Five solid spring basics

And how to build personality outfits with them

This edition of The Cereal Aisle is brought to you by Massimo Dutti.

I usually engineer an outfit by starting with the pieces that have the most personality and build around them. Because the personality pieces are usually the most exciting, they evoke the most salient feeling, which usually results in my paring back whatever else I wear with the personality piece. But lately, I have been thinking that there’s got to be something to reverse engineering this process.

You start with the least of the personality pieces (the basic), which is usually the most emotionally-measured piece, and then build from there.

Massimo Dutti suede jacket, Leset pointelle tank, Pucci leggings, Soeur sandals

I specify emotional measurement here because it’s usually when the intensity is level that the best stuff (that is, the stuff created from the most stable internal place, which often translates into longevity) is born.

I don’t think I could beat the emotional dresser out of myself if I wanted to, but the idea of resisting the urge to act on an emotional impulse (different from a feeling, which is less transient) has become interesting to me.

Also, something about my stomach growing and really starting to protrude from the center of my person has me thinking about how it (the belly) kind of functions as the ultimate accessory. And that has me craving a simpler approach to presentation, even if the outcome still reads pretty festive. So here are 5 really good and simple spring garments (all under $500) from Massimo Dutti, with outfits for various occasions built around them.

The beige suede bomber, $499

If you are less inclined towards a pair of printed leggings, this bomber also looks great with a plain white tank and black capris. The concept behind this one had more to do with:

Massimo Dutti jacket, Leset tank, Pucci leggings (also these), Soeur sandals, Delarge sunglasses - here’s a good pair, straw bag from By Tatoufa; here is an alternative

• the shade of beige on the jacket and how it tempers the bright colors of the leggings, calming them down or even elevating them

• the style of the silhouette, which is a pretty classic collared zip-up bomber with an elastic hem so it creates a nice rounded shape at the most flattering point of one’s hips

An alternative way to try this jacket

…which does not include spandex but still plays with texture, fabric and color could be with a skirt like this one:

Jacket styled with an orange Prada skirt, red leather Savette bag and The Row sandals (a true comp, a fancier alt)

By “like this one,” I basically mean any skirt that is not a utilitarian fabric like denim, or rigid cotton. So could be satin, could be silk, could be a blend with some linen in it. Something about the satin/silk works really well with the jacket because it adds this shine-factor that creates a nice balance of going somewhere fancy, but doing it with chill.

And here you can see the blouse effect that the elastic hem on the jacket creates in the back.

If you are going for a simpler look for the jacket (which is lightweight enough, I should mention, to wear well into 70’s as far as temperature goes), wearing gold/silver/crystal accessories will serve the same function that bright colors and precious fabrics do by adding an unexpected tilt.

The bone cotton Bermuda shorts, $199

Massimo Dutti shorts, Christopher Esber crochet top (dress version here or in mini, here similar top vibe here and I’m still gunning for Diotima), Lola Cruz sandals

The shape of these shorts is good because of:

• the versatility factor: they’re drawstring waist so you can wear them high rise (with, say, a bikini top and open-button down) or low rise

• the color: not quite white, but not really beige either. There is something tender about the fact that these look like muslin samples (muslin is a single thread cotton weave fabric that many designers use create their first samples before moving on to using their actual choice fabrics). It’s almost like they’re unfinished, which creates such a good dynamic with otherwise obviously done-up pieces.

When the shorts are styled low rise, I like how they look with a fancy shoe (satin! crystal embellishment!): it’s almost like watching a pair of basketball shorts styled with prom shoes.

High rise, they’d be ideal with a plain flat flip flop or something more sturdy these/cool like these.

And as far as the top, I think any crop will do (though I do prefer one that is not open hem, like this or this) and if you are not going in that direction, something swing (so the opposite of the previous recommendation — open hem fair game) would look great.

The Limited Edition black linen cape top, $259

Massimo Dutti cape top, Vince capri pants, K. Jacques x Doen sandals

This one is versatile to the extent that it can be worn simply (and a little more tastefully) but casually as evidenced here with this outfit, which is its own kind of “errand runner” look —

Khaite sunglasses, Etsy market tote

More formally, you can wear it like you are going to dinner, or even a summer wedding, or leaving a gallery opening, or whatever:

Massimo Dutti cape top, Attersee sarong styled as skirt, Doen sandals (sold out, but these are similar), Soeur x Cafe Leandra bag, Roxanne Assoulin pearl necklace (something like this is good), Oliver Peoples sunglasses

Key reason why is one-fold: the cape! It’s dramatic. But also more practical than you would believe it to be because there are two arm holes, no tricks about how the shirt gets on, and there is a snap closure so you’re not left fussing with it too much/don’t have to worry breast slips.

And because it’s linen (rigid and thick), it holds its shape pretty well.

Look at her go.

The fancy white joggers, $129

Massimo Dutti pants, Tory Burch coat, Soeur x Cafe Leandra mini dress (comes inside the sheer ‘Claire’), Christian Louboutin loafers, Beck Jewels choker, Mana by Ezgi shell necklace

This style of pants, with laces/a toggle to adjust the width of the hem, create such an interesting, Loewe-esque balloon shape when they’re tightened and can give a pretty simple look a lot of personality.

These ones are a good option because the fabric is rigid enough to hold more shape than some of the flimsier (but therefore super breathable) options that are at market right now.

(An interlude for) a spring uniform template that works

But the look actually took me a second to get right, chiefly because I like the pants styled with something lightweight on top but find the collar of a button down too bulky (I think this is more a function of being pregnant, but you’re also already creating so much volume at the bottom). So if it’s not a thin knit (a polo works because the collars not stiff), what can get the job done is a tank top or t-shirt, but sometimes you want to look a little more like you tried, you know?

I think in the end, I landed on the ideal spring outfit template, which consists of:

• mini dress

• lightweight, straight, knee-length jacket (single breast preferable)

• zip-and-fly-free pants (or long line shorts)

• flat shoes (sandals or loafers or ballet slippers, up to you)

• I think I’ll expand on this in Friday’s letter of rec.

All as evidenced above, but tested and played out totally differently with the muslin shorts too:

Massimo Dutti shorts, Soeur dress (something like this works) and sandals, Sezane trench, Spolia walnut wood bag

The Limited Edition knit strapless dress, $229

Massimo Dutti dress and fisherman shoes, Spolia bag, Renato Cipullo and Marisa Klass necklaces, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, red silk bandana around arm

You definitely have to work a little harder to give a dress more character. It’s a one-and-done, style-choice-made-for-you category of garment, but if the dress is simple enough (and this one is — also great because you can roll it over at top, pull down to the small of your waist, belt it and turn it into a maxi skirt, or simply style it with something like a button down over it), and you’ve seen enough footage of Patricia Fields’ contribution to the fashion canon (see: Sex and the City > Carrie Bradshaw > arm scarf styled as upper arm cuff, season 3), you can also give it all the personality quirks without compromising the integrity of the garment.

And the bonus suede fisherman shoes, $199

Sandals styled with purple silk Palomo Spain pants

No real notes. Sophisticated shape, rugged material, comfortable to walk in. The end!

Thanks for tuning in this week, will see you back soon for a deeper dive into the spring uniform template. Until then,

Leandra