Shop Black Friday French Thanksgiving Essentials From Sur La Table

Thanksgiving is almost upon us! And even though the French of course don’t celebrate the beloved American holiday and its culinary traditions, there are still plenty of ways to incorporate French techniques and aesthetics into your kitchen on Thursday.

What’s even better? Major Black Friday sales have already hit the internet—finally a piece of good news among the ashes of this très bizarre year—which means there’s still time to score deals on everything you need to turn the Big Day into a chic (and socially responsible) soirée.

Shop Black Friday French Thanksgiving Essentials From Sur La Table

Sur La Table is the ultimate destination for everything a French chef—or an aspiring one!—could possibly desire, and this week only, there are some mega sales on some of the most lusted-after pieces on the shelves. Shop some of the highlights below to get a jump on your holiday cooking—and your Christmas gift shopping!

Read about my experience baking croissants at a signature Sur La Table culinary class here.

12 Piece Turkey Dinnerware Set; $120.00 (Reg. $128.00)

”Thanksgiving feasts are about more than just the food—they’re about the memories. Make your seasonal celebrations memorable with our exclusive Turkey dinnerware featuring original artwork created just for us. It’s made of durable, dishwasher-safe earthenware and ideal for setting your Thanksgiving table.”

French Home Laguiole Pakkawood Carving Knife & Fork; $59

”The perfect set to have on hand for holidays, this elegant carving set includes a knife and fork made of heavy gauge stainless steel that ease through turkey, chicken, ham and roasts. They feature the iconic Laguiole bee insignia and triple-rivet design that references the town in Southern France where this style of utensil originates. Handsome pakkawood handles are curved and weighted for a comfortable grip.”

Staub Round Cocotte; $99 (Reg. $389.95) *MAJOR DEAL*
Staub Tomato Cocotte; $294.95

”A traditional French cooking vessel designed to concentrate flavorful juices, this hand-finished round cocotte is ideal for stews, soups, casseroles, roasts and braises. Enameled cast-iron construction distributes and retains heat evenly and effectively and requires no seasoning. Lid features self-basting spikes for continuous, even distribution of juices throughout cooking, so food stays moist and flavorful.”

Le Creuset Mini Cocotte; $84.94 (Reg. $120)

”Perfect for cheesy artichoke dip, fruit cobbler and more, this mini cocotte is great for preparing and serving individual portions of your favorite dishes. Cast iron’s efficient heating is perfect for slow cooking and baking, while the tight-fitting lid locks in heat and moisture for tender, delicious results. Available in a wide range of Le Creuset’s signature vibrant glazes, these cocottes add a touch of classic French beauty to any kitchen or table.”

La Rochère French Bee Wine Glasses; $65 (Set of 6)

”Embellished with bees, an emblem of Provence, from the oldest glassmaker in France. 8 oz. Dishwasher safe. Made in France.”

Le Creuset Heritage Pie Dish; $49.00

”Perfect for sweet or savory pies, quiche and more, this classic pie dish provides gentle, even heating for excellent results every time. Making an evenly fluted crust is easy thanks to the dimpled edge, and the thick enamel resists scratching. Durable stoneware features an industry-leading enamel interior that protects against utensil damage, staining and odor absorption. Bakers feature Le Creuset’s signature glazes in a variety of colors for striking oven-to-table presentation.”

Why 'You've Got Mail' is the Autumn Inspiration We Need Right Now

“Don’t you just love New York in the fall?”

I often feel compelled to express my annual affection for the autumnal rom-com classic, You’ve Got Mail, and present a case for why it’s one of the most charming love letters to New York City the cinema has ever seen. Or at the very least, a masterpiece of 90s nostalgia.

Why 'You've Got Mail' is the Autumn Inspiration We Need Right Now

So why do I feel the need to defend its very existence? Because it’s one of those movies that just would never be made today. Having worked in film and TV development in Hollywood for many years—a job that requires reading piles of scripts, submitted with pride by hopeful scribes everywhere, and then ripping apart their life’s work in a matter of hours—I can admit that this adorable story would be considered problematic in many ways by the current standards of the industry—and our social climate in general.

So since the late, great Nora Ephron is no longer here to discuss her evergreen autumnal classic and the ultimate feel good flick of 1997, I volunteer as tribute.

Let’s address the problematic parts first, so we can move on to the good stuff.

“That caviar is a garnish!”

