Tips and Accessories to Call Spring

It's not *just* a mindset

Hello!!

First of all, you are catching me in great form. Last weekend I had a not so little birthday party with Paella for ~ 100 people (pictured below) after a month living in the jungle and 6 months of being isolated in a work tunnel.

I’m on a high from seeing and hugging all my friends. On a late night walk in NYC, I had seen and posted about a bowl I saw in a window and was trying to identify, and my friend Alyssa even hunted it down and gave it to me as a birthday present - I’m so lucky!

The bowl is from Mellow NYC

I’m a year older but definitely not wiser. To celebrate turning 33, I got my lips tattooed (please do NOT tell my mother and in exchange for your silence I will share results once they heal), a Glucose Monitor, as well as bought a pair of expensive jeans and these Dries Sandals that had been in my cart for so long. I don’t feel bad about any of it because they are my first purchase of 2024 - large Paella not included. I’m feeling the burn of the months of long work hours, and in spite of being consistently healthy, I seem to have gained more than a few pounds the past few months. So, I’m on a health and wellness kick and decided that, in the meantime, $300 for jeans that are not tight and make my bum look great is a small price to pay.

In the next month, I’ll be in sunny, springy LA with some trips to France and New York, so I’m through my winter clothing rut and trying to drag Spring-y pieces out of my closet! Bye, winter coat!

Enjoy!
Melanie

1. Fun Sunglasses

This is a great starting point! I’m personally a huge fan of chic pajamas + ballet flats + girly sunglasses for my weekend runs to the coffee shop. Every year as the Spring collections roll out I yearn for a new pair of sunnies, and usually cave at some point in the summer. Loewe always manages to straddle the very fine line between costume and fancy - this year, I’m getting them early so I can wear them all Spring long.

My fabulous friend Alexandra wearing the Loewe crystal embellished sunglasses in Burgundy ($430). They also come in Blue ($490) and Cream ($405). Note prices for these are all over the place online so I tried to link the best price from US retailers for each color.

2. Light Denim + Navy

Jane Birkin looking fab in light jeans and a navy sweater.

For some reason this very simple combo always works. Along a similar vein, Harling Ross (one of my favorite Substack follows) just put together a great newsletter on color combinations that will make an Outfit. If I wear jeans and a black sweater, I feel boring. If I wear jeans with a navy sweater, I feel dressed up. I love the addition of a touch of beige - on your feet or even as a t-shirt under your sweater. Good navy socks in black loafers have the same effect.

3. Raffia

Swap your work tote for a large basket (yes, in March!) to instantly make your outfit feel like spring. I used my Loewe basket to carry my laptop around a lot until it disintegrated. I boldly brought it back to the Paris store and asked sheepishly “is there anything we can do?”. Turns out, for 45 euros Loewe sent back my basket to Spain and completely changed the raffia base. It is brand new and ~ not that I needed to be even more loyal to Loewe ~ but I am now officially a customer for life.

++“Raffia” is also a great search on both The Real Real and Etsy - you’re welcome!

Lisa Yang Sweater ($710), Raffia clutch from Etsy ($70), My new Tove studio jeans ($335) , Loewe sunglasses mentioned above ($405), COS men polo sweater ($135) . & In the spirit of buying few things I really love, these Row shoes have been on my feet for 6 months straight. Oh also this mariner Toteme sweater is on sale!

4. Single Breast Leather Blazer and Boots Without Tights)

I don’t make the rules, we are back in our 90s era and single breasted blazers are in. Because of their shorter silhouette and lighter weight, they feel like Spring, but I wear them all year long with a very thin uniqlo puffer underneath. I don’t love to give into trends, but these feel everlasting - in fact the best suede ones seem to be hunted on resale.

Mango Beaded top ($80), Reformation Pants ($178), Skims bodysuit ($60), Leather blazer ($210) , Sophie Buhai Earrings ($330), Raffia basket ($60), White Toteme flats (cheapest on Mytheresa, $575)...

Some picks: I recently discovered that Agnes B cardigans once came in Suede ($585) and leather ($988)! I am dying for this Toteme jacket below ($1,365 on sale), but this Max Mara ($290) is a well priced vegan option! Kassl overcoat ($312), Recto curved neck blazer ($590) deserves its own moment really.

I didn’t buy this Toteme jacket, but now that it’s on sale I’m tempted. My skort is old Sacai but here’s a similar one ($211). Boots are vintage Chloe - boots without tights is one of the easiest way to warm up an outfit, weather permitting!

Laura Harrier doing all the things and looking springy and put together but like she didn’t try at all!

Victoria Beckham Shirt ($343) a la Laura Harrier with half off Dries jeans ($248), Of course Reformation makes the perfect Black suede jacket ($548), Flore Flore tank ($80),  Loro Piana Rebecca flats, more sizes here (just dropped in SILVER!) - why are they so good and so hard to find?? ($920), Comme Si socks ($30), and Lemaire belt ($340).

5. A Great Belt

One of the questions I get the most is about my Khaite Benny Belt. I bought this belt right when it came out, when it was still relatively affordable. It is beautiful and sturdy but also the little loop to hold it fell off immediately and I hate how played out (and expensive) it is now - some things are just meant to sell out and not get produced forever! In any case, belting a lighter coat, a blazer or even a pair of high waisted jeans will make an outfit an Outfit. It is in my mind the most underrated accessory. I will make a full belt edit soon but in the meantime…this By Malene Birger Belt, and this Madewell dupe are my top under $200 recs!

We love a great belt! This belt is the item I get the most questions about. This one is at the top of my wishlist, and the one on the left I found on ebay by typing “Rhinestone belt” and scrolling for a very long time. The dress is Toteme.

By Malene Birger Belt ($199), COS trench ($190), Patent skirt from Coach outlet ($225), Comme Si Green socks ($30), Saint Laurent Slingbacks ($925)

6. White Ladylike Flats

I have loved white shoes to elevate an outfit since the Phoebe for Celine era (aka my 20s). Even with a casual outfit, their fragile appearance and sharp contrast to pretty much anything makes one look dressed up. Same goes for slingbacks and mules - the half season of shoes. I bought and returned the white flower Prada shoes last fall and I regret it immensely, but I panicked after one too many renovation bills came in.

These items are meant to wear separate! Although you do you! Raffia handle bag on TRR ($140), This very good blazer ($229), These gingham pants ($197) or this very good $45 skirt, and these Manolos ($795) with a simple white shirt ($98).

7. A touch of color!

Nothing groundbreaking here, but daring to wear light jeans or at the very least a pop of color, will make a winter outfit feel like Spring. I love how Guest in Residence styled this red t-shirt under a white sweater with a hero belt to tie the outfit together. It got my head spinning over all the new outfits I could get out of my existing wardrobe. You can ease into it with combinations of darker colors with white jeans, or add a touch of very current chartreuse green everywhere.

Very inspired styling by Guest in Residence. I really love their Rugby shirts, too!

Chunky Toteme Sweater ($475 on MT) or I love the layered look of a red shirt ($26) under this Guest in Residence sweater ($325), Toteme twisted seam jeans ($265), Kimai semi-hoops ($795 but I still have 20% to share with the code MASARIN20), Madewell belt ($58),  Prada Flower Shoes ($1120).

That’s it from me this week! As always, my inbox is open. xx Melanie