001: notes on late spring
a whimsical guide to May. the excitement for summer, styling guides, and read/watch lists.
“It’s spring, you’re young, you’re lovely, you have a right to be happy. Come back into the world.”
-Shirley Jackson
May just might steal the title of my favorite month, trailing only behind November and October. May is when golden sunlight lingers, promising brighter days ahead. The evenings stretch out, sidewalks fill with life, and the weight of carrying heavy winter coats finally goes away.
This transition is a necessary breath of fresh air after months of ice walls on the sidewalks and feeling claustrophobic inside a 27-story apartment. The last week of April was quite sad and unpredictable weather-wise. I’m praying for sunnier citrus skies and warmer days these next few weeks. I feel like we need to be outside and get our dose of vitamin D, because I’ve noticed everyone’s been on edge lately. Besides our current political state, I blame the weather. Here’s to hoping!
I want my last moments of spring to feel like I’m the whimsical brunette in an early 2000s chick flick movie, savoring the season in NYC while working for a fashion brand. If this month were an album, it would be Wide Open Spaces by The Chicks.
Style Guide
The Park Bench Poet
Your style inspiration has always been Jane Birkin. You love the outdoors, grounding your toes in the grass, and listening to Carole King on your way to work. Once it hits 60 degrees, your first stop is Elizabeth Street Garden.
The Coastal Resident
Your happy place is the Hamptons. The Parent Trap is your favorite movie. Your perfect day includes morning coffee, meandering through charming streets, a golden hour drive to the beach, and ending with a homemade dinner in the backyard.
The Sidewalk Spritz
After work, your go-to spot is Bar Pisellino for a sunset spritz. You relax and wind down by taking a seat, gossiping with friends, and observing the passersby. The air is warm, and the company is better. The sounds of the city calm you. You’re a Samantha and Carrie hybrid, of course.
The Museum Muse
You treat every sight as an exhibit. Weekends find you wandering the MET, bypassing the crowds to find the quiet of the medieval wing. The more you learn about art history, the happier you are. Florals for spring? Groundbreaking- but it always works!
Songs/Albums
Wide Open Spaces by The Chicks
Middle of Nowhere by Kacey Musgraves
Rhymes and Reasons by Carole King
Girls Trip by Zara Larsson
The Great Divide by Noah Kahan
Drop Dead by Olivia Rodrigo
I’m Like a Bird by Nelly Furtado
Honey by Mariah Carey
Losing You by Solange
You Only Live Once by The Strokes
The First Cut Is The Deepest by Sheryl Crow
The Outside by Taylor Swift
Los Dioses Ocultos by Caifanes
Bitch by Meredith Brooks
City of Blinding Lights by U2
Books
The Enchanted April
Yesteryear
Intimate Audrey
My Brilliant Friend
Wolf Hall
Things to do (in nyc)
Brunch at Cafe Mulberry or your preferred outdoor seating restaurant
Read or journal at Elizabeth Street Garden
Rowboat in Central Park
Visit the conservatory garden
go to an improv show (Magnet Theatre, UCB, Brooklyn Comedy Collective, Second City)
Bike on the west side highway
Spring clean, whether it’s your phone, room, or kitchen. get rid of anything you don’t need or use
Take a yoga class outside
See ‘Gainsborough: The Fashion of Portraiture’ exhibition at the frick collection
bake something seasonal (ex: blueberry cinnamon rolls, strawberry shortcake, or lemon bars)
Julia Roberts movie marathon
Plan your summer!
Shop
Eileen Fisher (I gotta represent). Premium fabrics and lasts a lifetime! Linen pants, cardigan, wrap.
Dôen
Staud
Gap: Wide Leg Pants
With Jean
Mode Mischief
ba&sh
repetto
Cindy Castro: made by immigrants baby tee (pair with your favorite jeans or dress it up with a silk midi skirt).
Buck Mason: Linen Roll Neck
That’s all! Stay grounded this spring! xx
-Bina
