A Secondhand Spring Wardrobe Guide 🪻
for the inherently sporty girls—inspired by one of my favorite London-based content creators.
The tulips have begun to sprout from the earth in Central Park’s Conservatory Garden, and I can finally exhale. Seasonal depression has never been a stranger to me, but this last winter was an especially brutal one for my mental health—and many in my life, and from what I’ve read, other writers on Substack, seem to have experienced the same. I’m not going to get into the reasons why this phenomenon may have occurred, but the good news is we’re officially on the other side: NYC just had its first 70+ degree day of the year, a cause for celebration among friends.
That said, I have always found it easier to dress for fall and winter. Half of my closet is leather jackets, blazers, coats…and to be honest, I haven’t been comfortable wearing anything sleeveless since I was in college over a decade (!) ago. I love layers, pants, long sleeves, boots—the works. The past two summers, I don’t remember wearing much other than athletic shorts, oversized T-shirts, sneakers, and breathable button-downs.
Upon browsing my closet on a recent warmer day this March, I was left utterly uninspired. I’ve never been a “girly girl,” per se. A disconnect occurs when wearing frilly dresses and ruffle skirts and bows—I simply don’t feel like myself. But I think that mindset has forced me to swear off skirts and dresses of all kinds, instead of getting creative and having fun with them. Like, I can wear a baggy T-shirt with a skirt! Or one of my vintage leather jackets with a comfortable dress and moto boots! I’m just trying to convince myself at this point, but you get the gist.
That said, I’m forcing myself to thrift some true spring clothing this April—bonus points if it can get me through summer, too. I actually have a Bushwick thrifting/vintage date on the calendar for next weekend (with my lovely friend
), so I feel compelled to create a pre-shopping mood board of sorts. (And I’ll share my haul in the subscriber chat following the trip so you should tune in!!), a content creator based in London, was the biggest source of inspiration during my research for my target spring wardrobe. All her looks have a hint of tomboyish charm to them, even if she’s wearing skirts or dresses. She generally achieves this by opting for: oversized fits, not shying away from T-shirts, unexpected layering, and showing off a cool sneaker.🌺 High-Low Magic
🌺 Unexpected Layering
🌺 T-Shirt Pairings
🌺 Utilitarian Skirts
🌺 Crochet Details
🌺 Gorpcore Sneakers
Basically, Poppy Almond will be my North Star for my upcoming vintage/thrifting trip. And since I love to physically check things off a list, I spelled out exactly what I need to buy to complete the *vision* for my spring and summer outfits.
My Secondhand Spring Wardrobe Shopping List:
White maxi skirt
White poplin blouse
Gingham dress
Mini, midi, and/or maxi utility skirts (cargo, tennis, etc.)
Vests for layering (quilted, knit, crochet)
Crochet tops
Sporty pants (cargo, track pants, etc.)
Soccer/vintage sport jerseys
Bib collar blouses
White T-shirts (although I’ll prob just end up buying these new)
& What I Already Have in My Closet:
Jeans
Graphic tees
Sneakers (but could always use more 🙂)
Loafers
Button-downs
Knit sweaters
Overalls
Is there anything in particular you’re seeking out for spring? Let me help you find it!
📰 In other news…
Reading: I’m still reading Piglet but haven’t progressed much because I’m one of those crazy people who loves to read multiple books at a time. I recently started God of the Woods (snagged for $5 at a thrift store) as well as The Wager and they’re very different vibes but loving them both thus far.
Watching: Looking forward to The White Lotus tonight after a super uncomfortable but brilliant episode last week (won’t indulge spoilers, no worries). We watched the Severance finale, too, and obviously loved it but the internet’s reaction to TV shows recently is a little much (read my husband’s thoughts on this below).
Buying: I’ve added a lot of things to cart recently but haven’t actually committed to much, which is a good thing in my case. I’m really trying hard to save money, especially because we’re planning on moving this summer!
Cooking: OK, I could eat this Sweetgreen copycat recipe every week. It’s that good. I subbed a few ingredients based on what we had in our pantry and it did not disappoint. Note to self that I need to write down the hot honey dressing recipe itself on a recipe card so we can use it for other dishes in the future (i.e. other salads, chicken tender dipping sauce, drizzle for chicken breast or even salmon). My husband Cody also baked an olive oil cake Saturday night and I already know it’s going to be one of our staple desserts.
Appreciating: My new super-comfy Saucony sneakers. This helpful guide by
that lists free resources you can access at your local library. And the aforementioned olive oil cake.
Thanks for the mention! Loved your outfits :)