Things I Bought That I Love: Spring 2017 Wardrobe Additions

I'll be the first to admit that my spring shopping list is a little all over the place and kind of boring. As an aspiring minimalist, I'm favouring a handful of quality items that are in it for the sartorial long haul. Half of these items are meant to replace essentials that have worn out or don't fit anymore, while the other half references this season's trends in a way that still works with my closet's classic yet casual, denim-heavy vibe.

1. When multiple pairs of my beloved Madewell skinnies bit the dust simultaneously, I resisted replacing them for as long as possible, partly because of the cost and partly because I wanted to see if I could get by on four pairs of jeans. As it turns out, four pairs of jeans (with no other pairs of pants) meant I was always kind of cutting it close with laundry day. I opted for a pair of AG 'The Stilt' cigarette jeans in the end. They're skinny without being skintight, the dark wash and mid-rise make for a flattering and classic fit, and the denim is so stretchy and soft they're comfier than leggings.

2. I've been eyeing the Nike Air Max Theas in black and white for the longest time and hemming and hawing about them. Are they too common? And what about my Vans, which already serve as my goes-with-anything sleek black-and-white sneakers? The Nike Air Max Thea in pink not only scratched my itch as far as getting a pair of Nikes goes, they also satisfied my craving for something in millennial pink. They go well with blue and grey and give all my outfits a touch of spring.

3. Mules are the hot shoe style of spring 2017, and while I thought this was a bandwagon I'd be avoiding, I couldn't resist snapping up a pair of Gap's cognac leather mules. They kind of feel like socially acceptable house slippers and they're the easiest things in the world to slip on (especially if you get lazy with maintaining a pedicure). Until the weather improves enough for me to wear them outside, I'm wearing mine around the office on the days when I wear rain boots to work and want to change out of them. The Gap version sold out very quickly, but if you're looking for a pair of your own, Aldo makes a similar style (also available here), as does Vince.

4. This Massimo Dutti dress combines all of the things I love in a good casual summer dress: stripes, a high neckline (so I can wear this to work), wide straps that will accommodate a normal bra, a modest knee-length hemline, wrinkle-resistant fabric that's machine-washable, and pockets. The shoulder ruffles and cutouts are on trend this season, but not so garish that this dress will feel dated next year.

5. My newly strong shoulders have outgrown my go-to spring army jacket, so I replaced it with the Madewell 'Fleet' jacket. So far I like the streamlined feel of the pockets and the zippers instead of buttoned flaps, but I did have to size up twice to get this to fit comfortably across the chest and shoulders.

6. As adorable as my red hooded jacket looked, I've always regretted the fact that it wasn't actually waterproof. So when the same shoulders that outgrew my go-to army jacket also began feeling tight in the non-raincoat raincoat, I started researching a replacement that would hold up to the torrential downpours of the Pacific Northwest. Ultimately I went with the Lululemon 'The Rain Is Calling' jacket, which is made of an ultra-light and ultra-waterproof fabric that's not too stiff or shiny, and I sized way up so I could comfortably wear warm layers underneath.