Monthly High-Five//011

A countdown of 5 things on my mind for March

Hi Readers,

Welcome to the March High-Five!

For any new readers, the first newsletter of each month is dedicated to my Monthly High-Five. Five items, topics, or ideas that I happen to be thinking about when writing the newsletter. It’s free for all subscribers and a fun way to start the month!

Spring feels so close yet still so far away here in NY. We had a few warm sunny days in the 40s followed by an unexpected snow shower yesterday and it’s now 20 degrees as I finish up this newsletter :) However, those little rays of sunshine were just enough for me to start feeling excited about the warmer weather ahead!

My February in a nutshell!

This is the last installment of a 3-month series I’ve started since the beginning of the year:

• January was centered around making the most out of your existing wardrobe and taking a deeper look at what you already own

• February was all about intentional shopping

• March will be focused around styling and I’m excited to get back to the roots of this newsletter a bit with this topic! I’ll be sharing what and how I packed for 3+ weeks of international travel in a carry-on, some BTS learnings with a 1:1 styling client¹, and a bit of Spring styling inspiration.

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Now for my March High-Five!

5 Small Wardrobe Tweaks

There’s a lot of fresh Spring product coming out right now and while it’s so fun to look and fantasize about all the shiny and new, I most often find it’s the small intentional tweaks we make that really go the distance in our wardrobes. Here are 5 swaps I’m currently thinking about updating in my closet to transition into Spring…you don’t need these exact pieces and they may actually be things you already own!

1 // If you rely heavily on white tees, switching to a heather grey can bring interesting texture and depth to your go-to outfits 2// If you always wear a black belt, try a brown one that can show beautiful patina over time (I am in love with this gorgeous toffee leather and suede…an ultimate wishlist piece but you’ll never need another brown belt!) 3// If you always wear gold or silver jewelry, switch into a beautiful gemstone piece that provides nice contrast against bare skin and neutrals 4// If you always wear dark colored bottoms, try opting for a cream/ecru/stone to bring vibrancy to your everyday looks 5// If you have been heavily rotating your white or neutral button downs, try an unexpected shade like Tan/Khaki to create interesting new color combos

Additional Options:

Grey Tees - I prefer grey tees to have a bit of slouch to them. Not too much of a drop shoulder as it can feel sloppy and too loungewear. A great everyday slouchy option (this one is also great but currently out of grey - the raw silk adds nice texture), a more textured casual option, a more boxy crop option

Belts - Depending on what you already own and your preferences…I love the contrast stitching on this one, a delicate reversible option (great for work), love this reddish brown shade, a fun studded option (I like this over a simple slip or tee dress), a beautiful textured croc option (great if you wear a lot of black and need some contrast), a statement option (I’ll be trying this one out but it’s not for everyone)

Carnelian Earrings - I personally love Carnelian for Spring/Summer but you can really do any gemstone color you prefer. Mixed with pearls and a bit asymmetric, a simple drop stud, fun and flirty, these hoops are also on my wishlist (they come in a lot of colors!). It also doesn’t need to be an earring - you can also try a necklace or cuff! (More options here)

Trousers - an unexpectedly easy color to wear (I own and love these), a great relaxed soft pant, an everyday cotton trouser (alternative here). You don’t need to do trousers either - just try switching from black and blue denim to white jeans if you have them. It will instantly “lift” your outfits!

Shirting - this rich espresso linen or this perfect mushroom shade, this soft buttery cream poplin option, this interesting but subtle stripe option, or this perfect stripe

4 Ways To Style

Some fresh inspiration so you can see how these pieces can come to life in your own wardrobe!

A grey tee under classic shirting and jeans brings an unexpected cool // update your white tee + jeans to grey to switch it up while maintaining that everyday feel // I love grey paired back to dressier items like trousers or suiting…it helps soften the overall look and feel // Grey also acts as a neutralizer when paired with bolder colors or prints

See how the brown belt adds richness and depth? I love it paired with clean white/ecru but it also looks great against other browns, navy, and greys. A gold buckle feels a bit refined and luxe while a silver one adds a bit of cool contrast and edge

A gemstone earring brings a bit of unexpected bohemian to tailoring // I love the pop of color against evening wear. It brings a level of sharp contrast while keeping it chill // A pop of color for beach/pool/vacation days is all you need! // I love the impact of a bolder statement earring against everyday pieces like a white tee

