I may be the most boring person you could possibly go shopping with. I’m the opposite of an enabler, wildly picky, and perfectly happy to walk away with nothing at all. But I do pride myself on finding some really great things when I do finally say ‘yes’ to something.
My friends, we do not settle for mediocre men, clothes, or books. We are in our thriving, flirty, shameless era and deserve only the best. Tasteful is in, choosing whatever is on hand for convenience is out. We want to invest our time in things we love and have a closet full of pieces that aren’t getting tossed in the donate pile in a year.
So let’s be choosey together.
You submitted shopping requests on Insta this week and I chose six for us to get into today.
We’ll start including these round-ups more often, so send me a DM, email, or carrier pigeon if you want help hunting for something good.
Everyday button down
Able Oversized Button-Down Shirt: Everyone should have at least a couple of oversized, relaxed button-downs. They are comfortable, simple, sensual, and immediately elevating. And they look fantastic a little rumpled which is ideal (I actually prefer mine to not be perfectly steamed).
J. Crew Secret Wash Poplin Shirt: This is a men’s shirt and it just works. The cut and weight of the fabric is *chef’s kiss*. I like to wear an XL for an extra oversized fit, and it is in my top 3 favorite things in my closet at the moment.
Gap Cotton Big Shirt: Gap nailed the cut of this shirt. The fabric is a little lighter and smoother so if that is your vibe, then this is the shirt for you. I’ve washed mine many times at this point and it still looks excellent.
Everlane Relaxed Oxford Shirt: Everlane does basics so well. And I love this one for a slightly more tailored look when you don’t want a wildly oversized shirt. The shoulders on this one is probably my favorite out of all the oxfords in my closet. And this blue is so easy and unexpected. I love pairing it with a red lip and blue jeans.
Tinted moisturizer
Revision Intellishade: if you’ve been around for a couple of years, you’ve no doubt heard me talk about this product. It is a holy grail for me. As far as tinted moisturizers go, it is very light coverage (the lightest of all of these) and blurs more than covers. It’s skincare above makeup, but great for a touch of concealer around the eyes for an everyday look. And my very sensitive, dry skin loves it.
Ilia Super Serum: People rave about this serum. It’s light and glowy and looks like your skin, but better.
Westman Atelier Vital Foundation Stick: This is another holy grail product of mine. It is technically a foundation but packed full of goodness for your skin. I love how buildable it is since I don’t personally love anything heavy on my face. And it goes on flawlessly with the Rare Beauty foundation brush or your fingers. And it’s fantastic for dry skin. I would still suggest using a moisturizer or serum underneath it though!
Jones Road What the Foundation: You cannot be on a beauty blog, Tik Tok, or Instagram without someone talking about this product. People are loving that it is essentially skincare that makes your skin look flawless. I cannot wait to give it a whirl. From what I’ve been reading, it looks like this one is also best applied with a dense brush.
Chunky loafers
Leather Penny Loafers: Negative ten points for the word chunky, but these are all the rage right now so we’ll let it slide. In full transparency, these are not my favorite shoe options. I find that they are hard to do in a classic way and much of what I was seeing on the interwebs feels a little too clunky and cheap, and they’re very hard to wear without making an outfit look imbalanced. But no fear, I think this first one is the perfect mesh between classic and chunky. It is in the spirit of what the youths are currently loving, and you can never go wrong with a penny loafer. The trick to finding a good, chunky loafer: look for a sole that is smooth. If it looks like it would have amazing traction, run for the hills.
Freda Salvador Light Loafers: You didn’t ask but I’m sharing my other watch-list loafers too, starting off with these beauties. There’s still a lot of ‘shoe’ to these, but they’re much simpler to pair with straight-leg jeans and a white tee for an elegant, effortless look.
Equestrian Buckle Loafers: The least chunky of all the pairs, and I love that about them. If you prefer ballet flats and minimal shoes but are wanting to dabble in the loafer world, look for something that resembles a slipper. I tried these on when I was in New York a couple of weeks ago and they are even more gorgeous in person.
Hyusto Mick Loafers: Penny Loafers, but make them iconic. These are on my wish list and I think about them nearly hourly. They have no flaws.
Book for someone who likes reality TV:
One to Watch: This is reality TV in a book. Look no further. Dip those toes in. It’s juicy, fun, well written, and I think you’d love it. It’s about a bachelorette-type TV show that follows the lead, Bea, a plus-sized fashion influencer, as she looks for love.