1. It’s not a feminist story. In any way.

Women’s rights went through a bit of a latency period between the bra burning 1970s and today’s common era. Living in the pre-social media 90s meant that for many, ignorance was bliss. Things seemed fine on the surface. Those pesky, highly publicized sexual harassment scandals were conveniently brushed aside as soon as the next one cropped up, women seemed equally comfortable at home or at the office, everybody seemed satisfied with their salaries, privilege and diversity weren’t much talked about in Hollywood elite circles—more on that in a minute—because no one had the ability to vocalize such injustices in a public forum quite the way we do today, and ironically, this is a movie about the very technology that would change all of that.

So yes, Kathleen Kelly was allowed to fall in love with a man who savagely destroyed her livelihood and her late mother’s legacy; who essentially ghosted her on their first date by not revealing himself as her online paramour, and then purposely strung her along via some (really charming) instant messaging. Yes, in hindsight, it might have been more satisfying for her to be the one to unmask his identity first and then string him along as an act of revenge for obliterating The Shop Around the Corner, but we all know she’s just too darn nice for that! Also it’s just a movie, so let’s move on.

Yes, in the 90s nothing mattered, so we could say things like that.

I’ll bet you just love that “Mr. Darcy.”

2. Their online meeting is just too coincidental.

Of all the billions of people in the world, what are the odds that your internet pen-pal would turn out to be your real-life nemesis, instead of, say, a 70 year old catfish in Ecuador—or more likely back then, a group of 13 year olds giggling in someone’s basement. The fact that they’re both in fact who they say they are, is a surprisingly modern concept.

“I said we were a goddamn piazza!”

3. Why is Dave Chappelle the only Black person in New York City?

Enough said. But from a casting standpoint, we can throw Ephron a little bit of credit for having the vision to imagine the (then scandal-free) comedy legend as Joe Fox’s business partner and wingman in one of the unlikeliest—and PG rated—roles of his career.

“We are…an American family.”

4. Why does Joe’s 90 year old grandfather inexplicably have an eight year old daughter?

Did he adopt Annabelle, Daddy Warbucks style? Is he in the middle of a bitter custody battle? A single father by choice? Is this a statement on ageism? We need answers!

“Ah, Rose. That is a great name.”

5. “You can do it. Zip zip.”

This is the glib response Joe gives (a then unknown) Sara Ramirez—playing the disgruntled cashier at Zabar’s who won’t accept Kathleen’s credit card after she was too distracted by his presence to read the Cash Only sign, and is subsequently heckled by a bunch of Karens in line behind her. This is a pretty weak attempt—beginning with a cringe-worthy knock knock joke—to give Joe a redeeming moment (or a “Save the Cat” moment as its known in screenwriting lingo) as Kathleen’s would-be knight in shining armor—not to mention, a rather condescending way of speaking to service people. Although I suppose it’s fitting with the arrogant behavior we’ve come to expect at this point in his character arc.

But overall, the implied message here is that being exposed to Kathleen and her compassionate, light-hearted nature melts Joe’s steely, business-minded heart and makes him a better person who stops to smell the daisies, if you will. So we can forgive him for now. Also, a Cash Only line? How 1997!

So, now that we’ve addressed the proverbial elephants in the room, let’s talk about the things that make this movie such a delightful time capsule and an ode to the Autumn in New York that Billie Holliday once sang about.

Hugging! How refreshingly chaste for a modern day romance.

1. It’s rated PG

When is the last time you watched a movie made entirely for adults that was rated even PG-13? I don’t know about you, but I find the absence of profanity and gratuitous nudity quite adorable.

“My breath catches in my chest as I hear those three little words…You’ve got mail.”

2. Dial Up Dialogue

Yes, it’s laughable to go back and remember a time when patience was still a virtue, as we watch Kathleen dial up “the ‘net,” and trigger our Pavlovian responses to those chiming sounds that are forever ingrained in everyone’s nervous systems. But the witty exchanges—”bouquets of sharpened pencils,” anyone?—and Godfather references between Joe and Kathleen are just so charming that it’s easy to forget what a cad he is. Rest in power, AOL.

“You know what always surprised me about Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, is how old they looked.”

3. Parker Posey

Ok, this is the gift that keeps on giving. Cult classic darling Parker Posey as Joe’s hilariously out of touch, publishing maven girlfriend, Patricia, is just too good. Yes, she’s cynical, jaded, neurotic to the point that she “makes coffee nervous,” and is dependent on sleeping pills. But come on, it’s New York! Who isn’t?

“Standing tall, waving boldly, in the corrupt sands…of commerce.”

