Spring 2023 Wardrobe Additions

After only adding seven new items to my wardrobe in the winter, I binged and added 15 new items this past spring (plus one item I already own in a new size). 😳 I would say it’s because nothing fits me right now (which is true) but most of these purchases were of tops! Lol. And I purchased a lot of multiples, which is something I try not to do but sometimes it works out for me.

Here’s my spring 2023 clothing budget update: everything I added to my wardrobe this past March, April, and May! (ICYMI, I’m adding all of my 2023 clothing purchases to this Pinterest board.) I also shared what I tried and returned and what’s coming up for summer!

READ NEXT: Winter 2023 Wardrobe Additions

Spring 2023 Clothing Budget & Wardrobe Additions

$600 (quarterly budget) = $600 - $849 ($428.50 March + $151.50 April + $269 May) + $249 earned from Poshmark sales => $0 left over

Items I added to my wardrobe:

• BlankNYC Suede Moto Jacket via Shopbop (seen on IG stories | paid $143 | originally $198)

No one stopped me from ordering this suede moto jacket (currently in stock at Amazon), so I ordered it when it went on sale at Shopbop, lol. It’s so gorgeous! I really didn’t think I’d wear it enough to make it worth it, but I ordered it anyway because YOLO, I guess. Every time I want to wear it, I look at the forecast and there’s a threat of rain, but I have worn it once! I sized up to a large because my other suede jacket is a small and it’s too snug in the shoulders (and medium was sold out). It’s kind of annoying how large was the biggest size available—that is not at all size inclusive, BlankNYC!

• BlankNYC Track Record Pants via Shopbop (review here | paid $58 | originally $98)

These faux leather pants were on sale at the same time as the jacket, so I snatched ‘em up (they’re now currently on sale at Nordstrom)! I have not been brave enough to wear them out, but they are surprisingly soft and comfy. They’re longer on me than they hit on the model. I purchased size 28 and they fit well unless I’m feeling extra bloated (note to self: don’t take photos right before my period, lol).

• J.Crew Fresco Top in Soft Gauze in utility green and white (review here | paid $23.50 for green and $29.50 for white | originally $89.50 each)

If any retailer calls something “soft gauze”, it’s pretty much guaranteed that I will want to buy it, lol. Case in point: I fell in love with this top and bought a couple even though they were on final sale. I spent just over $50 for both which was not a bad deal! I don’t typically buy a lot of duplicates of the same item but loved both of these colors. They fit perfectly in size small and the white is only slightly sheer!

• Madewell Cotton-Hemp Denim Button-Up Crop Shirt (review here | paid $67.50 | originally $85)

I haven’t worn a chambray shirt in so long but I super love the updated cut of this shirt. The crop is fun! Plus the length is great if you’re short like me. The rounded shirttail hem works really well with high-rise jeans and pants. It is a bit boxy, but if you know me, you know I don’t mind looking like a box LOL. The only thing I’m not sure about is the size; I ordered size small, but I have broad shoulders and am worried about it shrinking in the wash and becoming too tight in the shoulders. Fingers crossed it stays as is!

• Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean in Ward Wash: Raw-Hem Edition (review here | paid $95 | originally $128)

I was drawn to these because of the wash (love a light wash for spring/summer) and the raw hem. I loved ‘em so much that I wore them the very next day (and bonus: Korri loves ‘em too)! I sized up to a 28 to accommodate my super bloated days. Petite lengths weren’t available but that’s fine since this is a cropped style to begin with. They have an interesting texture to them that my other jeans don’t have (and it makes them feel thicker).

• Madewell The Petite Curvy Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean in Belmere Wash (review here | paid $102 | originally $128)

The wash is more of a washed black than a true black like it appears to be in the stock photos. I ordered these in 27 petite, and they are still full length on me. They almost feel too long, but I also know this is the style these days (and I can cut them if I wanted to). Otherwise, they are quite comfortable for having minimal stretch—I wear them often!

• Madewell The Puff Crossbody Bag: Woven Leather Edition (review here | paid $102 | originally $128)

I just could not resist this bag in the gorgeous sweet basil color! (And yes, it matches the tee above in the same color!) It’s so pretty and fun. The strap is thin and doesn’t feel like the highest quality, and if you pack it with heavy things it’s probably not comfortable on the shoulders. It is removable, though, if you want to carry it like a clutch. The inside is not super roomy so you can really only carry just the essentials.

• Madewell Softfade Cotton Boxy-Crop Tank in lighthouse, chamomile, and coal (review here | paid $19 each | originally $25 each)

I recently realized that I wear tanks way more often than tees, especially for layering purposes. These cropped tanks are perfect; I wear them with high-rise jeans and pants and don’t have to worry about tucking and untucking. I also love the wide straps and don’t find the arm holes to be too big. Size small fits perfectly! I think lighthouse (ivory) and coal (dark grey) will get worn the most. Chamomile (yellow) is a different color for me—I got it because it’s close to fitting into my “true summer” color palette!

