While I work in fashion, I don’t shop nearly as much as I used to. Maybe it’s that I’ve matured and honed my signature style, or maybe I’ve simply become more budget conscious, but either way, I just don’t accumulate as much stuff as I once did. To be clear: I’m no Marie Kondo (one look at my bathroom cabinet would confirm that), and I still love shopping. But now that I work from home, I’ve learned how to live with less clothing — so when new seasonal trends emerge, I try to see what I can do with what I already have. I challenged myself to put together on-trend outfits for spring 2019 shopping only from my closet. Trust me, if this former fashion hoarder can do it, so can you.
The Belt Bag
True story: I have had this belt bag from HFS Collective for a long time and have barely worn it. I’m not into wearing things that highlight my waist (or lack thereof), and every time I tried it, I didn’t love the way my shape looked. This time, I was determined to make it work. I reached a happy medium by pairing it with my fave asymmetric Who What Wear for Target skirt and a half-tucked sweater from H&M to keep it dynamic. I added white studded slingbacks by Steve Madden and came up with what felt like a great transitional outfit. (Note to self — add this to my early spring rotation.)
Monochromatic Head-to-Toe
Can you tell I like sweaters and midi skirts? I live in mostly neutrals (as much as my significant other would like me to wear more color, I just don’t) and have a thing for gray and navy. The only real option for me to try and attempt the head-to-toe monochromatic thing was with navy. I wear this Aritzia V-neck sweater at least once a week, and these Zara block-heel pumps from several seasons ago have actually held up quite nicely. The thing about monochromatic outfits is you can kind of just go for it without the risk of failure. I coupled my two old standbys with a newer skirt from Lulus et voila — my (navy) blue heaven. To help pop the look, I grabbed my trusty chunky gold chain and my white circle bag from Brahmin adorned with a striped scarf from Lulus.
Glitzy Shoes for Day
I will never tire of this trend. If I can wear a sparkly or shimmery shoe with jeans, Sign. Me. Up. I’ve had these ASOS metallic brocade pumps for a few years and I’m still not sick of them. Looking down at a festive pair of heels just makes everything better. To keep this outfit looking daytime, I styled them with Parker Smith jeans, an H&M blazer, and a Splendid turtleneck. (I have this one in three colors!) It still needed a little something extra, so I balanced out the glimmer with vintage gold brooches and earrings from one of my favorite sustainable jewelry brands, Honey Rose & K.
Neon (and Bright Color blocking)
OK, I’m a fashion editor, and even I’m surprised that the neon revival is still going strong. But it is and here I am in a bright coral Lulus sweater that I tried with my red Lulus ruched skirt, simultaneously hitting the neon and the bright color-blocking trend all at once. I know I said I don’t wear a ton of color, and certainly not together, so this was a fun trip outside my comfort zone. White ankle boots (also from Lulus) helped take this outfit to a fun, mod place. I kept accessories to a minimum because well, color.
Shopping my closet for spring 2019 forced me to have a fresh look at what I own and actually, what I wish I had. I looked at old pieces with fresh eyes and saw gaps in my wardrobe that weren’t as obvious to me before. (Why don’t I own more pants that aren’t jeans?) It’s a worthwhile challenge to take — but then again, I’ve found most challenges usually are.
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(Photos via Rachel Aschenbrand-Robinson)
