Spring was a bit of a funny one for my wardrobe wear count. Not only were the seasons in transition, but my body was too. In early September, I still fit *most* of my wardrobe, but by mid-October, my bump had well and truly popped. Safe to say, the items I gravitated to the most were a little all over the place.
As per previous, I’ll be wrapping up the spring wardrobe staples I wore the most, along with a few reflections on my style now that the season has passed. If you’re based in the Northern Hemisphere, you may be interested in having a read of my winter most worn HERE.
WHAT I WORE
It wasn’t until mid-October that I finally revealed that Luke and I are expecting our first in 2020, and if you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed I was making a point of wearing some of my most fitted pieces in my closet. High-waisted anything was a big focus for the first half of the season, especially as I knew it wouldn’t be long until my waist was (temporarily) a thing of the past.
In total, I wore 130 items from my closet in Spring; 27 of those items were shoes.
One thing I noticed most was how clearly I defined the colour spectrum of my wardrobe early on in the season. Neutrals are always a mainstay, but for colour, I’ve found myself opting for soft blue tones.
To make getting dressed easier – particularly as my body undergoes some incredibly changes – I packed away more than half my wardrobe. Anything that would no longer fit, or just wasn’t seasonally appropriate was popped in a suitcase. I also used the opportunity to part ways with a number of items that I knew would be years (minimum) before I could wear them again, or just wouldn’t be suitable for my lifestyle after baby arrives.
SPRING TEN MOST WORN ITEMS
Outfit 1: Wearing Everlane silk cami, Topshop white denim skirt (also love this), Yoli & Otis blazer (old but this is a great alternative), Vaneli two tone pumps
Outfit 2: Wearing Joseph sweater (affordable option here), Realisation Par leopard skirt (affordable dupe here), By Far mules (affordable here), Phillip Lim mini pashli bag
Everlane wide strap black sandals | worn 19 times
Mirroring my winter most worn, the shoes I reached for the most over spring were also from Everlane. These have been such an easy throw on piece during warmer days, and as someone with wide feet, I really appreciate the buttery soft leather of the straps. It’s very accommodating, and doesn’t pinch or feel constricting, nor is the leather too soft that it’s loosened. The simple style is perfect for spring/summer, and being a classic black, they pair with everything. I also really love the mushroom/latte hue these come in. One thing to note is that these don’t have any support to them, so are more suited for casual or relaxed days over longer treks, especially if you need some cushioning for the arch of your foot. Definitely one I’ll be reaching for a lot throughout summer too for sure!
Vaneli beige/black slingback pumps (also available here) | worn eleven times
It’s safe to say that any given season of the year, you’ll find me reaching for an iteration of these shoes. And with good reason. They’re ultra chic, so comfortable, and seem to pair perfectly with everything. I personally love the low block heel. It gives you a bit of extra height while still being a breeze to walk miles in. If I could give a shoe a grade, these would get an A+++++.
Realisation Par leopard print midi skirt (affordable dupe here) | worn ten times
I was a little surprised when I realised this skirt from Realisation Par had made it into my top ten for spring. In large part, it’s because I feel so conflicted about this piece – something that doesn’t often happen with my wardrobe staples. I’ve mentioned this before, but I was so disappointed when I first unwrapped this. It came in a cheap plastic package, was crinkled to the nines, and just looked like an inexpensive garment made in China. A good steam definitely improved things a bit, but there are still some small niggles. I had thought the silk would be slightly more substantial given the price point, plus I noticed that the seams bubble up at the waistband (baby bump or not). While I’m not in this boat, I have heard that many women have to put this on over their head, as the elastic band is too small to fit over their hips!
That being said, I’ve been thrilled that it’s one of the small portion of my wardrobe that still fits despite the fact that I’m 27 weeks pregnant, and I adore the print. It’s one of the best leopard/cheetah prints I’ve come across, and I totally understand why it’s been so heavily duped. I also love the little kick flare silhouette at the hemline. The way the skirt skims the body is so flattering, and part of what had me reaching for it so frequently.
Sizing wise, I was in between sizes due to my waist to hip ratio, so I went up a size to the S. And I’m glad I did. While I’m sure the XS would have been fine, it gives me extra room and it doesn’t feel too small at all. If you’re on a budget, I don’t think you need to save up for the designer version; AQUA do a very similar style which has some great reviews!
ASOS black maternity skirt | worn eight times
One of the very few maternity pieces I’ve invested in (so far), and it’s turned out to be a great buy. The material is relatively lightweight, making this an ideal option for spring/summer, and it’s washed well too. I’ve enjoyed wearing this a lot with fitted black tops, mostly as it’s an easy way to dress up an outfit, plus it often looks like I’m just wearing one piece.
