Nudge Your Summer Style Forward
Thoughts on small changes to keep things fresh.
The Princess of Wales stepped out this week to present the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in a new green trouser suit by Victoria Beckham. Years ago Catherine made this silhouette a staple of her princess wardrobe. And yet, as she appeared on the British Fashion Council stage with this year’s winner, Patrick McDowell, there was something that felt fresh about her look.
The hue, which the retail site called “Willow,” felt closer to a neutral than Kate’s usual candy-colored jewel tones. The coordinating trousers fell all the way to the floor, with a hint of a flare to boot. Underneath, she wore a new silk satin blouse by Knatchbull. The ruffles down the front were a lovely flourish, at once sophisticated and feminine. These tweaks were small, to be sure. But the overall effect was one of nudging the princess’s classic style to something a bit more modern.
It got me thinking about the new pieces in my wardrobe I am most excited about this spring. Let’s be honest, in this economy if something new is coming into our closets, it has to serve a purpose. For me, that often means it needs to be sufficiently different from what I already have. Also, I’m ever-conscious of the line between devising a signature look and falling into something of a style rut. I have never been, nor do I plan to be, a trend chaser. However, I do think there is a lot to gain from trying something new. There were a few years where I stuck to a uniform of crewneck sweaters and jeans. It was fine — but not as fun. 🙃
Below, a few fashion-forward nudges to consider as you do your late spring and summer shopping. What are you excited about as the weather warms up? Let me know in the comments.
ICYMI: Click below for my advice on theme dressing (looking at all you Cowboy Carter attendees!) and how to recreate Meghan’s With Love fashion.
Nudge Your Summer Style Forward
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Nudge: Unexpected shoe
J.Crew shoes, La Ligne sweater, Madewell jeans
Let’s dip our toe (foot) in with this idea and start with an interesting summer shoe. What can I say, I’m not done with the mesh trend yet! Are these J.Crew shoes a little odd? Yes. Do I love them? Also yes. As a girl with a wardrobe filled with what many would call “classic” pieces, an interesting shoe instantly gives an outfit a twist. A striped sweater and classic white jean are a summer staple. These mesh espadrilles take it someplace new.
PS: The hint of ivory in both the jeans and the sweater? Also a nudge.
Nudge: All-over animal print
RIXO dress, J.Crew shoes (similar)
Any animal print that has entered my wardrobe in the last decade has been kept, by and large, to accent pieces. A pop would suffice, I reasoned. (A pair of leopard-print loafers were a go-to for me back in the day.) But over the winter, a few leopard coats stopped my scrolling. Felt like a reach for warm-weather SoCal. This spring, I took a chance and ordered this RIXO shirt dress. I was delighted when I first tried it on, the all-over print makes such a statement.
Nudge: Remixed shirt dress
La Ligne dress, Gap sandals (similar)
Speaking of shirt dresses, I was craving something for summer beyond the usual (collared, belted, etc.). This La Ligne design felt like a deconstructed version of the expected, in the same breathable poplin fabric but with knots at the waist and a fuller skirt. I adore it — the dress design is doing the heavy lifting for you. All you have to do is put it on and go. It works for everything from spring school gatherings to a date night out on vacation.
Nudge: Bright midi skirt
Madewell skirt, tank, and shoes (similar)
Nothing can beat the ease of shorts with a paperbag waist in the summertime. But for the occasions where you want something a smidge dressier, may I recommend a skirt? Full disclosure, I drifted away from skirts years ago (so much so that I remember offering up my skirt hangers on Buy Nothing awhile back). But they are coming back, and I think they are a moment to have a little fun? It’s less of an impact than a dress, and with more movement than trousers. This red pop from Madewell felt perfect for the Fourth of July, pairing nicely with a simple tank and sandals. I’ve since bought this from Uniqlo, too, which works well with a linen tank.
Nudge: Standalone vest
ASTR the Label vest, J.Crew trousers, J.Crew Factory loafers
In that same vein, when you need something a bit more elevated up top, swap your tank for a vest. You all know I began living my ~vest life~ last summer, inspired by Meghan’s Colombian tour-drobe. Wearing a vest on its own feels like a flex, refined with a bit of edge. Having tried a few versions, I have found the key is an adjustable belt in the back allowing you to cinch for a proper fit. Obsessed with the asymmetry of this ASTR white linen vest and how the buttons stop mid-torso. It works as well with jeans and heels as it does with trousers.
PS: These pants are the textured satin J.Crew trousers I swear by — comfy and dressy at the same time. They’re on sale right now. (I’m wearing a size small and they are still plenty roomy.)
Nudge: New jean silhouette
Madewell jeans, J.Crew linen shirt, J.Crew Factory loafers
This one might be controversial BUT. I first spotted barrel jeans on my friend Felicia last fall and became very curious. They looked so good on her with a simple sweater and mules. Still, the idea of adding volume at the hips? Let’s just say it gave me pause. When I did finally try them on, I did a full flip. Barrel jeans are somehow both more relaxed and more polished. They feel almost like a tailored pant. I can’t explain it! But they work as well with loafers as they do with my New Balance sneakers. (I got these Madewell jeans in my usual size from the brand: 26.)
Nudge: Matching set
J.Crew top and trousers, Madewell flats (alternate color still available), Susan Caplan earrings
Here is where my own nudging starts…stepping outside of my comfort zone here. I got this J.Crew matching set before spring break and wore the pieces on their own (the trousers work with a tank, the top looks great with jean shorts). Wearing them together, however, felt like a stretch for me — especially in my everyday life back home. The cut of the top reinforces the feeling of pajamas. I fiddled a bit with how to style the set, choosing on a closed-toe shoe and chunkier earring to dress the look up a bit. But I think it would work just as well with sandals and a bucket hat (maybe with a cocktail in hand, White Lotus style).
Nudge: New pant length
ASTR the Label capri pants, Madewell blazer (similar), Stuart Weitzman sandals
And for the biggest personal nudge them all! CAPRI PANTS ARE BACK. My high school self cannot believe it. The way this style had a grip on me in my formative teen years. Please note: Capri pants are a very. specific. length. They are noticeably shorter than cropped pants but long enough to cover your knee. These are by ASTR the Label, in a fit (very slim) and material (a Rayon-Nylon blend) that skewed evening to my touch. I’ve seen a number of street style photos styling pants like these with an oversized blazer, so I grabbed one from my closet. I played around with shoes, finding that the hint of toe from these strappy sandals broke things up a bit. I’ll be honest, the jury is still out for me on these. But, gosh, it was fun to play around for a bit. And don’t we all need that these days?
Ok! Those are my eight (suggested with love) nudges for your spring and summer shopping. What fashion-forward pieces are you eyeing? Any sticking points I can help with? I’ll see you in the comments.
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I’m here for the casual but tailored vests with larger buttons or any linen top with large buttons for that matter. It’s definitely a throwback but I was a kid the first time around and now it’s such an easy and elevated way to feel put together.
Love the idea of nudges. My favorite is the capri pants ensemble!