Monthly High-Five // 024

5 things on my mind for April

Hi Readers,

I’m back in your inboxes with the April issue of the Monthly High-Five.

This month we’ll be covering Spring workwear, some try-ons, and maybe a Spring edition of Filling The Gaps so stay tuned!

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5 Things I’m Loving

Ok, I’ve been doing a lot of client shopping and checking out stores so I’m feeling a bit linky (sorry!). In addition to my usual 5 picks, I’m also including more ideas whirling through my mind below.

You don’t need any of these pieces but if you’ve been looking for specific wardrobe gaps or easy ways to update your wardrobe, I hope these give you some ideas!

It’s a bit all over the place - a peek inside just 1/4 of my chaotic mind right now :)

Lots of bottoms this round! 1// YVETTE LINEN SHORT - This is really just to highlight that Posse is now available at Nordstrom!! This is one of my favorite Australian brands that offers great relaxed cotton and linen styles. You can find them at several US retailers but the assortments are always spotty so yay to another place to shop the collection. For example this short that I could only find on the Posse site. Love the shape of this short and the length feels easier to wear for a lot of people. Polished enough for work but chill enough to pair with flip flops. And it comes with a rope belt! 2 for 1! 2// A WFH COTTON PANT - I’m working with a few postpartum moms and they all need the same thing. An inexpensive, comfy, but still cute pair of pants to wear around the house that still feel good in if they need to leave. I only buy cottons if shopping at Gap and this feels so easy, similar vein as Leset, but you don’t have to worry about possibly ruining them. Comes with a matching tank option. I pulled the red but Black is a no brainer. Casual weekend look sorted. 3// A 90s WEDGE - Minimal but with personality. I’m not a leopard person but I know many of you are. (It’s a pattern I love to try on but never actually buy…just personal preference!). I wear my leather flip flops non-stop in the Spring/Summer but I love this shape as it feels just ever-so-slightly dressier. Also love in the suede. (linked an alternative below!) 4// A GREAT SUMMER SKIRT - I love an asymmetric detail on a skirt. And you can wear it tied around the waist. Color is great and feels perfect tied short for a vacation or weekend look, or worn long for a cool dinner or concert outfit. 5// A LESET KYOTO ALTERNATIVE - I love the Leset Kyoto and think it’s worth the price but it frequently sells out, or if you want an alternative, this looks like a great option. Available for pre-order to ship next month.

4 Ways To Style

As always, here’s some ways I’d think about styling them across end uses!

I like to repeat some of the same pieces throughout so you can get some ideas for how to restyle in new ways.

KNIT PANT styled with: Toteme Trench | Leset Tee | Horse Bag (love the size) | The Row Flats | Sophie Buhai Necklace

Same knit pant styled with: Comme Si Shirt | Parker Thatch Bag (own and love this in the tan) | Zara Sandals

SKIRT and SANDAL styled with: Eterne Baby Tee | Zara Tote | Dorsey Necklace

BERMUDA SHORT + SANDAL styled with: Toteme Blazer (on sale!) | AYR Rib Tank (the cut is key!) | Metier Bag | Emily Kuvin Earrings (own and love; the brand has offered readers a code through June which is so rare for fine jewelry - use ANGIE20)

The Leset Kyoto or J. Crew alternative - I think this is such a great everyday pant for Spring and Summer. Lighter than a jean but feels more interesting than a basic linen pant.

My client in the Leset Kyoto and how we styled for casual vs a dinner look to give you some ideas for how to wear these!

3 Spring Ideas I’m Loving

• I can’t stop thinking about pink

  I’m a neutrals-heavy girl but there are three things that I am a complete sucker for: Patent/Crinkle Leather, Sequins/Embellishments, and the color pink. It needs to be a specific shade - either warm toned saturated bubblegum or very pale. It’s a color I’ve loved since I was a child so there’s always a bit of pink in my wardrobe.

  Pink might feel like a hard color to style but I envision with things like a grey strappy rib tank, a graphic tee, a slouchy khaki trouser, a brown cashmere sweater, a grey cardigan worn as a top. A soft navy. Maybe with a bit of orange-red accent through a shoe, bag, or sweater tied around the waist. Even a dusty olive tee or blazer!

If you love the idea of pink but aren’t sure how to incorporate, you can start with an accessory, or I like choosing in a silhouette you are very familiar with that feels like you (like a button down or jean)

1// A GORGEOUS SHELL - Love how this is lean and fitted but not tight so you still get some shape. Would look great with a slim trouser for work, white cotton pants for weekends, vintage levi’s and a kitten heel for dinner. 2// SPA PANT - One of my favorite casual pants. It has the perfect slouch and is in the lightest cotton. The brand is restocking size S this month (asking for a friend). 3// SEASONAL DENIM - Cool chill fit and I’d style with a dusty olive or grey tee. Or a grey button down cardigan worn as a top. Graphic tee and barely there sandal. Also love in this style. 4// PARACHUTE SKIRT - So ethereal and I love the architectural shape. It feels airy but not super delicate so you can dress up or down. Style with a brown cashmere sweater for work. Grey rib tee for weekends.

I tried the spa pant (with the matching polo…so not a polo person but I love the tonal look) and the parachute skirt in store. Loved them both and they are so different but I don’t need two pale pink things so I need to decide!! I purchased both so I can style some outfits at home and make a decision.

• Black Simplicity

  On the completely opposite end of the spectrum (because who are we if not multi-faceted?) - Whenever the weather starts to heat up, I feel very drawn back to Black. I think there’s something really chic and relaxed about wearing black in a sea of bold color and pattern. Restraint often shows confidence in your choices!

  It’s always the simplest of looks but the key is to have a mix of proportions, textures, and shapes to keep your outfit from falling flat.

