playing dress-up: spring

3 easy outfits for confusing weather

I’ve been dressing myself for 24 years, I’ve been on the internet for 19 years, and I’ve been dressing myself and sharing it on the internet for 12 years. It’s an understatement to say my style has changed countless times, but my desire to exist in what my partner and I call “cozy mode” has remained constant.

Here are five silhouettes I wore last spring and plan to bring with me into this season. Each outfit is composed of pieces I already own, pieces similar to the ones I own, or pieces on my wishlist.

1: plans to run errands, ends up at the beach

Athletic shorts: I just purchased these Adidas shorts on Poshmark for $13, and I can’t wait to style them! I love wearing nylon shorts for more than just hiking for the comfort factor but also because it’s sort of fun to mix sporty pieces with more delicate fabrics, like wool or lace.

Cropped cardigan: I have the Peri Shrunken Cardigan from James Street Co. in brown, but I’ve been pining after the gray one for years. It’s incredibly difficult to find these for sale right now, so if anyone finds something similar, let me know!

Bucket hat: I’ve been loving crochet bucket hats the last few seasons, but haven’t quite found the right one for me. I love the “Sal” hat from Gigi Pip but I’ll probably just try to make one!

Pendants: I’ve been after an organic-shaped silver heart pendant lately. I found this one from Ana Luisa after missing out on this one from Sønderhaus but can’t justify buying myself any more jewelry at this point. Plus, it’s much more fun to receive jewelry as a gift ;-)

Graphic tote: I’ve owned this tote bag from Myopic Books in Chicago for a decade, and I still reach for it. There’s something about a simple canvas bag with black text that can ground an outfit operating in the land of accent colors. I think the classic New Yorker tote is so popular for this reason.

Chunky sunnies: I love a pair of brown shades, especially a slightly funky take on a classic shape. I love the Apollo style from AKILA.

Mary Janes: So continues the reign of “the pop of red” and I don’t see myself quitting it any time soon. These Margot flats from VIVAIA are so comfy, and I reach for them so often.

2: Saturday afternoon cappuccino on a patio

Cotton nightgown: I thrifted one in the dead of winter, so I’m excited to style it for the spring and summer. My TikTok/IG mutual, Teddi, does a great job of layering skirts and nightdresses in her videos, and I feel very inspired by her! You can definitely thrift one with some patience, but the Jodie Nightdress from Salter House is gorgeous if you have the funds.

Powder blue: I have been obsessed with powder blue for the last few weeks. I just picked up the Organic Oversized Hood from Colorful Standard in “Powder Blue” (I have this style in brown and I love it).

Vintage bandana: I love a good bandana in the spring and summer, especially now that I have bangs. I love this one from Etsy. I thrifted a Heinz pickle headscarf several years ago, and it remains one of my prized possessions to this day, and I can see myself wearing it with this outfit.

Brown woven bag: I saw this bag on Pinterest last year, and it’s haunted me ever since. I don’t live in a tax bracket where purchasing such a bag would ever be a reality, but I like this similar one from Etsy a lot. I’m hoping to thrift something vaguely similar eventually—I really just like the texture and the rich brown.

Black clogs: I’m no different than other girls, and I love a garden clog. I’ve had the Seavees Bodega Clog on my list for a year now. I don’t see myself purchasing them any time soon only because I already have the Plasticana Gardana clog and a pair of black platform clogs from Target, and both could achieve the same vibe. However, I’ll still yearn, I’m sure.

Striped socks: Patterned socks are my favorite way to add visual interest to an otherwise lackluster outfit. I recently purchased these striped socks from LOOUZ in brown/beige and red/beige.

Yellow sunnies: I love a pair of yellow lenses. It’s an easy way to add a complementary color to an outfit without overwhelming it with too much color. I have a pair from Genusee (R.I.P.) that I’ve gotten a lot of use out of this winter. I really dig the silhouette of the William Two frame from Explicit Poets.

Simple gold hoops: You can’t go wrong with a pair of silver or gold sleeper hoops when you have an outfit that already has a lot of different textures and colors, and the Between Hoops from Mejuri are a classic. You can also find them inexpensively on Etsy.

3: Ending up at an outdoor market

Workwear: One of my favorite combinations is overalls or double-knee carpenter pants and a dainty little top. I love mixing traditionally masculine and feminine pieces, and a rugged pant is perfect for outdoor activities like muddy farmers markets. My partner thrifted a pair of vintage Carhartt duck double-knee pants in 2019, and luckily we are the same size, so I get to wear them too!

Cream cotton blouse: I thrifted this gorgeous blouse back in 2020, and last summer purchased a similar one in a richer ivory color from one of my favorite shops, Rose Parlor. This is one of my favorite pieces to throw on when I don’t know what to wear in the summer. I like this one (pictured) from Abercrombie and this one from eBay.

Striped button down: I recently bullied my sister into buying one from Cool Water Dry Goods because they’re a staple and they’re seasonless! It’s an approachable way to add a pattern when you’re in a rut. Please buy them secondhand! There are so many out there.

Classic loafers: I’ve had a pair of Bass loafers since junior year of high school. I can’t say enough good things about them.

Baseball cap: I live in baseball caps in the summer. This is my most-worn one!

Mesh tote: Great for produce! You can also make one yourself!

Mixed metals: I am thoroughly a silver gal (whether that suits my undertones or not…I don’t know, and I don’t care), but I love to pop some gold in to bring out warmer tones in the rest of the outfit.

I’d love to know which is your favorite or what your go-to spring outfit is :)

Thanks for reading <3