher. And the bigger pieces of furniture? The multi-year projects built from hundreds of boxes? Those are five-figure objects. (Top sales are currently hovering around $75,000.)

How I Look at Tramp Art Now

Late 1800s Tramp Art Mirror, $3,800 | 1890s Tramp Art Box, $2,400

ALRIGHT, I KNOW I’M VERY SENTIMENTAL. But I think you have to love objects this deeply if you’re going to make a living yapping about them on the internet! Let me take it home: Tramp Art is a documentary practice. Every piece is a ledger of American life – who was here, what they valued, and how they worked when there wasn’t much work to be had.

It’s a tradition that came from men who knew how to carve before they ever got here – immigrants who’d learned chip-carving in Germany, Norway, Austria, Poland – and who turned that skill loose on cigar boxes because that’s what was around. It exists because the government, in its post-war bureaucracy, accidentally flooded the nation with free mahogany. (I wouldn’t mind if this happened today, to be honest.) And it survived because people had to keep their hands moving, whether they were out of work, stuck at home, or locked up.

And it’s personal! You can read a lot in the details if you slow down long enough. The hearts, anchors, crosses, and flowers carved into these pieces are the same visual shorthand found on quilts, gravestones, and tattoos: love, work, faith, remembrance. Tramp Art offered self-expression to people who had few other creative outlets.

The art world ignored it for the same reason it ignored most labor: it was domestic, repetitive, and made from trash. Too much carving, too much pattern, too much emotion. But the joke’s on minimalism – strip the context and Tramp Art is modular, symmetrical, deeply engineered, and conceptually ahead of its time.

I think that’s what gets missed when people call it kitsch – fine art has always relied on the illusion that materials confer legitimacy. Oil paint means mastery, bronze infers permanence, marble implies worth. Tramp Art dismantles that idea. It proves that form, balance, and imagination are medium-agnostic – that the same compositional intelligence can live in cedar scraps as easily as in cast metal. It’s not craft pretending to be art; it’s art that happens to be honest about what it’s made from. (We just decided to deem it “folk” because we couldn’t imagine fine art being made by someone in a work shirt. At some point in our cultural history, we decided that fine art only counted when it came from men in Paris instead of men in Pennsylvania.)

So the next time you walk through an antique mall and see one of those dark, layered, spiky frames leaning in a corner, don’t walk past. It’s not clutter. That’s somebody’s winter of 1933 – and, in its own way, a national record.

The Part Where You Learn The Process

Set of Hermitage Boxes, $2,530

Wow, you read all that! Feeling ready to pick up a new hobby? Tramp Art won’t break the bank! A quick beginner’s guide to get you started. Grab your pocket knife, a wood scrap, and infinite patience – that’s really all it takes.

The Notch

This is the signature move. Every piece begins with a notch – the tiny V-shaped cut made by a pocketknife. Notches march down the edge of each strip of wood like stitches, perfectly even, even though they were eyeballed by hand. No rulers, no instructions, no pattern books – just quiet carving to the sound of the radio.

Layering

Once you’ve notched your strips, you start stacking them – big pieces at the bottom, smaller ones on top, layering one atop another til the pieces’s stacked up like a Ziggurat. The real miracle here isn’t precision – it’s actually restraint! The layering process gives the illusion of weight, but the whole thing might weigh less than a house cat, like a sculpture made from air.

The (Sometimes) Secret Skeleton

Here’s what most people (read: me) don’t realize: the big furniture – the dressers, cabinets, desks – isn’t solid Tramp Art. As it turns out, you cannot make a wardrobe out of cigar boxes alone.

Underneath all the spiky ornament is a hidden frame, usually built from sturdier wood like pine or poplar (often pulled from reclaimed shipping crates). That’s what holds the weight. The carved layers are cladding – a decorative shell wrapped around a solid, sensible core.

How to Read the Clues

Every material tells a story…if you know how to read the clues.

• Nails: hand-cut nails can date a piece to the 19th century; machine-made nails date to the early 20th century; wire nails mean somebody’s been messing around with restoration.
• Glue: hide glue is the real deal – brittle, brown, slightly sweet-smelling. Anything shiny or foamy means that the piece has been updated.
• Tax stamps: Remember that whole IRS shenanigan? Those official revenue stamps are sometimes still present on the backs or bottoms of Tramp Art pieces, and they’re the ultimate fast-track to identifying the provenance of your piece. (You can fake patina, but you can’t fake the IRS).

I hereby present to you my very own, very damaged, very beautiful aforementioned Tramp Art frame. (ICYMI, I sprinted to buy this for $100 at Pierce & Ward’s recent warehouse sale.) She’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination – it’s missing entire sections; there’s no shortage of cracks; some of the sections had to be physically reattached – but it’s still one of my favorite possessions. I love thinking about the person who made it, and it’s an honor to steward it into the next generation. (I imagine I’ll like it even more once I’ve put a picture in it! It brings so much joy!)

What say you? Has the myth been busted? Are you joining me on the Tramp Art train? (Hobos welcome, obviously.) LET’S TALK ABOUT IT! Happy weekend. 🙂 xx

Opening Image Credit: Photo by Kaitlin Green

If we’re being honest, the River House project broke the internet (or my inbox, at least). The single most asked-about source? AllModern. Why? Their pieces were the quiet foundation of the entire project, delivering the kind of design that hits the sweet spot between high style and solid construction that actually works in real life. Since you clearly share our love for their streamlined, livable aesthetic, we compiled the ultimate list of your most asked-about favorites – and they’re all up to 70% off through 10/29. If you’ve been eyeing that classic upholstered bed or perfectly scaled storage piece, this is your moment to snag the best, for less.

The Perfectly Petite Media Console

I keep coming back to this petite media console because it somehow looks collected and lived-in at the same time. The finish is warm and natural, so it feels cozy without trying too hard. Sliding doors hide the stuff you don’t want to see (remotes, cables, ephemera, et al.) while its slim profile anchors this corner without eating up a ton of floor space. That on-sale, sub-$380 price tag doesn’t hurt, either.

A Classic Upholstered Bed

This upholstered bed offers a high-end, custom look without the months-long lead time. (I mean, that curved headboard! The little bun feet! The elevated upholstery options! Need I go on?) She’s the perfect base layer for any bedroom – substantial but not dominating, and easy to mix and match with nearly any aesthetic your heart desires. (Added bonus: if you want to take this whole look home, the featured coverlet set, blackout curtains, and table lamp are also on sale!)

A Keep-Forever Writing Desk

Writing desk? Vanity? Console? End table? Nightstand? You decide! This classic, solid wood desk has been made in America by our friends at Blu Dot. And these folks have thought of everything: the drawer can be installed on the right or left; the wood finishes are divine (I’ve been eyeing the Marine Blue for years!); the construction is sturdy, reliable, and can hold up to 200 pounds. What else could a gal ask for?

Sexy, Sculptural, Elevated S-Chairs

A quick history lesson: the first S Chair prototypes were made from plywood (!!!), and it took the better part of a decade to nail down how to manufacture the seamless, single-form shape. We’re all the better for it now, though, because these stacking chairs are stackable, sensuous, and oh-so comfortable. We used them outside (that texture makes them a breeze to clean!), but they’d be equally as beautiful in a chic, modern, streamlined dining room.

A Pretty Pedestal Table

Nothing anchors a room quite like the perfect pedestal table. Sure, she’s a game table – but she’s also perfect for homework, perfect for work from home (or “adult homework,” as I call it), perfect for holding court in a foyer, perfect for intimate family meals…I mean, she’s just perfect. Clean lines, ideal proportions, with just the right amount of special detail to make any room sing.

A Dreamy, Minimal, Scandi-Style Dresser

I mean, the whole point of a good dresser is storage that doesn’t scream storage – this Scandi-style dresser is the undisputed winner of that category. The seamless wood facade, luxe curved corners, and inset drawer fronts make this piece feel both bespoke and effortless – you can style it in a more minimal space, like we did above, or you can pair her with some bold wallpaper and a loud rug. The world’s your oyster!

Family-Friendly Dining Chairs

These dining chairs ticked each of our boxes: the upholstered seats and back offer softness and texture; they’re large-scale and sturdy enough to make any guest comfortable; they’re finished in a kid-friendly fabric. (I mean, the fact that they’re shaped like a hug doesn’t hurt either, you know?)

A Work-Anywhere Bench

Hear me out: the bench is the unsung hero of any bathroom. It’s a safe place for towels and clothes to land, sure, but it also functions as a little built-in sanctuary – a place to slather on lotion, to wrap a little one in a towel after a bath, or even to escape from said child if (when?) you need a little me-time. (It’s okay, your secret’s safe with us!)

Indoor/Outdoor Hammock Chairs

Who didn’t secretly harbor a dream of a hanging chair in their childhood bedroom? Okay, okay, I’ll be honest: the review photos have me dreaming of a hanging chair in my grown-up bedroom, too. Can you imagine curling up, gently swaying, while reading a good book? I’D LOVE IT. And on sale for only $310, it’s a dream that’s well within reach!

The Perfect Standing Mirror

I genuinely think this is the perfect mirror for almost any bedroom: it’s oversized, but it takes up virtually no visual weight. The solid wood frame that only flanks the sides is a beautiful move – it offers texture, warmth, and definition, while the frameless top and bottom allow the glass to visually stretch up to the ceiling and down to the floor. (If you’re on the hunt for something smaller, she’s also offered in a 22″ and 40″ length!)

Remember: these prices won’t last! AllModern’s Big Sale of the Year ends on 10/29. Take home a little piece of the River House, why don’t you? 🙂 xx

*Photos by Kailtin Green

The internet giveth, and the internet taketh away (mostly, my money and my inability to make confident, independent decisions). One minute, I’m innocently scrolling my Instagram feed. The next, I’ve convinced myself that a snail-based serum is the one thing standing between me and glowing skin. Or that I need a new perfume that smells like summer. Or that my whole personality might actually hinge on owning the perfect water bottle. (It’s kind of terrifying to imagine how many things in our homes have been dictated by an algorithm. Don’t think about it too much.) 