  

  Love - the ballet flat with the more casual outfit. The texture of her tank. And she’s wearing cotton pants like the one linked above.

Spring/Summer all-black outfits I’ll be repeating again this year

1// VINTAGE-INSPIRED TEE (code: ANGIE15) - One of my favorite casual knits brands. I got this last month and love it for days I want to feel minimal and fuss-free with lived-in jeans. I like this one bc it has a slightly snug fit and is a bit more sheer so it feels easy for dinners with a blazer or trouser. Switching up your vibe is usually about the little things like swapping a white tee for a black one! 2// EVERYDAY STAPLES - I got a new collection release email from Donni and loved these two options in their signature jersey rib. They feel so simple yet not a lot of people have something like this in their closets? Tube top with a pencil or silk skirt or a pair of relaxed linen pants (plus it has a built-in shelf bra). Wrap top with trousers, a slouchy jean, or a kick flare. 3// A CHIC BERMUDA - I’m also very into bermudas right now (more on this later!) and have been eyeing this one for months. I love the more voluminous shape if you want a stronger POV with pared down basics. 4// A LESS FORMAL WORK DRESS - One of my clients showed me this style in her closet a couple years ago in Brown and loved how it looked on her. It just felt easy and a great option for hot weather office dressing. It has just enough interest and waist definition to wear on it’s own and still feel put together. 5// THE PERFECT SPRING LBD - One of my favorite cuts…I love a barely there strap and neckline. It’s feminine and sexy in a chill way. The brand always runs this silk one but they just came out with a cotton option that’s perfect for everyday. Layer a fitted cardigan, style with a shirt around the waist, pair with sneakers or a kitten heel…so many options.

• Cheap(er) and Cheerful Sandals

  You have heard me write about seasonal “injections” in past newsletters - pieces that may be bolder or trendier but that you can incorporate in a small way every season to breathe new life into your wardrobe.

  If you find it’s something that you really resonate with, it can definitely be an investment purchase but you probably also have an itch to dip your toes in a lower cost way when it comes to certain ideas.

  This isn’t about mindlessly spending just because it’s inexpensive but rather strategically adding new ideas to help update or evolve your wardrobe in a low-risk way.

  I like this approach because you can have some fun and experiment but in a way that won’t break the bank and leave you feeling guilty if you move on from it in a couple seasons or years. They are the icing on top that you can swap with an everyday piece to help it feel like a completely new outfit. It’s rarely about needing to buy an entirely new outfit - it’s usually just a cute new sandal, a fun little bag, an interesting top.

  

  Think of your wardrobe like a pie chart. The actual % will look different for everyone based on where they want to invest + the lifestyle they lead but typically the everyday staples will make up the bulk of your wardrobe (ie: the pieces that make getting dressed easy) and then you can invest in statement/emotional purchases (ie: the pieces you can’t get out of your head) and sprinkle in some seasonal injections that come in/out of your wardrobe every season or two.

  Shoes are one of my favorite ways to inject seasonal newness. A swap of a shoe can literally change the entire direction of an outfit from a vibe and visual perspective.

  

  High-low is where I thrive! Wearing the ON purple jellies linked below with an Ozma shirt + TWP trouser. Wearing my red slides from The Row with an old J. Crew sweater, Etsy bag, and Wardrobe NYC trousers. I’d usually always wear a black sandal but fun shoes are one of the easy ways I incorporate color.

  Here are some of my favorites right now but I also love checking out TRR to hunt for fun pieces like these or these. And omg, these!!

  

  1// SQUARE TOE JELLY SANDALS - I love this purple because it’s translucent so it’s really subtle (wearing mine above and I am a half size and took the lower size and it fits perfectly). I also love the fact that it’s ON - who else exclusively wore ON flip flops in high school? 2// IMOGEN FLAT SANDAL - I love this color in a shoe…pair with Navy, Grey, shades of White, Burgundy. So many options and you can dress up or down. It gives me a vintage-y vibe. 3// LEATHER THONG SANDAL - If the Stuart Weitzman wedges above aren’t in your budget, these are great. I got the Bone color for a client who wanted an elevated sandal that gave some height but were easy to wear. White doesn’t exactly sound exciting but trust me, if you wear a lot of darker colors, this will be a game changer! But they have other colors too! 4// MESH SANDALS - Ok I’m weirdly into these! They have a leather sole too. I actually have really good luck with Zara for shoes. Some of my most worn seasonal shoes are from the brand and I’ve had for 7-10 years. Just try to stick to real leather/suede where possible! 5// FLAT SLIDES - Another Zara find in leather. Reminds me of The Row sandals I wear often shown above.

2 Newsletters I’m Loving

• Stylé - The Paris Edit

  I absolutely love street style. I think it’s one of the best ways to gather real life inspiration if you don’t live in a big city, or just don’t get a chance to people watch as much as you’d like. It’s candid, in the moment, and not staged for content. It’s people going about their everyday moments and looking good doing it. I stumbled across Frosso’s newsletter in Notes and it was an instant subscribe. It feels like you are sitting at a Parisian cafe watching people go by and her snaps ARE GOOD.

I mean…so many good outfits in action!!

• Olivia Knott

  Another new-to-me newsletter is from Olivia Knott. I happened to come across one of her outfit selfies and it was instantly my vibe. Based in LA, her newsletters are quick, fun, and inspiring.

If this isn’t an Angie outfit, I don’t know what is! Obsessed with the fit of her pants (they are old BR ones)

1 Quote I’m Resonating With

This woman is always in me but some seasons feels harder to find her than others. I naturally move into this direction and slowed-down ease more as we shift into Spring/Summer but it’s always such a good reminder! quote - @spreadthejelly

Thank you for reading! Whether it’s your first time or your 100th, I’m grateful for your readership and support. See you next week!

xx,

Angie