Raise your hand if you’ve ever “accidentally” wandered into the beauty aisle at Target. Yeah, that’s what we thought. The good/bad news: There is so much great hair, makeup and skin care stuff hitting the shelves right now. So whether you end up browsing the beauty aisle accidentally or accidentally on purpose, we’re warning you that you’re going to spend at least an extra $20 the next time you pop into Target for toothpaste and tampons. But it’s not an issue so long as you leave room in your cart for the toothpaste, right? It won’t be easy, but we believe in you.
Shopping for spring is a unique predicament. Although you’re shedding your layers, you start realizing you need more—maybe not more sweaters or coats, but more sunglasses, straw bags, breezy maxi dresses. Next thing you know, the days are getting longer but you still haven’t procured the right seashell necklace or white sneaker to complete your spring wardrobe. That’s where Amazon and the promise of two-day delivery come in. A strategic search will yield tie-dye scrunchies that let you partake in two of the season’s biggesttrends, Victorian-style nightgowns to replace your fall prairie dresses, and other pieces that you’ll want to wear non-stop for the next few months (and then some.) We’ve narrowed down the best fashion buys on Amazon right now, so you can welcome spring with some fresh #OOTDs.
The unofficial season of downsizing your closet is finally on the horizon. Before introducing the magic of Marie Kondo to your spring wardrobe, consider making just one addition to your repertoire: a versatile spring dress. After months of piling on sweaters and denim, there’s nothing more freeing than a piece of clothing you don’t have to overthink. Striped shirtdresses, floral sheaths, and printed wrap styles abound right now, many for under $100. So hit pause on the spring cleaning for now, because the 26 dresses in the gallery ahead will bring instant joy to your wardrobe (and life). Any closet can spare an extra hanger for just one of these seasonal picks.
Growing up, I hated stockings. They were the enemy, something my mom would make me wear when I insisted on wearing a miniskirt in the middle of December. I would tear them up on purpose, much to her annoyance. Because they felt like such an afterthought—something I had to wear—I was convinced they made the rest of my outfit look weird.
I never saw them as anything but a nuisance until last September. At the spring 2019 Prada show, models wore sheer black stockings with mod skirts, A-line dresses, and bodysuits. And while everyone was obsessing over the thick padded headbands, I couldn’t stop thinking about those socks: They made the hyperfeminine prints and accessories feel tough, almost subversive. These stockings didn’t feel like an afterthought—they felt essential.
Victor VIRGILE
Prada’s take on the stocking reminded me of the cheap ones my mom would buy for me from the drugstore—except much more luxe. Naturally, the price tag would be much higher: The exact designer socks I fell in love with retail for $100.
Of course, they say “Prada” on the side, which adds both sophistication and zeros to the price tag. But still, I couldn’t stomach spending $100 on see-through stocking socks I used to basically destroy in my youth. Not to mention: My mom would be so pissed.
At the fall 2019 shows, sheer socks were once again on the runway—this time at Self-Portrait, where all the models wore them with pointy black loafers.
Mike Coppola
As soon as I saw that collection, I realized I couldn’t wait any longer. It was time to buy stockings.
Instead of trying to track down the exact pair from the runway, I started my search for the hosiery of my dreams on Amazon. And there they were: the very type of sheer black socks I had been planning outfits around in my head, for just $13.99. And because this is Amazon, they came in a pack of twelve.
In the weeks since I’ve begun reacquainting myself with stockings, I’ve realized a few things. One, you can wear them with any kind of shoe: They dress up my white platform sneakers, but also make my sleek loafers feel less buttoned-up. They’re also great for the weird not-quite-winter-not-yet-spring weather that dominates mid-March, when you don’t want to wear tights but aren’t necessarily ready to break out the open-toe footwear yet. (Oh, by the way: These sheer socks look amazing with sandals too.)