But you know what the craziest part is? Sometimes the algorithm’s right! Sometimes, its recommendations are actually worth the hype. That said, I’ve also fallen for stuff that now lives in a drawer, untouched, collecting dust and/or guilt – my goal here is to help you avoid making those same mistakes.

So today’s post isn’t a haul or a guide. It’s a reckoning: a review of the viral things I bought because the Internet wouldn’t shut up about them. Think of it like a Link Up, but one that also tells you what not to buy. We’re considering this as a new series (I just bought some pillow covers that I will happily talk smack about, if given the option…), so let us know what you think! Shall we?

Sambas

I don’t know if “the internet” made me buy these so much as, uh, every single person walking the streets of LA. I’ve had my Sambas for over a year and they’re a great daily sneaker that have since been put through the ringer – we’re talking sandy beach walks in coastal Oregon; muddy, lush rainforests of Tropical North Queensland; weekly 8 mile treks through the flea market.

The good news: other than their scraped soles and creased toes, they essentially look new. They come in a ton of colors. They’re on-trend enough to wear with pretty much anything. The bad news: I find Sambas to be an absolute pain – both literally and metaphorically – to break in. WHERE WAS THE DISCOURSE ABOUT THIS? No one warned me!!! But the pain was worth it in the end, and you can take my perfectly molded Sambas from my cold, dead hands.

Verdict: The internet is right about these.

TikTok’s Favorite Water Bottle

Oh man. I WANT TO LOVE HER, I DO. I grabbed this kettlebell-shaped replacement last December after leaving my go-to bottle on the other side of the world. I loved its irreverent shape; I loved that it came in a rainbow of punchy hues (I sprung for the above, but it was a tough choice!); I loved the built-in handle. Yet I’ve rarely used this bottle over the past 9 months for one reason alone: I do not want to be responsible for the twist-off lid.

I’m a woman who forgot she was carrying a 40 oz. bottle. I was schlepping two and a half pounds of water, and I just left it somewhere. Why did I think I’d be responsible enough to care for a tiny cap? I’m supposed to keep track of this tiny item every time I take a sip? NOT HAPPENING, SISTER. I should have just gotten another ThermoFlask, TBH.

Verdict: It’s a high-quality water bottle for those who don’t suffer from crippling ADHD.

A Clare V. Bag

I am here to report – with great regret – that Clare V.’s bags are, tragically, worth the price tag. There are many imitators out there (I own and love this knockoff crossbody, for example), but nothing compares to the texture, drape, and ease of a Clare V. piece. The bags have this natural, cool-girl slouchiness that other leather producers can’t imitate.

I grabbed the Petit Moyen as a birthday gift to myself in 2022 – it was a fraught decision, but I thought it was a bit more timeless than some of her trendier pieces – and it’s a joy to wear. Clare V.’s bags aren’t cheap, but they do live up to their hype.

Verdict: They’re even better IRL, somehow. Why was I cursed with expensive taste?

Snail Mucin

If you’re into skincare, I have little doubt that you’re familiar with COSRX’s viral Snail Mucin. It’s heralded as a secret moisturizing weapon – a key pre-moisturizer step that soothes angry skin, improves texture, and locks in moisture. For a while, I believed the hype! And then, I pulled the Snail Mucin from my routine, and…nothing changed. It wasn’t doing anything.

I swapped the essence for a cheaper moisturizing rice milk (!!!) recommended by my local Korean beauty store. And it makes a huge difference – prepping my skin with a few pumps of his milk keeps my moisturizer locked in for 48 hours! Snail Mucin could never. (I can’t believe I fell for it.)

Verdict: Overhyped! There’s better Korean beauty out there. (But it is also pretty novel and fun, so no one will fault you for adding it to your rotation.)

Le Bon Shoppe Socks

Earlier this year, the EHD team took a trip to The Carly, a fabulous boutique rental property in Oregon’s wine country. One morning, while making breakfast in our sweats, I glanced down at our feet – we were all wearing these socks from Le Bon Shoppe.

If you’re not familiar, Le Bon Shoppe is an LA-based brand that’s taken the world by storm over the past two years. And it’s well-deserved, because these are the best fashion socks I’ve ever worn. (The best cozy socks are fleece-lined from Columbia, obviously. But I live in LA where it’s 80 degrees in October, so fashion socks it is!) ANYWAY – these are light, cheery, and they wash up like a dream. I’ll never go back.

Verdict: These are the only socks I’ve worn for a year. The internet was spot on.

Dieux Eye Serum

Here’s a nice story: In my early 20s, I went to a (straight and male) friend’s apartment to watch The Bachelor. During a commercial break, he looked at my baby crow’s lines and told me that I should start Botox. MY STRAIGHT MALE FRIEND SAID THAT TO ME. I didn’t even know men were looking that closely!!!! It gave me a complex, and I’ve been obsessed with eye cream ever since.

This Auracle gel takes “eye cream” to the next level. It’s deeply rich, moisturizing, and so smoothing that I’ve started using it on my marionette lines. It doesn’t ball up, and it keeps the area moisturized ALL DAY. Dieux is a (relatively) new brand that found its home with the TikTok crowd, so let this be a formal stamp of approval from someone who’s tried more eye creams than I can remember.

Verdict: It’s so good, I forget that I’m insecure!

Bondi Beach Dry Shampoo

If you’re an avid reader, you know where I fall on this beauty influencer-beloved dry shampoo. THE HYPE IS REAL, thankfully. I swear on my life: this dry shampoo totally transformed my fine, thin, grease-prone hair. I used to wash my hair daily – now I can go FIVE DAYS between washes. (To be fair, my scalp feels kind of icky by that point – having clean hair just feels good! – but you’d visually never be able to guess that my hair had gone so long sans-wash.)

I love this dry shampoo so much that I have stashes on both coasts. I buy two at a time. If I were an Egyptian king, this would be entombed with me. If they ever stop selling it, I will buy out every bottle on eBay. AND it smells like Rosemary, if you’re into that.

Verdict: Everyone else in this category should give up. Nothing can compare to Bondi Boost.

Birkenstock Big Buckle Sandals

The call is coming from inside the house, folks – even I am susceptible to Emily Henderson’s #emfluence. She’s been wearing these big buckle sandals for years, and she’s had nothing but good things to say…so naturally, when my mom offered to buy me a pair of Birks as a thank-you gift earlier this summer, these were the ones I picked.

WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG?! They’re so comfortable. They’re SO cute. The arch support is a godsend. And they’re Birkenstocks, so you know they’ll last forever (I’m still wearing my 20-year-old Boston clogs from high school!). So let this be a lesson to you (and me): Emily knows quality footwear.

Verdict: It wasn’t so much “the internet” as “my boss,” but these were worth every penny.

Vacation Sunscreen Perfume

For two summers, the ads for Vacation’s sunscreen-scented perfume have followed me around the internet. They’re on TikTok. They’re on Instagram. They were even here, on the blog, as I tried to write blog posts. This year, I caved.

And OH MAN, IT’S A GOOD ONE. I typically prefer super fresh scents (my go-to was previously Clean’s Warm Cotton, for those who want to smell like fresh laundry), but there’s something complex, nostalgic, and fun here. I’ve recently been pairing a spritz with my Santal-scented deodorant (it’s natural and aluminum-free, to boot!) and have literally never gotten more compliments about smelling good.

Verdict: The internet is correct about this solely because of the ego boost it’s given me.

The Madewell Bandana

For years, I have tried to be the cool, effortless type of woman who can tie a bandana around her neck. Here’s the honest truth: I don’t have the build for it. When a bandana hits this neck, my huge dome and tiny chin are accentuated, and I look like some sort of thumb, or like the girl with the green ribbon, or like the friendly worm from Richard Scarry’s Busy Town.

All that to say: most of my Madewell bandanas are worn in my hair or tied around the strap of a bag. And honestly…I think they’re a little too expensive to justify that use case. (Cotton bandanas are about $15, silk about $69. Pricey, no?) Instead, I’d suggest sourcing your bandanas at your local estate sale or thrift store. (I’ve found Hermes scarves at estate sales for less than the price of one Madewell bandana – you never know!)

Verdict: They’re cute; I’ve had several for over a decade. But if you can find better pricing elsewhere, take it!

Starface Pimple Patches

Okay, okay. I don’t want to say that the internet is wrong about the Starface patches, per se, but I’d argue that they are highly overrated. (it could also be argued that I am about 20 years removed from the target demographic, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.)

I’m thrilled that Starface has normalized acne treatments; I love seeing confident teens who no longer feel held back by unexpected breakouts. But I’m going to be honest with you: these just don’t work as well as the COSRX version (which makes sense, seeing as COSRX invented the entire “zit patch” category). If building community is the goal, it’s nice to be in the in crowd sometimes! – Starface patches are great. But if you’re trying to clear a zit the night before a big event, turn to something with more history.

Verdict: These are not intended for 34-year-old women.

At the end of the day, I don’t know if the internet is making me a better shopper or just a more suggestible one with extremely moisturized under-eyes. But I suppose that’s part of the charm of being influenced by your algorithm – it’s about finding the gems, making peace with the flops, and telling yourself that next time you won’t be seduced by good branding and one million glowing reviews. (You will. I will. It’s fine.)

And now, I need to ask: Have you tried any of these? Did you like this format? Will you give me free rein to write a home decor version of this so I can talk smack on those pillow covers? LET’S CHAT. See you in the comments… xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: My Current Favorite Lightweight Trousers On My Body

It should come as no surprise that we are rapidly approaching my favorite national holiday, Labor Day. (And it’s not just because of the long weekend, or the Labor Day sale discounts, or the ceremonial end to summer.) I’m actually being serious – Labor Day transformed the way we live at home. It’s the rare holiday that celebrates us – not presidents, not pilgrims, not religious icons, not “discovery.” It’s a day for the workers – people who wanted more than to spend every waking hour making things they couldn’t afford to keep.

