5 Great Things / May 2025

Straw totes! Striped pants. Crochet for the people! Summer dresses. And a Miu Miu inspired moment...if you dare.

Welcome to May’s 5 Great Things. Summer is coming and we will be ready! This month’s 5GT is a mish mash of fun thoughts and ideas for the coming sunny season. We are talking straw straw totes, simple summer dresses, non-simple summer dresses. A denim alternate and one very fun halter top.

As a reminder, 5 Great Things will go live for paid subscribers today and open up to everyone else tomorrow. You can always upgrade now though to beat the rush. :) Without further ado, the things that have been on my mind as I comb the virtual racks this month:

1.Striped Pants. A Great Denim Alt

I’ve been wearing the following two pair of pants to get to and from just about everywhere lately. They’re great with a sweater. They’re great with a white tee (since we are no longer allowed to wear white tees + jeans - I kid?) They can go over your (my bike shorts) for a mad dash to pilates or with a little heel, tight black tank and a cinching belt for dinner. Simply winners for these times.

How I wore them to my workout this week (bike shorts underneath). Me+Em striped pants in a size 6, LMND shirt in the perfect blue, Redone x Hanes tee (in a medium), Bostons, Delarge sunnies

When I want to get dressed, but not too dressed. Alessandra Rich cardigan that I hemmed and hawed over but in the end, thrilled I splurged on. Almost sold out now, but I also found her (size up)! The Metier laptop tote to end all totes and The Row’s take on my childhood (Steve Madden signed my originals in 7th grade, in case MK&A are interested…) I ordered the flat and flatform. version and shockingly the higher shoe is both lighter AND more comfortable, so I’d go that route if you were on the fence between them. But loving them so far.

Madewell striped pants in a size 27 and how I wore them to a client closet visit two weeks ago. I love that they have a faint pale blue stripe amongst the navy and cream. Makes them feel not so harsh or overly graphic. Just soft and summery. With an oversized silk shirt, unbuttoned (mine is an old Celine found at Woodbury Commons years ago, but any creamy silk will do - sized way way up. Handvaerk tank, Jamie Haller sandals

The Madewell stripes for a hot summer weekend with the Kule terry polo, that thank god has become a part of their permanent collection allowing me to finally replace my very worn out old one. It’s the ultimate summer shirt which we discussed three years ago now, wow. Worishofers and a cotton sweater for a chill.

With a tank (LMC just recommended I try this bodysuit, which is not here yet but intrigued and might be better than this bare neck situation) and a little sandal and bag for a casual but flirty dinner. J.Crew bag, Dehanche belt, Khaite sandals

2.Can We Wear A Housecoat…Out of the House?

Two looks from the Miu Miu spring 2025 show. Check out the dresses here and here.

Miu Miu is always pushing boundaries. I loved their little apparent twist on the maid’s uniform for SS25. But when I got to thinking about it, given the current climate of massive wealth disparity in the US, I found myself thinking: this is cute for the runway and all, but this is not right for real life, at least not here in the U.S. (and in her defense, she is not American or presenting her collections here to start with!)

The target market for luxury brands like Miu Miu is the 1% - many of whom have household staff, and likely do not want to twin with (or cosplay) the housekeeper. For the rest of us fashion obsessives, I don’t like to judge or tell people how they should spend their money, but it just doesn’t feel like the right time to be putting a four-figure twist on the uniform of the backbreaking work that is representative of so much strife in our country - immigration policy, a general lack of upward mobility, I could go on.

But this is not meant to be depressing (heck I’m not sure if they even were inspired by this uniform or something similar I know nothing about!?) Just a little background into my takeaway! I stumbled on this housecoat from Target of all places in February (for $20 bucks!) and have been saving it to show you when the weather got better. When I saw it, I immediately thought of the Miu Miu SS25 show and thought, how cute!! Something that feels fun and inspired and not a dupe. :) My great grandma Jeanette had tons of these and I think of her every time I look at it. It’s pretty fun to have in my pajama drawer, I gotta say. And one could theoretically jazz it up, Miu Miu style. But also just try it with a super fancy pair of strappy sandals come 90 degrees. Great for the mad dash to the camp bus. Try it! I dare you. :)

A pink gingham housecoat styled in Miu Miu’s likeness with a wrapped cardigan and studded belt.

But I might actually wear it like this!!! I kind of love this undone with a straw tote (more on those below), harsh black sunnies and a pair of crisscross leather sandals

This is an extreme version, I know. But hosue dresses are indeed trending. La Garconne has a whole ‘house dressing’ tab! And I’ve been eyeing these Juliet Dunn swim coverups (below in pink!) A few more “inspired” options below if you’re into this idea, but not ready to wear your grandmas dressing gown.

House dress adjacent dresses with an array of coverage options. From left: Caron Callahan, Juliet Dunn (how good will she look with a TAN!), Toujours (I’d obviously not recommend you pair this with socks and brogues but flip flops or K.Jacques😆), Miu Miu which I DIEEEE FOR! Maybe for my birthday next weekend? If Only If - more of a nightgown but still great.

3.Two No-Brainer Summer Dresses that are NOTHING Like A House Dress

If you think I’ve gone off the deep end with the dresses above, fear not. These two dresses have also been haunting me. They are bookmarked for when I want to make Birkenstocks look like a MILLION BUCKS! Zero effort, maximum elegance.

Left: Matteau white poplin dress which is just a lovely dress that says nothing in just the right way. Right: Rohe hammered silk dress that makes a statement but won’t wear you. These two are tied in my mind for easiest way to look elegant this summer. They’re giving Natasha from Sex and the City, no?

4.Crochet For The People

Kind of random, but I really just love this halter top! I always want to wear crochet, but when I put it on I feel…ehhh? This top gives me crochet life without the bulk on my boobs and hips. :) A workaround if you will! I also think she will be cute over a strapless swimsuit and a sarong as a coverup this summer for….you know…that one week of vacation I have blocked off and the 10,000 outfits I’m dreaming of.

Lingua Franca halter top. Old RL chinos but this Toteme pair is mighty elegant (size up and hem or cut the bottom). A.Emery flip flops and Delarge sunnies.

Zee halter with a RealRealed pair of Chloe bermudas (this Ulla pair tho!!!) Jamie Haller sandals

5.We All Just Want a Woven Tote

Thank you The Row for launching straw totes last summer. Now everyone, and I mean EVERYONE is doing their own version of the slouchy portable basket. Some of my favorites du jour in plain and extra:

5A: Not overly stiff straw bags. From left: Cos - this is the biggest of the bunch but super squishy. Nice to throw tons of stuff in (and my tennis racket fits). Hunting Season - this is a slouchier version of the big black one I bought last year and I love the leather quality on the straps and the base. Doen - into the structured sides of her, yet still not overly boxy. Alex Mill - which you all saw a few weeks ago in this newsletter and Mar y Sol - a lined version I found on Amazon. Not no!?

5B: And some extra extra totes because you know there is nothing I love more than a bag with some weird flair. From left: J.Crew silver mesh hobo, Mango small woven bag in orange (also comes in a chic dark brown.) Sensi Studio colorful tote which you better believe I bought before I sent this newsletter out into the world lest I miss my opportunity! Plan C linen mesh shoulder bag and Bembien stripe tote

Signing off for today. Hope you enjoyed this weird jumble of stuff that’s just…happy!?

Yours TRULY,

Becky