Lots of you really enjoyed the Fall Wardrobe series I did last year, so I’m doing another one for Spring this year!
For part 1, we are covering spring shirts, sneakers, jackets, belts, and knits, 5 items per category. I hope you find this helpful, and happy spring!
1. Oversized shirts
Green striped shirt - from a new and fresh London-based brand that focuses on doing simple, classic, and crisp cotton shirts.
White oxford shirt - Big fan of the dropped shoulder, relaxed oversized fit, and the casual feel of this specific style of shirt. Can never go wrong with a white shirt!
Blue striped shirt - similar secondhand on TRR
Pink oversized shirt - similar cut and feel to the white shirt above! I need it in ever color, please!
Ivory silk shirt - blue short-sleeved on sale here
2. Retro sneakers
Brown suede sneakers - I waited until 3 am for this specific color drop on the Adidas website, so I for sure will report if they meet my expectation. I went with size UK6. It also comes in green aka another super popular colorway for spring and summer this year!
Vintage birch black sneakers - no doubt, a classic timeless pair!
Silver sneakers - even better option here (the resell price is kinda insane, so I’d recommend to wait or buy secondhand!)
Gazelle indoor sneakers - super lightweight, and I love the clear gum sole.
Sporty sneakers - ultra-comfortable and versatile pair. Can’t wait to get my hands on soon!
3. Easy jackets
Brown leather blazer - comes in suede | cheaper alternatives on eBay: here or here
Quilted jacket - khaki one on sale. I wear my Uniqlo jacket so much that this specific style of jacket is 100% my wardrobe staple. It’s easy to just throw on and head out of the door on days when I don’t want to think too much, perfect for spring and early fall kinda weather!
Oil-skin mac jacket - Do you know that mac stands for mackintosh? It’s a raincoat, named after a Scottish chemist, Charles Macintosh who invented the waterproof material used in raincoats. This quilted version is also on my wishlist!
Black blazer - patiently waiting for it to drop lower in price. It’s a perfect black blazer in my eyes!
Faded brown leather jacket - up-and-coming Korean brand that I feel very intrigued by, and they kinda remind me of The Frankie Shop.
4. Timeless belts
Benny belt - comes in 8 variations, and black with silver buckle is no doubt the most timeless version. I have and reach for it at least twice a week!
Brown belt - comes in black and croc finish, unisex style.
Belt with gold rectangle buckle - comes in 6 variations, and I love them all.
Slim black belt with oval buckle - to also belt a blazer with? Yes!
Helsa black logo belt - I’ve had it in my wishlist since forever. Also comes in brown.
5. Versatile knits
Green v-neck sweater - You’re going to see this shade of green, pine or forest green, everywhere like this bag, these pants, and this shirt.
Pink cardigan - comes in 10 colors, from one of my favorite UK-based knitwear brand!
Gray crew-neck sweater - I still dream about owning it after all of these years. It is stunning in-person!
Taupe cardigan - so cozy and perfect to lounge around in and travel with.
Yellow v-neck sweater - I love the look of a white crewneck T-shirt peeking out from a chunky V-neck sweater.
If you don’t want to miss part 2, be sure to subscribe right below as next week will be our paywall week.
Some spring launches I’m super excited about:
KEEN launched Targhee IV hiking boots this week, and I’m obsessed with this pink pair! In case you didn’t know, KEEN Targhee III was my first ever pair of hiking boots. I bought them with my own money when I started taking hiking more seriously back in my Seattle days! And they’re still my most-worn favorite pair of hiking boots that I never see myself letting go ever! I have the high ankle version, and when paired with thick hiking socks like these, they make the most perfect outdoorsy companion. I love the rugged feel, and the rubber bottom soles that provide traction on slippery and wet trails are my favorite parts about these. They make the experience much safer (as compared to hiking in regular sneakers!), and they look so good even after 4+ years of heavy uses. Other pairs of KEEN shoes (ft. new spring colorways) that I’ve been wearing on repeat at-home and to run errands in are the Newport in safari (the rubber toe box are so great in the summer, especially on trails or out in the woods) and the UNEEK in martini olive (the most stylish pair of KEEN, great for the city like NYC!).