So if you’ve ever eaten dinner at a table after work, you can thank the labor movement. Our ancestors demanded shorter hours – eight per day, instead of 14 – and the shift gave us evenings at home, tables to eat at, chairs to sit in, and actual time to use them. Before that? We worked until dawn til dark, collapsed, woke up in the morning, and did it again – six or seven days per week. (This may fill you with wistfulness or pride, depending on the sentiment you hold towards the concept of “family dinners.”) So in honor of making the most of our life outside of the office, I hereby present our expert-vetted sales guide – curated and updated daily by our wonderful team of happy, contented workers. Thank you, Labor Day!

Furniture & Home Décor

AllModern

Deal: Up to 60% off furniture, decor, and more.
Our Picks: Unexpected modernist wine glasses (can I come over?); a versatile coffee table beloved by our readers; a simple, streamlined, works-anywhere bench under $230.

Annie Selke

Deal: 25% off site-wide with code LABORDAY.
Our Picks: A pretty (and reversible!) woven jute rug with a timeless green motif; an iconic indigo rug, now offered in a washable version; a life-proof indoor/outdoor rug that’s easy to maintain.

Anthropologie

Deal: Up to 40% off furniture, decor, candles, and more, plus an additional 40% off sale styles.
Our Picks: The River House’s new family room pillows (sneak peek here!); the bath mat we sourced for the kids’ bath refresh; punchy, fun patterned sheets in crisp percale.

Article

Deal: Up to 40% off hundreds of styles for outdoor, bedroom, living room, and more.
Our Picks: Plug-and-play banquette seating; the end of bed bench used in this makeover; my incredible new desk (shoot coming soon – my boyfriend got the standing version, too!)

Brooklinen

Deal: 25% off site-wide, plus up to 50% off special bundles.
Our Picks: A bundle of our favorite waffle-knit towels, as seen in this beautiful bathroom; Em’s fall duvet cover (in Oak!); the plush, indulgent robe I’ve loved for years.

CB2

Deal: Up to 50% off furniture, outdoor, decor, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: The iconic Marta drinking glasses (6 for only $9!); a mid-century inspired dining chair with drool-worthy leg joinery; a textured, handcrafted vessel that only looks expensive.

The Citizenry

Deal: 20% off site-wide.
Our Picks: Square leather ottomans in the richest caramel leather; a striking full-length minimalist mirror, handcrafted in Japan (and under $450!); this graphic, hand-turned wooden side table.

The Container Store

Deal: 30% off site-wide; plus up to 70% off clearance.
Our Picks: Genius shelf dividers, perfect for keeping stacks of sweaters tidy; pre-packaged Elfa kits to organize your closet fast; Turkish bath towels from The Citizenry (who knew?!).

Crate & Barrel

Deal: Up to 50% off bestselling furniture (!!!); up to 40% off kitchen; up to 60% off decor, entertaining, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: The adorable $159 sconce from Kaitlin’s bedroom makeover; Em’s tonal family room lamps (extra points if you color drench!); this sleek, timeless fireplace and/or console mirror.

Design Within Reach

Deal: Up to 40% off bestsellers; 20% off in-stock lighting, furniture, and decor; plus an extra 25% off markdowns with code EXTRA25.
Our Picks: Deeply-discounted Neutra house numbers; the solid beech pepper grinder I grabbed for my kitchen; EHD’s bestselling recycled storage crates, now starting at only $4.80!

H&M

Deal: Up to 50% off decor, textiles, tabletop, and more.
Our Picks: A weighty, asymmetrical stoneware bowl for the Olive Ateliers look at a fraction of the price; a sleek, trend-forward domed table lamp; a sweet pumpkin jar to bring a bit of fall cheer.

Interior Define

Deal: 25% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A modular loveseat that can grow with your family; a sweet rectangular ottoman with piping and optional storage; a fresh take on the classic winged bed frame.

Jayson Home

Deal: 25% off in-stock pieces; 15% off custom orders.
Our Picks: A petite biomorphic end table in a matte charcoal stain; a skirted ghost wicker table; a luxe, classic, English roll-arm chair.

Leesa

Deal: 30% off mattresses.
Our Picks: Em swears by the Sapira Hybrid Chill mattress – she tested it in Birdie’s room at the farm and loved it so much that she got a second for her primary bedroom.

Living Spaces

Deal: Up to 60% off select styles.
Our Picks: A $710 white oak dining table that seats 6 | this black wood bench with beautiful proportions and a woven rush seat | a light, sculptural end table.

Lulu and Georgia

Deal: Up to 25% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A fun ottoman with a mid-size profile to add a dash of eclecticism to your home; a coffee table that offers a dose of French modernism; a stoneware vase with a handkerchief shape.

McGee & Co.

Deal: Up to 30% off furniture, decor, lighting, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: These tiny easels, guaranteed to elevate your bookshelf’s aesthetic; a round, ceramic table lamp that works anywhere; and oak and leather counter stool with beautiful tie details.

Pottery Barn

Deal: Up to 60% off decor, outdoor, and more; up to 50% off furniture; plus an extra 20% off select clearance styles.
Our Picks: An adorable collection of Halloween decor; a plush knit throw, just in time for autumn; high-quality floating wood shelves from $62.

Rejuvenation

Deal: Up to 60% off, plus an extra 20% off clearance styles.
Our Picks: A dynamic indoor/outdoor rug that reimagines the broken stripe motif (so chic!); the nesting coffee tables we used in this basement makeover. PS. Check the outdoor section for unbelievable clearance deals!

Rugs USA

Deal: Up to 75% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A quiet, textured bestseller from our former rug line; the adorable Swedish-inspired rug I haven’t stopped thinking about; an elevated, solid rug that looks even better in person.

Schoolhouse

Deal: 20% off site-wide with code FALLFORWARD20.
Our Picks: The internet’s favorite quilt, now available in 3 new shades; a darling (and sustainably made!) scalloped end table; the 70s-inspired plug-in sconces from this basement makeover.

Serena & Lily

Deal: Up to 40% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A ceramic and rattan tray, ideal for wrangling everything from remotes to books to drinks; Riviera rattan bar and counter stools; this precious teak step stool.

Spoonflower

Deal: Up to 30% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A curated collection of elevated neutrals; budget-friendly block prints; a grouping of muted pastels for any project.

Terrain

Deal: Up to 30% off select garden, outdoor, furniture, decor, and more; plus an extra 40% off sale.
Our Picks: An over the table trellis, for those who want to take their entertaining to the next level; a brass flower flog for professional arrangements at home; a festive pumpkin stake set.

Tuft & Needle

Deal: Up to 25% off select mattresses, bedding, and pillows.
Our Picks: The Mint Hybrid mattress – Jess and I both own one and love it. (I’ve literally broken my back, and sleeping on this mattress leaves me pain-free by morning – it’s what I miss most while traveling.)

TwoPages Curtains

Deal: 18% off site-wide; 20% off for VIPs with code VIP20.
Our Picks: I bought these custom Roman shades in a huge size (~4’x6′) during the Memorial Day sale – I couldn’t be happier with the result. I would 100% vouch for any of the shades or drapery!

Visual Comfort

Deal: 20% off site-wide.
Our Picks: Aesthetically appealing ceiling fans (they do exist!); an elegant, classic 3-light bathroom sconce; an oversized pendant with an iron base and hand-sewn linen shade.

Wayfair

Deal: Up to 70% off furniture, decor, lighting, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: An EHD-designed (!!!) chair and a half, handmade in Texas; our nap-ready sofa with statement-making legs; Em’s outdoor storage shed, ideal for wrangling sports ephemera.

West Elm

Deal: Up to 60% off, plus an extra 20% off select sale and clearance.
Our Picks: Our reader-favorite reclining sectional sofa (might we also suggest this smaller, modular option?); a standing desk that isn’t a total eyesore; pretty holiday decor from $4.97.

World Market

Deal: 20-30% off select indoor furniture; an extra 50% off clearance
Our Picks: An Emily-owned sculptural lamp to bring a warm glow to your fall evenings; a farmhouse-style entry table with near-perfect reviews; a precious storage snail (!).

Fashion, Beauty, & Everyday

Abercrombie & Fitch

Deal: $25 off orders over $100; $50 off orders over $150.
Our Picks: Em’s new favorite fleece jumpsuit, as reviewed here; the best (and only) dress I bought this summer; the perfect fall cardigan to pair with midi skirts or high-rise denim.

ABLE

Deal: Up to 90% off site-wide with code LABORDAY.
Our Picks: The wallet I’ve used since 2019; a $19 tee with the most beautiful drape; an ultra-chic leather clutch with a smart handle detail (I still can’t believe it’s only $59!).

Andie Swim

Deal: 40% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A one-piece owned (and loved) by the majority of the EHD team; a smocked one-piece with a flirty dipped back; a fabulous collection of swimsuit coverups (stock up for spring break!).

Anthropologie

Deal: 25% off designer denim, plus an additional 40% off sale styles.
Our Picks: Reader-favorite straight leg jeans from Mother; Gretchen’s adorable new Colette pants (see our whole team review the style here); $54 mule slide sandals that are easy to dress up or down.

Boden

Deal: 20% off site-wide with code T4TM.
Our Picks: A cute, budget-friendly blouse in an EHD-approved blue stripe; a colorblocked children’s fleece that’s currently giving me baby fever; a refined canvas barn jacket for changing temperatures.

Gap

Deal: 50% off all dresses; 40-60% off favorite styles.
Our Picks: The $35 vintage soft hoodie Brian loves, perfect for early gifting; a $47 crewneck sweater that’s like cashmere without the price tag; an ultra-flattering denim maxi dress (trust me!).

Evereve

Deal: “It’s all on sale!” (Brands, please don’t do this. It isn’t helpful!)
Our Picks: Em’s go-to comfortable cropped jeans. You can explore the rest here.

Everlane

Deal: Up to 70% off site-wide.
Our Picks: Em’s wear-all-day flats; the only button-up I brought on a month-long, carry-on only trip; my favorite layering tee of all time (the shoulders look way more normal IRL, I promise!!! I own multiples!).