Outfit 3: Wearing Naadam cashmere sweater, MVN the Label midi skirt, Isabel Marant belt, Everlane day tote mini
Outfit 4: Wearing Glassons snap front tank, Staple the Label gingham skirt (old but this is very similar and on sale too!), Maryam Nassir Zadeh sandals (similar here)
MVN the Label black slip skirt (old but similar here) | worn seven times
One thing I’ve noticed – particularly over the last three months – is just how invaluable a great slip skirt is. This one from MVN the Label was another of my most worn. It hangs a little lower than the RP one, and again features that ever so handy elasticated waist band. I often tend to buy a less expensive version of an item if I’m not sure how it’ll fit into my wardrobe, so I decided to save rather than splurge when purchasing this piece. I’ve noticed already that it’s showing the signs of wear, so an upgrade will probably be on the cards after the baby arrives next year.
Maryam Nassir Zadeh black Palma sandals (similar in black here) | worn seven times
A great example of how I often tend to shop “slow”, I’d had these MNZ sandals on my wishlist for a good couple of years before finally pulling the trigger on them. I was after the black suede, in the low block heel, but the catch was that I wanted to find them on sale. It felt like a long shot, but a few months back I finally stumbled across them and managed to snag these sandals for 50 or 60% off (my memory is a little fuzzy – baby brain!). I went with my usual size (EU40) and they’re a perfect fit. The straps are soft and malleable, and the low block heel makes these really easy to walk in.
Outfit 5: Wearing Everlane alpaca sweater in ‘almond’ (size S), Everlane cheeky straight jean (size 25, ankle), Witchery belt (old but similar here)
Outfit 6: Wearing Karen Walker gingham dress (old), Boden espadrilles, Phillip Lim bag
Everlane alpaca sweater in ‘almond’ | worn six times
Knitwear isn’t typically a major mainstay in my spring wardrobe, but I do love how they look when paired with denim mini skirts or shorts, particularly early on in the season when the weather is still relatively mild. My most worn knit this spring was one of Everlane’s alpaca sweaters. As part of some work I did with the brand early on in the season, I picked out this knit in an oatmeal hue called ‘almond’, and it’s fast become a favourite. Strangely, it’s actually softer and snugglier than charcoal one I have, and I find I can wear it without a long sleeved top underneath and not have any irritation, despite my sensitive skin. Not sure if I just got lucky or if there’s varying degrees of softness depending on the dyes used etc, but just wanted to mention it!
Karen Walker gingham mini dress (old but I love this style) | worn six times
It’s a little crazy to realise that I’ve been shopping from Karen Walker for more than half my life now – clearly, it’s a brand I’ve loved for many years. These days, rather than buy full retail (well, minus a VIP discount), I tend to hang out for the sales or shop pre-loved. This lovely gingham dress was a pre-loved score from eBay, and one I see being so practical, particularly as I get to the later stages of my pregnancy. I sized up to a UK12 for an uber relaxed fit. I love the detail of the deconstructed ruffles at the sides, plus it has hidden pockets!
Frame grey t-shirt (old but similar here) | worn six times
This simple grey tee was another pre-loved find, this time from The Real Real. Frame is one of those brands typically known for their denim, but I think it’s their RTW which is really something special. This tee is ultra soft, and the perfect shade of light grey. It doesn’t pull too warm or too cool, and it’s long enough to cover my baby bump.
Jeanswest mid-blue distressed maternity skinny jeans | worn six times
Aside from a maternity skirt, one of the other maternity pieces I invested in were jeans. I figured these would come in handy for my trip to Wellington, cooler spring days, as well as being good to have in the weeks following the birth of our baby too. I was recommended Jeanswest for maternity jeans, and have to say it’s spot on. The quality is fantastic. Thick stretch cotton denim, that feels substantial but is still super comfortable. I opted for the under the bump style which I prefer (you can tuck things in!), but they have loads of over the bump options too. My only bugbear is the distressed tears on the thighs. I’m continually fussing with them, and think I’ll probably stitch these up at some point over the coming weeks.
OTHER REFLECTIONS
Spring coat season | Travelling to a slightly colder climate for a week definitely solidified some more autumnal pieces in my most worn. Not mentioned above is the Mute by JL coat that I wore nine times. A couple of which were in Sydney, but primarily this was as I wore it every single day during my Wellington trip. Because I truly needed to. At any rate, I’m thrilled as that coat is a total winner, and one I can’t wait to wear on repeat during A/W 2020.
Dresses all day, every day | One thing that’s really taken priority throughout this second part of my pregnancy has been easy dressing. I love a one and done kind of outfit, and a gorgeous sun dress has been a simple go to that I feel all kinds of amazing in. There’s a handful I have on heavy rotation, and I love that all I have to do is add some cute shoes and I’m sorted!
Block heeled sandals | It’s not immediately apparent from this ten-item round up, but block heeled sandals were a big mainstay in my spring wardrobe. I love the little boost in height, the open design, and the ease of adding these on with any kind of outfit.
