Sample Platter 11: A multitude of mules

+ Japanese-inspired skirts for all!

Hi and happy Wednesday!

The weather is slightly warming up in my neck of the woods and that fact, coupled with my owning a store, means I’m already thinking about spring. I found a dress last year that kind of kicked the door open for what I wanted my first shoot of 2025 to look like, and would you believe it - there will be COLOR:

As is my wont, the color will still be styled minimally, all color-blocked and bold. Remember this post about color theory? The spring shoot will basically be that come to life and I can’t wait! This will all go live sometime in March but you can expect cobalts, forest green, pale pinks, browns, reds, 60s suiting, cool collars, and the plaid (!) gown that started it all.

But as for today, I’ve revived the ‘1-2 Punch’ component, centered on Japanese-style skirts. By that I mean skirts that have tucked, pinned, and interesting silhouettes that I most associate with Japanese street style - very Commes des Garçons or Issey Miyake.

After that is a 20-piece platter of cool things I’ve found recently with lots of flats that my closet pines for and a latch hook wall hanging of a bull that I might have to snag.

Happy shopping!

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I really appreciate the almost haphazard feel of the below skirts, almost DIY vibe in their design. Like someone looked at their outfit in the mirror, saw it needed ~something~ and got to work with some safety pins. And while they’d be incredible layered with tunics and sweaters, I went with simplicity to let the skirt be the star of the show.

1. Cropped navy angora sweater, $31 + Olive parachute skirt, $59// Tan parachute skirt, $59. Because these skirts are so voluminous, I liked the idea of pairing them with something simple and cropped on top. But I would definitely anchor the look with some chunky brogues or maryjanes because anything slimmer or smaller won’t balance the silhoutte.

2. St. John charcoal knit vest, $44 + Morgane Le Fay hitched skirt, $84. This skirt is slimmer and with a couple bottom buttons of the best unbuttoned, you can still see the waist (an oversized sweater vest + tee would be cool, too!). This is more prim, too, so I could see this with any of the mules in the below collage (especially #3!)

3. Dion Lee stocking strap tank, $72 + Brown crinkle silk skirt, $38. I have wanted this tank since I first saw it on Kelly Framel (formerly known as The Glamourai - anyone remember this blog?) a million years ago. The stark flirtatiousness of it plays off the almost-chaotic design of the skirt in the best way. Add the boots from #20 below!

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1. Needlepoint horse sweatshirt, $77. If you do nothing else - click this link! It’s like an 8-bit needlepoint of a horse. Bode wishes.

2. Sterling ball hoop, $1. Classics, with the teeniest twist.

3. Bottega Veneta black woven satin mules, $72. These are stunning and I would pair them with #7.

4. Cream & black striped knit tube dress, $95. Is it too early to start planning my vacation looks? Because this dress was made for a Sicilian summer.

5. Doncaster multicolor check jacket, $130. Don’t believe this listing that this jacket is from the 50s. It’s pure late 80s/early 90s but the colors and print are contemporary as hell.

6. Black fringe shelf bra, $58. Ok, imagine this over a white tank or tissue-thin white silk top with some baggy denim.

7. Beige & black striped silk dress, $60. Like what I imagine modern hostesses wearing with a martini (that never spills) in one hand and a bowl of Castelvetrano olives in the other.

8. Ivory silk henley, $20. Such a casual piece of clothing rendered in a luxe fabric. So good with #11 or great with any of the skirts in ‘1-2 Punch.’

9. Striped woven mules, $85. I hadn’t shopped on Noihsaf Bazaar in so long and these are why I need to keep checking back in!

10. Manolo Blahnik brown nicked mules, $95. A holy grail item in a holy grail size: if you’re an 11 I would click post-haste.

11. Ellen Tracy cream silk skirt, $60. Worn now with a cream oversized turtleneck or later with a one shoulder bodysuit.

12. Brown silk striped pants, $50. Chic and easy, just how we like it.

13. J. Crew navy roll neck sweater, $70. A classic! Like #8, would look fab with any of the skirts above.

14. Brown leather woven loafers, $29. Very Pitti Uomo.

15. Red firemen clasp jacket, $29.These clasps will never grow old for me - they’re utilitarian, overly fastened for a layperson’s existence, and cool as hell.

16. Via Spiga peaked snake flats, $33. The deep, dark, resounding sadness that these don’t fit me is very real.

17. Carhartt shawl canvas coat, $106. + #8 + black wide leg denim + chunky boots.

18. Sterling twisted puff hoops, $25. With #4, obviously!

19. Bull rug/wall hanging, $4. For my fellow Tauri.

20. Zero + Maria Cornejo boots, $85. Part wedge, part heel, all good.

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Thanks as always for being here! I’m going on vacation Friday-Tuesday (I can’t tell you where yet because it’s a surprise trip for my partner and he reads this!), but I’ll hopefully have a dispatch and new newsletter next Wednesday! xoxo x a million, Maggie