4. You, Are a Lone Reed.

I didn’t intend for this to be an ode to the supporting characters, but here we are. Greg Kinnear as Kathleen’s lovably egotistical columnist boyfriend is the most hysterical nod to the self-important intellectual West Sider stereotype since Woody Allen’s 1980s hey-dey. He’s verbose. He’s delightfully supercilious. He professes love for his typewriter and romanticizes the notoriously executed Soviet spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg in historical musings for the Observer. It doesn’t get more on-the-nose than that. Plus, the scene where he flirts shamelessly (and terribly) with a low-budget TV talk show host (played by 90s sitcom fixture Jane Adams) is pure gold.

“No, thank yur.”

“You are…what you read.”

5. The Hair

Meg Ryan’s signature piece-y pixie-shag hybrid is arguably the greatest contender to rival The Rachel for the title of most iconic 90s hairstyle. It went on to be copied by grown women, teenage heartthrobs, and boyband members alike, and will never NOT be adorable.

“I wish I had a river I could skate away on.”

6. The Soundtrack

Everything from the Cranberries’ classic ‘Dreams’ as the musical backdrop for the opening montage, to a handful of Harry Nilsson and Roy Orbison ditties, as well as maudlin Joni Mitchell references, to Stevie Wonder’s cheerful ‘Signed Sealed Delivered’ and the occasional Bobby Darin transitional tune, the film compiles a heartwarming array of melodies, leading up to Nilsson’s sentimental rendition of ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ to close out Kathleen and Joe’s meeting reveal in the final scene.

7. The Cozy Outfits and Pumpkin Accessories

Everything from Kathleen’s oversized sweaters, midi skirts with tights, and bookish cardigans in neutral heues of oatmeal, taupe, and heather gray, to Kevin’s collection of rusty suede and leather jackets, each piece in this wardrobe is so delightfully autumnal and has the festive warmth of all cozy, pre-holiday style—until, you know, the end when it’s suddenly spring and the daisies and linen ensembles arrive.

Also so many black turtlenecks! It would be a shame not to mention these, as they’re a personal wardrobe favorite of mine—and that of every well dressed east coaster, really. Plus the pumpkin is so perfect as a fall fashion accessory, that it might as well be a purse.

I wonder how much this apartment would go for these days.

8. The 90s nostalgia.

Because that’s what we came for, right? Remember when book superstores were once the conglomerate forces to be reckoned with? Joe Fox certainly would have gotten his comeuppance a few years later when Amazon hit the scene like a torpedo, disrupting traditional sales models and leaving a graveyard of brick and mortars in its path—with free shipping to boot.

Better yet, remember going to the movies? Who would have thought that a mere 23 years later, shutting down cinemas would practically become an act of martial law? It’s comforting to look back and remember the days when cartoon concessions sang innocent jingles during the previews— ”You need quiet while the hot dog is singing?!”—and west side brownstone apartments were still affordable and decked out in cottage core florals, overstuffed pillows, and Pottery Barn’s finest.

Is it likely that Kathleen married Joe after the credits finished rolling, divorced him a few years later, and finally got her karmic chunk of the Fox Books fortune? I guess we’ll have to wait for a sequel!

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La Rentrée | The Season of the Fresh Start

Anyone else getting major First Wives Club vibes from this tenue blanche?

There’s something magical about the transition from summer into fall.

It’s a time of fresh starts and new beginnings. It’s symbolic of a new school year, and for me personally, it’s literally the beginning of a new year on the calendar. As you may know, my birthday falls during the last week of August, which is always the week when something in the wind shifts, ever so slightly. It’s still summertime and the end-of-season pool parties are in full swing, but in my world, it’s always marked an intangible turning of the page. These first few weeks of September set the shift into motion, culminating with the first day of l’automne, which officially begins today. In France, this transitional period is called la rentrée.

As we’ve discussed before, the month of August is synonymous with vacation in France. Restaurants and boutiques temporarily shutter for weeks at a time, city dwellers make a bee-line for the countryside and the beach, public transit slows to a drip, and everyone—from shopkeepers to government officials—essentially closes up shop, leaving each other with the cheerful phrase, “À la rentree!”

Meaning, See you in September!

"Bonnes vacances!”

“À la rentrée!”

As the excitement of summer vacances gives way to the back to school (and back to work) mentality, some feel the post-holiday blues, and some feel invigorated—happy to return to normalcy and ready to begin a new chapter.