HigherDOSE

Deal: 20% off site-wide with code LDW2025, plus 25% off rituals and kits.
Our Picks:  The sauna blanket we’ve loved for 5 years (!!!); the red light mask and hair bundle, clinically proven to boost collagen, scalp health, and more.

J. Crew

Deal: Up to 40% off regular-price styles.
Our Picks: Em’s beloved sculpting swimsuit (now $59.99, down from $138!); half-priced vintage flare jeans; the Icon trench coat’s much-heralded 2025 reboot (finally!).

Madewell

Deal: 30% off select fall styles with code LONGWEEKEND; plus an extra 40% off sale.
Our Picks: Em’s favorite subtle barrel leg jeans (as seen on our team retreat); our tried-and-true ballet flats under $60; my all-time favorite Merino wool sweater (under $30 – stock up!).

Old Navy

Deal: Up to 50% off site-wide.
Our Picks: Affordable jeans with Em’s stamp of approval; a throw-and-go t-shirt dress, starting at $9;

Sephora

Deal: Up to 50% off select makeup, fragrance, and more.
Our Picks: This half-priced concealer and brightening duo (fantastic, BTW!); a cooling Fenty lip gloss that stays glossy; this hydrating blush balm stick for easy color application.

Ulta

Deal: 50% off daily and weekly steals as part of the 21 Days of Beauty event.
Our Picks: The COSRX snail mucin serum, which absolutely lives up to the hype; the iconic Nars blush (you know the shade I’m talking about!); Benefit’s fantastic volumizing mascara.

Over the weekend, feel free to drop any of your own Labor Day sale discounts in the comments! We’d love to support you. And in the meantime…here’s to us, the workers. It’s our day. Cheers. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Announcing Our First Furniture Collection: ROOM SERVICE By Emily Henderson

Look, I get it: the last thing you need is someone telling you to “transform your kitchen.” I know that a kitchen is built piece by piece – some things you inherit, some things you splurge on, some you replace out of necessity. Together, they’re what makes the room work. Every kitchen tool has its lore – the skillet that lasts a century, the knife you buy for yourself, a cutting board fit for a butcher. But hear me out: sometimes the right pan, board, or appliance does actually make life easier. And sometimes? It’s on sale for up to 70% off.

Enter: Wayfair’s Labor Day Clearance sale. I scanned ALL of the clearance deals – seriously – and below, EHD has compiled the best of the best. (I’m talking deeply-discounted Le Crueset ovens, Boos butcher blocks, stainless steel Viking cookware, and more. This sale is good.) If you’re looking to upgrade your setup, now is the time – can I show you what I found?

This post was sponsored by Wayfair, but all words are my own. I think you’ll be able to tell.

Cast Iron Cookware

Girls gotta eat, as they say. And what better than a delicious meal that’s been prepared in some keep-forever enameled cast iron cookware? You can’t go wrong with any of the above, but we particularly love these 8-quart ovens from Le Creuset, which can go from slow braises to sourdough bread to a whole roast chicken. It’s one pot that can tackle weeknight pasta sauce and a centerpiece holiday roast. (And because enamel is non-reactive, you can simmer acidic ingredients without any metallic taste leaching in. YES, CHEF!) I wouldn’t turn my nose up at this 65% off Staub version either, especially in the punchy citron hue.

Stainless Cookware

Okay, okay – I hear you. Stainless steel is less romantic than cast iron. I get it! But there’s a reason professional kitchens lean so heavily on this tried-and-true classic: they’re workhorses, plain and simple. They’re ultra-durable (scratches or dings won’t affect their performance), perfect for developing food (sorry, non-sticks, but you’ll never deliver a world-class pan sauce!, and they’re often dishwasher safe. You can’t go wrong with a set of these steel Viking cooking sheets or this budget-friendly 24 qt. stockpot. (Full disclosure: I actually grabbed the aforementioned pot for dying fabric! Anyone who says that size is easy to find in a thrift store has better luck than I do.)

Knives

Knives: the one kitchen essential you should really buy for yourself. I can’t be the only one who grew up with that old superstition around this, right? In Norse and Germanic traditions, a blade given freely could “sever” bonds of friendship. In Chinese superstition, sharp objects as gifts symbolize conflict or the cutting of ties. In some Mediterranean folklore, the idea is the same – the blade doesn’t just cut food, it cuts luck or love. WHY RISK IT?

Treat yourself to some sweet, sleek knives – like the ones Velinda has hanging above – or grab a world-class set from Henckels (the real deal, for those of us amateur chefs) for only $199, reduced from over $700. (PS. If someone buys you a knife, you can dodge the bad luck by tossing them a penny or nickel in return. It’s a common practice amongst chefs and collectors, I swear.)

Griddles

Let me set the scene: it’s winter. The holidays are around the corner. The house is clean; the family is asleep; and you rise early in the morning. It’s quiet. The birds are chirping. You walk into the kitchen – it’s being warmed by the early beams of morning light. You pull the griddle out of the cabinet, toss it on your burners, and spin up a pancake breakfast that would put your local diner to shame. That’s the dream, isn’t it? And it’s within reach, thanks to these budget-friendly griddles!

It’s not just pancakes, though – a griddle basically turns your stovetop into a mini flat-top grill. It’s ideal for cooking multiple items at once (think: smashburgers for a crowd, bacon strips lined up, grilled cheese sandwiches assembly-line style). And in the winter, they can scratch your grill itch without firing up a bunch of charcoal or propane. It’s a totally transformative piece of cookware, I swear. I’d go for this half-priced Viking edition because it’s reversible – ridged on one side, smooth on the other.

Sweet Crocks And Vessels

The humble utensil crock: or, as I call it, kitchen jewelry. (I lied. This is the first time I’ve called it that. Do you get the vision, or is it giving “stop trying to make ‘fetch’ happen?”) Anyway – there’s nothing that kills the kitchen vibe faster than digging through a likely-jammed door while your dinner is threatening to boil over. Enter: the crock. Sturdy enough to hold your ladles, whisks, and spatulas; pretty enough to admire on the counter; budget-friendly enough to swap when you’re ready for a refreshed look. I love a classic stoneware version, like the timeless piece Jess used above, but you really can’t go wrong here.

Simple, Pretty Serveware

Hop in your time machine: we’re going to trace the origins of white serveware all the way back to the Tang dynasty. (Years 618–907, FYI. Saved you a Google!) Around this time, white porcelain was prized for its refinement and durability. By the time it reached Europe (1300s-1500s), it was called “white gold.” Royal courts collected it obsessively because it signified wealth and sophistication. AND NOW, WE CAN ALL JUST HAVE IT IN OUR HOUSES! White serveware is practical and functional – it works across formal dinners, casual lunches, rustic kitchens, sleek modern tables. It’s never “out of style.” And man, does it look good styled in a kitchen. You can never go wrong with a simple, sleek platter like the fruit-bearing piece above, but I’m currently hearing the siren song of this beautiful, $72 Lenox cake plate. Imagine her styled with your favorite breakfast pastries – what a treat to wake up to every morning!

Decanters

Here’s a surprising fact: for the bulk of human history, decanted goods have been the norm. Romans kept their dry goods in giant terracotta vats called dolia (thank you, 4 years of Latin!). Middle Agers kept their bread in bins and their grain in chests. Victorian pantries boasted shelves of glass jars with handwritten labels (this sounds pretty dreamy, TBH).

But with the rise of branded packaging, food could finally be left in its store-bought box or tin, yet early 20th-century housewives were often encouraged to decant staples into matching containers for neatness and “domestic pride.” I’m not crazy about that particular line of reasoning, but I still find myself drawn to our human tradition and history of decanted food. If you fall into the same boat (welcome aboard, our ship is filled with people who romanticize everything!), then a clean, pretty set of glass decanters can make mealtime prep a little more beautiful and enjoyable.

Countertop Appliances

As it turns out, kitchens often need to be stocked with – gasp! – appliances. I know that interior designers will have you convinced that every electronic must be stashed out of eyesight (I see you, purveyors of appliance garages, who have left me with lingering insecurity re: my countertop microwave), but sometimes…we just gotta have stuff on the counter, you know? It’s food. It’s life. It’s nice to have things that are easily accessible.

But it also helps when those frequently-used kitchen tools are stunners, like Sara’s KitchenAid mixer. (Fun fact: KitchenAid hired Egmont Arens – also the editor of Creative Arts and Vanity Fair – to redesign their bulky mixer in 1937. The basic profile you see above hasn’t changed since! It’s considered one of the few “perfected” industrial forms, like the Coca-Cola bottle.) And you guessed it – you can grab it on sale this weekend. (If you’re an amateur, go for an entry-level model like this. Long-time bakers, you might consider splurging on a model with a bit more power!)

Cutting Boards

One thing about us EHD folk? We’ll never turn down a good cutting board. Use them to slice your breads and veggies! (Groundbreaking reporting coming out of stylebyemilyhenderson.com today.) Gussy them up as a charcuterie board! Lean them against your backsplash! Create your own cutting board gallery wall! If you’re a serious chef, I’d highly recommend an investment in a Boos Block, like this – the company was founded in the 1800s; their boards are made from the highest quality materials and are still used in professional kitchens across the country. But if you’re just looking for a little decor spruce up, a mix-and-match set in this vein would be a great, budget-friendly jumping-off point. (PS. This tiny, 10×10″ sub-$40 cutie would make a really nice gift for your friendly neighborhood blogger. Hint hint!)

Major Appliances

Remember when “adulting” meant buying paper towels before you ran out? Major appliances are the real deal. A dishwasher that doesn’t sound like a jet engine, a fridge big enough to hold more than LaCroix, a washer/dryer that isn’t coin-op? That’s when you know you’ve arrived. And the kicker? You can grab allllllll the major appliances above for up to 40% off this weekend. (Anyone else eyeing this sub-$1,500 French door refrigerator? I mean – just think of what you can do with the savings!)

