The World Cup starts in a week, which means it’s Game Time for outfit planning. Earlier this week, I shared Part 1 of this World Cup shoe series with footwear recs inspired by soccer, from old-school cleats to red cards and the Golden Boot.

Part 2 is even more exciting. I took the 15 World Cup jerseys that I awarded “Best in Class” in April and paired each with the perfect sporty shoe. These all-star picks are sure to give you superior sideline style:

1. The France Away Shoe

Honor Lady Liberty’s once bronze exterior with these Nike shoes that bring out the tarnishing France logo.

2. The USA Stars and Stripes Shoe

The Adidas stripes with the blue stars make these the perfect stars and stripes shoes. The best part? They match with both kits.

3. The Spain Home Shoe

At first glance, these shoes screamed España to me. But beyond that, a big part of the visual appeal of this pairing is the reversal of red and yellow as the dominant color in the two products.

Bonus: The Spain Away Shoe

When I saw, these shoes, I knew I had to include a bonus for the away jersey. The old-school, yet detailed design of the shoe, as well as the colors, make this a perfect match.

4. South Korea Away Shoe

I got these shoes for Christmas and am obsessed. Their iridescent purple shimmer is mesmerizing, making it an obvious choice for the jersey I awarded most aesthetic.

5. Mexico Home Shoe

Sometimes it’s just a match made in heaven.

6. Germany Home Shoe

You might look at these shoes and think they work because of the matching colors. But look one step further at the geometric diamonds and triangles in the middle of the jersey and the laces, and you’ll see just how well they truly work together.

7. Germany Away Shoe

Another match made in heaven — now, we’re just getting lucky.

8. Colombia Home Shoe

Third time’s a charm?

9. Portugal Away Shoe

These shoes not only have the jersey’s mint coloring, but texture and a Puma silver wave element that connect to the ocean design

10. Côte d’Ivoire Away Shoe

The two pastel colors in the jersey are so good that the shoes had to follow suit.

11. Ghana Home Shoe

This pairing is probably my favorite, from the thick black detailing to the thin colorful lines. Someone call the designers at Puma and Adidas because how is this not an intentional pairing?

12. Canada Away Shoe

I have a pair of the Taekwondo shoes in black and white and love them. The patent leather and red, however, draws out the edginess of Canada’s graffiti-style jersey.

13. Morocco Home Shoe

Morocco’s jersey is one of my favorites because of its traditional mosaic collar and unique neckline. This, however, made it harder to find a shoe that honored those elements.

The texture of this Puma sneaker connects to the jersey’s geometric hem, and the open, yet artfully designed lace area of the shoe mirrors its unique neckline.

14. Netherlands Home Shoe

The Netherlands went with a never-before-used shade of orange for their jerseys. So, the shoes needed to be two things: orange and bright.

15. Croatia Home Shoe

Red, white, and classic. What more do you need for Croatia?

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

Read more World Cup Coverage from The Handwritten Edit:

The World Cup starts in eight days, which means it’s time to start planning your outfits. Whether you’ll be attending a game, celebrating at a Fan Fest, or cheering from a bar, these soccer-inspired shoes are sure to complete the look.

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

Read more World Cup coverage from The Handwritten Edit:

I love a vacation outfit moment. Primarily because it’s the culmination of weeks (or let’s be honest, months) of planning in my head.

The closet gymnastics and thrift hunts in preparation remind me of how my mom always says:

I must say, I’m fully in her camp.

Outfit planning is one of the few ways you can connect with the excitement of your trip before you’re even there. And once you are, it gives you the confidence to dress for the moment and the intentionality to make your days and nights extra special.

This time around, I was planning for a Florida getaway with my boyfriend to celebrate our May birthdays that are exactly one week apart to the day.

Now, that we’re back from our trip, here’s a look at everything I wore and everything we did:

☀️🌴 Thursday

Sarasota Day Trip

After flying into Tampa Wednesday night, we kickstarted our trip Thursday morning with a lovely breakfast with my boyfriend’s mom. We ate at my allergy-friendly go-to spot, Another Broken Egg Cafe, where I ordered the gluten free lemon blueberry goat cheese pancakes.

Then, we were off to pick up our rental car and head an hour south to Sarasota.

It was my first time visiting the city, but I had the best tour guide. We strolled through St. Armands Circle, perusing shops and stopping for hydration at the Daiquiri Deck and lunch at Columbia Restaurant, the oldest Spanish restaurant in the U.S. and Florida’s oldest continually operated restaurant.

We both had the Spanish bean soup (garbanzo beans, ham, chorizo, and potatoes in a chicken and ham broth) that transported me back to my host mom’s lentil and chorizo soup in Salamanca, Spain.

Oh, and I sipped on a delicious red wine sangria … that I spilled on my white dress …

Speaking of my white dress, here’s what I wore:

After a long walk on the beach and a drive through the suburbs, we headed to Naples, where we holed up for the rest of our trip. And this time, I was the tour guide.

☀️🌴 Friday

Beach, Pool, and Tennis

Since we made the executive decision to spend our first evening sipping margaritas before heading to The Pub for fish and chips and wings, our Friday morning was spent grocery shopping.

