What I'm Shopping For This Spring
Summer dresses, shorts, schlepping totes, belts, sandals, and overalls.
Last week I was a sad sack - this week I’m a meh sack. Still feeling a little weird, I think I have a sinus infection, but mostly feeling flaaaaat. Not every day can be a winner!
Externally, at least, things are looking bright. It’s going to be summer soon, things are going to be fun and weird, and I can finally stop wearing a sweater with my favorite jeans every single day.
I try not to over-shop, or go too nuts with a new season, but still, it’s nice to get a few new things. So this is my personal shopping list for spring. Things that I’ll wear all spring & summer and will make me feel like a tiny baby dewdrop but like myself as a tiny baby dewdrop.
And while I have you, some of my pals from Cesta, Chan Luu and Crown Affair are doing a cutie pie little giveaway. You can enter to win a pearl lunch pail from Cesta, and diamond slice pearl necklace from Chan Luu, and a great little set of hair essentials (including my favorite hair oil and brush) from Crown Affair. Enter here!
Shorts
I wrote about shorts a few weeks ago, and these great ones from Doen I’ve been wearing. But now I mean shorts I can wear to the beach, with a wet swimsuit, some that I can beat the shit out of and not feel sad about it. Knockaround beach/pool/playground shorts for a 37 year old woman.
1. I will for sure be wearing these this summer, I like to size up so they’re extra wide around the legs, and low-slung at the waist. Umbro, $28
2. I do have these, and I wear them all the time. The side slits go all the way up, which some people might not like, but they’re so wide and roomy and comfortable, and I love the way they look with a big white button down. Rawson, $40
3. These are mens, and a lot of look, but so cute all summer with a tank, or little cropped white tee. Adidas, $44
4. Another boxer-style short…clearly I have a type! But these are a more polished version of the deadstock version above, minus the slit, and with cute little pajama style buttons. Cos, $49
5. Similar short! Slightly thicker, and in a bunch of colors, including a very sweet railroad stripe. Everlane, $58
9. And now - in my opinion, the perfect cutoffs. Loose legs, low waist, comfortable, and not crazy short. I do not need strangers seeing the little crease where my butt meets my legs. Madewell, $85
A Great Belt
A belt! The easiest thing you can put on to make your outfit better. If you’re going to wear jeans and a tee shirt or tank, you need a belt or, in my opinion, it looks incomplete. My favorite spring oufit is a pair of jeans with a giant billowy white button down tucked in, and a terrific belt.
1. At the risk of being a parody of a modern version of an 80s preppy mom, this belt! With canvas webbing! It also comes in navy and cream, but because I wear so much navy I’d probably go with this olive green. J.Crew, $50
2. A covered belt buckle makes an easy to wear thing even easier. Sometimes I find a metal buckle distracting, especially if I’m wearing jewelry. I like one that just blends. Madewell, $50
3. I just got this one from Labucq, and the quality is amazing. Regardless of the metal buckle issue, I find this one super easy to wear. The leather color is gorgeous, the perfect mid-point between brown and black. It’s quickly become my favorite belt. Labucq, $190
Wear Everywhere Sandals
I like to have one pair of sandals every summer that I wear with basically every outfit. They need to be easy to get in to and out of, and comfortable. And by the end of summer you should have worn them so much that they’re kind of trashed. Wear your clothes!
1. These stupid flip flops are my favorite. I love the Brazilian flag, I love the colors, I just love them so much. They look great with EVERYTHING and let you wear something kind of silly and fancy in the summer but in a way that feels very casual and low key. Havianas, $26
2. An extremely simple, extremely beautiful pair of classic black sandals. Great with a dress out to dinner at night, or on the beach. These are the only pair of sandals you’ll need to pack for a trip. A Emery, $190
3. These are more of a city sandal, and have a nice bit of arch support, so they’re very comfortable! Toteme, $480
4. Khaite’s take on a sporty sandal….the dream! These make me nuts, I LOVE THEM! Khaite, $680
5. These aren’t sandals exactly, but these are what I got for myself this season. I’ve loved them forever, and then I decided it was time. They’ll be great with wide-leg pants. The Row, $690
A Schlep Everything Tote
There’s a lot more schlepping that happens in the summer - travel! Beach! Workouts! Whatever! I need a giant bag.