I’m dying to replace my current linen bedding setup to cotton ones, specifically these TEKLA’s percale sheets in this new blue color or these classic needle stripes. I own a Tekla linen flat sheet (got on sale on Ssense 2 years ago), and I’d swear by the quality. Brooklinen sent me their percale sheets, and those still remain my favorite cotton sheets I own. I’d 100% prefer cotton over linen though, so I’m also sure that these Tekla sheets will be a super nice (but expensive) upgrade.
Have you seen ALLBIRDS’ spring new arrivals? The Tree Runners in cocoa and the Tree Pipers in beige literally make my heart swoon. Remember that if you purchase anything on Allbirds using MY LINK, you’ll get a pair of socks for free (any pair, just add them to your cart! Let me know if you run into any problems while ordering!)
Last week, I got invited to come celebrate the opening of COS BAR, a luxury multi-brand beauty retailer founded in 1976 in Aspen, now in Cobble Hill (138 court Street, next door to the big Trader Joe’s), Brooklyn. I went home with a bag of so many amazing samples, and I cannot wait to dive right into the testing. I just wish I lived a bit closer, but I’d be sure to stop by when I’m around. They carry so many products from brands I love such as Cle De Peau Beaute concealer, Oribe dry texturizing spray, Salt & Stone bodywash, Augustinus Bader rich cream, and La Mer soft cream.
PHEOBE PHILO makes her first brick-and-mortar debut at Bergdorf Goodman store in NYC this week! This took me by surprise because she chose the ‘wholesale’ route before establishing her own physical stand-alone retail space. I own the Peak sunglasses and have been anticipating and wanting to try on her clothes for so long. So glad that now I can get to touch and feel and try things on in-store.
Lastly, SSENSE bi-annual sale is officially here, starting at 65%! Here are a few things I have in my wishlist: Holin coat in Dove, tabi ballerina, this black trench, this quilted jacket, this style of twisted shirt, this wrap cardigan, this cutlery set (I need 3 more!), this headband, these iconic cut-out jeans, these towels and bed sheets, and these sandals.
A quick catch up…
NYC has just had a 4.7 magnitude earthquake on this morning, Friday, the day that this newsletter goes out.
I was sitting on the ground putting on my makeup and felt the ground including all of my stuff shaking for awhile. The entire time, it felt like there was a train going through my basement, just right underneath of where I was sitting, and it was such a wild experience. In case you don’t know, I live on the ground/garden floor in a Brooklyn brownstone, and we have a basement. My friend texted me as it was so strong that it woke her up. Then I browsed social media and saw so many people posting about it, and then multiple emergency alarms went off on my phone… What a morning!!!
This whole week has been such a weird week.
I feel like things have been really weird for me, especially after my Vietnam trip... I miss my family so so much, and it’s getting harder and harder these days. Vietnam trip was such a treat as every moment that I got to spend with my family felt like it healed my soul. I felt happy and fulfilled even when we were doing the smallest of things or nothing at all. We had each other. Life in NYC is great, but the thought of not being able to be with my family more often or all the time kills me. I hate the feeling of not getting to do the regular daily life things with my parents or siblings. I wish there’s a way for me to go back and forth, visiting my family in Vietnam, more often. Or they could come here as I’d love to show them NYC and my life in NYC?
Tax day is coming up (April 15), so there’s been a lot of talks about money. It is a stressful time for small businesses and freelancers/creatives… I feel like I’d need a CPA to feel confident with what I’m doing, tax-wise, at one point in the near future.
Lately, I’ve also been thinking a lot about going back to school for a master’s degree doing something that combines business, art, tech, and fashion. I might jump back to the 9-to-5 grind because I really miss bumping into people. Working in a team setting is literally my favorite part at any jobs that I’ve had before, and I always make great friends from work. So for the next few months, I think you might see some changes around here. I don’t know what or how exactly what I will go with, but for now, I’m just praying and trying to stay positive.
If you’re going through similar things, I’m with you and sending good luck!
An :X