Spring Wardrobe Essentials: What I'm Actually Wearing

Every spring I do the same thing. I open my closet, stare at a pile of winter sweaters, and think, "I have nothing to wear." I have 200 items in my closet. I literally run a fashion line. And yet, every single March, the same crisis. This year I decided to document what I'm actually reaching for, so maybe it helps you skip the annual meltdown.

Fair warning: I'm not going to pretend everything on this list is affordable. Some of it is. Some of it isn't. I'll give you real prices and real alternatives where I can, because I remember what it's like to have a $50 clothing budget for the month. That was me at 23.

The Dress I Can't Stop Wearing

I've worn the Reformation Nikita dress three times in the last two weeks. Three times. My daughter noticed. "Mom, you wore that already." Yes I did, honey. Because it's perfect and I don't care.

It's a midi-length linen dress in a dusty sage green. $218. Button front, puff sleeves, cinched waist. The linen wrinkles, which normally drives me crazy, but on this dress it looks intentional. Like I just came from a farmer's market in Provence. I did not. I came from Target. But the dress doesn't know that.

If $218 is too steep, the Amazon Essentials linen shirt dress is about $35 and gives you a similar vibe. Not the same quality — the buttons are plastic and the fabric is thinner — but the silhouette works.

Jeans That Actually Fit Right Now

I gained seven pounds over the winter. I'm not going to pretend I didn't. The croissants in Laguna Beach are too good and I have zero willpower between November and February. So my fall jeans are currently sitting in the "not right now" section of my closet.

The MOTHER Tomcat Ankle in a medium wash. $258. High-waisted, straight leg, hits right above the ankle. They run a tiny bit large, so I size down. The denim is thick without being stiff, and they don't stretch out during the day.

My budget pair: Abercrombie Ultra High Rise 90s Straight. $90. I know, I know. Abercrombie. But their denim has genuinely gotten good in the last few years. These are the jeans my stylist friend tried on at my house and immediately ordered three pairs.

The Top I Wear Under Everything

Skims Fits Everybody T-shirt. $42. I own six of them. Not kidding. Every neutral color. They're the perfect weight — thick enough that you don't need a bra with padding, thin enough to layer under blazers and jackets. The neckline sits flat against your collarbone.

I wear these under my Alexis Couture blazers, under cardigans, tucked into jeans, untucked with leggings. They're the foundation of basically every outfit I put together from March through October.

Footwear Situation

Flat-out (pun intended), the shoe I'm wearing most right now is the Steve Madden Feather flat in nude. $79. Pointed toe, cushioned insole, goes with everything. I bought my first pair two years ago and I'm on my third pair. They wear out after about eight months of regular use, which isn't great, but at $79 I can stomach replacing them.

For weekends, I'm still in my white New Balance 550s. I bought them in 2024 and they're finally starting to look broken in rather than brand new. There's a specific window with white sneakers where they look best — too new is try-hard, too beat up is sloppy. Mine are right in the sweet spot.

Sandals: I just bought the Birkenstock Arizona in a soft taupe suede. $150. Everyone told me they're uncomfortable for the first week. Everyone was right. But week two? Like walking on clouds.

The Jacket That Replaced My Hoodie

I used to grab a hoodie every time the temperature dropped below 70. Which in Orange County happens approximately every evening year-round. But hoodies make me look like I've given up.

My replacement: the Free People Ruby Jacket. $148. It's a quilted liner jacket — lightweight, boxy, hits at the hip. Warm enough for OC evenings without looking bulky. I have it in a faded olive and I'm considering the washed black.

The $40 alternative: Amazon's The Drop quilted jacket. Different brand, similar concept. Thinner quilting, synthetic fill instead of down, but the shape is close.

Accessories I'm Reaching For

My everyday jewelry hasn't changed in about two years. Mejuri Croissant Dome Ring ($78), a thin gold chain from Missoma ($145), and small gold hoops from Gorjana ($48). I never take them off. Shower, sleep, gym — they stay on.

Sunglasses: Le Specs Air Heart in black. $69. Oversized, slightly cat-eye, make everyone look like they're on their way to somewhere important. I've lost four pairs because I'm careless, which is exactly why I don't spend more than $70 on sunglasses anymore.

Bag situation: I rotate between a Polene Numero Un in camel ($380) and a Madewell Transport Tote in black ($188). The Polene is beautiful but fits approximately my phone, keys, and one lip gloss. The Madewell fits my entire life. Guess which one gets more use.

What I'm Skipping This Spring

Sheer everything. I see it on every runway and every influencer and I just can't. Maybe that makes me boring. Maybe I just don't want to spend an evening worrying about what's visible.

Micro shorts. Not for me at this stage. I'll admire them on other people from a distance while wearing my mid-rise straight leg jeans that cover my entire thigh. Happily.

Platform sneakers. Tried them. Twisted my ankle in a parking lot. Returned them. Some trends are just not compatible with being a mom who has to move fast.

That's my spring. Nothing groundbreaking. Just real clothes that work for a real life. For more on how I approach fashion in general, check out my full style guide. And for the brand I built around these principles, read the Alexis Couture origin story.