• Madewell Softfade Cotton Boxy-Crop Tee in lighthouse (review here | paid $22 | originally $28)

I ordered three of these tees because I love cropped tees that I don’t have to worry about tucking into jeans, pants, shorts, or skirts. The tees are fine; they’re a good weight and the ivory lighthouse color is only slightly sheer. I kept this color and returned the other two (more on those below). Size small fit me best!

• Madewell Softfade Cotton Perfect Vintage Tee in sweet basil (review here | paid $23.50 | originally $29.50)

I ordered this tee on accident (thought I was ordering the boxy-crop tee above) but ended up keeping this gorgeous green! This is actually a really nice basic tee; the ringer neckline and cap sleeves feel fully like the 90s. I took size small.

• Madewell The Untailored Wide-Leg Crop Pant in Striped Lightspun (review here | paid $62 | originally $78)

These wide-leg crop pants are really full-length pants on me. They are quite wide and remind me a bit of culottes. I surprisingly love them, though. They’re lightweight, airy, and not sheer! They have pockets, but you can’t see them through the pants. I’m also a sucker for a good blue stripe. They fit TTS (I took size small)! I need a beach vacation stat so I can pack these!

• Uniqlo Cotton Linen Shorts (review here | paid $32 | originally $40)

These cotton linen shorts are super cute and comfy! They also fit me perfectly in size medium. I would purchase them in other colors if they had more options I wanted (the light blue color is tempting and sort of reminds me of a light wash denim). They feature a 50% cotton, 50% linen blend.

• Uniqlo Premium Linen Long-Sleeve Shirt (not pictured | paid $32 | originally $40)

I already own this exact shirt in size XS and it’s just a lil too snug enough in the shoulders to annoy me, so I reordered it in a size medium (reviews suggest that sizing changed relatively recently and to size up from your previous size). I’m not entirely sure how often I’ll wear it (it’s somewhat sheer) but I’m giving it another chance!

Items I tried and returned:

• Madewell Softfade Cotton Boxy-Crop Tee in vibrant lilac and coal

I picture myself as a classic jeans-and-tee kinda gal, but I don’t know if I’m like that in reality. I realized that I don’t wear tees as often as I think I do; honestly, I wear tanks more because they’re easier to layer with. I only ordered the lilac color because I thought it could pass for lavender and I could wear it to The Eras Tour. I do not wear purple basically ever. I think the lilac is too different to pass as lavender sadly (even though it is a very pretty color). I went back and forth but ultimately returned both lilac and coal.

• Madewell Softfade Cotton Perfect Vintage Tee in coal

As I mentioned above, I ordered this tee in two colors on accident. I kept the green but returned the dark grey (coal) color.

• Madewell The Teagan Slide Sandal in Straw

I had high hopes, but I ordered these before reviews came in and they did not work for me. The straps are wildly uncomfortable and feel like they don’t have any give. I’m generally a true 7, and while these fit—technically—my heels were at the edge and there was a bunch of space past my toes because the straps were too tight to let me slide my feet in far enough (basically, they won’t work if you have feet that are wider than average or that have high arches).

What’s on deck for summer:

• Abercrombie Curve Love Jeans

I had these on my list for spring but never pulled the trigger because I was so overwhelmed by the options every time I went to the website! Haha. It’s a good problem to have unless you’re indecisive (and hesitant to buy the wrong thing for fear of having to pay for the return) like me.

• ABLE Denim Jacket (Merly or Bailey)

This one is also still on the list from spring… will I finally buy one (or both)? TBD…!

• Birkenstock Arizona EVA Sandals

I haven’t owned Birkenstocks in sooo long! I was looking for a new white sandal option and thought I’d give ‘em a try. I’m still TBD on them (the majority of reviewers talk about how comfortable they are right out of the box, but I feel like the buckles will rub my feet) so I haven’t worn them for real yet. I did have to exchange size 7-7.5 (EU 38) for size 6-6.5 (EU 37, my true EU size).

• Everlane The Day Crossover Sandal in olive

My favorite and most comfortable summer sandal now comes in an olive green?! Yes please! (These sandals fit TTS for me!)

• Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Fatigue Short

Much like jeans, shorts suck to shop for, especially when you have no idea what size you are! These have rave reviews so I figured I’d give ‘em a try. I do love the dark green color!

• Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Mid-Length Jean Short in Wainfleet Wash

Another pair of shorts, this time in a mid-length that I’m not quite sure if I’ll like or not. They might make me feel like I suddenly aged a decade… to be determined!

• Madewell The Curvy Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Crop Jean in Tile White

I feel like I’ve been waiting forever for Madewell to release their white wide leg jeans in a curvy petite style. Petite is an option in the straight style, but not curvy. I ordered them anyway because the “crop” suggests that they run slightly shorter than normal. I sized up to account for the fact that they’re white (less forgiving) and for those fun extra bloated days.

• Nisolo Huarache Sandal in desert rose

Another one that was on my list in the spring. I still love these sandals in desert rose and I keep telling myself I’ll get them when they go on sale, and then I keep missing the sales lol. Someday!