Although Europe and America (and most of the world) celebrate the official New Year on January first, I personally never feel a perceptible change when the clock strikes midnight, because the middle of winter never feels like the time for newness—it’s something about the first breeze of coolness in the air, the first few leaves to jump ship from their branches. It’s buying school supplies, shopping for sweaters, and that first whiff of cinnamon and pumpkin spice.

Many cultures and religions, like Judaism, celebrate the New Year during this period—Shanah Tovah to our Jewish amis—and of course, the fashion world celebrates the illustrious release of the September issue—magazine speak for the editorial debut of fall fashion—when beloved designers and couturiers unveil their seasonal Fall/Winter collections and campaigns. It’s the month of Fashion Week—NYFW is underway, and PFW starts today.

As a former fashion editor for NBC, lifestyle writer, and editorial devotee, this period thrills me, and as someone who prefers to look forward, not backwards, I love shifting focus from warm weather holidays to the preparation of the cozy winter ones. I don’t typically mourn seasons, because, as my maman likes to say, there’ll be another one next year. Which is just a more positive way of saying, we’re captive on a carousel of time. Merci, Joni Mitchell.

The concept of the summer holiday is actually rooted in agricultural history, dating back to the year 1231—believe it or not—when Pope Gregory IX closed universities for a month each summer so that students could return home to help their families prepare the crops for the fall harvest. While many Americans tend to think of France and Paris as one and the same, there is a deeply rooted history and tradition in the large rural swaths of the country, known as la campagne, and France is nothing if not deeply devoted to its honoring its people and upholding its traditions.

In celebration of this time of rebirth, if you will, I’ve decided to pay my respects in a symbolic white suit—all Zara, all the time—with a crop for a timely and trendy twist. It’s a perfect transitional ensemble—a sort of “in memoriam” to bid farewell to warmer days, which, at least in Southern California, will still be hanging around for a while—and a first step towards the annual re-introduction of long pants and blazers into the fall wardrobe.

Bienvenue, l’Automne and Happy Pumpkin Spice season to my chic Américanes—which, let’s be honest, is well on its way to becoming an official holiday.

Shop These Fresh Fall Favorites from ChicMe

Every season has its style perks—fresh florals for spring, flirty dresses for summer—but cool-weather fashion is easily my favorite. Fall and Winter take fashion to a whole other level, and provide a canvas for layering in a way that takes a truly creative eye. From cozy knits and chunky boots, to every kind of fabric—your tweeds, your velvets, your cashmere and wool—the options are practically endless.

ChicMe is a new favorite brand that makes it easy to stay on top of the latest trends of the season. With a regular rotation of new styles to choose from—and prices that are refreshingly affordable—it’s never been easier to stock up on all of your chic seasonal must-haves.

Scroll down to see some of my favorites pieces pour l’automne, and be sure to use my code TheChic10 for an additional discount!

5 Fall Favorites from ChicMe

1. Tweed Notched Collar Double Breasted Plaid Blazer; $38.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Nothing says Automne like a traditional tweed blazer, and with gold button accents and a classic frayed hem, this one takes the cake.

2. Solid Wrap Long Sleeve Knit Sweater; $18.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Polished and elegant, this wrap sweater is the perfect addition to your fall wardrobe. Dress it up with denim for nighttime, or pair with cozy leggings for a casual daytime look.

3. Plaid Button Design Tweed Irregular Skirt; $23.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Mini skirts with tights are an absolute wardrobe essential for French girls everywhere, and I’ve been keeping this one as my new go-to. Nothing says “Fall” quite like plaid, and it’s a personal favorite pattern of mine. With pearl button detailing and its asymmetrical hem, this mini jupe is jus the ticket.

4. Faux Leather Lace Design Skirt; $24.99 (10% off with code TheChic10)

Faux leather is still going strong as an official Autumn staple. From jackets and handbags, leggings and booties, it’s practically impossible to make a faux pas with this versatile material. This mini with its high waist and lace trim trim puts a contemporary stamp on the trend, making it fresh for this season.

OOTD: Crème et Noire + The Dumpling

There’s something about keeping une bouteille of Veuve Cliquot in the closet that just says “luxury” to me.

While touring a Hollywood high-end luxury penthouse—although, is there any other kind?—with a dear amie this week, it was necessary to bring my fashion A-game.

With highlights that include sweeping views of the Hollywood hills, a walk-in closet that more closely resembles a boutique on Melrose, and a kitchen worth learning to cook, it was a day to remember.

You can shop this entire look here—including the coveted Dumpling bag and these deceptively luxe looking boucles d’oreille.

The bag may be a splurge, but the $2.50 earrings makes it all worthwhile.