4 Essentials That Are the Backbone of My Spring Wardrobe

From cropped coats to durable boots.

collage of Nikki Ogunnaike
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Friends! Hello, hello, hello! I can’t tell you how thrilled I am to be writing this from my couch, fresh off an incredibly hectic fashion month. Sorry for leaving you hanging last week. Were you following along while we were at the shows? If not, you may have missed Doechii having the time of her life, the easy and chic French girl style hack MC style director Sara Holzman spotted everywhere, and, of course, the Sézane trench coat I couldn’t stop wearing.

The shows were great and the weather…even better! For real, we couldn't stop talking about the pitch perfect spring temperatures. It generally rains every! single! damn! time! I’m in Paris, so I couldn’t have been more thrilled to see the sun for eight days straight. It also inspired my topic for this week’s newsletter: my spring wardrobe essentials.

CROPPED AND MID-LENGTH COATS

I’ve yapped and yapped about the best chore coat in the world, but unfortunately it’s time to wave goodbye to this heavy essential. I’m ready to take my lightweight styles off the bench and bring them back into my rotation. Paired with a merino wool sweater, these options ensure that you won’t overheat in your office after your commute.

DENIM ANYTHING

Although my Nili Lotan leather Shon pants were my fashion month wardrobe MVP, I’m ready to embrace my inherent New York style. That means denim, denim, and more denim. The temperatures are getting a little higher, so these picks are lightweight and can be layered with knee-high socks and boots on those deceptively cold spring days.

KNIT SWEATERS AND LONG-SLEEVE T-SHIRTS

I had an epiphany while in Paris: While I love the look of a button-down shirt, I absolutely HATE steaming clothes. It’s actually the worst, especially when you’re in a rush. Instead, on most days I went with a thin knit that could be layered (it adds some depth to the look and makes it more visually interesting) with a short or long-sleeve shirt underneath.

ALL-WEATHER BOOTS

You may be tempted to stash all your boots and pull out your loafers and sandals, but don’t do it! It was 30 degrees yesterday morning in NYC—we’re not out of the woods just yet. Knee-high boots as I mentioned above pair nicely with lightweight denim, while rugged ankle boots are ideal for unexpected rainy days.

Anatomy of an Outfit

collage of Nikki Ogunnaike

(Image credit: Future)

Shows, shows, and more shows! I shared all my outfits over on Instagram, but in case you missed it, I’m dropping the pieces I leaned on to make my 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. days all the easier.

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Nikki Ogunnaike
Editor-in-Chief

Nikki Ogunnaike is the Editor in Chief of Marie Claire US. She has previously held roles at Harper's Bazaar, GQ, ELLE, Glamour, InStyle, and Vanity Fair. You may also recognize Nikki from her time as the host of Snapchat’s Online, IRL and IGTV's The Run Through. Based in Brooklyn, New York, in her free time Nikki enjoys running half marathons, learning about wine, and watching reality TV without an ounce of shame. You can follow her at @nikkiogun.