Celebrating Signs of Spring
and how to dress for the occasion
If someone were to ask me, I would say that fall is my favorite season, but the transition from winter to spring is one of my absolute favorite times of the year. There is just something so special about knowing we are emerging from winter and that stretching ahead of us is seven-plus months of (mostly) beautiful weather, filled with more sunlight and more time spent outdoors. Most likely, we probably still have a little winter weather surprise in store in the next month, but even that cannot get me down! If the end isn’t quite here, it’s very close!
My husband and I spent this past weekend on a little grownup getaway to New York City, and it was glorious. We had such a great time and did so many fun things, but one highlight was the signs of spring everywhere. Daffodils are blooming, birds are chirping, and window boxes and sidewalk planters are being switched over from winter designs to spring floral mixes. The weather wasn’t even that warm, but it’s so funny how mid-40s and low 50s feels warm on the way up (when you’re used to much colder temps), as compared to how cold it can feel when it starts cooling down to that temperature. It was a very special weekend to enjoy being in a city and taking in all that that entails (especially those things that we miss now that we live in the ‘burbs), while also soaking up the warmer weather.
We are not big Easter celebrators from a religious perspective, but it is obviously a very important (arguably the most important?) holiday for many people. For me, Easter is a sign of spring - a reminder of new beginnings. A milestone marker in the change of seasons. Especially this year as it falls in early April, and we will already have many spring-like days under our belt! Of course, the idea of new beginnings and rebirth has roots in the religious aspect of the holiday, but is also rooted in some of the more tangible and visible things that are happening this time of year — buds popping out from the ground, birds chirping, pops of green sprouting up in bushes, in yards, in trees…I could go on and on.
I am taking it as an opportunity to have some fun celebrations with my family and build traditions of our own. Traditions that are rooted in the change of seasons, and also in the Easter holiday. When I was little, we had some fun family easter rituals, mostly revolving around easter baskets, candy (I especially remember lots and lots of jelly beans), egg hunts with friends, and photos with the easter bunny. And, I want to continue these traditions with my kids. I’ve mentioned this before - but so many celebrations start over again when you have kids, or, if you aren’t a parent, have small kids in your life. Easter celebrations (aside from a family meal, maybe) weren’t on my radar at all until I had my son. And now our next few weekends are filled with multiple Easter egg hunts, plans to decorate eggs, and Easter Bunny photo opps.
At school, my son has been learning about the changing seasons, the many holidays that are celebrated around this time of year, and how to search for and identify signs of spring. So, these have become central to our conversations at home. We made a bird feeder together a couple of weeks ago (the materials came to us from his school, so I got pretty lucky, but it included a pinecone with string & some birdseed, and then we spread peanut butter on it - a lot of fun and simple!) and have been watching birds come to feed on it from our kitchen window. We are noticing little plans pop up in our yard and imagining what they will look like when they are fully grown. We watch the branches on our trees sprout buds and wonder when the leaves will pop. Lots of little things, but he is so proud to teach me about what he knows and has been learning, and it’s even more exciting to see some of those things in real life. I’ll say it again, I love the beginning of spring!
So that brings us to what I have to share with you this week — some of the early spring fashion that has been catching my eye. The change of seasons is a natural time to rethink our wardrobes, crave a little something new, and feel ready to retire our winter layers and boots in favor of lighter layers! This year, in line with my theme of embracing more color in my previously mostly-neutral wardrobe, I am simultaneously drawn to bright colors and chic and simple classic neutrals, so you will see a little bit of both. Also, I’m not adding many items of clothing items to my closet right now (coming up on the last 8 weeks or so of this pregnancy and I’m trying to make do with what I already have), so you will have to go along on my vicarious journey. I lack the focus I typically have since it is truly a fantasy shop (but also, that is the whole point of this newsletter!)
Happy Spring, happy new beginnings, sending lots of sunshine and warm weather your way!