Whether you’re here for the folklore, the function, or just the discounts, the deals don’t last long – Wayfair’s Labor Day Clearance sale ends on 9/2. So go ahead, stock your kitchen. We’ll be right there with you, spatula in hand. Any thoughts? I’ll be here… xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Zeke Ruelas | from: Modern Art Deco Kitchen Reveal

What’s that thing called where the clock strikes midnight, you turn 30, and suddenly you’re like, “uh, where am I supposed to shop now?” If you’re like me, or Em, or literally anyone who has ever worked at EHD the answer has probably been “Madewell” – but what happens if you want to expand your options a bit?

THAT’S WHERE I COME IN, PAL! And what’s even better is that this list has been completely updated for 2025! Today, I’m introducing you to 19 tried-and-true retailers at different price points who capture that same cool, effortless, like Madewell aesthetic that we all know and love. Each brand is labeled with their available sizing – I’m recommending some businesses that carry sizes through 4X! – and I’ve also noted the price points (from $ to $$$$, to avoid any “Say Yes to the Dress” syndrome where you fall in love with something that’s not currently in the budget). Let’s begin with an EHD fav…

Abercrombie

1. Sunday Slash Top | 2. Curve Love High Rise 90s Relaxed Jean | 3. Asymmetrical Button Sweater Tank | 4. Relaxed Mockneck Vegan Leather Bomber Jacket | 5. Essential Polished Body-Skimming Tee | 6. Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Fleece Jumpsuit

Price Point: $$
Sizes: XXS – XXL (+ “Curve Love” Jeans Line)
Our Review: In case you haven’t noticed, the EHD team has been VERY impressed with Abercrombie’s comeback. I sing their praises weekly! We all can remember the dark, heavily perfumed stores, filled with shirtless men. In 2025 things are different! Sure, the lighting is still moody, but the perfume scent level is very normal, and everyone is fully clothed. But that’s not even the best part! The clothes are CUTE and chic and reasonably priced. It’s giving affordable Reformation and in case you missed this jean post or dress post we did, take a peek:)

ABLE

1. Becky Straight Leg Jean | 2. Skylar Swing Top | 3. The Merly Jacket | 4. Elsa Basketweave Backpack | 5. Gloria Graphic Tee | 6. Harris Oversized Button Down Shirt

Price Point: $$
Sizes: XXS – 3X
Our Review: Ooooh, y’all are gonna love this one: ABLE is a sustainable brand working to create jobs for women…and their leather goods, jewelry, apparel, denim, and shoes are heirloom-quality at an achievable price, to boot. (Amy Poehler had it right: women do get things done!) Check out ABLE for quiet, cool, put-together looks and ethical Madewell lookalikes.

Alex Mill

1. Elle Striped Sweater | 2. Standard Zip Jumpsuit | 3. Jane Mid Rise Straight Jean | 4. Chiltern Street Jacket | 5. Garcon Tee | 6. Taylor Striped Cardigan

Price Point: $$$
Sizes: XXS – XXL, 24-33, 0-14
Our Review: If you also love scrolling the Alex Mill website, it’s for a good reason: this is some LEGACY good design. The team behind the scenes? Alex Drexler (the OG, who started selling shirts in 2012), Somsack Sikhounmuong (the former Creative Director of Madewell and J. Crew), and, uh, Mickey freakin’ Drexler (founder of Old Navy and Madewell; former CEO of The Gap and J. Crew). If you’re missing the Madewell and J. Crew of yore – you know, the kinds of clothes with clean colors, simple silhouettes, and fresh, delightful details – THIS IS WHERE THEY’RE ALL AT NOW. You’re welcome!

AYR

1. The Half Day | 2. The Secret Sauce | 3. The Bloom | 4. The Shimmy | 5. The Deep End | 6. The Voila

Price Point: $$$
Sizes: XS-XL, 24-34
Our Review: The Deep End button-up inspired this entire post, actually! Last year, I mentioned that AYR’s button-ups were the best out there (this is coming from a gal who name-dropped two Madewell pieces in her author bio) and it turns out that a lot of you agree! Visit AYR for quality, true-to-size, coastal Nancy Myers movie-esque pieces that’ll last the test of time (seriously, this is even one of Oprah’s go-to basics brands!). And while you’re at it, be sure to peek at their sale section for huuuuuge markdowns. I love a business that knows how to throw us a deep discount, you know?

COS

1. Boat-Neck Gathered Midi Dress | 2. Fluid Wrap Front | 3. Twisted Detail Linen Top | 4. Side-Belt Midi Shirt Dress | 5. Sculpted Bangle | 6. Clean Cut Regular T-Shirt

Price Point: $$
Sizes: XS-L, 24-32, 2-14
Our Review: Elephant in the room: COS has work to do on the sizing front. But if you fall into the “straight size” basket right now, this is a great source for chic, interesting, on-trend clothing that won’t feel dated this time next year. COS excels at the classic details (those pleats!), but they can also make a basic piece feel a little extra special (the neck on that dress is incredible).

Emerson Fry

1. Mandarin Collar Top | 2. Platform Slide | 3. Frances 4 V Dress | 4. Frances 3 Dress | 5. Super Wide Leg | 6. Basalie Top

Price Point: $$$
Sizes: XXS – XL
Our Review: Emily was the one to introduce us to Emerson Fry, and wow, is it awesome. The light fabrics, the pretty draping, and lots of really good patterns and textures. Their pieces feel classic and unique at the same time, which is such a dream. What isn’t a dream is their lack of inclusive sizing. We REALLY hope that changes soon. We do, however, love how dedicated they are to being sustainable and eco-friendly. One of their main goals is to be a zero waste company, making things to order/producing limited runs. They are also very transparent about the fabrics they use and why. Oh, and their products on made in the USA. So, not perfect, but if you are in the straight size range and have a slightly bigger budget, this is a wonderful option for you!

Everlane

1. The Way-High® Jean 2.0 | 2. The Boxy Oxford | 3. The Day Glove | 4. The Ribbed Cardigan | 5. The Seamed Dress | 6. The Way-High® Sailor Jean

Price Point: $$
Sizes: XXS-XXL, 23-33, 00-16
Our Review: If you’re also a little nosy (I am), you’ll LOVE the material cost breakdowns at the bottom of each product. Everlane’s whole thing is “radical transparency” – they were one of the first movers to embrace the “cutting out the middleman to reduce our prices” messaging that the world’s since come to know and love. Check them out for well-fitting denim, breezy linen, organic cotton tops, and special pieces that can take you from office to night out (hi, cute flats!). Oh, and this is also where Jess gets all of her jeans. She’s obsessed:)

Favorite Daughter

1. The Thinking About It Shirt | 2. The Whitney Top | 3. The Alexis Blazer | 4. The Cropped Charles Trench | 5. Making Me Blush Top | 6. The Lila Skirt

Price Point: $$$$
Sizes: XXS – XL
Our Review: Simple and chic are the defining words of Favorite Daughter. Owned by the Foster sisters, Erin and Sara (and creators of Nobody Wants This on Netflix), they really nail the cool woman aesthetic. The pieces are more high-end end but Jess got a few of their pieces on sale on LOVES them. As many other brands, they NEED to expand their sizing. But their pieces are super beautiful if you want to take a peek. I mean, look at that awesome blazer with the exaggerated slit up the back. So pretty!

Frank & Eileen

1. Eileen Relaxed Button-Up Shirt | 2. Rory Maxi Shirtdress | 3. Wicklow Italian Chino | 4. Pointelle Rolled Funnel Neck Sweater | 5. Jameson Utility Jogger | 6. Gabi Popover Shirt

Price Point: $$$$
Sizes: XXS-XL, 0-12
Our Review: This is one of Em’s favorite brands! If you’re the “save up, buy once, buy for life” type, Frank & Eileen ABSOLUTELY needs to be on your radar. They’re a women-owned, women-led business producing ethical, sustainable pieces that’ll stand the test of time. I mean, that dress? Those chinos? Even the cut of the sweater is considered and a little special! If you have the budget and you’re ready to buy *THE* basic that you’ll turn to for the rest of your life, this is a great option.

The Great

1. The Manor Top | 2. The Reverie Dress | 3. The Big Bandana | 4. The Wide Leg Cropped Sweatpant | 5. The Crochet Cardigan | 6. The Super Bloom Eyelet Skirt

Price Point: $$$$
Sizes: 0-3 (read: 0-14, for us normies who only know regular sizing numbers)
Our Review: Had to fit in one more splurge-y recommendation for those of you on the hunt for investment pieces! The Great is an incredible resource for the kind of clothing that people will stop you in the street to ask about (and I know this for a fact, because Em gets a BANANAS number of DMs on Instagram anytime she appears in stories wearing a piece from here, haha). If you’re a Madewell lover who also enjoys the quirk and charm of Anthropologie, spend a few minutes browsing The Great’s website – it’s fun, even to just look, I swear!).

J. Crew

1. Étienne Oversized Shirt | 2. Gwyneth Flounce Hem Slip Skirt | 3. Lace-Trim Pintuck Top | 4. High-Rise Flare Jean | 5. Berkeley Bucket Bag | 6. Montauk Pullover Sweater

Price Point: $$
Sizes: XXS-3X, 23-37, 00-24
Our Review: HOLD UP. J. CREW IS SO, SO, SO GOOD AGAIN? There were a few years there where it felt like J. Crew kind of fell out of the cultural conversation, but if you haven’t shopped there in a second, pop back in – OLD J. CREW IS BACK. Simple cuts, easy-to-mix-and-match basics, UNBELIEVABLY flattering dresses, MAJOR sales, and all in a beautifully-selected, curated color palette. I did a major wardrobe refresh with a ton of stuff from J. Crew and have been THRILLED with how well everything’s held up so far (and it all looks good together, too!).

