springtime closet cleanout.

when PI & i left for vegas two weeks ago, we left behind a dark and dreary city.  rain and snow and come and gone all week, and the temperatures showed march leaving like a lion [even though it came in as one as well].  but when we returned a week ago, we seemed to return to a different city.  the sun was shining a bit more often, birds could be heard outside our bedroom windows early in the morning, and it wasn't bitter cold anymore.

now i am familiar with new england springtime, and am sure that there will be a few days between here and summer that will prove me wrong.  but as i walked down tremont street yesterday, i realized that it's springtime here.  and while i may need to still pull on sweaters from time to time, i will occasionally need sandals, capris, sundresses and tank tops.  so i got out my summer clothes :]  every year this is a bit of a battle for me as i stress over what to keep, what to give away, and what just goes into the garbage.

i have to say the transition seasons of spring and fall are my absolute favorite.  i love dressing in layers.  i love wrapping a scarf around me tightly in the morning but taking off my layers in the afternoon to let my arms and shoulders get some sun.  so i thought i'd share a few of my favorite spring/summer pieces, some new and some very, very old.

my spring closet, still messy as ever.

old - j. crew jumper.  this thing is awesome.  i bought it an outlet store in the mountains a few years back and it is the thing that possibly gets me most excited for summer.  it's a pain the in ass to pee in this thing, but it's great with some cute flats and a sweater - and if it's warm enough, it's always great alone.  

new - madewell sweater.  madewell is my new obsession for, well, just about everything.  but this sweater is an obvious pick for spring.  it's a bright, summery yellow with thin white stripes.  it's somewhat sheer, so it breathes really well.  but it also is just the thing for when a cool spring breeze cuts through the air and you need to pull on something warmer. 

new - madewell tee.  see? i wasn't kidding about madewell.  there's a lot to love about this tee, but mostly it's the color and pattern.  i don't usually wear a lot of pattern, so this one forces me to be a bit out of my comfort zone.  i also don't wear a lot of pink girlie things, but the flowers in the front are balanced well for me by the blue sailor-inspired stripes on the back.  it's an easy way to add some color to regular jeans and flats, and the pattern is very summery.

new - gap.  this dress was an impulse buy, and i don't know that i would have bought it if it weren't [a] on sale, and [b] PI hadn't loved the way it looks on me.  but here it is in my closet.  can easily be dressed up with a statement necklace and heels, or dressed down with flats and a sweater.  also, i'm sure you're noticing i'm kind of into stripes right now...

old, old, old  - marc jacobs heels.  i've had these for years and years after finding them in the back of a DSW store [if you can believe that].  the colors weren't my cup of tea at the time, but i loved the style and brightness of the shoes.  not to mention they show some serious toe cleavage, which is one of my favorite things.  they are the perfect summery pop of color under plain jeans and a tee. 

new - 344 [a small boston boutique i found on newbury street].  i never, ever, ever wear shorts.  and trust me when i say these are literally the only pair i own, and i only bought them a few weeks ago during mom's surprise visit out.  but the pattern and vivid blue instantly drew my attention.  pair that with the silky fabric and the fact that they aren't embarrassingly short, and there are shorts i'll rock all summer long.  with a sweater and tights they'd also work for those early spring nights that tend to be chillier.

 new - gap khakis.  so new the tags are still on.  i got into colored pants late into the winter [random and out of style, i know].  madewell was practically giving away colored cropped cords, and i snatched up a few pairs.  i love the color on the bottom, and since i only have a few pairs of jeans, colored pants were an easy pick for spring and summer wardrobe.  i see these with flats and an easy, flowing top, or even over bottoms to the beach.  they cuff up beautifully for the hot weather, but for now can stay down past the ankles to keep my legs warm, and a simple sweater goes atop it beautifully.

my spring wear will definitely make the trip to DC with me this weekend.  what are you wearing this summer?

til next time...!