SPRING MOODBOARD
What I'm wearing, loving, listening to, reading and watching! Plus style musings and a Spring playlist from my extremely cool little sister.
August may have slipped away into a moment in time, but September is bringing a moment for a major reset.
The new season has me wearing a few less layers, cleaning out my wardrobe, changing up my skincare + makeup and adding new recipes into the mix at home. I love this time of year. Maybe it’s because my birthday is this month but I’ve always found September to be quite magical. Days start to feel a little longer, the weather is warming up but it’s not too hot yet and people just seem happier.
For this edition of Smooth Brain, I thought it would be cute to put together a Spring Moodboard - covering style, book/tv/film recommendations, music and beauty. To help, I asked my very cool little sister Isabella to curate a playlist for us to enjoy as well as share what’s on her wishlist for the season and style vibes she’s into. My recommendations follow on after Bella’s below.
As always, I love to hear from you so please leave a comment or DM me on Instagram. Thank you for the beautiful messages from my last substack. Every message, comment or like means so much. Adore you all.
Let’s kick things off with the playlist from Bella. For our Spring soundtrack, I told Bella to pick whatever she wants as long as it feels like Spring to her. Listen to it here.
When Bella isn’t working as Frank Green’s Marketing Coordinator in Melbourne, she’s listening to music and making playlists. She’s so cool and her music taste is unmatched. While I listen to Taylor Swift (she actually included one Taylor song on this playlist, she knows me well) on repeat, Bella is unearthing some brilliant new talent we’re all going to blasting months from now. Just like her music taste, Bella’s style is always ahead of the curve. I love how she puts together outfits.
While we have Bella, I’ve asked her some questions and she’s shared some Spring style bits and pieces.
What keeps you busy: Yoga, talking lots and very fast, spending time with friends, reading (slowly but surely), overthinking, scrolling Marketplace for furniture I don’t have space for, thrifting, gallery-hopping.
Describe your style: Modern silhouettes with a vintage twist, and masculine meets feminine - I like to find ways to pair contrast pieces that wouldn’t traditionally go together - take a puffer jacket and jeans with ballet flats, or a baggy shirt with a skirt and sneakers. Style inspo wise, I love Alfred Bramsen, Maya Nilsen, Bridget Brown, Bella Thomas, Lindsay Vrckovnik and Yan Yan Chan.
Best thing read/saw/consumed lately: Summer I Turned Pretty has me in a chokehold. I need to get my hands on the books (I‘m stealing Ali’s copies when she’s done).
Plans for Spring: Long walks, scrapbook and book clubs, slowing down, consuming less and more considered content, trying out new sports and going to live games, journaling regularly, and writing articles - back on inspirations, my bestie Allie King has published incredibly personal pieces speaking to asexuality and she’s helped me realise the beauty in sharing what you’ve experienced to connect with others online.
Things that I’ll be wearing this season (from my wardrobe):
- Basketball shorts
- Colourful stockings, Heavy ring stacks, Vintage-style caps, Ballet flats, Baggy shirts, Slip dresses (anything I can just throw on quickly), Knee high socks (in all colours):
Bella’s Spring Wishlist:
- Fitted cardigans, strappy kitten heels, metallic handbag, chrome shoes, flowy white blouse, lace socks, black lip liner
Thanks Bella!
SPRING ON THE BRAIN (from Ali)
From cute Chanel ballet flats to Miu Miu moto boots, here’s a bunch of Spring moods I’ve had on my mind. For me, it’s all about skirts, shorts, belts, cute vintage jackets and the colour red.
Spring Beauty:
There’s been some very exciting new releases in the beauty world.
Troye Sivan launched his own home/lifestyle brand, Tsu Lange Yor. It looks gorgeous and considered.
Meet, Lui Body - the best razor I’ve ever used in my life. Created by Rebecca Harding and Ingrid Kesa, shaving just got chic!
Violette FR has finally launched into Mecca. I had the pleasure of meeting the incredibly talented Violette at the launch party for her brand in Sydney. She is a creative powerhouse and so divine and kind. The products are unique, unexpected and deliver everything and then some. Special mention to the Bisou Balm and Yeux Paint liquid eyeshadows.
Watch + read:
Film: I’m dying to see Past Lives! Trailer below.
Books:
I’ve recently been re-reading a book that hugely inspired my creativity when I first read it in my early 20s - Popism by Andy Warhol. It’s a detailed account of the 60s from Andy’s perspective. It’s fascinating and crazy.
I also bought two highly recommended books; Yellowface and Lessons in Chemistry. And of course, I ordered all three of the Summer I Turned Pretty books. They took a while to arrive but they’re here!
Watch:
Matildas: The World at Our Feet on Disney+ - this isn’t a new release but post World Cup, I needed more Matilda’s in my life. I loved it so much, I hope they make another season! I then started watching Welcome to Wrexham, also on Disney+ - which is about Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying a flailing Welsh soccer team (Season 2 drops September 13) Natalie Portman has also done something similar so I’ll be watching Angel City (available on Foxtel pr Binge) next.
The Morning Show Season 3 drops September 13 (on AppleTV+), Jon Hamm joins the cast. And the final season of Sex Education will be available (on Netflix) September 21.
I hope you enjoyed my Spring Moodboard! Thank you to Bella for sharing some inspiration and blessing our ears with your playlist. And thank you to mum for your beautiful painting.
Happy Spring friends!
More Smooth Brain Thoughts soon,
Ali xx
Can’t wait to watch past lives too!!
Carrie Bradshaw x Matildas-core Is a vibe.