*I hope this finds you from a sunny perch with time set aside for yourself, caffeinated beverage in hand (or a crisp rosé, depending on your time zone)*
I’ve been promising teasing this season’s Vibe Report for quite some time, and things got a little out of hand… so i decided to break it up into several parts. I’m thrilled to finally be able to share part one with you.
First up: DRESS WELL, of course — my favorite topic and where my brain always goes first. Yonder you’ll find what’s tickling me fashion-wise, chatter about this season’s sartorial vibes and color of the moment, a few moodboards with their shoppable edits, a how-to with a real life outfit breakdown, along with my own personal wishlist.
C’est parti!
We’re halfway through May, but I still want to shoutout this wonderful month when spring’s vibey vibes ramp up. Nature’s beauty returns prolifically, evenings reassert themselves as social affairs, and we can finally dare to bare (legs/arms/toes) once more. Dear reader, great news: it’s only upward from here.
As a May baby and hardcore Taurus, i adore this text by HannahRoWrites that perfectly encapsulates its essence:
If you feel like you go through some kind of style identity crisis whenever spring rolls around, you are not alone. Shedding layers and transitioning from a heavy winter wardrobe to one suited for warm temps always takes a little adjusting. It’s the equivalent of turning on a bright light in the dark without your eyes adjusting first.
I know this all too well because it happens to me every year, and also to my friends (a very scientific survey). Each spring without fail, I question every morsel of style intuition i’ve ever honed over the course of my lifetime. I’ve found the best solve to be focusing on vibes instead of trends, and adding very mindfully to my wardrobe.
This year, the mood is plucked directly from the only summer aesthetic i’ve ever cared for: New England salty, seaworthy girl (that’s what i’m calling it). Somehow, this look has reached the forefront of fashion for spring 2025 thanks to the boat shoe craze and preppy style having a moment (we can thank Miu Miu for spearheading this revival), the buzz around the Carolyn Bessette/JFK Jr. new biopic series, the rise of the coastal grandmother aesthetic, the tenniscore look, and the recent Martha Stewart documentary (among other things).
Let’s illustrate the intangible feeling I’m conjuring — think old J.Crew, 90s Ralph Lauren, carefree east coast summers, roadside lobster roll shacks, low-key yet blue blood pedigree, driving around in vintage Defenders, cycling in wicker basket-clad cruisers, crisp linens dancing on clothes lines, lightweight knitwear, oxford cottons, lots of stripes, every shade of blue imaginable, and old school neutral colors.
It’s summer nostalgia personified.
If you’re looking to add to your wardrobe this summer, here’s my shoppable edit.
Natural fabrics — fresh linen (classic Ralph button-down, yes please), crisp cotton (camel day dress and pleated trouser perfection), cozy summer cashmere (a striped long sleeve polo is it, code Helene15 for 15%), and slinky silks (especially in bandana form, code HELENE15 for 15%).
Nautical shoes — think fisherman sandals, canvas sneakers, espadrilles, and boat shoes.
Gold jewelry — rope-like chunky hoops feel maritime-y in the best of ways, as does a large shell pendant.
Neutral colors, but textures galore — something very nostalgic about cable knit, especially in a relaxed, lightweight turtleneck (code Helene15 for 15%), and so unexpected in a cashmere pant iteration — ideal for those chilly New England seaside evenings. A short-sleeved sky blue cardigan is giving Martha on the vineyard, while a sailor-collared sweater feels literal in the cutest of ways.
Stripes! Stripes! And stripes again! — the classic kind, but also all shapes (hello cutie tote bag), shades (white on an oatmeal linen trouser), directions (diagonal on a breezy cotton skirt—which i own and adore, btw), and widths (wide apart on a bouclé tank or pin close on a boxer short).
Raffia accessories — basket bags are obligatory, as are straw hats (code Helene15 for 15% off) and mules.
Quintessential footwear for a nautically-inclined summer mood, this one needed its own edit.
A few notes here— I have the Sézane pair and find them to be incredibly comfortable and of wonderful quality. I also own the Rothy’s ones, which i think are way better in person, and of unparalleled comfort.
I HIGHLY covet the Jamie Haller version — adore the black take on this shoe. Meanwhile, i wore the classic Sperrys for years before they were lost during a move — highly recommend.
Yep, another moodboard.
In case you haven’t heard: yellow is the color of the season, full stop. Mostly yummy buttery shades, but some brighter iterations too. The kind that looks good on everyone, every skin tone, with every hair color.
Like beige’s happier little cousin, it feels playful and uplifting but still ultra chic and refined.
Brighter tones and lemon-leaning — Here we have a classic raincoat à la CBK seen in the moodboard above, a gorgeous woven leather shoulder bag (code LOVEX30 for 30% off until May 31st) for the perfect pop of color, a cheery pleated skirt that can be dressed up or down (code Helene15 for 15% off), and an assertive slinky silk dress. Looking for just a wink? Try these cutie hoops (on MAJ sale).
