Monthly High-Five // 025

5 things on my mind for May!

Hi Readers,

Welcome to the May issue of the Monthly High-Five and to 2 years of The Found Journal!

Thank you for being here, for trusting and supporting my work, and helping to build this community together 🫶

We made the drive back up to New York this weekend and it’s nice to be back just in time for the start of the Spring bloom. There’s a nice buzz in the air as everyone starts to welcome the sound of birds, the smell of fresh cut grass, and the start of warmer days ahead. Little sparkles in daily life that I took for granted sometimes living in California where we were spoiled with good weather year round.

The month will be focused on finishing up renovations at our new home so that we can hopefully move in by next month (!!).

I’m excited for my husband, Ollie, and I to finally have a place we can truly call home after 4 years of nomadic life. Writing these newsletters and creating content from house to house, airbnb to airbnb, and on the road and at the airports for the past two years has finally caught up to me now that I have a permanent sight in my view. I’ve been feeling a bit of chaotic unrest the last few months so I’m looking forward to the fresh energy and creativity that can bloom from being in a grounded space. Here’s to new beginnings!

Shirt is my old favorite; pants are Donni (they might come back? I got in the last end of year sale!)

---

5 Things I’m Loving

It’s actually still quite cold on the east coast so we’ll be inching our way towards warmer weather styling soon. Here’s some new pieces I’ve pulled for clients or that I have on my wishlist that I can’t get out of my head.

1// A REALLY GREAT SWEATSHIRT - The shape and weight look great but specifically, the color. It was my favorite color to use when I designed basics because it’s interesting and cool but easy to wear. I called it Graphite but you can also think of it like a more elevated faded black. Also comes in classic heather grey. 2// A NON-BASIC BASIC - The fit on this looks so good. When Tibi reimagines simple classic pieces, I always pay attention. They do a great job designing “sexy” in a way that modern women want to feel. I love the deeper neckline and the intentional cut-outs which offer just the right amount of coverage. Features a shelf-bra so you don’t have to worry about what bra to wear. What I think of as a going out top in the Summer but just as easy to style with slouchy denim shorts or a pull-on pant. 3// A FUN EVERYDAY SANDAL - Calfhair? Check! Zebra? Check! But what I love about this is the way the pattern runs so it feels more like a textured stripe than animal print.Also comes in really pretty suede colors like a cornflower blue and dusty olive. 4// THE TROUSER I CAN’T GET OUT OF MY HEAD - I shared this last week in Black but I also think this is one of those interesting neutrals that just adds a lot of depth to even the simplest of looks. I love the slouch. I love the elastic back for a comfort fit. I love the classic chino with a contrast drawstring so it feels more sporty and chill than serious. So many ways to style this one! I think I need to order and try. 5// AN IMPORTANT SUMMER TEXTURE - When it’s hot out, you need accessories to do the heavy lifting. Shape and texture are both important and this bag does both with the nylon and cool shape. The color feels like a chameleon and it’s giving a bit of The Row vibes at a better price point. Also comes in Black. I love the idea of taking a colorful dustbag and using it as a liner/catchall for a bit of color blocking!

The MM trousers are giving me the same energy as these old pants that were my grandpa’s. An easy lightweight cotton with that perfect slouch. I know pull on pants are all the hype right now (and I love them too!!) but there’s something about a chill trouser that just hits differently.

4 Ways To Style

Here’s some ways I’d think about styling them across end uses!

As always, I like to repeat some of the same pieces throughout so you can get some ideas for how to restyle in new ways whether it’s one of these pieces or something similar that you might already have in your closet.

Monthly High-Five Tank/Trousers/Sandal/Bag styled with EARRINGS

Monthly High-Five Sweatshirt/Trousers/Bag styled with FLATS (this color!!) // NECKLACE // SUNGLASSES

Monthly High-Five Tank/Sandal/Bag styled with PANTS // HAT // SUNGLASSES

Monthly High-Five trouser styled with SHIRT // BAG // SHOE // EAR CUFF

3 Pieces I Can’t Stop Wearing

If you know me, you know I go through phases of wearing and re-wearing the same pieces for weeks at a time. I like to do this because: 1) It reduces decision fatigue when I’m really busy 2) It forces me to get creative to remix and restyle 3) It allows me to rotate different pieces throughout the season so I wear more of what I have.

This past month I’ve been running around all over the place so I’ve been relying on easy and comfortable pieces that I can just restyle in quick ways.

Frank & Eileen Shirt (wearing size S) - This was gifted by the brand and I was a bit hesitant to accept as I wasn’t sure if it would execute IRL but once trying it on, it’s actually quite genius. It’s like a button down cardigan but in a t-shirt quality and weight. If you feel like you are always searching for good everyday staples that aren’t super basic, this is worth trying. I chose the cotton jersey but they also do a sweatshirt weight.

Just enough detail that I don’t feel like I need to do much styling around it but easy enough to wear so I treat it like any other white tee. I also think Black would look great!

