Spring is coming into full bloom. And with that, you might be tempted to pop to the shopping center, otherwise called a “mall” by my American friends, and replenish a wardrobe that may look dull and overly wintery.
Once again, I am back to help you shop from your own closet and use some pieces you haven’t worn in a while to curate a few low-effort summer looks that will help you feel fabulous without having to purchase anything.
Keep in mind that these ideas are not meant to be replicated perfectly; the goal here is to find inspiration from what you have.
These outfits are all inspired by elements I have in my wardrobe, and I came up with them by sorting out my stuff and trying things I was considering donating.
- The “Miss Jane”
For those of you who have watched the 1996 movie Matilda, which features a child genius who can read from a very early age and can perform telekinesis, you might remember the character of Miss Honey, a beautiful teacher who ends up adopting Matilda. Fans of the film loved her and are still making Pinterest boards of her years later.
This illustrates the fact that teachers’ fashion can be iconic in its soft femininity aspect.
As such, I came up with my own teacher-inspired outfit, which I will call the Miss Jane.
The Miss Jane features jeans and the most important part: A button-up cardigan with some embroidery. Whether you have your own or steal it from your mum’s closet, it’ll be the subtle flair to your outfit. Embroidery is a very soft element that reminds us of spring, so go for it!
Pair it with some flat mules of any colour and, ideally, some light pastel eyeshadow, and you’re done. Cute in a minute, just like any iconic teacher would be.
2. The Asian hornet – Fierce, Elegant, and Mandarin
I was inspired by a qipao that my grandfather gave to my grandmother in the 1950s when they were traveling to China. It’s old-timey, feminine, and something that needs to be revived ASAP.
I received many compliments when I wore my grandma’s qipao to dinner last summer.
Chinese fashion is no cosplay: The linen fabric, modesty, and colorful aspects it sports are too good to pass on and should be a staple.
Just match any qipao you have with your makeup and a matching purse, and you have a lovely outfit to go out.
3. Spring Cloud
I regretted buying some weird blue sunglasses a few years ago from a cheap market in Camden.
I loved the color but didn’t know how to use them. Well, now I do.
To give a clean spring cloud effect, match your blues with a creamy white just like in this outfit.
Ideally, you should pair a silky element with a cotton or knit element to give dimension to your outfit.
I chose a plain white long-sleeved top and some silky blue pants along with some beautiful dressy white sandals.
4. Viva Italia
So many of us have seen time and time again a beautiful Italian woman in a movie, and she somewhat always chose to sport sunglasses and a silk scarf.
If you have a silk scarf, you can copy that look. Pair any silky scarf with a colorful dress (green, red, or yellow), and throw in a matching pair of flat sandals and a mini bag.
5. A Jade West Summer
I recently listened to Jennette McCurdy’s narration of her memoir I’m Glad My Mom Died — and, wow, it was moving. I recommend it 100%, though a heads-up: it includes many triggering topics, including eating disorders, abuse, and childhood trauma.
After hearing about everything McCurdy went through, I found myself reading more about how other young stars were treated — like Victoria Justice during her time on Victorious. I’d never watched the show, but I vividly remember one character: Jade West.
Jade’s gothic-inspired aesthetic stood out to a whole generation of viewers, including me. In hindsight, it’s eerie how stylized these shows were, even while real harm was happening behind the scenes. But purely from a style standpoint, Jade’s look was iconic — dark tank tops, black shorts, grungy sandals… and if you’ve got green clip-ins, now’s your time to channel that energy.
6. Chewgy Romania
In Romania, fashion feels like it’s caught in a fascinating time capsule. Many women’s sport outfits are reminiscent of 2013 — think skinny jeans, studded bags, and bold makeup — often mixed with subtle goth elements. Maybe it’s a nod to Dracula and the enduring allure of Transylvania, or maybe it’s simply because deep, dark colours look incredible on their fair skin and dark hair.
To channel the vibe: pair a deep red jumper with black shorts and platform sandals, then layer on Orthodox or Catholic-inspired jewelry to really lean into the gothic edge.
This was written by our contributing writer, Suzanne Latre.
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