If you've been around the blog for awhile, then you'll know that following trends isn't something I typically do unless I absolutely love it. In this stage of my life, I'm making a more conscious effort to dress for myself and not worry about what other people think about the resulting outfits. In fact, I've been trying really hard to ignore what's "in" and wear what I want, how I want, when I want.
That hasn't always been easy, though. I've spent too much of my life trying to follow someone else's sense of style -- watching what everyone around me was wearing and trying to copy it on myself. Never quite feeling comfortable with the outcome. Honestly, it took me until I was well into my thirties to finally start feeling comfortable in my own skin and start dressing like myself...and that sense of self has evolved as I've become less and less concerned with other people's expectations of me.
That said, trends by and large don't turn my head. But there is one current spring trend that feels like it came right from my soul: Poet Core. This aesthetic is already a core element of my current day-to-day style. It's romantic meets literary chic or an academia vibe. We're talking preppy layers, pleats and plaids, vintage style, floral prints, softer color palates, earth tones, cable knits, pointelle, cardigans, flowy skirts, fun socks and tights, loafers, mary janes, lace up boots -- essentially all of my favorite things all rolled into one! So obviously I am here for it.
With this style being so popular right now, it's been easier than ever for me to update my closet with some fresh, true-to-my-style pieces, which is what I'm sharing with y'all today. As always, I shop with a pretty strict budget (and mostly during sales) -- my funds are far from unlimited. I also just did a huge closet cleanout, which is something I try to do at least a couple of times a year. Not necessarily to make room for new items or justify a new purchase or two but to continue to curate a wardrobe that feels authentically me by releasing clothes that no longer serve me.
But enough about that. Let's talk about the new spring additions I've added to my closet within the last two months. Of course, if you've been around long enough, you'll know that I always shop with the intention of finding pieces that I can wear pretty much all year round (or close to it anyway -- our summers are way too hot for anything knit).
A few notes before you start shopping. All of the items I'm sharing are currently in my closet, although I have not worn every single piece just yet. It's pretty equally divided between Old Navy, Amazon, and Shein. All were bought on sale, and in the case of Old Navy by using Super Cash and rewards points. Most of the clothing is going to be size 6 or medium (I like things to be a bit looser these days), and the shoes are size 7. Several of these items I own in multiple styles and/or colors, which I'll detail below.
Dresses
White Polka Dot Dress - I haven't worn this yet, but I am in love. I adore polka dots, but it's really hard to find them in white with black dots, so when I came across this one at Old Navy I knew I had to have it. It is a classic shape that won't go out of style ever and will be easy for me layer as the seasons change. It also comes in black with white dots.
Blush Long Sleeve Dress - I picked this up on a clearance rack at my local Old Navy, so I got it for a steal. It's not listed as clearance on the website, but it is starting to sell out.
Red Floral Print Dress - I actually bought a blouse in this exact pattern before I knew there was a dress to match. I love this pattern so much that I bought the dress, too. I love the ruffle around the collar. It's fully lined, and it's got a tie at the waist. Fair warning, I got this in a medium so that it wouldn't be constricting around my shoulders and ribs, which resulted in the bust being very loose. That said, I know I would have been uncomfortable in the small. This comes in a few more patterns.
Green Polka Dot Dress - How cute is this dress? I am low key in love with this weird shade of green. Is it chartreuse? I don't really know, but it's perfect and a breath of fresh air from the olive green chokehold of the last several years (I still love olive green, tbh). I haven't worn this one yet, but I can't wait to style it.
Bottoms
Green Pants - This is my second pair of these pants, and I'm sure it won't be the last. They're great for work without feeling stuffy. They're cropped, which for me means that they're ankle length, which is what I want. The patch pockets are a nice detail that makes them interesting. They've got the right amount of stretch to keep them comfortable and easy to move in. Definitely worth the higher price point in my opinion.
Green Patchwork Skirt - I own this skirt in three different styles now. It went viral on social media last year for good reason. It really is that good! I love the dusty pink floral and neutral floral, too.
