5 Great Things / March 2025
Brown bags with gold hardware, sporty-ish shorts, black sneakers, the next shape in sunglasses and the most perfect layer for shoulder season
Good morning! From what I hear it was a balmy 50 degrees in NYC this week and spirits were high. A welcome respite from the frigid temps and frightening headlines (though the latter just keep on coming.) I am writing to you from Milan where temperatures are also begging for a lightweight jacket + layers. Sweet relief!
In honor of March’s “in like a lamb” energy, we are doing a 5 Great Things this week that hints at what we will want to wear all spring (once that whole “out like a lion” thing passes us by.) There are so many new arrivals this week that I have approximately 1,348,527 browser tabs open. I always love a fresh season, don’t you? New eye candy in different colors, shapes and styling. So lets get to it:
The Quarter Zip’s Face Lift
There’s so much sport influence in fashion right now. The new Staud Sport collection (which is actually mighty cute! May I recommend the Gondola Jacket and Alba Sport Flats?), Zara Ski (LOL, no!!) Prada and Miu Miu’s windbreaker hoods, sparkling speedos at Tory Burch (which I wrote about in Oct.’s Spring Trend Report, in case you need a refresher!) Yet some of these sport influences can be difficult to wear…the wellness cosplay of it all can easily look over-styled. I might argue we don’t actually need mini tennis dresses that will be worn to run errands in and run errands in alone? (Happy to be proven wrong!)
There is one sporty style, however, with a hint of base layer that is crushing it. And that’s the quarter zip. It whispers “I’m up for anything” with it’s zipper at the neckline, but does not look out of place with the rest of the non-sport in our closets. I have ordered two over the course of the last two months. One I brought with me to Europe for two weeks of dressing my best and the second which did not arrive on time to make it into my suitcase…but since I know it’s sitting safely at home in the box I’m ready to share the remaining stock with you. :)
The first is the hooded merino half zip from Cos. I wore this three nights ago with my Recto sparkly skirt (I told you we would find a way to let our sequins live on!) to a large group dinner where I knew everyone would be extremely dressed (it was hosted by Khaite and Antonia, arguably the best luxury shop in Milan.) I loved how the zip, hood and thumbholes made the very visually loud sequins on my skirt feel ever so slightly casual. I’ve also been wearing it under jackets/blazers, loving the long sleeves and hood peeking out.
The second, a more preppy and casual interpretation, is Bally’s navy zip henley with red trim. It reminds me of sweatshirts I had as a toddler in the late 80s (from pictures, my memory is not that good!) I plan to wear her with dressy black pants and oxfords. Jeans and Birkenstocks. And layered under sweaters with the red trim popping out preciously. Cannot wait!
70s Sunnies
All the cool girls are wearing big acetate aviators these days, it seems. The rectangular, non-wired frames seem to be IT and there are tons of versions out there. I have tried on many in hunt for the one that doesn’t make me feel like I’m…overdoing trend and losing myself. I landed on two for you that I think nail the IT factor. One large, one small. So pick your poison depending on face size and the scale you are looking to create.
The smaller is Cutler and Gross’s 822v2. So many people recommend their glasses to me that I finally went to the store to try on and was so surprised at what actually looked good on my face. It was a successful experiment since I usually order online. This pair made me feel great! Like I should let my hair down, tousle it in the wind, throw on a vintage Levi and leather jacket and lift my chin as I walk down Lex!
The other favorite in this category is a new style from Khaite x Oliver Peoples’s most recent drop, the 1978RX. This makes all the sense in the world given designer Cate Holstein’s pulse on what girls actually want to wear. They’re much bigger than the C+G but the thinness of the frame ensure they don’t get too heavy (they’re light as a feather, all things considered!) or overwhelm the face.
Uniqlo : C’s Sport-ish Shorts
Nothing better than a trend-adjacent summer style that is easy to throw on, won’t break the bank and you don’t have to be precious about. These shorts are going to be it for me once I finally unleash my pasty legs to the elements in a few months. I would save this line item for a warmer month (though I know its full on spring for some of you in warmer climates!) but the drops from Uniqlo’s specialized collections just go too fast and I didn’t want you to miss them! These shorts are part of the newest launch for Uniqlo : C which is designed by Clare Waight Keller (a seasoned and extremely respected designer who formally ran Givenchy and before that Chloe!) I plan to wear these All. The. Time!
Given that these shorts are cut intentionally roomy at the thigh, I love the blue-ish, icy grey pair - a shade I would never consider for something tight on the bum. But they also come in darker neutral colors too, if the pale grey is too much for you. I plan to throw them both with a t-shirt and sneakers and with quirky button downs and flip flops. Summer, we are ready!
Brown Bags, Gold Hardware
Since I work from home, I need midsize bags less frequently than those who are going to and from an office each day. I’m either running out with phone/wallet/keys or schlepping a huge tote with kid stuff/computer/etc. But when I’m traveling for work (I’m halfway through a two week trip) I pretty much exclusively use a medium size bag that can fit it all for an entire day of meetings and appointments. So I empathize and recognize why this category is so essential!! This trip I brought a Miu Miu top handle (a loaner from the brand) that has been a saving grace everyday. It fits it all, looks great with everything - it makes wearing the black leather jacket I brought feel a bit softer. The gold hardware compliments the gold buckle on these shoes which I’ve also been wearing right along.
The other style I have been noticing in this category, the one I’m seriously eyeing for my return since I have to give the Miu Miu back😭 is Liffner’s latest bucket shape. The angled buckle on this new bag is really great! I love the shape, the interesting but not overdone hardware and the beautiful shades it comes in, in both leather and suede. And the price of course.
A Non-It It Sneaker
I’m feeling so bad for my Salomons lately. What was once an off-the-beaten-path style that gave my outfits the “Huh?” factor I am sometimes looking for, the Xt-6 has proliferated to the point of seeing multiple pair each time I leave my apartment. And while I’m so happy for Salomon, I might need to give mine a break for a couple seasons. Devastating considering how comfortable they are. I will definitely bring them back out in two years though, when the algorithm as moved on. :)
But anyway, while I was in London earlier this week, I popped into the Margaret Howell store to see her Mizuno collab in person and ended up walking out with the all black, Gore-tex sneaker. It’s light as air, waterproof and has just the slightest edge…so as to not see it in multiples on the walk to school drop off. I’m usually an 8/38 and bought a UK 6. It runs slightly small. If you are a half size, definitely size up.
That’s all for today, folks. And don’t worry, will be back next week with lots of outfits! Now go hug your loved ones and read this book. But remember, don’t buy it on Amazon! 🙃
Yours TRULY,
Becky
A+ list, as usual. A++ for adding a dash of activism.
Like the reminder not to use Amazon 👏🏼