Shade of grey tee (check!), light neutral trouser (check!), brown belt (check!) c/o Angharad Jones // The outfit I wore last week as soon as the weather hit above 40 degrees (they are the COS ones linked above) // You can create the same visual with cotton trousers or jeans - a nice textured moment against your cozy sweaters // I love the white satin against the dark black accessories and her hair

Tan looks unexpectedly cool and fresh paired back to modern workwear // I love the tan shirt against silver accessories and washed down denim // An interesting new neutral color combo // Tan/Khakis are also a great balance to bolder color/prints and provide nice juxtaposition to more feminine pieces

3 Alternatives For Inspiration

I’ve spent a lot of years gathering inspiration for my previous roles and as a stylist. I find it to be very helpful as we head into a new season so we can more intentionally set the tone of how we want to look and feel as the weather changes. While social media platforms like Pinterest, IG, and Substack are great for gathering inspiration, I find that a lot of the imagery and individual pieces can get repetitive so here are three alternative places I also look to find inspiration:

• Magazines

  • I don’t live in a big city anymore so I like to stock up on international magazines when I travel. Magazines are great because you have a bit of the aspirational but also just really great visuals from storyteller stylists. It’s also a great way to learn about new brands that may not be as heavily circulated on the internet. If you aren’t able to get physical copies, you can usually get digital subscriptions (I do this for Vogue Australia) or follow their social for previews of their shoots.

    

    Clippings from Vogue Australia, NYT T Magazine, and Wallpaper Australia. I also love The Gentlewoman, Holiday, and Unconditional. Love the bralette paired with a flowy trouser and the blazer as a great vacation look I already have in my closet // the stunning earring layering // a lace dress with Pumas // a new store recommended in one of the features with fun affordable bags

• Brand styling

  • I still get physical lookbooks in the mail because I just enjoy viewing them this way but you can also browse sites/brands to check out their styling. I find brand styling to be more realistic so look at some of your aspirational brands even if you don’t shop from them.

Clippings from AYR and Me + Em. I love the tee layered under the henley and the stripe mixing with the grommet belt! I also love the styling from Mytheresa.

• Menswear

  • Similar to brand styling references, you don’t need to shop menswear to be inspired by it! I think menswear has a really approachable, and sometimes more realistic, way of styling than women’s as the assortments are grounded in more classic pieces. They don’t have as much of the bold novelty statements and “fashion” elements as women’s which is always fun to look at but sometimes doesn’t translate to IRL dressing.

    

    The Aura Lee red anorak that has trickled into womenswear (love this version) // love the contrast of the suiting and gold belt with the relaxed feel of the bandana and hat // my layering dreams // love the subtle color combo and tie scarf detailing

Also, the best inspiration is people watching!! Go bring your laptop or a book and sit outside at a cafe or a park and just watch the different people go by. I find this to be the best of both worlds — fresh air and staying present and real life dressing!

2 Products I Recommended in Substack Chats

Ok this is a bit random but maybe could also be fun? I am not super active in Substack chats but I happened to share two recommendations based on what was being requested so I thought it would be fun to share here. For those who are newer or unfamiliar to Substack chats, they are a great way to crowdsource recommendations for everything from the best dry cleaners in your area to hand creams for cold weather to styling recommendations to best hotels/things to do for whatever city you can think of. Most chats don’t allow individual affiliate links other than the newsletter writer’s own so I feel like you are getting more honest, non-influenced recommendations.

Every newsletter has the ability to host their own chat - you can join ours here! (Best viewed in the mobile app!)

The Request: An elevated laptop case with pockets for the charger My Recommendation: I’ve had it for years and it still looks and feels like new. The pebble leather makes it so much easier to maintain and care for. I own this one as I like that it carries my chargers and notepad but this is a great one too. Also, no one asked but I use this tote insert organizer which I highly recommend if you are a big bag person like me!

The Request: Best hand cream My Recommendation: I’ve shared this hand cream here before but I truly love it (as you can tell from this photo!). I own 2-3 at any given time to keep at home and in my purse or car. I have let random strangers use it because I want them to see how good it is. They are great white elephant or stocking stuffer gifts. Unscented, not greasy, actually absorbs and moisturizes and lasts a long time.

1 Quote I’m Currently Resonating With

from Brianna Weist

See you next Sunday!

xx,

Angie

1. Interested in working together to refine your style and make the most of your wardrobe? I have 2 spots left in March + April for my Style Reset service where I’ll do the heavy lifting in editing, curating, and styling a wardrobe you love. Book a free discovery call and let’s chat about your style challenges and goals!