The Guncle: This was one of my favorite books from last year. When I think about why I enjoy reality TV, it’s because it is predictable and easy to consume and it makes me laugh. This book does that too, with an extra dose of sweetness. It’s about a Hollywood Guncle who watches his niece and nephew for the summer, hilarity ensues.
Crazy Rich Asians Series: Glitz, glam, and drama. I’ve read this series more times than I’d like to admit. They’re so easy and comforting and entertaining and all about a world that looks so different than my own (something I also enjoy in reality TV).
Nora Goes Off Script: This is on my to-read list for this spring and I cannot wait to dive in. People are raving about it. “Nora Hamilton knows the formula for love better than anyone. As a romance channel screenwriter, it’s her job. But when her too-good-to work husband leaves her and their two kids, Nora turns her marriage’s collapse into cash and writes the best script of her life. No one is more surprised than her when it’s picked up for the big screen and set to film on location at her 100-year-old-home. When former Sexiest Man Alive, Leo Vance, is cast as her ne’er do well husband Nora’s life will never be the same.” Sign me up.
Tennis Shoes for Paris in the spring
Adidas Sambas OG: I’ve never owned a more comfortable shoe. These will be with me the next time I’m wandering around a European city (Lord, let it be soon). If you can get your hands on a pair of Sambas in your size, runnnnn. They run big in my experience and I’d recommend a 1/2 size down (there will still be plenty of room in the toe box).
Nike Daybreak: These also have a cult following for how cute and comfortable they are. The thicker sole would be fantastic if you’re walking in a lot of areas with cobblestones. They come in loads of colors so the world is your oyster. I love the neutrals in these but am on a colorful sneaker kick so I couldn’t resist sharing this “cinnebar’ colorway.
Tretorn Rawlins 2.0: These are the most affordable out of any on the list and also come in so many colors. The lower profile makes them easy to wear with jeans, trousers, and dresses alike! They do have a narrower toe box, so if you have wide feet then these probably will not be comfortable for walking many miles around Paris.
Loeffler Randall Cameron Low Top: And these are the spluge on the list. But my gosh, they had to be included for the fashion.
New Balance 997H: Dad sneakers are not going anywhere anytime soon. They can be a bit trickier to pair with jeans or dresses, but if you’re feeling a legging, crew socks, and spring trench coat vibe then these are definitely the move.
J. Crew Colorblock Trainers: J. Crew just dropped these in a half dozen colorways and they are fun, fabulous, and very friendly on the wallet. The thicker sole will make them more comfortable too with walking on the hard, uneven surfaces of Paris!
Joggers (friendly for short humans)
Lululemon Loungeful High Rise Cropped Jogger: Two words for you: petite & cropped. Lululemon also offers free hemming on everything so it’s worth seeing if they’d be able to work some magic! (note; they do mention that cuffs might not be possible, but worth an ask!)
Quince Flowknit Ultra Soft Joggers: If a high waist makes you nervous, then give these a try. The inseam is 25” and the cuff at the bottom makes me think they’d be easy to adjust to your leg length! If you haven’t given Quince a try yet, I’m a recent and very enthusiastic convert.
Quince Cashmere Sweatpants: These saw me through a very dark night of food poisoning last weekend. And maybe it’s the survived delirium, but I really do think they may be one of the best things in my closet at the moment. They run just a little short but could still be a challenge depending on your inseam. The cuff at the bottom however does make it pretty simple to adjust to your leg length! And…cashmere, I mean come on. Yes, please, and thank you.
The Best Links of the Week:
Miley Cyrus’s new song has a vice grip on me…and Diane Keaton too.
An older but really beautiful interview with Andrew Garfield on grief.
My insomnia paired up with my ADHD tendencies and I’m currently reorganizing all the closets I haven’t touched since we moved in last June. This post makes me feel seen, called out, and spurred on.
I can't stop thinking about this fresh take on a classic.
This book was as delightful as it was predictable!
This week’s high: I am 27 today. What a good and hard and stretching year it has been. I’ve never felt so comfortable in my skin and so at peace with whatever may come. I’m very proud of all I survived and risked and tried this past year, but my gosh I am excited to move into 27! We’ve got a weekend full of hilarity and merriment, and I cannot wait to cheers to a new year with a margarita in hand tonight!
This week’s low: the above-mentioned food poisoning. Note to future self; if you are suspicious of the chicken, do not eat the chicken.
Hugs, my darlings! Have a wonderful weekend!
Adelyn