Spring & Summer Style #2- Some Strategies I use to shop with intention
Plus, what's on my wishlist & what I'm trying out
In Today’s Newsletter, we are covering:
Thoughts on why it’s taken me so long to dive into shopping for Spring/Summer 2024
The strategies I employ (some new and some old) to create a plan for the season ahead so that I buy things that I actually want, need, love, and will wear (and not just give into impulses constantly)
Two new lists that are helping me manage impulse desires, passing obsessions, and make sure I buy things that make sense for me
The anatomy of my current summer wishlist & the things I’m thinking about adding to my closet
Surely, surely, surely, if I just waited another week to write more about Spring style and what I want to wear this season, the weather would finally catch up and cooperate enough for me to want to buy and wear the fun spring and summery pieces that I’m seeing as I “window shop” online. To do something with the many open tabs I have, and the screenshots I’ve taken with outfits I want to recreate for myself.
Well. It’s June. And now, the weather is hot! We went from those first few days after winter is clearing away (those days lingered), to it feeling like it’s summer in a matter of a few days. Not so much springy weather this year.
I just haven’t been feeling particularly OBSESSED with anything. Or, maybe it’s that I’m so busy that I haven’t had the time to really got lost in shopping, or feel organized about what I want. Sometimes it feels like my brain is so scattered, I can barely complete a full thought (hopefully it’s not just me?). I assume it’s due to some combination of lack of sleep/too much sugar/too much caffeine/having three kids/working full time/being obsessed with productivity/not taking enough breaks/too much screen time/not enough vacation/etc. You know, minor things! (Maybe more on this soon - the irony is that to write about this I also need to push through my scatter-brain/brain fog feeling, HA.)
There is a level of focus that I need to have to get excited about shopping for a new season. To block out the noise and the distractions and actually browse, see what I am drawn to, ruminate over things, and imagine how I would wear them. And, make sure that it’s not just the shiny new thing that I want - but that it also meets some other criteria that makes it worthy of being something I add to my closet. Because, let’s be real, it’s human to have impulses & cravings and feel intense WANT for something. But, that’s not a bad thing, because we also have impulse control, rational thought, and the ability to let cravings pass us by. You can want something and still not buy it - Shopping consciously or smartly isn’t about stopping yourself from wanting things, it’s about having the restraint and discipline to consider more than just whether or not you want something when you’re making a purchase (the considerations are different for everyone, but might include things like - is it within my budget, will I wear it, does it fit into my life, does it go with other things in my closet, do I have something else exactly like it, and so on.)
Also, I totally recognize that this might sound silly - needing to focus to be able to shop? And, sure, it is, but also, the point of wanting to be focused is so that I actually buy things that I want, that make sense for my life, that fill gaps in my closet, and that I’ll actually wear, and of course, are all within my budget. It’s so I don’t end up with a pile of random purchases that I’ve impulsively made as I’ve seen a random assortment of items that all elicit some emotional response that leads me to click “checkout.”
Well, this newsletter isn’t about impulse control - or, it’s not just about impulse control, ha! It was meant to be one that I published several weeks ago - a “Part 2” to my Spring Trend Deep Dive. And it is, it’s just that it took me much longer than I thought to be able to do the things I do at the change of seasons - like rotating my closet (and doing spring cleaning), and collecting lots of inspiration.
Only in the past couple of weeks have I fully formed my wishlist for the season, and done the “things” I do to organize myself for a new season.
I wrote about this in detail last fall (which you can read here), that I always have a Closet Gap and Wishlist going in the Notes app on my phone. I use these lists to organize myself, to make sure I’m shopping strategically and thinking big picture when I make purchases, and not just getting distracted by the latest shiny thing I scroll past. It helps me keep track of things that I see and like.
I’m always tinkering - moving things around, adding, subtracting, etc. I also have a few different lists - Currently, they include an “Evergreen” wishlist - this is the big-ticket, someday/maybe items that I want - the types of things I would probably buy one of in a given year, or if I am celebrating something major - it has a few jewelry items, a designer bag I hope to have someday, and includes a lot of things for our home, especially art.
