Spring Styling

Alright, as requested- it's my Spring styling post! Brought to you by a 3 hour shopping appointment with the extraordinarily talented Bonnie, my travel rewards credit card (my shopping is simply a service to my family's future travel needs), and another 3 hours of Bonnie making an album of outfits for me that I will now follow religiously until she makes me a new album in the fall.

As I mentioned many posts ago, I've been reaching out more and more to experts in my life. Home design, backyard design (sadly that project was scrapped when we decided to move, but it would have been wonderful!), hair and makeup tips, and wardrobe consulting! Even when I was still at the government, the money spent on a 3 hour closet styling session with Bonnie, was some of the best I've spent. She worked entirely with the clothes I already owned and made me feel like I'd just gone on a massive shopping spree. She opened my eyes to new ways to use what I already owned and new ways to dress my semi-new post-Covid almost-40 body that I am frankly still struggling to not be mad at much of the time.

(Example of a standard work outfit for me these days,
with gold glitter Toms because something should always be a little fun)

Ten days ago I had my first ever shopping appointment with Bonnie. Now that I've started my new job, and am actually in the office 3 days a week instead of working from my bedroom 100% of the time, and facing a new season of summer recruiting, business trips, and evening events, I gave myself a much bigger budget than I plan to in future biannual sessions. I needed several basics (a white button down! the lifelong elusive search for a non-see-through white t-shirt!) and just a nice set of standard and statement work pieces. We met at the Northpark Nordstrom in Dallas and Bonnie told me we'd both walk through the women's department together, with both of us selecting pieces for me to try on. I was to keep an open mind and just pull anything that catches my eye. The idea is that in the future I don't need to attend shopping sessions unless I really want to or happen to have the time- she knows what fits and flatters me and now has even more insight into what calls to me (and the things that surprise me!).

And so we had QUITE a rack of items and I tried on them all. Some were unsurprisingly great, some were unsurprisingly terrible, but quite a few were surprisingly great and those were the most exciting ones of all. Bonnie has such a good eye and is so creative in how she pairs things and she gives me so much confidence when I try on something outside my narrow fashion box and fall in love with it, that I can believe it really does look good.

Veronica Beard Miller Linen Blend Dickey Jacket (White)
Vince Painted Floral Smock Waist Skirt (Herb)

She's also VERY particular about how we "curate" my wardrobe and has really evolved how I think about adding to it. Each piece needs to earn its spot. With each item I tried on, she'd point out the quality of the fabric, how seams are sewn or cut, why a particular shirt flatters me and why a particular shirt doesn't as much. To put something in the keep pile, it needed to be of high quality, flattering, perfectly fitted, feel good, and just make me smile. It was the most fun afternoon. I just love an expert getting to live out their expertise.

After packing up our house and making everyone go through all their possessions, it felt a little hypocritical to waltz in the door with two arms full of clothing, but mama's lawyering wardrobe has been upgraded and I am in a long-term relationship with each and every piece.

Rag & Bone Margot Sleeveless Belted Blazer (Blush Pink)
NYDJ Marilyn Linen Blend Trousers (White))


Theory Tile Print Silk Tank (Blue Multi)
Vince Wisteria Vine Button-Up Blouse (Violetta)
Vince Flutter Sleeve Silk Top(Almond)

That stunning copper silk top is not one I would have ever picked up or thought I could wear, but Bonnie grabbed it for me and it was one that gave me an instant smile to put on. It is the most beautiful color and looks so luxe paired with my black and navy suits.

Milo kept a close eye on Bonnie's progress on styling day where she puts all my outfits together.

Maggie also assisted. (Moose hid under the girls' bed because a stranger was in the house and Bonnie could be dangerous.)

And through their combined hard work, we have our Spring/Summer lookbook:

A lot of these are items I already owned, but these are links to the recently purchased:
Vince Crop Leggings (Black)
Halogen Raw Edge Tank (Pink)
Rails Arlo Button-Up Shirt (White)
Rails Ingrid Raw Hem Chambray Shirt (Light Acid Wash)
Frame Le Muscle Organic Cotton T-Shirt Dress (Fatigue)
Paige Mayslie Straight Leg Pants (Sand)

We mostly focused on workwear (and travel wear; I am always utterly flummoxed at what to wear while flying, even though I both wear clothes AND fly on airplanes all the damn time), but she fit in some casual ensembles as well, including the elusive cute but not see-through white tshirt (Frame Le Mid Rise V-Neck Tee):

Caslon Blend Twill Shorts (Olive)
Treasure & Bond Organic Cotton Blend Long Sleeve Baseball Tee (Purple/Cream)
Sanctuary Perfect Print T-Shirt (Purple)

I really love everything. I wore my new geometric tank when I gave my PLI presentation to 400 people on Monday,

and my crazy print breezy button-down to chat poolside with friends at a Dallas hotel this morning:

Bonnie's album gave me the confidence to wear this to work on Friday (posing in front of the new art I had framed for my office!):

and helped me pick out something fabulous (top pic in the post; that silk skirt is the most beautiful thing I've ever owned) for this birthday dinner for dear friends in Dallas last night.

And that's a wrap! Now that I have some really solid basics and have culled out a LOT of older items that either didn't fit, were worn down, or never looked as good as they should have, and added some beautiful spring/summer pieces, I plan to do a much smaller session in 6 months for fall/winter. Perhaps add a tweed or thicker weight blazer (loooooved this one from L'Agence, and the cropped cut is perfect on my weirdly short-waisted self, but I could not justify another jacket and it wasn't very Spring'y and we were being very picky), a couple of nice sweaters, and a new pair of dark jeans. As I learn my brands and sizing better, I also look forward to being able to shop secondhand.

In other bits of fun I spent Friday in Dallas, working, then working out with friends (SolidCore pilates class; omg I am so sore and not just because I haven't worked out in two months), and then heading to a Dallas hotel room with those same friends so we could get ready for a big fun dinner out. I wowed everyone with my vagina curler skills, caught an Uber, and enjoyed the most ridiculous over-the-top instagrammable (if I had Instagram) restaurant ever. We had a slumber party in our hotel room, hung out by the pool this morning, ate brunch, and then headed home. It was an 18 hour staycation and it was SO fun and refreshing and I loved being back with my own family by noon.

Press for champagne? I believe we will.

I head to Chicago for work on Monday, come back Tuesday (Bonnie outfits already selected!), and then drive to Houston on Friday to hang out with my family and enjoy a reunion of all the tiny cousins.

May you all have a fantastic week ahead!