Dark Floral Skirt - I haven't worn this exact skirt just yet, but I have worn the other skirt in the exact same style that I bought at the same time (it's this pretty floral paisley print one). I have big plans for this one; the timing just hasn't felt right yet. Soon, though. Soon.
Light Blue Skirt - I am so glad I took the chance on ordering this skirt! It is perfect. I'm currently resisting the urge to order all the other colors, too.
Bright Floral Skirt - Another one I haven't worn yet, although I have worn its counterpart (this warm floral pattern had me dreaming of summer vacation). This one has so many colors in it. It's so bright and fun, and I can't wait to wear it out.
Tops
Long Lace Vest - I haven't worn this yet, but I have big plans. I mean, how cute is it?! It brings back so many memories from the late 90s and early 00s. Plus it just feels like a romantic touch.
Green Floral Blouse - I actually own this blouse in two patterns, the green floral print shown in the graphic above and a gorgeous red floral print. I love this style of blouse from Old Navy and have owned quite a few of them over the years. I always go up a size in this style top so that it has a nice, flowy fit to it, and to compensate for the inevitable shrinkage in the first wash.
Lace Tie-Front Blouse - I bought this on sale because I saw it and couldn't stop thinking about it. I'm so glad I did. I've been treating it like a vest and wearing it like a third-piece layer to finish out an outfit. It's an unexpected way to add interest to an outfit without adding a lot of bulk.
Cardigans & Sweaters
Red Button-Front Cardigan - I hate to be the one to tell you that this gorgeous red button-up cardigan is sold out, especially since I literally just bought it, but it has. It is still available in other colors, though, and I really can't recommend this one enough. It's 100% cotton and was so comfortable, despite not being as soft as I was expecting.
Blue Sweater Vest - This is the blue version of the red sweater vest I already own. I also now have a brown version thanks to a sweet coworker who gifted me a hand-me-down. These are the third-piece layer I didn't know my closet was missing.
Yellow Star Cardigan - This cardigan is well on its way to becoming my entire personality. I mean, I knew I liked it when I ordered it. I didn't expect to fall head over heels in love with it or for it to work with so many things in my closet. Plan to see it a ton until it gets too hot for me to wear it without passing out. It comes in other colors, too, so if yellow's not your color, still check it out.
Leopard-Floral Cardigan - This one is just fun and adds a bit of whimsy to any outfit you wear it with. It's also incredibly soft.
Purple Striped Sweater - I love short-sleeved sweaters for spring, and purple is just speaking to me these days. This was much better quality than I was expecting for the price. It's a nice, thick weave and very soft. The colors are great in person. Only thing to note is that what I thought was a black stripe is actually navy blue, which I actually like better.
Gray Flower Sweater - I fell in love with this sweater as soon as I saw it and patiently waited for it to go on sale. It's so good, y'all. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality, and the colors are just perfect.
Green Flower Cardigan (not pictured) - I wanted to include this beauty of a cardigan because it's so great, but I couldn't use any of the pictures from its listing page. It's another whimsical piece that's nice quality. I'm pretty sure it was hand-sewn, too, based on the stitching.
Shoes
Green Mary Janes - I have been thinking about these since I bought the blue pair back in January. I've been wearing both pairs a lot lately. They just feel perfect for spring, and they're very comfortable. The footbed is made of memory foam, so it's soft. They're faux suede and have a really unique buckle. The buckle itself works in that you can adjust to make the strap tighter, but to get them on and off you just hook or unhook it. I can't explain it, so go watch the video on the product page. It's a great feature, and I wish all my shoes with buckle straps worked this way!
Yellow Espadrille Mary Janes - Not gonna lie, I almost didn't buy these, but I'm really glad I did. They are so cute, and I absolutely love the color. That said, these shoes were not made for walking long distances. They're pretty flimsy and have almost no support despite the cloth material feeling pretty stiff. I was fine in them to teach, but by the end of the day had a blister on my right heel.
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