FASHION & STYLE // SPRING ESSENTIALS 2018

It has finally been consistently warm enough that I was able to switch my garment rack over from winter to spring! Yippee!! It felt so good to put away all of my heavy sweaters and tights and bring out some colorful, lightweight warm-weather pieces. It’s also a great opportunity for me to donate or sell any winter items I haven’t worn and figure out what new things I want to add to my spring wardrobe. When we look at our closets and feel like we have nothing to wear, I think it's usually because we have a bunch of random items that don't really go together. I am definitely guilty of this - buying something on a whim and not having any idea what items in my closet it will pair with. It's fun to have a few unique pieces in our closets, but the best way I've found to make it easy to get dressed every day is to focus on collecting high quality basics that fit well and can be mixed and matched with lots of different outfits. So for this post, I'm sharing my favorite basic items that you'll wear all spring/summer long:

---

Arizona Birko-Flor Sandals in White 

I started wearing Birkenstocks last summer and I fell in love. They are so easy to throw on with anything from a sundress to cutoff shorts and they look effortlessly cute all summer long. This spring, I’m adding this white pair to my closet. I love the way the white pops and I know these will go with so many outfits. They are a great alternative to my go-to simple white sneaker and I can’t wait to wear these. 

---

---

Layered Flower Bud Necklace from Madewell

Madewell has the nicest simple jewelry that can be layered and paired with all kinds of tops. The quality is great too! This necklace is basically two for the price of one - the two strands can be worn together or separately. Plus the neutral color goes great with pretty much anything. It's one of my favorites and now it's on sale!

---

---

Striped Garment Dye Cuffed Tee Dress from Lou & Grey

Lou & Grey is another amazing place to find basics. They're owned by Ann Inc. (the company that owns LOFT and Ann Taylor) and they're basically like the cool younger sister of the other  two brands. Everything is effortlessly comfortable yet stylish, and their fabrics are always super soft. For spring, you really can't go wrong with this tee shirt dress. Layer it under a denim jacket for cooler days, or tie a sweatshirt around your waist for a sporty, casual weekend look. You can even dress it up with wedges and some fun earrings, or layered under a tie-front dress shirt. 

---

---

ASOS DESIGN Denim Jacket in Midwash

Every girl needs a classic denim jacket in her closet. It's the perfect weight for spring, and can even be worn in fall (just layer over a chunky sweater and scarf). A denim jacket is the perfect thing to bring with you on the weekends just in case you get chilly, and it will never go out of style. Plus, they look just as good over a sundress as they do with leggings and a tee. I love this slightly oversized style from ASOS. 

---

---

Short-Sleeve Tie-Front Shirt from Madewell

After wearing dark colors all winter long, I can’t wait to start wearing brighter colors when the weather gets warm. A simple, white button down shirt is a timeless classic that brightens up your closet and can be paired with so many outfits this season. I love this one from Madewell. The quality is great and this shirt will last for years. Wear it to work on casual Friday with skinny jeans and ballet flats, or pop it over a maxi dress (or a tee shirt dress) to add some fun layering. Then this summer, throw it on over a swimsuit as a cover up. So versatile! 

---

---

Lola Mule Sneaker from G. H. Bass

Espadrilles and slip on sneakers are classic summer staples, but this shoe kind of combines them both and adds a trendy "mule" feature. The nude shade will pair with basically everything in your closet. Plus this style is nice enough to wear to work but cool enough to wear on the weekends. All about versatility! Bonus - they're super comfortable and they're on sale. 

---

---

Round Rattan Bag from Boho Bags


Straw bags are timelessly summery and so easy to dress up or down all season long. They're also super trendy right now -- it seems like every clothing store is selling its own version. I love the shape of this bag and the lining is colorful and cute. Plus it's 100% handmade in Bali, which means great quality that will last. 

---

---