vegetables for spring

groundbreaking (literally)

When I started thrifting in high school, the majority of the clothes I came home with were floral prints. It felt like too much work to sift through all of the solid color items, checking tags for fabric composition—limiting myself to patterns seemed a lot less daunting. (Obviously, I got over that, and can now happily spend hours going hanger by hanger through every section.) I still have a soft spot for florals, but we’re all familiar with the scene below, memed ad infinitum into internet permaculture.

In keeping with the spirit of spring, renewal, new life, but pushing it a bit … may I suggest vegetables for spring?

Below are several secondhand vegetable-print garments that don’t lean too cutesy or quirky, even recalling some recent Lisa Says Gah and Rachel Antonoff collections.

Cynthia Rowley carrot dress (10), $82; vintage vegetable print shirt (M), $46; vintage pepper print skirt (28), $67; vintage garlic print skirt (8), $39

Okay. All cute options. But what if we took it a step further, and actually dressed as vegetables, or at least embodied the essence of a vegetable?

First, an onion: red, yellow, white, I’m picturing a combination of all those colors, thin, translucent layers of dusty purples, browns, and ivories, with a dark brown bra visible underneath. Paired with some well-worn flat leather sandals or dirty low-top sneakers that started off as white, and maybe a light-wash denim vest.

Vintage 50's Sheer Ivory Nylon Blouse (M), $75; Natori Feathers bra; White Sheer Nylon Blouse 1950's Ruffles (S), $40; white organza pleated bow top (M), $60; 1960s white pleated silk tank top blouse (M/L), $68; CUUP mesh balconette bra; 40s-50s sheer white pintucked shirt (4), $54

Vintage silk chiffon pleated skirt with lace (M), $75; SooLinen pink brown ruffled tulle skirt (L), $77; J Jill brown sheer net overlay midi skirt (XS), $54; vintage 1970s sheer slip skirt (M), $14; 1930’s sheer lilac dress (M/L), $99; mauve/purple tulle layered skirt (XL), $75

Next: the humble carrot. For this, I’m envisioning a striking, minimal silhouette, a bright green handbag acting as a recently lopped-off carrot top, and some strappy brown heels, the hue a nod to having just been pulled from the soil. I could see any of these dresses in a late spring wedding guest outfit.

Clockwise from top left: Stella McCartney turtleneck midi dress (XL), $204; La Ligne silk dress (XS), $335 (SORRY); Andrea Gomez suede colorblock slides (8), $135; The Range long turtleneck dress (M), $132; PH5 printed dress (S), $196; Loeffler Randall tan leather slingbacks (8), $125; Richard Tyler leather slides (9.5), $52; By Far green leather mini bag, $128

And finally… the tomato. (Yes, I know, this is “technically” a fruit… if you wouldn’t eat it out of a bowl with Cool Whip, it doesn’t count as fruit!) No use in dressing like any other version than a peak season, late July heirloom; a firm, bright red orb. To pull this off, take the “touch of red” trend to the extreme: a substantial, blousy top tucked into structured short shorts, all in the same brilliant scarlet, with some simple red Keds to keep it casual. Enjoy being the person who makes everyone else at the farmers’ market smile.

Clockwise from top left: sleeveless elastic-waist shirt (XL), $47; Koret high-waist cotton shorts, $23; Dries van Noten linen top (M), $95; embroidered red button-down (XL), $27; Keds classic sneakers (6), $30; red cuffed trouser shorts (25), $27; Keds classic sneakers (11), $33; red cotton shorts (29), $24

Anyone else putting together veggie-inspired outfits? (Maybe just me lol.) How do you feel about florals?

As always, if you buy something from the newsletter, send pics!

<3 E