Separates for mixing and matching — Lightweight knit cardis are on-vibe for the New England Salty Seaworthy girl, both in a long sleeve version or a sleeveless one, as is this lightweight cashmere crewneck (code HELENE15 for 15% off). T-shirts (code LOVEX30 for 30% off until May 31st) are obviously a seasonal staple, along with cotton button-downs and leggy pieces: a mini skirt giving tenniscore or cool girl board shorts.
Get dressy - In a lovely art deco silk nightgown dress or a more prim-and-proper cheesecloth puff-sleeve maxi.
Cheery accessories — Ok fun studded bag (code HELENEH10 for 10% off)!! Pretty certain i need this baseball cap, while i also seriously contemplate making these sunnies mine. If i didn’t have a fisherman hat, i’d most certainly get this one.
So shoe me! — I recently grabbed these buttery strappy sandals and i only have one word: ADORE. They will look gorgeous on my (hopefully) tanned feet this summer. Another nod to the ladylike vibes of late: a slingback with a sensible heel height and a mesh ballet flat for more casual affairs.
Swimwear flair — whether you’re more of a one-piece person or prefer separate tops and bottoms for the beach, i can’t think of a more apropos color for waterfront chilling.
That butter yellow fits in perfectly with the coastal New England aesthetic, and i hereby give you a real life example of an outfit i wore in Paris that blends those two vibes seamlessly, if i do say so myself. Simple and neutral with the right color palette, small pops, and subtly high-key accessories.
1- That lightweight cashmere sweater with the perfect slouch factor again. Code HELENE15 for 15% off.
2- The creamy straight leg jeans i’ve worn on repeat for the last three years.
3- The most exquisite navy bucket tote. Even better in person, just gorgeous quality.
4- Lightweight striped cashmere garnishes my shoulders. Code Helene15 for 15% off.
5- Bookish loafers add just the right touch of prepster. Code Helene15 for 15% off.
6- What says “take me to the sailboat” more than a classic pair of silver aviators?
With all of that said, i hereby give you my own personal wishlist for the season. It leans pretty heavily New England Seaworthy, but it always does for me, no matter the trend cycle.
I’m craving pieces that feel simultaneously feminine and tomboyish, and that channel Martha on Martha’s Vineyard as much as Carolyn Bessette roaming the streets of New York City.
TOPS
A scarf halter is giving retro yet fresh, an excruciatingly chic summery top.
A pointelle polo tee is the perfect mélange of preppy/tomboy/feminine for an elevated casual vibe.
Keeping on the polo theme, this time in a red striped long sleeve, which i’d wear in a large. I can just picture the scene: freshly showered after a hot beach day, the air’s cooled down so i’ve thrown this shirt on to read in the hammock while John is grilling dinner on the bbq. Bliss.
The nautical cardigan of my dreams, really.
For dressier evenings, i want to wear this satin cardigan.
BOTTOMS
Black capris remind me of both high school and Fellini movies, and what can i say, I’m a sucker for nostalgia.
A dark denim bermuda feels casual and polished all at once.
I would do unspeakable things to make this red skirt mine — i need it to wear in the daytime with a cami, button-down, and flip-flops; i need it to wear to dinner paired with kitten heels and a fitted cardi; i need it for fancy evenings to wear with a silk top and a metallic heel. I NEED IT.
A flowy plaid maxi skirt with fun proportions? Hard co-sign.
SHOES
A really fresh take on a caged/woven sandal that i haven’t seen before. Soooo… *clicks purchase*.
A very classy flip flop (code Helene15 for 15% off) is a rare hole in my wardrobe, and i love this white version.
Being the country-yet-fashion gal that i am, i feel very strongly about needing these fancy black Birkenstock mules.
I find it hard to resist a canvas sneaker, especially in this washed-out red.
JEWELRY
I love an arm cuff, and been particularly fond of silver lately. A chunky double twist provides a big bang.
This green quartz choker is so lovely and would look devastatingly fresh with an all-white getup or layered with gold chains.
I find these gold link earrings very retro and rich, adore.
ACCESSORIES
The shape of this black raffia bag is exactly what i want to be carrying this summer.
Sunnies that give 90s and clean girl aesthetic are something i need in my life.
The kind of hat that makes me feel like i need to be sipping on an aperol spritz with my toes in the sand, book in hand. The chin strap is the kicker.
May this inspire your spring/summer 2025 style choices and guide the shopping you might be doing to breathe fresh air into your wardrobe. As always, the invitation to drop your thoughts or questions below is open, and give me a heart if you enjoyed.
À bientôt,
Hélène
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