Spring Dressing
practical, comfortable, colourful, plus spring COATS
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I always love the ritual of pulling out my spring clothes in March and trying on outfits to see what my spring look could or will be. Last year with a new baby at home I was in no place for this, so instead I looked back at past spring outfit documentation to get in the mood, which I compiled in a letter here. However, this year, with my daughter newly in daycare, I have a bit of free time - which perfectly coincides with this spring ritual.
I also recently answered a questionnaire for Habiter about my personal style and what clothes I’ve been living in, which you can read here. Given the time of year I was lamenting about the winter uniform and looking forward to wearing outfits again once I spotted the first yellow forsythia in bloom amidst the grey (which happened this week, thank GOD). Thinking about and answering Christina’s questions got me in the mood for getting dressed.
So, it’s time for spring outfits. I’ve mentioned again and again on this blog how much I loved reading Helen Garner’s collected diaries, How To End A Story. It took me almost a year to finish, picking it up, putting it down, but I did so earlier last month and then immediately revisited some of my favourite passages. One that I especially love and connected to is the passage below, where Garner records a description of a stranger’s way of dressing that she admires. I wanted to include it here as a directive for getting dressed this spring:
Keeping these words in mind - practical, comfortable, colourful - here are some winning combos from my closet as well as some thoughts on spring coats, including two colourful ones that I just bought from eBay (and some alternatives).
As well as using Helen Garner’s key words as a guide, I’m also basically always trying to dress like a character in an 80s Rohmer film. The above outfit, which I think could easily slip into, say, Full Moon in Paris, is one that I’m excited about wearing as soon as the weather improves. This Brooke Callahan skirt is perfect for spring in a shade she aptly calls ‘Bud’ (and it also happens to be the exact colour of the bright green pea soup that I start eating around this time of year). I wanted to try it over leggings and with this perfectly simple silk jacket from Hai. (Speaking of both of these designers, did you see their recent collaboration? The cherry popsicle pink silk skirt…)
This formula is classic me: a sweatshirt, bloomers, ballet slippers (plus agnès b. diaper bag by the door, ready to go). Purple, navy and red. I bought the sweatshirt (the brand is Non-fiction) last August at Mama Loves You Vintage in Toronto (I usually visit this store 2-3 times a year and beeline right to their sweatshirts - I’ve had good luck). The bloomers are Chelsea Mak’s ‘Rain Joggers’ from her core collection. These are a navy wool pinstripe, but I also love her new cotton print for summer in Pink Leaves, which remind me of Laura Ashley. I could see wearing them with black ballet flats and a black boatneck top on a midsummer’s eve.