1: Denim Dress / 2: Double Breasted Blazer / 3: Round Ray Bans / 4: Short Sleeve Linen Shirt / 5: Sea Top /6: Pink Mini Skirt / 7: Boxy T / 8: V-Neck Slip Dress / 9: Straight Full-Length Jeans / 10: Wide-leg Linen Pant / 11: Levi Skinny jeans / 12: Green Blouse / 13: Mille Dress / 14: Smocked Cotton Dress / 15: Mini Santorini Bag / 16: Doen Maxi Dress / 17: Ruffle Cardigan / 18: Mango Trench / 19: Staud Mini Dress / 20: Crochet Top / 21: Book Tee / 22: Lady Jacket / 23: Le Specs Sunnies / 24: Mini Shirt Dress / 25: Fiore Maxi Dress / 26: Wedge heels / 27: Earrings / 28: Mother Tomcat Jeans / 29: Mink Pink Mini Dress / 30: Shell Purse / 31: Long Shirt Dress
1: Denim Dress: A throw-and-go dress that can be layered with a sweater now, and on its own when the temps warm up. Bonus that it looks like it would be a great postpartum pick!
2: Double Breasted Blazer: I love that this is a jacket/topper or something you could wear to the office. The color and shape are just amazing and it would look great with jeans, denim shorts, over a feminine dress, etc.
3: Round Ray Bans: I am too scared to get these because they are so delicate, but I really love them. In the meantime I have a dupe from amazon that is serving me well!
4: Short Sleeve Linen Shirt: This is a great staple for the season — wear on its own, over a tank or t-shirt, over a bathing suit, the list goes on.
5: Sea Top: I think a special blouse/top is a great piece to add to your wardrobe for spring. I love this one because you could wear it casually and also dress it up!
6: Pink Mini Skirt: Skirts are not always something that comes up at the top of my outfit list, but I often find myself wishing I had some more skirts in my closet and get a lot of wear out of the ones I have.
7: Boxy T: Kind of the top of my budget for a simple t-shirt, but I am loving the drape, crop and neckline of this T. Spring is a good time to take a look through your basics shirts and see if there are any that need to be replaced (I hoard white t-shirts and hate to recycle even the oldest and rattiest of them, but I also recognize that it’s a necessity!)
8: V-Neck Slip Dress: A slightly different silhouette for the J.Crew slip dress - this is a super flattering dress and it looks great on everyone!
9: Straight Full-Length Jeans: A simple jean that you will wear over and over again.
10: Wide-leg Linen Pant: A spring-summer staple! A more budget-friendly option here.
11: Levi Skinny jeans: People rave about these jeans and I love this wash and cut! Would go with absolutely everything!
12: Green Blouse: such a fun blouse, would look especially great with white jeans or a slip skirt!
13: Mille Dress: Mille dresses scream spring and encapsulate everything I want to put on my body at the change of the seasons. I particularly love this pattern!
14: Smocked Cotton Dress: This is my ideal dress - simple, looks beautiful, wear for so many occasions. Will work in the heat!
15: Mini Santorini Bag: I love this bag in every size available, and if I thought this was practical for my life at all, I would be snatching this up!
16: Doen Maxi Dress: The most flattering silhouette in a beautiful color!
17: Ruffle Cardigan: So pretty and feminine.
18: Mango Trench: A good layer for springtime weather.
19: Staud Mini Dress: This is simple and classic, but also feels like a fresh take on a shirtdress. I love the sleeve. Imagining pairing it with a pretty ballet flat right now, and strappy sandals later in the summer. Bonus that it looks postpartum and nursing friendly!
20: Crochet Top: Crochet is everywhere this season and I’m here for it!
21: Book Tee: I love books, and I love t-shirts about books too!
22: Lady Jacket: A great topper that would bring so much fun to just about any outfit!
23: Le Specs Sunnies: Great, flattering shape in a very light style.
24: Mini Shirt Dress: Sings spring!
25: Fiore Maxi Dress: Fun, pretty, feminine.
26: Wedge heels: I am seeing wedges everywhere this spring and I love this super simple take on them with just two straps!
27: Earrings: Pretty, happy, fun earrings!
28: Mother Tomcat Jeans: Just some super cool jeans that will be on repeat as the temps warm up!
29: Mink Pink Mini Dress: The most perfect mini dress for spring. Love the florals and colors!
30: Shell Purse: This is completely non-functional, but I love it anyways!
31: Long Shirt Dress: This is so chic - a wear all season long piece. Would be a great Easter dress!