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    1. Fashion
    2. Spring Fashion

    Your Guide to Spring 2021's Wardrobe Essentials

    These are your better basics.

    Sara Holzman's avatar
    By Sara Holzman
    Published 10 May 2021 In Features

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    Your Guide to Spring 2021's Wardrobe Essentials

    (Image credit: KAT IRLIN)

    Spring cleaning is not just a pursuit in decluttering but also a time to shed the items that no longer serve you well, including clothing. The first thing Lili Pettit, professional organizer and founder of Clutter Healing, has her clients do during a spring-cleaning session is set an intention. “Spring is the time to plant the seeds you want to sow at the end of the season,” she says. “Why do you have 17 black sweaters? Do you really love them all?” You don’t have to call yourself a minimalist to see why the answer is, repeatedly, no. This month, invest in five key pieces you’ll keep coming back to—from classic-with-a-twist pearl drop earrings to an upgraded cable knit sweater. “Have things in your closet that feel like a warm hug,” Pettit advises. “Pieces that constantly remind you to come back home.”

    Cable Knits

    Sure, they're right at home in the winter. But in softer color ways and lighter fabrics, a cable knit sweater is a great all-season contender.

    Embroidered Cable-Knit Sweater

    Isabel Marant Étoile Embroidered Cable-Knit Sweater
    $400.00 AT MODAOPERANDI.COM

    Gia Cable-Knit Turtleneck Sweater

    Jonathan Simkhai Gia Cable-Knit Turtleneck Sweater
    $435.00 AT BERGDORFGOODMAN.COM

    Eria Cable Knit Sweater

    Nanushka Eria Cable Knit Sweater
    $425.00 AT NORDSTROM.COM

    Convertible Cableknit Sweater

    Rosie Assoulin Convertible Cableknit Sweater
    $358.00 AT NET-A-PORTER.COM

    Shop more cable knit sweaters here.

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    Luxe Leggings

    Comfort is key, but a high-quality, contouring material can take a mere black legging and make it a powerhouse purchase.

    Rio Stirrup Pant

    Leset Rio Stirrup Pant
    $150.00 AT LESET.COM

    Logo Stretch Jersey Leggings

    Off-White Logo Stretch Jersey Legging
    $330.00 AT MYTHERESA.COM

    Stretch Wool Blend Leggings

    ALAÏA Stretch Wool Blend Leggings
    $890.00 AT NET-A-PORTER.COM

    Stretch Jersey Leggings

    TOTÊME Stretch Jersey Leggings
    $60.00 AT NET-A-PORTER.COM

    Shop more leggings here.

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    Pearl Drop Earrings

    Whether they're in classic strand form or acting as a modern accouterment, pearls are luminous and versatile. Pearl drop earrings are our favorite way to wear this timeless jewel.

    Pearl Moon Half-Hoops

    White Space Jewelry Pearl Moon Half-Hoops
    $575.00 AT WHITESPACEJEWELRY.COM

    Small Gold Huggie Pearl Drop Earrings

    Lily & Roo Small Gold Huggie Pearl Drop Earrings
    $160.00 AT WOLFANDBADGER.COM

    Organic Pearl Hoops

    Mejuri Organic Pearl Hoops
    $75.00 AT MEJURI.COM

    Baroque Peal Earrings

    Grace Lee Baroque Peal Earrings
    $738.00 AT CUSTOM RETAILER DISPLAY NAME

    Shop more pearl drop earrings here.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

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    Shoulder Bag

    The sleek, ever functional leather shoulder bag has proven to be unfussy—but that doesn’t mean it can’t be stylish.

    Tondo 22 Leather Shoulder Bag

    Savette Tondo 22 Leather Shoulder Bag
    $2150.00 AT NET-A-PORTER.COM

    Hexagon Crossbody

    Cuyana Hexagon Crossbody
    $295.00 AT CUYANA.COM

    The Curve Bag

    Alexander McQueen The Curve Bag
    $1490.00 AT CUSTOM RETAILER DISPLAY NAME

    Amanda Bag

    Behno Amanda Bag
    $395.00 AT CUSTOM RETAILER DISPLAY NAME

    Shop more shoulder bags here.

    Fancy Clogs

    Fashion's new guard of clogs with a little something special have clomped their way into our hearts. No matter how you wear them, the look will always feel effortless.

    Les Bois Clog

    Celine Les Bois Clog
    $920.00 AT CELINE.COM

    Rubber Clog Mules

    Bottega Veneta Rubber Clog Mules
    $510.00 AT NEIMANMARCUS.COM

    Floral-Appliqué Shearling Clogs

    Fabrizio Viti Floral-Appliqué Shearling Clogs
    $637.00 AT CUSTOM RETAILER DISPLAY NAME

    Slidy Viv Crystal Buckle Clogs

    Roger Vivier Slidy Viv Crystal Buckle Clogs
    $1200.00 AT BERGDORFGOODMAN.COM

    Shop more fancy clogs here.

    A version of this story appears in the April 2021 issue of Marie Claire.

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    Sara Holzman
    Sara Holzman
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    Style Director

    Sara Holzman is the Style Director at Marie Claire, where she oversees fashion coverage spanning seasonal trends, celebrity style, designers, Fashion Month, and shopping. With more than a decade of experience in fashion media, she has held roles at Condé Nast’s Lucky and Self and contributed style and travel coverage to Equinox’s Furthermore. A graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism, Sara is based in New York City, where she writes about fashion through both an industry and personal lens, including the realities of getting dressed as a working mom. Follow her on Instagram at @sarajonewyork.

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