Everything I bought in July
+ spring/summer wardrobe planning
There truly is nothing quite like shopping from a list. Grocery shop - yes. Christmas gift list - yes. Seasonal wardrobe update - yes.
And of course, in true fashion, I’ve already started mapping out my spring/summer wishlist, for the purpose of having at least 30 days to mull over the purchase and seek out alternative options.
I’ve been leaning on the Carted app a lot, basically saving anything that catches my eye to my S/S ’25 Wishlist. Which at the moment, seems to be a hyper fixation on the little black (linen) dress. The Carted team are constantly adding new features to the app, the latest of which is the ability to share your lists with friends and family - so you can take a little peek into what I’m mulling over for spring/summer RIGHT HERE (along with what I’ve already purchased…).
I love this feature as it means you can share your lists ahead of birthdays and Christmas (*hint hint*), or maybe you’re redecorating and want a second opinion on what you’re thinking about buying for your space.
And of course, that’s on top of using Carted as a tool to manage your wish lists, as a bit of a digital mood board, and as a shopping assistant who let’s you know whenever there’s a price drop on an item you’re eyeing up (my personal favourite feature! Love being able to stretch the wardrobe budget a little further!). They’ve also added the ability to track pricing for the same item across multiple website so you can always make sure you’re getting the best deal.
Carted is now available on both Apple & Android devices - if you haven’t already downloaded the app, you can CLICK HERE to try it out for yourself.
DISSH black cotton/silk short sleeve shirt and matching trousers
First purchase of the month was thanks to a Carted price drop alert - an extra 20% off on an already reduced set in a cotton/silk blend. While the cut and design of these pieces aren’t groundbreaking, what I was really after was something easy to throw on, which felt elevated and chic. I wear a lot of black (#mumlife), and this particular blend feels luxurious, while still being easy to maintain (tick, and tick). Chic worn together, and apart.
Madewell light grey oversized pocket tee
Every now and then I’ll double up on an item I already own, in another colour. I added this super slouchy, super oversized tee from Madewell to my closet in a murky desaturated blue, and loved the cut so much I wanted to explore it in a different colour. I settled on concrete, which is a neutral-silvery grey.
Thinking ahead to spring, I also added these leather thongs to cart. As much as I love my YSL tribute slides, after two kids, they now feel just a bit too narrow for my feet. And life’s too short for uncomfortable shoes. One of my faves on TikTok shared these recently as an affordable, minimally designed shoe, and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve had to go the route of mail forwarding as for some reason I couldn’t manage to check out (to Australia) with these in my cart. They’re currently sitting in my US mailbox as I’ve been meaning to buy a top up of my one my all time favourite mascaras from MERIT to include in the package.
Chanel classic black loafers
If you’d told me at the start of this month - or at the start of this year - that I would be buying a pair of loafers from Chanel, I wouldn’t have believed you. I sort of swore off the idea of purchasing anything *new* from the boutique around the time my daughter was born, when the brand started implementing some rather ludicrous price hikes.
What I’d actually been intending to buy, were these loafers from G.H. Bass. I’ve had them sitting in my Carted wishlist for months, and they’ve been living rent free in my mind for the better part of the last 15 years.
Shoes can be tricky though, and after getting the alert the G.H. Bass loafers were on sale, I decided to do a little bit of extra research before buying. I have wide feet and a bunion, and didn’t want to be caught out with a shoe that I loved the look of, but didn’t love wearing. They confirmed my suspicions; narrow. Tough to break in. Even the “wide” version not being wide enough (at least by the standards of my loafer-loving peers).
I kept them there, sitting on my wishlist to remind me that this was the sort of thing I wanted to find. A sturdy loafer in a glossy leather, minimal detailing, robust sole, slight heel etc etc. I wasn’t in any rush; I have these loafers from Sezane on rotation, but I wanted something sans chain detailing that would feel more subdued. Less of a statement.
So when I spotted these loafers at Chanel, I thought… maybe... Let’s just try them on for size. Their shoes are notorious for running narrow, and I figured these would be just the case. Clearly, not so. And probably about as close to an impulse purchase as I’ll ever get (and I’ll rest on my laurels that this purchase was the culmination of a decades long search - hah!). The branding feels oddly subtle for Chanel, the cut classic, and I was drawn to the lived in creasing - something which I think goes against the desire to have things looking immaculate. Besides if you love something new, you also need to love how it’ll look when it’s all worn in.
Facade Pattern b/w stripe sleeveless tank
One of the things I tend to consider with any new purchase is “use potential”. Is it something I’m practically going to be thinking about wearing on a weekly basis. During the warmer months, I know with certainty that a sleeveless tank will always be a winner. I wanted to introduce a slightly different neckline, and loved that this one from Facade Pattern has quite a sharp square cut across the chest, with relatively thin straps.
Facade Pattern black cotton trousers
The final item I added to cart last month, was another repeat purchase… the “round” trousers from Facade Pattern in a black cotton blend. I own these in taupe and black wool, though made the mistake of sizing down in the black wool so they’re a little more cropped - and also a little more snug at the waist - than I’d like. The cotton blend seemed to me like a good year round option for Sydney. I liked that despite being the same cut I absolutely love, this variation has more structure, which makes the shape feel a lot more dramatic and wide. I’m always checking to see what colours of this trouser are a) available, and b) on sale, and I feel like I struck gold here. Multiples of items I really love are my absolute kryptonite, and I managed to justify this one by considering the value of a black trouser in my wardrobe. Based on my seasonal closet analysis (and also just tracking my outfits through the Indyx app), it’s a solid workhorse item for me that I wear almost every other day. Also managed to get an extra 10% off by applying my code (MADEMOISELLE10) at checkout!
Thanks to Carted for partnering with me on this week’s newsletter.