The next big thing that is relevant is Closet Gaps - that’s the things I know I’m missing in general, as well as anything that I might have, but need to replace (for example, I recently took the advice of the Substack Chats and replaced all my old underwear after that had been on my Gap list for like 6 months). They may or may not be relevant for the season ahead.
For the first time this season, I’ve started a “Cravings” list (note - I picked this name after I read a post on Substack about someone who did something similar, but I cannot, for the life of my find the original author - one of those things where it shows up in my Notes feed, someone I follow liked it, I read it, and then the app refreshed - so PLEASE, if you know who wrote it, will you tell me? this list has changed my life!!) The Cravings list is where I put things when I see them and just can’t shop thinking about them. My previous strategy for pieces like this was to do one or more of the following: a) open them in a tab that would sit open on my phone or laptop for weeks, b) screenshot them (which I may or may not ever look at again) c) save to a Pinterest board (which I also may or may not revisit in a timely manner) or c) buy (truly, still an option!)
This list is meant to help me manage my impulses - I can come back to the thing after a day or so - and it might move onto my actual wishlist, I might take it off (this happens a lot - once the heat of the moment and the initial emotional reaction to the piece wears off, I’m usually able to think much more clearly about whether or not I want it, or, if I just really like it!), I might leave it on there to think about more, I might even buy it - but having a list like this has been helpful in having more restraint when shopping (and assuring my brain that I’m not going to forget about that *perfect* piece that I randomly happened upon.
Another thing I did this season, which is actually something I do when I help people review their closets, and I’ve now finally forced myself to do (love it when I take my own advice!) is make a list of the things that I will be spending my time doing this summer. This is helpful so that when I create my wishlist, and when I actually shop, I can test (realistically - I use this to re-ground myself in reality - which is, I am probably not going to wear the one million mini dresses or dressy dresses that catch my eye - one or two is perfect, and I should be focused on the types of clothes I can sit on a picnic blanket in, or wear to work and then also hit the playground or pond in. This can still be dresses, but it’s not strappy delicate material dresses, it’s more like easy, breezy shift dresses, or coverup pieces).
And then, of course, I have my actual seasonal wishlist. I don’t really do this every season - especially Spring & Summer are in one list. Spring is fleeting, and it really just feels long enough to be a time in which we enjoy the shedding of winter layers vs. buying a ton of new stuff that I’m not sure whether or not I can wear before it gets hot hot. So, it’s more like a Spring/Summer wishlist, and then Fall and Winter separate out into more like 2 lists. The point of all of this is to shop smarter, and buy things that I love and am going to wear. It’s all about systems that help make getting dressed easier, make my wardrobe incrementally better.
So, without further ado - things that I’m thinking about, and shopping for. (Also - I should note - there is no way that I will buy every item on this list. That’s totally unrealistic. I’ll shift things around, and there will probably be many things I don’t end up buying. I leave the list on my phone and next year, when the warm weather comes up - I can look at this again and see if there are any gaps from this summer that I still want to fill, and add new things as well!)
If you prefer, every item (pictured & linked) in this post is browsable here.
Summer shoes are honestly just the best. And while I want to wear my sandals most of all when the weather is warm, I do tend to reach mostly towards closed-toed shoes for work, so I’m looking for a happy closed toe shoe. I’ll wear them all summer, and then they will transition nicely into fall (when I will wear them as long as I possibly can) These are at the top of my list (also love the denim/black colorway). I also really like these and these (and so many people these the best reviews for comfort!)
My go-to summer “dress up” shoe met its end last summer - worn to MANY weddings, parties, nights out, etc (a probably 7 or 8 year old pair of Steve Maddens!). I love this pair and wear them often, but I know I will eventually want to add something neutral into the mix. If I have an occasion to wear a low sandal heel, then I’ll be buying either this or this pair.
Something about an easy, breezy, white dress in the summertime, you know? I am looking for something that I could wear with my kids on the weekends, wear with strappy sandals and a fun earring for an evening out, but could also style for the office. Swooning over this one, this one, and this too. Slightly lower price point here and here! Not white, but this is so chic. (PS: I get a lot of questions about wearing “precious” things with kids - first off, stick to easy-to-wash fabrics - this is easiest in the summer where there is so much cotton!, and, never go anywhere without this stain spray!)