Part of me loves wearing stockings now, as an adult, because it reminds me of my earliest fashion rebellion, arguing with my mom about whether my midwinter skirts required them. (Answer: Yes. Mom was right.) The return of this kind of sheer sock feels in line with all the other nostalgic trends dominating in 2019, which have been suggested to be a form of reassurance and comfort for millennials. They might not be as obvious as a sparkly hair clip or a prairie dress, but these stockings achieve the same effect. Plus, they make me feel like a Prada model—and I’m definitely not mad about that.
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When fashion people want to get that runway look for way less than the original asking price, they turn to The Outnet. Four days a week, the online retailer adds designer pieces—from the likes of Acne Studios, Diane von Furstenberg, Stella McCartney, and hundreds of others—from past seasons at a discount, normally up to 70 percent off. But every so often, The Outnet will up the ante and slash the prices even further for a major sale. We’ve arrived at one of those instances.
The Outnet’s epic spring sale just kicked off, with dresses, jackets, trousers, and more from brands including Marni, Michael Kors Collection, and Derek Lam at up to 85 percent off. And you’ll recognize a lot of the discounted pieces from the past few seasons of Fashion Week street style. Those breezy Jason Wu floral skirts? Yup, they’re on there. That polka-dotted Ganni jacket? Hi, it’s there too. Even if you’re not looking for a specific designer item from the runway, there are plenty of spring essentials on offer—from breezy midi dresses to colorful flats.
We combed through the thousands of products in The Outnet’s sale and picked out the best seasonal pieces you could add to your wardrobe right now. Shop on.
I’ve believed in the idea of an “investment piece” since I got my first paycheck. I would save up a month’s worth of babysitting money to buy that one top I had my eye on, that I absolutely needed and “couldn’t live without.” It doesn’t matter that I probably ended up wearing it only twice—it was satisfying to me to work toward buying something for myself, especially as someone who’s always loved fashion. Even now, as an adult, I still tend to spend in this way: I won’t shop frequently, but I will put away money with the purpose of blowing it all on one thing that feels special. It helps that, as an editor, I’m constantly learning about new brands and, over the years, have been able to identify the handful of silhouettes that are essential to me (and can feel good spending a little bit more on). It’s taken me years, but I’ve finally found a label that checks off every single one of my requirements: The designs have to be minimal and refined, that I can wear multiple times a week without getting tired of them, that are versatile enough to withstand the lifestyle of someone with a full-time fashion job and two kids.
Reader, let me tell you, Totême has changed the game for me.
This Swedish brand is a few years old (it was founded in 2014), but it’s only recently taken over the “essentials” section of my closet. What really set it apart for me, in a market that’s saturated with brands making basics, is its easy Scandinavian minimalism. Totême is the brainchild of blogger Elin Kling and husband Karl Lindman, who are both from Sweden. And you can tell how their background informs their design, from the limited, muted color palette to the tight product edit.
Magnus Andersen/Courtesy of Toteme.
The first thing I bought from Totême was a pair of black trousers. And ever since I first wore them out, people have been stopping to ask me where I got them from and where I got them tailored. That’s how well they fit. (And for the record: They didn’t need a tailor.) To be able to purchase a piece of clothing that actually fits as intended, without the intervention of a third party, is what sold me on the brand. That doesn’t usually happen for me: Usually the waist will be too loose and the pant too long, so I’ll have to have it tightened and hemmed. Not the case here.
Totême doesn’t design according to trends, so its pieces don’t go out with every passing season. Instead, your purchase is meant to live on in your closet. (As such, the pricing is not quite luxury, but not disposable: Pieces start at just under $100 and cap out at just under $1,000.) That doesn’t mean they’re not special, though: There are plenty of details, like a front slit on a pant or asymmetrical buttons on a blouse, that make them stand out from all your regular black bottoms and white button-downs. Whenever I wear something from this brand, I immediately get that feeling of Wow, this looks effortless—which, to be honest, is the ultimate and hardest-to-achieve fashion goal.
Magnus Andersen/Courtesy of Toteme.
As of this post, I own around 25 pieces from Totême. (Yes, I love the brand that much.) I’ve worn them to the office, to dinner, to my kid’s school, and on vacation. Now I’m sharing my best-kept wardrobe secret so you too can stock up on these new essentials. Find some of my favorites, below.