Monrow

1. Brushed Thermal Drawcord Waist Sweatshirt | 2. Mini Corduroy Bomber Jacket | 3. Teddy Fleece Relaxed Sweat | 4. Textured Tri-Blend Basic Crew Neck Tee | 5. Wool Cashmere Half Zip Sweater | 6. Cashmere Polo Sweater

Price Point: $$$
Sizes: XS-XL
Our Review: Monrow is a go-to shop for those cool girls who embody the “I woke up like this/I just threw this on” vibe. Their pieces drape beautifully, come in gorgeous earthy colors, and are cut in such a thoughtful way! Their sizing leaves a bit (or a lot) to be desired, but the oversized fit and flexible construction of their clothing means that their XL still feels comfortable and breezy.

Nisolo

1. All-Day Heeled Mule | 2. Mira Fisherman Sandal | 3. Go-To Flatform Sandal | 4. Emma d’Orsay Oxford 2.0 | 5. Carmen Chelsea Boot 2.0 | 6. Carina Cross Strap Mule

Price Point: $$
Sizes: 5-11
Our Review: As the owner of not one, not two, not three, but SIX pairs of Nisolos, I say this: these shoes last forever and look better with age. I grabbed my first pair – the d’Orsay oxford – in 2019 after joining the team at EHD, and my collection has only grown since. Their summer sandals and slides are so cute, but their Chelsea boots and winter flats are ESSENTIAL (I survived multiple walking tours in icy, salted-out Quebec in these heeled boots). Their pieces come in a variety of colors and tones, so you can find a nude shade that works for you! HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

Old Navy

1. High-Waisted Barrel Ankle Jeans | 2. SoComfy Oversized Raglan Sweatshirt | 3. Canvas Barn Jacket | 4. Button-Down Ruffle Shirt | 5. Extra High-Waisted Wide-Leg Jeans | 6. Oversized Rugby Polo

Price Point: $
Sizes: XS-4X, 0-30 (plus petite and tall offerings!)
Our Review: OK GIRL, I SEE YOU. If you’re used to the Old Navy of olden times – you know, the place where you’d stop in to buy an American flag shirt on your way to a July 4th celebration – you’re missing out on high-quality, SUPER size-inclusive clothing that looks and feels WAY more expensive than you’d expect. I mean, be real – if this didn’t say “Old Navy” up top, I would have assumed these were from Madewell! Pop on over to the site and enjoy being pleasantly surprised by the new Old Navy.

Pact

1. Coastal Double Gauze Poet Sleeve Dress | 2. On The Go-To Legging Set | 3. Featherweight Slub Muscle Tee | 4. Luxe Stretch Jersey Slim Turtleneck | 5. Fit & Flare Midi Dress | 6. Coastal Double Gauze Rolled Cuff Pant

Price Point: $$
Sizes: XS-3XL
Our Review: We were introduced to Pact when Emily did a partnership with them. We all really loved that they focus on basics, have a better size range than most, AND are super sustainable! Aside from comfort, it’s their main focus – “We don’t just claim sustainability, we certify it. We proudly partner with Fair Trade USA, Global Organic Textile Standard and SimpliZero to ensure our products, and our processes, support both people and planet.” This is a great and affordable brand you should absolutely check out!

Quince

1. Lightweight Cotton Cashmere Link-Stitch Dolman Sweater | 2. 100% Organic Cotton Poplin Tiered Maxi Dress | 3. Bella Stretch Kick Flare Jeans | 4. Italian Leather Handwoven Square Toe Ballet Flat | 5. Luna Stretch Flare Jeans | 6. 100% Washable Silk Skirt

Price Point: $
Sizes: XS-XL, 25-33, 0-16
Our Review: Quince may be a new brand to a lot of y’all, and is so you’re in for a treat! If you’re looking at these prices and thinking “Wait, you can’t sell a responsibly-made, washable silk skirt for $70?” – QUINCE DOES, AND IT ROCKS. (Thousands of nearly-unanimous 5-star reviews can’t be wrong!) The founders of Quince built their careers working at high-end brands but wanted to make the same high-quality essentials at an achievable price point for the average person. Mission accomplished, right?

Reformation

1. Carolina Silk Skirt | 2. Elowen Denim Mini Dress | 3. Walker Knit Top | 4. Collie Oversized Cotton Crew | 5. Milo Knit Dress | 6. Elani Top

Price Point: $$$
Sizes: XS-XL, 0-12, 14-24
Our Review: Before I praise their clothing, I wanna take a second to call them out: Reformation, GIRL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? Why are the extended sizes banished to separate listings in a niche, difficult-to-find part of the website? It’s SO FRUSTRATING. I don’t want to “Where’s Waldo” my way around your website, I just want to buy a cute dress that I saw on Instagram! (For ease, here’s the separate link to shop if you’re a 14-24.)

ANYWAY. If you can manage to navigate the website without pulling an Andy Bernard (screaming; punching a hole in a wall), Reformation does make gorgeous, sustainable clothing. They’re most well-known for their dresses – you may recognize them as the go-to wedding guest dresses of millennial women across America – but their everyday basics, like these capri jeans or this sweater, are well-made and durable. (And to give them their flowers, they do have models with diverse body types! And they do make clothes that fit larger bodies! Except again, it does feel like it’s been banished to the boonies, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯.)

I clearly have a love/hate relationship with Reformation, but I do have a platform here, and maybe it’s big enough that they’ll stop making my fellow 12/14 + gals feel like freakin’ lepers when we’re just trying to give them a bunch of money! Anyway. Great clothes that will make you look/feel like a princess, UI that actively works against extended-size shoppers. PLEASE FIX IT, REFORMATION! (I’ll buy so much more, I swear!!!!)

Sezane

1. Clyde Trench Coat | 2. Sandy Skirt | 3. Will Jacket | 4. Thalyna Blouse | 5. Capri Jeans | 6. Tomboy Shirt

Price Point: $$$
Sizes: 2-14, 23-36, 0-16
Our Review: Here’s another one of Em’s recent go-to brands! Man, Sezane does it so right. That button-up shirt is covered with sweet white embroidered flowers, but their pieces come with tons of different color/print options! If you’re looking for clothes with an effortless, charming, Parisian vibe…look no further. Happy shopping 🙂

Target

1. Long Sleeve Eyelet Tie-Front Poplin Blouse | 2. Sia Knit Woven Mary Jane Flats | 3. High-Rise Sailor Wide Leg Ankle Jeans | 4. Button-Down Cardigan | 5. High-Rise Drawstring Denim Beach Shorts | 6. Scoop Vest

Price Point: $
Sizes: XXS-4X, 00-30
Our Review: PSA: The ‘A New Day’ line at Target, in particular, is FILLED with good Madewell dupes. (I’ll let the photos speak for themself.) Very cute clothes at affordable prices.

That’s it for me today – are there any brands you’ve tried that you’d like to recommend to the class? We’re all ears… xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green | From: Some Cute New Fall Clothes I’m Wearing On My Body…

Earlier this summer, I stepped into an Abercrombie location at the Christiana Mall in Delaware. This was not the Abercrombie of yore – there were no dark lights, no overpowering scent of cologne, no ear-splitting bass. Nary a shirtless teen in sight! On the contrary: this was the new Abercrombie. The 2025 version. The transformation was made evident when a young tween, dragged in by her early 40s mother and wholly uninterested in every dress in front of her, gestured to me, a 33-year-old woman minding my own business, and said, “This store is for people like her.”

“Her,” in this case, means adults. Grown-ups. (The horror!!!!) We grew up, and Abercrombie grew up with us. Gone are the layering tanks, the popped collars, the micro-shorts, the air of exclusivity. Instead, you’ll find your local Abercrombie stocked with modest midi-length dresses, comfortable jeans, athleisure with built-in bras, and easy throw-on-and-go basics at wallet-friendly prices. WHO KNEW?! Well, I did – and that’s why I forced the team to try on and review Abercrombie’s Viral Best Selling Dress, the Emerson collection. I’m convinced that this style looks good on everyone (you can be the judge below!) and it’s offered in a variety of shapes, cuts, lengths, and patterns, meaning that there is an Emerson for every body. (I mean that literally, too – sizing runs from 000-24 and regular, petite, and tall lengths are offered. They’re not perfect, but Abercrombie is far more inclusive than other major brands out there today.) ANYWAY – you ready to see what these grown-up adults think of their new dresses?

Emily

The A&F Emerson Linen-Blend Puff Sleeve Midi Dress | Flats

Dress Size: Small/Regular
My Height: 5’4″
Thoughts: When things go viral, I’m curious for sure – is it really that good? Would it work on my body? Since I have larger ladies and a short torso, I really thought that the fitted bodice would crawl up and make me look pregnant (true story for all the Reformation dresses designed like this), but I was so pleasantly surprised by the structure of this dress! I really love it (with one caveat). It’s comfortable, drapes really well, obviously the sleeves are flattering, and the bodice slimming and just so easy to wear (shout out to the alllllll the various patterns). My only issue is that I only have one bra that has wide enough straps and a low enough back to not be seen. I actually think it’s best to not wear a bra with this dress, but I’m not terribly comfortable doing that. The square neck is very wide, and it’s not that the back is super low it’s that my supportive bras just have a thicker strap that does ride up higher. I bought these cakes, but they didn’t arrive in time. So I’m keeping this dress (I bought it in the poplin, too, but prefer the linen, so I returned that one). I know we are in mid-July, so buying a linen midi dress might feel “end of season,” but the sale price of this is an incredible deal (and it’s too hot to buy fall right now!). I’m sure the other ladies will say this, but if you are in between sizes, size down – I’m in between small and medium in most things right now (I really wish the world would get itself together and agree on a universal sizing), and bought a small, which fits great. I was prepared to say “cute dress, not for me” but I’m excited to announce that even if you are apple shaped, with a bigger bosom, this dress is very flattering and makes me feel good (just beware of the bra needs).

