By Janet Kelly
SPRING and summer collections from the likes of designers Stella McCartney and Dries Van Noten—who’s sadly retiring—showcased shades of robin’s egg blue.
The way to wear them is to mix and match different hues, stick to a monochromatic look or choose one item—shoes, a polo shirt, a jacket—to update your early spring wardrobe. The whiplash temps of April are prime time for jeans, which will mate swimmingly with pale blues. (Speaking of denim, see Dries’s stonewashed jacket and long shorts below.) If you’re not inclined to go full bore into blue, pick an accessory—a watch or even nail polish.
As always, we’ve got some suggestions for you—including a faux suede jacket from Zara, a sleek Skagen Denmark watch and a sporty-girl cardigan from Tuckernuck.
Left, an oversize jacket and matching pants from Stella McCartney’s spring 2024 collection. Right, a washed denim double-breasted blazer and matching shorts on Dries Van Noten’s spring 2024 runway.
This season contrasting colors and textured fabrics give the classic polo new life. A pop of red on the embroidered logo and on the collar and half-button placket energize Tory Sport’s pointelle cotton polo, which sells for $328 at Luisaviaroma.
For that summer wedding on your calendar, pair Staud’s Rochelle periwinkle top with the matching Sasha pants, made from a lustrous silk fabric, and you’ve got a chic outfit that will work for many of your other occasions. The top sells for $395, the pants for $595.
Instead of the same-old, same-old shades of brown, spring for a faux suede blue jacket. You’ll get a lotta bang for not a lotta bucks—$47.90—from Zara.
Matching tops and bottoms, including suits, are having a well-deserved moment (see Staud top and pants above). Banana Republic’s billowing, ankle-length Ariella skirt ($130) in cotton poplin has an extra-wide hem to enhance its fullness. Wear with its companion, a fitted and cropped Racer poplin top, which sells for $80.
Cut from denim in a light blue wash, Dries Van Noten’s double-breasted blazer made a splash in the designer’s spring 2024 collection. Tailored with pointy lapels and padded shoulders, the jacket and matching long shorts (as shown on the runway) has the feel of a traditional suit. The jacket sells for $2,250; the shorts $655, both at Net a Porter.
French label Maje’s cropped, knit cardigan in the color of the season, has a napped, textile texture that’s accented with silver-tone buttons and scattered sequins, lending it a subtle sparkle. It sells for $311.25, reduced from $415.
Also from Maje, a refresh of a classic polo in a chevron knit with openwork detail. Silver-tone buttons and a scallop finish at the hem and sleeves are the finishing touches. It sells for $265 at Bloomingdale’s.
In warm, but not hot, weather, I’m a jeans-and-sneakers kind of grownup girl. I like polos as tops but I also prize button-downs for a casual-yet-put-together look. I wear my comfy, boxy striped shirt from Everlane on repeat, so I’m considering another—like this cotton Boxy Oxford—with dropped shoulders and big patch pockets, which sells for $88.
Tennis anyone? Part of any sport, according to my husband, the author, is looking good. So, no matter what your skill level is, don this cable-knit Charley cardigan from Tuckernuck Sport over your top and skirt, and you’ve got game.
Santoni is an old-school Italian shoe company, which, while preserving its handmade traditions, has introduced new designs and methods. Case in point: these almond-toe sleek loafers with a classic penny strap design in an unexpected metallic blue pebble leather. They sell for $750 at Neiman Marcus.
An international brand, Skagen Denmark’s got a sweet spot for Scandinavian minimalism and even takes its name from Denmark’s northernmost town. The Aaren Kulor watch face and case in sky blue matches up with the same color blue silicone strap. A sleek piece of functional jewelry for your wrist, it sells for $145 at Macy’s.
When it comes to nail polish, I rarely go outside my comfort zone of red and pink shades. But I’m tempted to give Essie’s cornflower blue color a try. Blue goes with everything, right? It sells for $10 at Ulta. (There’s always nail polish remover.)
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