DL1961 Jeans - I feel like this is a sleeper denim brand but it has deep roots in denim. Family-owned factories and sustainability-led with circularity design initiatives. I was familiar with the brand from my last company as their denim were some of our best sellers in that it just seemed to fit so many different types of women. It personally didn’t fit my style back then but I feel like they’ve really tried to modernize the offering in recent years. My first pair were these from last year and it’s my only mid-wash jean I own. My wash is sold out but this is same style which I got in the longer 31” inseam (I’m 5’4”) as I wanted it to hit more full length and less barrel-like. They are the ones I reach for when I’m in the “want to be comfy but still want to wear jeans” mood (along with my Roucha pair) ie: when I’m bloated or on my period!

The brand asked me to try out some of their new denim so I chose these and they are SO soft as it’s blended with tencel. Super lightweight and washed down so it’s a great option if you want something really comfy that doesn’t feel heavy in warmer weather. It’s also been a great WFH jean as they feel loungey. Also, a similar option in that perfect shade of pink I’ve been loving!!

Anyway, they are just an easy everyday denim I’ve been leaning on.

Top row are the darker mid-wash denim that I’ve owned and bottom row are the newer super light weight option. They have the same inseam but the light wash has a more relaxed fit and is longer as I had to hem them. Can you see how light and drapey they are? I hemmed it so I could mainly wear with a heel but I actually don’t mind the puddling that happens when I wear with sandals.

Kallmeyer Tee - This is the first stripe I’ve owned in probably 20 years aside from button downs. I saw this in the store and was drawn to the creamy color which helped it feel a bit more womenswear, less juniors section if you know what I mean!! And I love the super subtle red embroidered logo just to give it a little pop. I’m a sucker for things that only the wearer can really see or feel. I wanted it to fit quite straight as I originally envisioned wearing it with mini shorts but if you want really slouchy and oversized, I’d size up. It’s been great for WFH days, to dress down more tailored pieces, and as a layering tool.

Worn from Atlanta to Wilmington to Fredericksburg to New York :)

Also, shout out to this perfect grey tee that’s been a nice addition to my tee collection. I have been on the hunt for that perfectly marled grey that feels a bit vintage. A few readers were interested in the chat so I’m linking here in case others re looking for something similar. Note it’s higher in polyester as it’s a tri-blend, which is what creates that beautiful textured heather look.

2 Things I’m Excited To Rewear

I’m excited to be reunited with the rest of my wardrobe soon. Part of it was packed up last May, the other half has been in storage since 2022(!!). There’s a lot of pieces I really miss and can’t wait to rewear. And I’m sure a lot of pieces I forgot I had…!

I think it could be a fun and helpful topic for a future newsletter once I get to unpacking everything. Some things I’m thinking about:

• learnings from what I kept and what I let go of (I didn’t do a huge edit when we first moved from LA because I thought I’d have the chance to unpack 6 months later, not 4 years later…)

• closet tour (I get asked about this often. No idea what it would be of but thinking I could try a live?)

• styling session (this has been on my list but I wanted to wait until I have my full wardrobe with me!)

My old COS trousers that I literally get stopped on the street about, my Tibi foldover trousers, my old Mango mules I love

Also - my old graphic tees, my favorite vintage RL sweatshirt from college (I can’t believe I didn’t pack this!!), my cheap and cheerful summer scarves-turned-skirts

AND MY FAVORITE HOUSE ROBE!! I usually try to pack it for longer trips and it’s one I should have probably packed this past year based on how much I miss it. It’s the little things that help you feel like you!

Here’s two other pieces that I can’t wait to wear again that are still available…

A good non-basic jean

I’ve owned mine for years and have turned so many friends and clients onto these. They just have that cool, unexpected vintage-like feel and I always feel great in them. Runs big so size down once for a fit like mine.

I clearly let this jean do the heavy lifting based on how simple the rest of my outfits are but that’s what makes a piece have staying power in your wardrobe. They should help you get dressed with less effort!

This Leset Niko Set (Top + Bottom; wearing size S in both)

It’s actually not a set but they offer matching pieces. I don’t usually buy sets unless I know I can wear both the top and bottom a ton of ways individually. This set is as easy as it goes and whenever I share it, other people always message me to tell me how much they love theirs too.

Super airy and lightweight, the perfect shade of soft brown that looks good on everyone, and just the right amount of sheerness. I love wearing the bottoms as a coverup with a bathing suit in the Summer. Otherwise, I wear a skin-colored boy short, longer oversized tops, or something around the waist for extra coverage.

Note: It says ‘dry clean only’ as ramie is a very delicate fabric. I tested washing it and it was fine but you do have to be attentive. I hand washed cold very gently, got the water out and laid flat so the fabric doesn’t crinkle and once it got a bit dry, I steamed it out so it wouldn’t shrink up.

If considering a set, try to think about the outfits you can wear as separates too. This way, you aren’t relying on the set as your main outfit option.

1 Quote I’m Resonating With

My theme for the season is surrendering to the flow 💛 Don’t sweat the small stuff, don’t worry about what others are doing or achieving, and stay present to see the good things happening all around you. We are all on our timelines so I’m putting trust back into myself that I’m on the path I’m supposed to be on and what is meant for me will come when it’s time. Control what I can control and it usually all works out 🫶

My own positive reminder I am lucky to have everyday! Ollie always makes sure I take time out of each day to stop and smell the flowers

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