Spring Awakening

A week in clothes, in a good mood.

It’s a fantastic feeling, being reunited with your closet after a trip away, living off of a capsule wardrobe. The bounty of riches at my finger tips every time I open the drawer! Pair this reunion with daylight savings and a slight rise in temp and I’m starting to get butterflies!!! It’s these few blissful weeks in NYC that walking on the sunny side of the street, lightly layered, can feel like a religious experience.

I’m not yet worried about the sweat and then A/C blasts of summer. I’m comfortably covered. And I’m not so cold that the coat is the only element that matters. It’s simply the best season to really wear and layer my clothes. So much so that I had such a great time just getting dressed and going on with my days the past two weeks that I thought I’d just document it here. So that’s what we are doing this week. An ode to the best season to give your clothes the attention they deserve. 10 outfits I wore in real life:

For a subway commute to midtown for a client fitting and then back on the subway downtown for a lunch with friends of 5 Things Allie and Margo. I’m sorry for all of your eyes but you will be seeing a lot of this insane Polo shirt (wearing a medium) for the next four months. I love her so. Worn for a chilly morning with a leather blazer (and this scarf, not pictured), and thrown over my bag strap during the afternoon when it hit 65. With jeans from The Row (old, but these look mighty similar), Bally leather blazer (Wow, this Coach one looks great and a great price!) But we are also going this route come fall, so maybe just head straight there?), plumes, white socks and Liffner bucket bag making me miss that Miu Miu one slightly less.

For a special ceremony at my son’s school, when it felt like 70 on the sunny side of the street. Hard to tell in this photo but I’m wearing a navy sweater vest over a black slim t-shirt. Here’s a similar white poplin pant that looks properly opaque. A western belt. Bally plumes and my rouched Metier tote that I picked up in their Mount Street store in London last month and is a total DREAM. I can’t really explain it, but the gathered leather and lack of hardware makes it feel so special. Like, vintage, but better? You have to see her to understand.

We’re square in shoulder season, the cusp of a seasonal shift in energy. I no longer want to reach for my heaviest coats and yet I’m not quite ready to dig my bin of summer clothes out of the storage unit. (I allow myself one big bin of shoes and one of clothes to swap out each season to keep from hoarding.) But I am gravitating toward color lately. And lighter fabrics. Cotton knits (or if cashmere, something extra thin that could be tucked in). Skirts with ankle boots, but no tights! Blazers as outerwear. Loafers with no socks. All those elements that feel like they need a little extra something to actually keep you warm in January - now get to sing on their own.

The outfit I wore to and from Pilates (bikers and a tank underneath!) the past two Thursdays. Friend of 5 Things Marieva M. said it’s her favorite thing I’ve ever worn. Maccapani tee. (current season version), On windbreaker pants, old Birkenstock clogs (but I’m still putting my full weight behind the Reykjavík, now with a white sole for summer!) and a khaki overcoat. I quite like the idea of this one, the simplicity and interesting cut. More casual than mine, and probably better for casual wear. And for dressier, I still stan this, which is now sale on sale.

For a rainy day spent cleaning out a client’s closet and then a host of other ankle biters (as friend of 5 Things Elissa V. calls her to do list.) Wearing a North Face Mountain jacket with my Souer paisley silk shirt over my favorite ribbed tank (both of which are past 5 Great Things), Alex Mill chinos and Reykjavíks.

There is something about this almost spring sunshine that makes me want to get a little wild (within the confines of my very prescriptive style…polo shirts, classic shaped trousers, stripes, etc.) But I find myself needing more than a solitary print. I want two different stripes layered! Or a pastel t-shirt instead of my standard white as a layer. I am sure its just that I’m not quite settled in my seasonal uniform yet. But it’s fun to figure it out in real time. Was very pleased with myself when I put together these three concoctions below.

All the colors, all at once for a particularly cheery day. Tory Burch blue stripe tank underneath a Commission yellow lurex polo (this is a cute mens stripe that would also work great!) all topped off with Chloe velvet flares (I am wearing a FR38 btw) and Bally plumes. I love this outfit. Going to wear it again to dinner next week with these red heels.

For a Saturday which included a trip to the MoMa (great kid activities FYI!) and Catbird playground. Started the whole thing with the Bally quarter zip and worked around it. Pale pink tee underneath for a little softness. It is after all, the color of the season. I will be using it as a neutral until September (and beyond.) Levis acid wash 501s to contrast with the dark top (This is the exact style, which isn’t avail in acid wash anymore, but here is a good (honestly better!?) light wash comp), a barn jacket for warmth and a bit of tonality since the rest of the outfit was getting a bit too retro? Vans because…I’m really just a slave to my toddler so…function first! The barn jacket is The Row (this years version here) and was my 40th bday present to myself, last year (one of many, LOL). They are a dime a dozen now, so pick your poison.

High of 62 and sunny. I added little black sheer socks to this when I wore it for an afternoon of appointments to see upcoming collections. Vintage Dior bar jacket, Agnes B snap cardigan, Cos t-shirt, vintage Prada skirt (here is one in the same fabric, cute and similar, and as a mini), Lemaire belt, Tory Burch shoes, Teckel

For two meetings and a day at my computer at the library. High Sport cotton sweater, Caron Callahan drawstring pants (These from Gap look great, and these MMs, we already know, are perfect). Tory Burch flats

I’ve been staying home most evenings lately, playing catch up on quality time with my family with last month’s excessive travel. But I did manage to sneak out one night, thankfully, as I was itching to wear my brand new heels.

For a work dinner at Le Veau d’Or. Mens jacket from Slowear (official sponsor of husbands everywhere), Dehanche belt, Aflalo jeans, the Phoebe Philo pumps mentioned in last week’s send (these are extremely similar as are these boots), Jujuvera collar

And because this taste of spring was a total TEASE, the cozy outfit I ended up in here at the end of the week. Come back soon Spring, we miss you already!

For two zoom meetings and a trip to a pediatric ophthalmologist…turns out his vision is 20/20 and just can’t read letters yet. Cos cashmere crewneck, Alex Mill pants which are so soft I could easily sleep in them, Jamie Haller moccasins, Khaite belt which I’m re-embracing after a season spent on the shelf.

And just kidding!! It’s cold again! We are back to puffer weather as of Friday, a little sporty but not SPORT jacket.

Hope you pull some old gems out of the closet this week and tempt spring to come back to us. Lots of love until next week.

Yours TRULY,

Becky