You know the old saying, “spring showers bring april flowers”? Might as well look chic in the rain…
Pick No. 1: The Blue Rain Boot
I pretty much died when I saw the oh-so-chic Jenny Walton (I’m obsessed with her ladylike, vintage style) wearing these blue Hunter boots on her Instagram account, as seen above. I suddenly wanted a brand new pair in an unexpected color that would coordinate with a rainjacket of mine…the bucket bag and Prada coat ain’t bad either.
Pick No. 2: The Star-Print Dress
This star-print midi dress has been on my radar for a few weeks, and it’s just gone on sale. I love the ladylike, Victorian feel of it — the micro-print, the high-neck, the elegant length — but it looks so fresh, too: the star print is whimsical, the detailing at the cuff and the slight flare of the sleeve feel relevant. Check out the whole RT sale section — lots of pretty finds! (You can also occasionally find amazing scores at Nordstrom Rack — check this one out!)
Pick No. 3: The Bow Slingbacks
Remember those suede Carven bow slingbacks (seen below) everyone had for a minute?! These pretty pairs from J. Crew ($148) fill the void left by the absence of Carven in my closet. I think they’d look excellent paired with of-the-moment mom jeans and a white tee.
Pick No. 5: The Parenting Book.
My sister-in-law is not big into parenting books, but she said she’s been thoroughly enjoying this one, and I majorly respect her as a parent, so I’m on board. It’ll have to come after I finish this (just started over the weekend), this, and this.
Pick No. 6: The Wide Leg Crop.
What do we think about wide leg cropped pants/denim? I’m scurrrrred. But also, I look at the snaps of the beauties below and think they’re CRUSHING IT. I’d love to get the look with a pair of these pastel beauties from Tibi, in the coolest colors — I’d pair the lavender ones with a coordinating-colored top or something white and frilly, and the mustard ones with a denim button down. I also like this $35 pair of wide leg crops, and it’s probably a safer route when testing a new trend.
Pick No. 7: The Belt Bag.
I’m still on the hunt for a backpack that suits my needs (now thinking I might splurge on a Gucci), but ever since Deb mentioned her penchant for belt bags, I can’t stop thinking about it. I mentioned this when I first moved to NYC, but I think it’d be the perfect solution while walking Tilly. I’m very into this two-tone python one from a designer I’d never heard of before, Ximena Kavalekas — I think it’d look so surprising and chic with jeans and a denim button-down in particular. I also really like this because I’m super into the return of the retro Gucci print, especially since I happened to have one of my grandmother’s Guccis from way back when in my closet! My friend Hitha also has a cute new belt bag she’s been wearing.
Pick No. 8: The Rollneck Sweater.
I bought this classic J. Crew sweater last fall in a millennial pink, and wore it constantly — love the fit and the color — but now I’m intrigued by these new colorways…
Pick No. 9: The Summer Mule
These raffia-accented sandals are super chic, only $25, and bound to sell out FAST. (Would look insane with this sexy linen dress.) Also available in a cheery gingham, because — ya know — I only wrote a whole post on how much I love gingham recently.
Pick No. 10: The Invisible Lightswitch.
How impossibly cool-looking are these invisible lightswitches? Would be so chic over (as shown) wall-papered walls! The lucite and gold situation reminds me of this side table — epic!
P.S. Thank you for all of your reactions to this difficult-to-write post.
P.P.S. My top picks for spring.
So much to comment on here! First off, I was equally smitten with that snap of Jenny Walton (love her style!) — though, as a fellow MG calf leather bucket bag owner, I can’t understand how it’s not bleeding on her in the rain?! I have a dark red one and I cannot wear mine in any sort of precipitation, nor in temps where I’ll be sweating (I learned the hard way in both of these scenarios!)
That said, love her coordinating Hunter boots. I still have a pair of Hunters that I bought in 2006 — my first “big” purchase post-college, even though they only cost $98 or something at the time! — and need to pull them out now that April is fast approaching.
Really intrigued by that parenting book! I have a soft spot for sociological books on girls (Reviving Ophelia, anyone?) and I recently picked this one up at my local bookstore: https://www.amazon.com/American-Girls-Social-Secret-Teenagers/dp/0804173184/
I have been a proponent of the wide-leg cropped pant for a couple of years now! You have to try them; they’ll look great on you. The key is getting the length right — too short and they look strange; too long and they can overwhelm a petite frame. My favorites are actually a pair of cream denim ones from Citizens of Humanity, but I recently picked up (and like) the Wide-Leg Crop from Everlane and this pair from Madewell, which are a bit more casual: https://www.madewell.com/madewell_category/PANTSSHORTS/pants/PRDOVR~H6913/H6913.jsp
Annnnd finally, I was so sad to have missed out on the bubblegum pink J.Crew rollneck sweater in the fall, but I think I like the pale pale color of the pink one from THIS season even better!
Thanks for the caveat emptor w/r/t the Mansur Gavriel bags! I had been closely eyeing one of their micro mini bags and now I’m seriously debating colors. Thank you!
Also, thanks for the Madewell rec! I like the colors. I need to go somewhere I can try them on — maybe I’ll make a cropped trouser field trip and hit up a few different spots…
xoxo
I would definitely recommend the vegetable-tanned leather that Mansur Gavriel uses … I have a full-size bucket in Brandy and the Backpack in Cammello. Both leathers age beautifully, but I have found the calf leather to be much more delicate, even beyond the bleeding issue — I actually had to return my first calf leather bucket to MG because the lining started to separate from the outer layer of the bag! The bonding that held them together just started to disintegrate after a few weeks of wear. Not cool for a $600+ bag.
That said, though, I have found the vegetable-tanned leather bags to be quite sturdy. They do get marked easily with water, but I am not too precious with them and find that it adds to their charm.
P.S. Love the idea of a cropped trouser field trip! 🙂
So good to know! Thanks, MK!
Can I wear an orange 3/4 sleeved cocktail dress, slightly above the knee to my Spring May 5th casual wedding reception/party? It has a gold zipper up the back. And what type of comfortable shoes can I wear? We’re having a private ceremony prior but planning a big fun party ?
Hi Wendy! I am a firm believer that you should wear what you want to wear as a bride! Go orange if you’re an orange lover and it’s calling your name! For shoes, if you’re looking to splurge, I am a huge fan of all of Alexandre Birman’s statement sandals (I own these: http://bit.ly/2IV2NpJ), and they have some new styles that are PERFECT for looking chic while staying comfortable, like these leather wedge sandals (http://bit.ly/2IUhklM) and these block heels (http://bit.ly/2I3Lsd4 — also love them in this floral print, but not sure if they’d be clashing with your orange statement dress: http://bit.ly/2IV2yej).
For something with a little more pizzazz, I love these mules from Loeffler Randall, and they’re on sale — could be kind of a cute way to get an ombre look against your orange dress: http://bit.ly/2IPoZBH
These in gold would be fun and chic: http://bit.ly/2IREYzr — and also look comfortable thanks to the low heel height.
These in gold are timeless and eye-catching and would coordinate with the zipper: http://bit.ly/2I2hTc4 — Jackie O. wore these!
Let me know if those are remotely in the wheelhouse! xoxo
Yes – obsessed with those! I know. The Prada coat is TDF!!!
great info on those light switches, thank you! also that Prada coat… and blue boots together!