This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links below, I may receive compensation.
01. COS clean-cut tee. The big sister to everyone’s favorite Uniqlo. I was driven to buy this after seeing it on Julia Amory time and time again! Twice as expensive, but SoldOut also sent me one of their Iconically Soft t-shirts (in ultra-wearable black, seen above — I’m wearing an XS and it runs a tad big/boxy but would still advise ordering your true size) and it really does make you feel like a million bucks. You can tell the quality from the fabric and fit. I have been wearing the uniform of a tee, great jeans, and statement shoes for the balance of the past few weeks — it’s easy to throw together, comfortable to work in, ideal for this strange transitional weather where the mornings are 40 degrees and the afternoons 70 — and so am keen on making investments in my t-shirt game. Excited to take the COS for a spin but if you want a sure thing, invest in the Sold Out one! (I believe that Emese Gormley has a code that still works there — EMESE15 for 15% off. Worth a shot! If you’re a gray girl, this t-shirt is included in just the gray color in Shopbop’s tiered spring sale, too, so you can get it for up to 25% off depending on your spend). I’ve already talked this one to death, but this everything shirt, also by Sold Out, and also under $200, is a majorly worthy buy. The silky material and oversized fit feel like something a high end design house would put out. Again, I think the Emese code should work!
02. Gap white kick fit jeans (also seen above). I can’t believe how many of you ordered these last week on my rec! (See my full list of favorite white jeans here.) I was convinced every Magpie reader already owned these. They are SUCH a good jean, and you can’t beat the price. Run TTS.
03. Cashmere rollneck cardigan. The neckline adds interest, and I absolutely love a cardigan — throw on over a floaty dress, a white tee and white jeans, etc. This is giving us Nancy Meyers wardrobe starter pack vibes.
04. Mom fit jean shorts. Intrigued by the admittedly man-repelling fit of these. Imagine with the aforementioned COS tee, leather sandals, and a cult following Alex Eagle sports cap. The shorts give the Agolde Rileys (included in Shopbop’s tiered sale, which ends today!) a run for their money – the Zara ones scratch a similar itch but are a bit more dramatic/long, meaning they have an obvious point of view.
05. Pistola Sophia pants. OMGGGG. I love a utility pant – always have, ever since that iconic look by Gwyneth P. circa 2000 wearing army green utility pants and a navy blazer – and this pair is really, really good. It passes “the workday test,” meaning I can easily wear it while tapping at my computer for north of seven hours. I love the unexpected “mushroom” color (brown), but it also comes in a classic olive green (trending!) or peony pink. These have a good amount of stretch in them, but I’d still take your true size for an easy fit.
06. Speaking of denim that passes “the workday test”: my Alex Mill white overalls! These are now available for pre-order in any sizes that sold out. Run very generously. I took the XS and they’re very roomy, but I like the baggy look. My friend Sarah at Retail Diary (a GREAT Substack — data-driven, insider-baseball look at fashion, trends, and the business of retail) wrote recently about how white overalls are trending at the moment, and included me as a reference! Pinch me!
07. Mesh flats are peaking in popularity — here is a good, simple pair for $110.
08. You know I love my Aligne denim maxi dress, but now I’m swooning (!!!) over this broderie dress, which brings to mind iterations from Rhode and Marchesa Rosa that are 2-3x the price.
09. I’ll admit this is $29 over budget, but at $229, you are getting serious The Row Idaho bag vibes with this Massimo Dutti steal. Love this tote.
10. This ultra-oversized striped shirtdress is $30 — pair with your best sandals and big sunnies for a Mary Kate and Ashley moment.
11. Dorsey Lucien leverback earrings — truly make you feel like a zillion bucks, for $200. Somehow go with everything without looking too dressed up or dressed down and affording just the right amount of fashion friction. By this I mean they add sophisticated to a t-shirt and jeans and just a tad of downtown edge to a cocktail dress.
12. Denim espadrilles. So unexpected and chic. I’d pair with jeans, floaty dresses, the whole nine.
13. For my fashion-forward crew: this denim mini is under $50 and WOW does it give me Prada vibes.
14. A great gauze shirt to tuck into the mom fit jean shorts, or your Gap kick fits — I love this style and own something similar from Xirena that is multiple times more expensive. I feel like I’m often saying this, but I love an alternative to a white tee when I want to look a tad bit dressier, and this fits the bill. (So does the Frank and Eileen Patrick shirt, FYI. Still available in most sizes as a part of the Shopbop tiered sale!)
15. We’ve nearly sold this out, but this $129 Bardot dress (even less, as currently part of the Shopbop tiered sale) is a must for spring. Dress up for a wedding with heels / updo; dress down for date night with flat sandals and a jean jacket.
16. Own and adore this white embroidered top. Tuck into jeans for an easy but polished look.
P.S. Long days of parenting.
P.P.S. If you are a new mother, and wondering if your life will ever feel normal again: don’t worry. You are not alone in those fears. It is just the season of life.
P.P.P.S. Literary life rafts.