Gretchen

Sunglasses | Purse | The A&F Emerson Poplin Puff Sleeve Midi Dress | Shoes (similar)

Dress Size: Large/Tall
My Height: 5’9″
Thoughts: Consider me a fan of Abercrombie’s resurgence! Gone are the days of me rocking a moose-embroidered, long-sleeved babydoll top to 3rd period (thankfully). Now, I’m wearing puffy sleeves and flowy skirts to wine country, baby! We’ve graduated, and I like it. Especially this style of dress; big puffy sleeves, a square neckline, and a tiered skirt that hits just right at the waist. I was smitten with this cute wine and cheese pattern on the fabric, which is admittedly a little too on the nose to wear wine tasting (what I’m doing in this picture), BUT so many strangers (okay, two) came up to me and told me they loved the dress! So I consider that a win and have plans to wear this piece other places, too. I wasn’t totally sure about the sizing, so I tested a variety, and really I just wish they sold a medium-and-a-half. The medium fit me super well in the waist/ribs, but squished the girls down in a weird way. The large fit best in the chest but is looser than I would like in the waist. I went with the large tall (I’m 5’9″) over a regular because I think a longer midi skirt looks better on me. Overall, I’m pretty pleased with this dress and think the quality is great, especially for the price point.

Jess

The A&F Emerson Tie-Strap Mini Dress | Jelly Flats

Dress Size: Small/Petite
My Height: 5’4″
Thoughts: What I will say first is that it is an extremely cute dress that doesn’t require my size C-cup breasts to wear a bra, and since it doesn’t have a fitted skirt, I can wear whatever style underwear my heart could desire (granny, duh). The pattern is so sweet, it’s lined, and overall, the quality feels so good. I chose a petite length since it’s a “mini” dress (though, I don’t think it’s all that mini) and was afraid the regular would have hit me in an awkward spot. Oh, and it was a bit of thing to get on because it’s a pullover, but once you’re in, it’s so comfortable and you feel secure! But as truly cute as it is and think it looks on me, it’s just not my style. I sort of figured as much when this style was chosen, but as my mother always told me, “Just try it on, you never you and you might be surprised.” However, since I know I just wouldn’t wear it enough, I’m going to return it. This is a dress that’s much more “Jess”:)

Caitlin

Left: The A&F Emerson Linen-Blend Puff Sleeve Midi Dress + Flats | Right: Mila Dress + Sandals

Dress Size: Large/Regular
My Height: 5’8″
Thoughts: I’ve been screaming about Abercrombie for TWO WHOLE YEARS, and it’s about time my team started paying attention!!! The Emerson line is a total breeze to wear – it’s the epitome of the “throw on and go” dress to me. Everyone looks good in it, they’re appropriate for nearly every occasion (church! Antiquing! Farmer’s market! Parent/teacher conference! Thanksgiving dinner!), and honestly…they’re pretty fun and princess-y to wear. I love the pockets, I love that my 36Fs fit inside (I’m bra-less here, with room leftover!), and I love the variety of cuts and patterns. If none of the current pieces are doing it for you, never fear: they drop new pieces every season.

And while we’re talking Abercrombie: here’s the Mila dress I’ve been yappin’ about all summer! ICYMI, I’ve been on a “shop small or not at all” kick in 2025…and it was going great, until I tried this dress on. It’s simultaneously structured-yet-breezy, supportive enough up top that I can still go bra-free (praise be!!!), and I ADORE the cut of the straps – it covers up my armpit folds, or lumps, or whatever those weird pieces of skin between my boob and my armpit are called. I wear this one at least once a week – it’s just SO easy and flattering. If the Emerson cut isn’t doing it for you, give the rest of the dresses a look – they have some great basics at rock-bottom prices.

Mallory

The A&F Mila Stretch Midi Dress | Sandals

Dress Size: Small/Regular
My Height: 5’7″
Thoughts: Imagine how confused I was when I opened up this blog post in the backend and saw everyone’s Abercrombie dress that did NOT look like the one I ordered!! Caitlin raved about this dress, which is how we came up with the idea to do an Abercrombie dress try-on, so I thought we were going with that one, but JOKES ON ME!! I don’t know what happened. But this is what I ordered and I LOVE IT, so I’m gonna review it anyway (lol this is the funniest thing that’s ever happened to me on the blog). Let’s get into it, though. This dress comes in a few different simple colors, and this really fun pattern too. The quality is shockingly good – there’s a bodice that’s super flattering but isn’t tight and uncomfortable (I don’t know how they do it). I was super impressed with the fit (I got a small). But wait – I saved the best part for last – IT HAS POCKETS! I’ll be wearing this all summer. Thanks, bye!

Marlee

The A&F Emerson Cap Sleeve Mini Dress | Sandals

Dress Size: Small/Regular
My Height: 5’8″
Thoughts: I am not a huge fan of puffy sleeves on myself, and I don’t really wear midi or maxi dresses casually, so I was unsure about reviewing this line when the team first proposed it (didn’t feel super me) – but I was happy to see the Emerson Cap Sleeve Mini Dress as an option in the line! I ordered a Size S in the black (regular height). My biggest takeaway is WHY am I not wearing square necklines ALLLL the time? It’s so cute – combined with the little cap sleeves, I ended up liking this dress much more than I thought I would. From a sizing standpoint, it felt pretty true to size, and I liked that the back area where the zipper has ruching, so it’s pretty stretchy. Lengthwise, it hit at a good point on my legs but is on the longer side for a mini dress – I do have a shorter torso, but if you’re worried about the length, I think it’s totally fine/appropriate. I went braless and felt totally fine, but if you need more support or feel most comfortable wearing a bra, I do think you would have to go strapless (unless you don’t mind a little peekaboo strap) – the neckline did go basically all the way to my armpit. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this item, and I think it will be a great, simple staple to have in my closet!

There you go! Let us know what you think. Do you like the kinds of reviews? Are you going to try an Abercrombie dress now? Have a great weekend, pals!

Hello there! Welcome to the best-curated sales guide on the internet. (I’m only a little biased.) If you’d like to celebrate this holiday weekend with some savings, you’re in the right place – the team at EHD has curated a selection of the best July 4th deals on everything from furniture and lighting to dresses and sunscreen. (And there are no “fake” deals here – if the discount isn’t better than the deal you’d get by signing up for the email list, it didn’t make our cut. REAL SALES ONLY!)

We’ve spent the last week with our heads down, scanning the internet for the actual best deals out there this weekend – we’re talking high-quality furniture under $400, sustainable decor from $5, and breezy linen sets that won’t break the bank. If you’re on the hunt for, well, anything, you’ll likely find it at one of the tried-and-true retailers on this list. We’ve highlighted our favorite pieces below, but there’s way more where that came from – we love the selection at each and every brand on this list. I’ll be here, updating all weekend – let me know if you’re looking for anything in particular! I’m happy to advise. (I’ve done A LOT of internet window shopping this week. And a little bit of real shopping, too, if I’m being honest.) Ready to dive in?

Last Updated: 7/5, 9:15 AM EDT

Furniture & Home Décor

Umbrella | Upholstered Chair | Outdoor Sofa | Coffee Table | Mirror | Ottoman | Sofa | Blue Lumbar Pillow | Pink Ruffle Pillow | Quilt

AllModern

Deal: Up to 60% off furniture, decor, and more.
Our Picks: The modernist, Calder-inspired floor lamp from the art barn; Polywood Adirondack chairs, guaranteed to stand the test of time; Em’s outdoor living room loveseat.

Annie Selke

Deal: 25% off site-wide.
Our Picks: The bestselling textured blue rug, now in a washable format; a colorful indoor/outdoor rug (imagine with a Haight Blue porch for instant summer!); a handwoven jute rug in a fresh quilted pattern.

Anthropologie

Deal: Up to 40% off furniture, decor, candles, and more; plus an additional 50% off sale styles.
Our Picks: The iconic live-edge coffee table (you know the one); the painfully charming collection of summer serve- and table-ware; Em’s graphic and punchy indoor/outdoor pillows.

Article

Deal: Up to 40% off hundreds of styles for outdoor, bedroom, living room, and more.
Our Picks: An outdoor sectional set so nice we used it twice (at Bowser’s and the River House); a simple oak bed frame for only $239; the classic Sven sofa, now in a rich, chocolatey performance velvet.

Brooklinen

Deal: 20% off site-wide; plus up to 50% off special bundles.
Our Picks: My favorite linen sheet set; the percale sheet set Em ordered this week (in Pebble, for her primary bedroom); the dream weave waffle towels – they’re both plush and quick drying.

CB2

Deal: Up to 50% off furniture, outdoor, decor, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: Em’s graphic, modernist-meets-classic table lamp; designers’ favorite thin-walled glassware (we use these all the time!); a sculptural, textured, elevated terracotta vase.

The Citizenry

Deal: 20% off site-wide.
Our Picks: $55 hand-stitched leather catch-alls, perfect for your entry or dresser; a simple, petite side table crafted from Hinoki wood; the classic, quilted, easy-to-layer organic cotton bed blanket.

The Container Store

Deal: 25% off site-wide.
Our Picks: Under bed storage that’s actually easy to access; stackable (and sustainable!) drawer organizers for every room; the clear closet shelf dividers we swear by.

Crate & Barrel

Deal: Up to 40% off bestselling furniture (!!!); up to 50% off outdoor; up to 60% off decor, entertaining, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: A sweet, vintage-inspired writing desk under $400; this deeply-discounted burl mirror by Athena Calderone; the no-fail selection of indoor/outdoor planters – there’s a pot for every style.

Design Within Reach

Deal: 20% off in-stock lighting, furniture, and decor; plus free shipping on orders over $2,000 with code FREESHIP.
Our Picks: HAY’s colorful, recycled crates (especially if you’re shopping for a dorm or first apartment!); a fresh, feminine, stainless steel tray to anchor your vignettes; my friendly, cheery, chunky dinner plates.

Lamp | Lounge Chair | Textural Rug | Turkish Cotton Towels | Bar Cabinet | Pretty Quilt | Media Unit | Jute & Wool Rug

H&M

Deal: Up to 60% off decor, textiles, tabletop, and more.
Our Picks: The sub-$15 stoneware vase that makes Ikebana floral arrangements easy; an old-meets-new, trend forward fabric globe pendant; come for the scented candle, stay for the modernist ceramic jar.

