A SPRING WARDROBE IN PROGRESS
Lots of khaki, a moment for pastels, and interesting textures.
The time change was my cue to reassess my wardrobe. What comes forward, what gets stored, what no longer belongs. Spring arrives and my closet follows. Coats and cords move to the back of the closet, linens and skirts to the front. Sandals on a reachable shelf, boots cleaned and stored. The rotation forces me to see what I have and decide whether I still want to wear it this season. Sometimes a year out of sight is all it takes to look at something with fresh eyes and determine if it still has a place in how I dress now, which has become increasingly casual.
A recent stop at TWP in LA started to shape my spring thinking. A few things I’ve decided. My neutral-based closet could use some color. The most compelling consideration was how pastels, usually a no for me, could be integrated while still feeling very much like me. The merchandising did most of the convincing, mixing British khaki with pale yellow, pink, and blue. Not a revelation in styling, but it felt fresh and was something I could take home. Any hint of sweetness from a pastel was anchored when worn with something khaki. It looked modern, interesting, and less predictable than a return to white. Khaki, in particular, stood out as the grounding neutral I’ll want to build around this spring. In place of white or denim, it offers more depth, especially when paired with pastels.
First consideration was pale yellow, which I’d introduce mostly through shirts and sweaters. A sheer cotton silk organza softened the color in a classic long sleeve shirt. I’d wear it layered over a tank for day, or with something more delicate for evening. The overall look at TWP is relaxed and oversized, especially in bottoms, which doesn’t suit everyone. For a slimmer option, a patch pocket chino from J.Crew pairs well here (currently 40% off).
A pale pink superfine cotton shirt caught my eye too, a color I would normally dismiss. Trying it on with a cognac leather skirt changed my mind. I loved the combination. The leather skirt stood out as the singular piece I’d want in my closet. Thinking of the numerous other ways I’d wear it year-round moved it to the top of my spring wish list.
Texture was the next thing I focused on. A coated viscose-linen exclusive to TWP held my attention. The sateen-like finish provided an interesting contrast against flat cotton, linen, and denim. The sheen and drape don’t translate well in photos, but in person, the hand of the fabric was an easy sell and had me seriously considering a softly tailored ivory blazer and trousers. Both worked independently: the trousers with any top I tried on, the blazer going from polished as a suit to something unexpectedly cool with the vintage-wash jeans I was wearing. I thought about the blazer’s range, day into evening, and how elegant it would look over a slip dress at night.
After TWP, I stopped at Rachel Comey. A sculpted skirt in their signature Italian Foam fabric caught my eye immediately. The material created a cocoon-like structure without any weight. The silhouette made me think about the more classic skirts already in my closet, and how this category could be a good place to introduce shapes a little less predictable. I went back and forth between black (easy) and slate blue (unique). I thought the black might read as dressy given the structure of the skirt, and I considered how and when I’d want to wear it. Returning to how casually I dress now, I went with the blue and plan to treat it the way I would a good pair of jeans: flats, a simple top, nothing precious about it.
My attraction to texture carried through to tops. I tried on their best-selling open-weave sweater in both long sleeves and a tank. Either would look great paired back with the skirt or TWP pants. A ruffled georgette top offered another option. I liked the ease, loose fit, and how well the top worked with the jeans I was wearing. It’s the kind of piece that would define an otherwise simple outfit.
A good starting point for the season. More khaki, more color, more texture. A spring wardrobe in progress. More to come.
Hard to dress for spring when it’s still 40 degrees and windy in NY.