1. A classic, and my preferred version over the Boat & Tote. I like this because it’s a little more anonymous, and the nylon gets worn in without getting stained or looking dirty. I have this in both the medium and extra-large - the extra-large is great as a weekender. LL Bean, $40
2. I love this bag - so beautiful, so well made! And large enough to be actually useful. Hereu, $430
3. Another perfect canvas bag for schlepping. This one is gorgeous. Proenza Schouler White Label, $450
4. Ok this one might be too trendy to be a forever bag, but isn’t it cute? A very fun little summer tote. Staud, $495
5. And suede for summer…not the most obvious, but this is the bag that you’ll literally be using 30 years from now and it will look better than than it does now. And when you decide you want to spend forever with someone(something) you want forever to start now. This is my new bag for this year, the suede feels incredible, and there are so many little hidden pockets. This is the perfect size for bringing your computer and your silly stuff all around and have more room for other things. Metier, $2,550
Not Too Girly Dress
Same idea here as the shorts - something casual that you can wear anywhere, get kind of beat up, will look good at the beach, out to dinner, on the playground - whatever. The kind of thing that makes packing for a trip easier.
1. I love this little kaftan! This is what I’m getting myself. It’s the kind of thing you can wear over a wet bathing suit, but also with cutie pie little leggings or little shorts. Super versatile. Cos, $135
2. This is the other one I’d like to get. It’s made of cotton jersey and you can belt it, or not, so that it can be fitted and kind of sexy, or tenty and cool. I imagine it would feel so good to put this on after a shower with no bra, and then go eat dinner outside in your back yard. Also, if you wear it with a real belt (I’d suggest the Madewell or Labucq versions listed above) the whole thing looks way more polished and beautiful. La Ligne, $180
3. I love this color, and that its cotton poplin. It’s a super easy to wear dress that will look incredible anywhere. Super super special! It comes in sizes up to 3XL, and also comes in black. Doen, $198
4. Kind of similar to the Doen one, but this has nice little cap sleeves and the smocking across the chest is more compact. It also has pockets, and is so pretty and maybe a little girly, but that’s ok. It comes in sizes up to 4XL and in a bunch of colors. La Ligne, $295
5. Another one I’d like to get! A silky slip dress in a pretty copper color. What more could you want. Raey, $255
6. And now, something you would not want to wear with a wet bikini….the best…coolest…most gorgeous summer dress. I love it so much, just the chicest thing of all time, and COMFORTABLE. You’d wear it forever. Issey Miyake, $1,170
Overalls
I know this feels out of left field, but lately I’ve been after a pair of kind of slim fitting denim overalls again. On the crisp side.
1. A white canvas pair! These are a little more statement-y than what I was imagining, but with a white tank top and those Havianas they’d be great. Everlane, $118
2. I love that these don’t really have any distressing. They do have a tiny bit of stretch, which I don’t love, but would probably be comfortable in warmer weather. LL Bean, $99
3. I’ll probably either get these, or the Everlane ones. I like that these aren’t super baggy, or super tight, that they’re non-stretch, and kind of bland and neutral. They don’t seem like the kind of overalls that become your entire personality when you put them on. You know? Levis, $138
4. These are also very cute! A little stonewashed, which is kind of fun, and also has carpinter details. These are very I’m a girl and I have a pickup truck, which is actually V sexy and cute. Madewell, $168
5. And finally, if they still had these in my size this is what I’d get. The right length, the right color, the right width of the legs, and I like that these button above your hips so you don’t lose your shape. Very sexy. Doen, $298
And ta-da! There we have our little spring capsule! I love you!
Your friend,
Laurel