I love a matching set for summer. I think I am looking for something in a stripe, since I will be the most likely to wear it many ways, and because I have been wishing I had a few more long sleeve button downs - such a go-to in the summer for me. This shirt and shorts is top of my list, but I also love this and this. If you’re into a pattern situation - might I suggest this and this or this? Love this too. If budget were not figuring in, I’d be getting this and this.
Summer of 2017 was the last summer I wasn’t pregnant or nursing, which means, I’m ready for a swimsuit that fits. This and this (this is Hunza G for less $ and more butt coverage!) are go-tos for me, but I’m eyeing this right now. I also really love this one!
and have me seriously investigating Left on Friday swim - specifically this one piece, and this bikini top and high-waisted bottom.I LOVE the fit and flare style that we are seeing so much of right now. I’m looking for something under $200 that can be my go-to date night look, worn with lots of different things to create different looks. This and this are top contenders. This is gorgeous (wish it came in navy!!!)
Like basically every other woman out there, I want this dress. I missed it in the drop. I have multiple restock notifications set. Manifesting brown, but love the navy stripe too.
I am looking for a few tops that I can wear for work that feel dressier than a tee-shirt, but can also just as easily be worn with linen or jean shorts on the weekends. I ordered this knit tank to try. I also love this, but might be skimpier than I want for something office-friendly. This is fab too. I also got this vest and I love it. I really like this too, and I don’t want to go too deep into this trend, but I am obsessed with this.
On the hunt for a tote that fits the warm weather vibe that I can fit my laptop into - maybe this or this?
It’s PJ pant summer and I wanted a white pair. I initially got these from J.Crew, and they’re great, but the drawstring ripped out the second time I wore them, so I’m returning them. And trying these instead. These are on my radar too (note that they are pre-order). Wearing with tanks, over bathing suits, with an oversized button down - this is an everyday uniform type of piece. On a related, but slightly more tailored note, I’m also on the hunt for a wide-leg, light-weight trouser. Something that has a true waist (slightly more dressed up for work environments), but still uber-comfortable. These are amazing but the fit in the leg was wider than I wanted. Trying these next. These are also on my radar (low key obsessed with the pink, surprisingly!)
I have a mini shift dress checked off but I decided I am returning this one (don’t love it, the fabric is reflective of the price point), and although I am obsessed with this one, the fit is off for me, and I don’t think tailoring is worth it. Eyeing this, and this as next options. Maybe this too?
These shorts are great and I’ve been wearing them a lot! I didn’t like the navy color (too blue?), so if anyone knows of a similar style in a navy, I’d love to know what they are!
I live in my Birkenstocks in the summer, but am dying for something that is a little more refined looking, but as easy to get on. I tried these, but they made my already-on-the-wider-side foot look wide & I’m self-conscious about that (they are super comfy though!). I am trying these next! On the strappier end, I’m thinking about these - very dress up or dress down, which I love. Not slip on, but how fun are these? (and the slide version!!)
I’m deep on beaded necklaces - find a huge assortment here.
Not on the list, but on my mind is a special dress of some kind. I will actively find a way to wear it, it has to be something that I love and makes me very happy. Something from Cocoshop is high on my list - this or this (but very $, so would be a big splurge)? Also adore this new in from Doen. If I had a black-tie wedding… Sigh.
Phew. I know I didn’t get to every single thing, but, we got to A LOT. You can shop every piece pictured and link in this essay (as well as some extra bonus pieces), here.
When I started with Part 1 of this series, my original plan was for part 2 to cover outfit ideas, styling inspiration and some very helpful summer outfit formulas. Well, plans are meant to be change - so, I will get to those topics in Part 3. Now that the weather has caught up, I’m feeling more inspired!
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Eep Door County!! I live in Madison, WI and spend time in Door County every year - I hope you have a wonderful trip! 💕 Loved reading this one!
“Sometimes it feels like my brain is so scattered, I can barely complete a full thought (hopefully it’s not just me?).” Same girl same- including the three kiddos & full time job! 🤪 Loved reading this! 💕