Interior Define

Deal: 20% off site-wide; 25% off orders over $2,999.
Our Picks: The twin-size sleeper sofa, perfect for hosting in small spaces; an elevated storage ottoman with custom piping; the beautifully-proportioned upholstered bed that feels like a hug.

Jayson Home

Deal: Up to 50% off favorite selects.
Our Picks: My dream Windsor-style entryway bench; the coolest stoneware candelabra – it looks like it costs way more than $29!; a chic sling chair that will bring a modern edge to any interior.

Leesa

Deal: 30% off mattresses.
Our Picks: Em swears by the Sapira Hybrid Chill mattress – she tested it in Birdie’s room at the farm and loved it so much that she got a second for her primary bedroom.

Living Spaces

Deal: Up to 60% off July clearance deals.
Our Picks: This round, black oak coffee table for only $296; a budget-friendly end table with storage AND a shelf, perfect for stashing your essentials; this $450 dining table that extends to 90″ (!!!).

Lulu and Georgia

Deal: Up to 30% off site-wide, plus an extra 20% off markdowns.
Our Picks: Drop everything and RUN to the sale section. This vessel! Nightstands! Ginny’s dining table! Em’s pedestals! A craftsman console! The pillows! It’s too much!!! Don’t make me choose!!!

McGee & Co.

Deal: Up to 70% off furniture, decor, lighting, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: A deeply-discounted Loeffler Randall vase (under $20!); a sweet, works-anywhere stool with timeless bobbin legs; $1,500 off (!!!) this streamlined, organic modern coffee table.

Pottery Barn

Deal: Up to 60% off decor, outdoor, and more; up to 50% off furniture; plus an extra 20% off select clearance styles.
Our Picks: This outdoor movie screen, because it’s never too late to make summer memories; a simple clamshell catchall for a tiny nautical touch; a contract-grade swivel chair from $649.

Rejuvenation

Deal: Up to 60% off, plus an extra 20% off clearance styles.
Our Picks: Em’s keep-forever rolling canvas laundry cart (it’s finally on sale!); 90% off timeless house numbers (spoiler: they’re under $5!); a deeply-discounted ceramic lamp with mid-century lines.

Rugs USA

Deal: Up to 75% off site-wide.
Our Picks: A solid, Nordic Knots-esque rug at a fraction of the price; the dupe for my living room rug; an unbelievably charming folk-art inspired rug (last year’s Swedish trend prediction is coming to bear!).

Schoolhouse

Deal: 15% off site-wide with code DOGDAYS.
Our Picks: The chic round pillow from the Clare V. collection, now 40% off; an art deco-inspired bistro table, especially in the cheery blue hue; EHD’s eternal go-to winter/summer cotton bed coverlet.

Adirondack Chair | Rattan Headboard | Outdoor Sectional | Mirror | Lamp | Side Table | Chandelier | Sideboard | Blanket | Chair | Pillow

Serena & Lily

Deal: Up to 40% off site-wide; free shipping on orders over $2,500.
Our Picks: The sun-bleached pine breakfast table you’ll be able to pass down; a modern Windsor dining chair (especially in that sweet duck egg blue); a solid, tiered cerused oak side table under $300.

Spoonflower

Deal: 30% off wallpaper; 25% off fabric and home decor.
Our Picks: The sweet Scandi-inspired stripe from Em’s laundry closet (we swear by the pre-pased formula, BTW); the quiet maximalist metallic from our teen closet makeover.

Terrain

Deal: Up to 25% off select garden, outdoor, furniture, decor, and more.
Our Picks: The bestselling cotton sunhat, vetted (and loved) by gardeners; a pretty, lightweight hose in rainbow sherbet hues; preserved bouquets for beautiful flowers sans-maintenance.

Tuft & Needle

Deal: Up to 25% off select mattresses, bedding, and pillows.
Our Picks: The Mint Hybrid mattress – Jess and I both own one and love it. (I’ve literally broken my back, and sleeping on this mattress leaves me pain-free by morning – it’s what I miss most while traveling.)

TwoPages Curtains

Deal: 18% off site-wide; 20% off for VIPs with code VIP20.
Our Picks: I bought these custom Roman shades in a huge size (~4’x6′) during the Memorial Day sale – I couldn’t be happier with the result. I would 100% vouch for any of the shades or drapery!

Visual Comfort

Deal: 20% off site-wide plus free shipping.
Our Picks: A sophisticated Kelly Wearstler floor lamp under $400; on-trend flush mount spotlights that won’t break the bank; this classic, storybook-esque lantern pendant.

Wayfair

Deal: Up to 70% off furniture, decor, lighting, rugs, and more.
Our Picks: The budget-friendly, mid-century inspired accent chairs we love (as seen above!); 55% off Em’s plush, modern dog bed; textural outdoor chairs crafted from acacia and handwoven rattan rope.

West Elm

Deal: Up to 60% off, plus an extra 20% off select sale and clearance.
Our Picks: A spacious, half-priced wood sideboard with geometric, sculptural details; painfully charming outdoor dinnerware with a festive sporting motif; this Italian-inspired end-of-bed bench.

Williams Sonoma

Deal: Up to 75% off, plus an extra 20% off clearance.
Our Picks: Up to 40% off All-Clad cookware and sets; Staub baking dish sets under $60; this $99 Le Crueset enamal cast iron gratin dish, discounted from $150.

World Market

Deal: Up to 50% off outdoor furniture; an extra 50% off clearance items; plus deep discounts on indoor furniture.
Our Picks: Block-printed cloth napkins that only look expensive; an extendable farmhouse dining table under $800 (it can seat 8!); the punchy, modernist $64 steel end table I just bought for my balcony.

Fashion, Beauty, & Everyday

Sneakers | Red Maxi Dress | Jean Shorts | Floral Short Sleeve Blouse | Simple Tank Midi Dress | Grey Wrap Dress | Denim Dress | White Blouse | Brown Spaghetti Strap Dress | Brown Sandals

Abercrombie & Fitch

Deal: 20-50% off site-wide, plus an extra 20% off clearance.
Our Picks: The game-changing Curve Love line of shorts (for those of us with big ol’ butts, hips, or thighs); the prettiest summer dress I bought this year; my favorite skort (they’re back!).

ABLE

Deal: 30% off apparel, plus an extra 50% off markdowns with code FIREWORK.
Our Picks: A responsibly-made, Emily-esque block print blouse for only $30; this subtle, pretty layering cardigan (the sky blue is divine!); a slouchy, EHD-approved grown-up graphic tee.

Andie Swim

Deal: 25% off bestsellers.
Our Picks: Em’s all-time favorite one piece swimsuit; a strappier one piece swimsuit with a flirty, unexpected back detail; a classic, supportive one piece that’s perfect for an active beach day.

Boden

Deal: Up to 50% off women, girls, boys, and baby; plus 20% off new Mini styles with code 4PYY.
Our Picks: A classic, wear-all-summer fit-and-flare linen dress; an adorable little girl’s dress that’s giving me baby fever (oh no!); lightweight, wide-leg linen pants that just scream “fun!”.

Gap

Deal: 50% off shorts, tees, swim, and dresses.
Our Picks: $39 lightweight denim shorteralls in a bright, tomato red; an easy-to-wear organic cotton dress (the cabana stripe is destined for a beach!); these modern, half-priced apron-neck tank tops.

Evereve

Deal: Up to 70% off select styles.
Our Picks: This Emily-approved blouse in a pretty peach hue; a $55 white top with simple-but-special eyelet sleeve details; a cool-girl Clare V. sweatshirt under $100, perfect for chilly summer nights.

Everlane

Deal: Up to 50% off site-wide.
Our Picks: This summer’s biggest trend in bottoms: boxer-style shorts (they’re wearable outdoors, I promise!); Em’s ultra-flattering chinos from $69; my ultra-comfortable cognac leather sandals.

HigherDOSE

Deal: 20% off bundles.
Our Picks: The sauna blanket we’ve loved for 5 years (!!!) – the bundle makes it way easier to use; the red light mask and hair bundle, clinically proven to boost collagen, scalp health, and more.

J. Crew

Deal: Up to 40% off regular=price styles; up to 70% off sale styles with code EXTRA.
Our Picks: Em’s new favorite summer swimsuit (only $79.50!); this adorable lightweight cap-sleeve cotton blouse; a model-off-duty maxi dress (with sleeves!), cut in a breezy summer linen.

Tan Heels | Black Sandals | Sneakers | Gingham Top | Yellow Sweater | White Blouse | Black and White Pants | Polka Dot Sheer Blouse | Black Wide Leg Pant | Leopard Pants | Clogs | Espadrilles | Flats

Madewell

Deal: Up to 60% off with code SUMMERTIME.
Our Picks: An Alex Mill-style poplin midi skirt for $52; the tailored short that’s simple to dress up or down; Em’s perforated summer ballet flats (for those who’d prefer to keep their toes private).

Old Navy

Deal: 40-70% off summer deals, plus select styles from $2.
Our Picks: A classic, chic striped midi shirtdress (to help you live out your “cooking in a Nancy Meyers beach home” dream, of course); $15 pull-on summer shorts; a cute and flirty one piece swim dress (!!!).

Sephora

Deal: Up to 50% off select makeup, fragrance, and more.
Our Picks: Three Saie essentials – the illuminator, lip oil, and cream blush – for only $36 (!!!); the full-sized Rare Beauty hydrating lotion for $14; the Bobbi Brown waterproof cream eyeshadow stick.

Ulta

Deal: Up to 40% off jumbos; BOGO 40% off suncare and skincare; 25% off favorite brands, and more.
Our Picks: A life-saving ingrown hair roll-on treatment; an EHD tried-and-tested bronzing foam (for the perfect tan!); an ultra-hydrating natural moisturizer that leaves skin plump, bouncy, and glowy.

Opening Image Credits: Design by Annie Segal and Marieke Ochtman of ASOM HOME | Styled by Velinda Hellen, Emily Bowser, and Julie Rose | Photo by Sara Ligorria-Tramp | From: Tour This Eclectic Midcentury Modern House Designed by ASOM Home + 10 Approachable Design Tricks Anyone Can Do