58: April in outfits
It's good to be back with full force for May.
The past two months have been the most exhilarating and whirlwind of my whole life. Four Yu+Mei events in the span of three weeks with one press trip wedged between, while trying to maintain somewhat of an online presence. I’ve never worked harder in my life, and I feel very proud of everything I’ve created.
Substack took a bit of a back seat during this time, which I think is okay because there’s plenty of people I admire to tell you what to wear instead anyway. I’ve found myself wearing all of the items I mentioned here as a mindless uniform to throw on, but Spring is highly unpredictable here and there were still days where I found myself in my parka. If you need a refresher:
57: Spring vision boards
Spring is transient and fleeting where I come from (Canada, not Malaysia), but it is a very special window for dressing. And I thought long and hard about what I wanted to write after my coat newsletter and winter blues dressing piece, and I think that’s enough of winter dressing. I don’t need to advertise to you anything other than what I already have …
I can reflect back on each quarter and attribute a word to it, but I want to be preemptive and do the same for the quarter ahead. Since Q1 and the first third of Q2 were an absolute grind, my word for Q2 is routine. I don’t want to stray from everything I’ve built up from this first part of the year, but I feel like I’ve finally found my footing and can return to doing all the things I love as well. I can get dressed in inspiring outfits again. I can run again (my sprained ankle is on the mend. Yay!). I can spend more time with my loved ones. And on a good day, I can make spontaneous plans.
The return to actually dressing has felt incredible and inspiring. In the thick of all the event planning, my work days were 12-16 hours long, and the weather was miserable and snowy. I found myself in sweatpants more often than I’d like. April was the perfect breath of fresh air to clean out my closet, find old and new staples, and rediscover my love for dressing.
It’s been a while since I’ve done my intentional dressing exercise! Here’s what I have been wearing this month:
1.
Activities/tasks: first patio lunch!
Outfit description: Rue Sophie trench, Gil Rodriguez leggings, Vince crochet bag, Chanel slingbacks, and Flore Flore Esme tank (not pictured)
Notes: I felt so chic wearing this ensemble for my first outdoor lunch meeting of the year! If last year I was obsessed with my Kallmeyer trench that draped to the floor, something about this shorter length feels delightfully practical. I’ve been making an effort to take public transportation and bike more, and this length facilitates both those intentions far more than something that trails the ground (though I love my Kallmeyer trench and will never part with her because she is elegant and, with a kitten heel, unstoppable!).
2.
Activities/tasks: Lunch, running errands
Outfit description: Donni shirt, Nothing Written pants, Peche shoes (I can’t find this style anymore but I’m dying over these), vintage Kelly
Notes: Gosh do I ever love this red and brown colour combo. And if ever a new piece has become happily integrated into my wardrobe, it’s these Nothing written pants. The perfect straight leg, low rise, and a length that works well with heels (how I’m styling them here) or flip flops! Here are the pants again in situ:
3.
Activities/tasks: Dinner with Frette
Outfit description: Still Here jeans, Prada blazer (similar here and here), vintage Chanel minaudiere, YSL heels
Notes: Sometimes I just need to resort to tried and true basics, and this Prada jacket that I bought secondhand never fails me. Neither do the Still Here Everyday jeans. I have multiple washes and find myself reaching for them again and again. And I’m going to drop another pic of this purse here because what a vintage find! Pissed n’ Broke vintage. You’re welcome. Give her some time to get things to you.
4.
Activities/tasks: First warm day
Outfit description: DL1961 Shorts (use SASHA15 for 15% off), Atticus Dean tank, Siyazu jacket (direct link here, similar here), Jude mules
Notes: You know that one outfit you have that has the lowest cost per wear? For me, that’s this look. These shorts have been on repeat ever since I got them, and this jacket is seasons old but is so loved by me and my friends who steal it from me. And the mules. If you had to get one pair of Jude shoes, let it be the cave mules. I waited months for them to restock and they were well worth the wait. And below is the outfit in a slightly different font, if you will, but shows just how perfect the shorts are:
5.
Activities/tasks: running errands
Outfit description: Nothing Written dark navy jacket, Theory pants (unfortunately mostly sold out but some available here), Balenciaga bag
Notes: Okay, I caved. I got the Rodeo bag. And I don’t regret it! I was debating for a while between the medium and the large, and felt that the medium size was too similar to my Chanel 25. It’s been my overnight bag, the perfect work bag. I got mine directly from the store but learned after that it’s shockingly less expensive on Cettire. And a special shoutout to these low-maintenance-but-goes-with-everything Theory pants, which are machine washable and are perfect for travelling.
6.
Activities/tasks: Dinner with Dyson to celebrate the launch of their travel hair dryer (which works with all adaptors and is nice and neat and tiny for your suitcase!)
Outfit description: Siyazu jacket (see outfit #4 for similar links), Atticus Dean top, Khaite clutch, Rotate leather skirt, Etro shoes (limited sizing of this colourway here, more in burgundy here)
Notes: What I found beautiful about April was seeing the same pieces work so well with multiple outfits and having each one feel unique. This Atticus Dean tank top is the perfect scoop neck, low back, sexy top for a night out, and I’ve already sung this jacket’s praises. Am I forming a capsule wardrobe?
7.
Activities/tasks: Dinner at Isabelle’s
Outfit description: vintage caftan from Merci C’est Vintage, Theory pants, Khaite clutch, Elsa Peretti bottle necklace
Notes: I found this caftan in Paris and knew it was very special - its ornateness paired with a trouser and flip flop feels very Olsenian! And I felt the dusty pink clutch was a nice contemporary touch to balance things out.