After that, we hit the beach for an hour before black clouds drove us back to the complex’s pool. The storm never came, so after drying off, we hit the tennis courts for a late afternoon session.

Here’s what I wore:

Charcuterie

By the time we were done playing and showered, I made the call to postpone our evening out in favor of slowing down and relaxing with candles, cosmos, and charcuterie on the lanai. The boardgames were laid out, but in typical “us” fashion, we spent hours chatting instead.

☀️🌴 Saturday

Birthday Bungalow Welcome

Saturday was my boyfriend’s actual birthday, so I wanted to make the day extra special. Every year, I plan a themed birthday for my sisters, so my boyfriend needed the full themed treatment.

Traveling was not about to hinder my plans, so instead, I used our location as part of the decor and went with “Birthday Bungalow.”

My favorite touch was the laminated welcome note and itinerary:

Welcome Birthday Brunch and Tennis Hour

The birthday boy’s choice of sips and nibbles, per the itinerary, was breakfast out, so we ate at Epiphany Gluten Free Bakery. We split a coffee, and he had a breakfast sandwich while I had coffee cakes.

Next, it was tennis hour.

Here’s what I wore this time around:

Beachside Relaxation and Tiki Bar Cabana Service

We called it quits with tennis once we could no longer ignore the dark clouds and wind. We headed back to the condo and cooled down on the lanai with lunch — a “Pub Sub” (Publix Deli Buffalo Chicken Tender Sub) for the birthday boy.

Then, it was time for beachside relaxation. After an hour or so, the return of the dark clouds meant it was time to walk down the beach with our chairs to the Ritz Carlton’s Gumbo Limbo for Piña Coladas and storm watching.

Steakhouse Dinner Reservation

The itinerary’s rooftop sunset cocktails did not happen because — you guessed it — the dark clouds were back, and it was a full Florida monsoon. Instead, I moved up our reservation and we headed straight to Cooper’s Hawk.

We shared a bottle of the CHMX red, from Baja, Mexico. To eat, he had the trio of medallions (Horseradish, Bleu Cheese, and Parmesan-Crusted Filet Medallions) with Mary’s Potatoes and asparagus, while I had the filet mignon with Mary’s Potatoes and broccolini. Plus, the birthday boy got a rich chocolate cake.

In the end, the torrential downpour was perfectly timed because we soaked up the evening until they were closing down for the night.

Here’s what we wore for the perfect date night:

☀️🌴 Sunday

Beach Day

Sunday was a break from the courts thanks to tennis elbow that left a knot the size of a golf ball in my forearm. Instead, we had a slow morning before heading to the beach.

Here’s what I wore:

Rooftop Sunset Drinks and Dinner

By the time my skin had enough sun, it was time to get ready for the evening. We combined the missed rooftop sunset drinks with Friday’s postponed dinner plans.

Cocktails were at Tigress Restaurant and Rooftop Bar at the Perry Hotel. I had the Li Chi Sour (mizu lemongrass shochu, chrysanthemum, lychee, lemon) and he had the Ideal of Harmony (vodka, coconut green tea, banana, sparkling lime & yuzu).

Dinner was at Bar Tulia, where you must sit at the bar and order a cocktail seasonally created by the bartenders. I had the Rosemary Riviera (gardener gin, strega, honey, rosemary) and my boyfriend had a bartender creation.

For food, we split the grilled Atlantic swordfish with umbrian lentils, honeycrisp apple, and smoked pancetta.

Here’s what we wore:

☀️🌴 Monday

Our last non-working day

For Memorial Day we went to the Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park beach where we spent the day shelling (I found six sand dollars) and swimming.

The afternoon called for a pool cool down and a last tennis match. But my favorite part of the day was how we ended it: wine and charcuterie on the beach during sunset while recapping our getaway and chatting about our future together.

Here’s what I wore: Wet hair, my sun hat, and a dress from middle school that lives in my Naples closet.

What can I say? On the last day, I didn’t want to waste any moments of our final evening in paradise.

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

Boston hit 96 degrees on Tuesday, marking the hottest spring day in over a century. It made me yearn for ice cream for lunch and wonder if it was too early to put in my AC window units.

It also gave me the pre-vacation jitters.

Luckily, by the time this article posts, I will be in Florida and on my way to a piña colada (or at least, coffee under the palms to start).

The weeks leading up to the getaway have — naturally — consisted of the ritual outfit planning in my head. This time, I was getting tripped up on what to wear as a coverup.

I usually just wrap a mini sarong around my waist and throw a Tommy Bahama chair on my back and bike to the beach … where I immediately take the coverup off.

But for this trip, I needed a real coverup that I could wear to brunch and around downtown before going to the beach. It needed to not be completely see through and deserved to be cute enough to earn a spot on the vacation outfit roster.

I ended up selecting my newly thrifted Banana Republic white poplin utility dress (don’t forget you can repurpose regular dresses as coverups) for the occasion.

After finalizing my decision, however, my brain was still spinning through ideas. I was determined to find other options so you don’t have to settle for jean shorts or a white button down for your trips.

So, kick off your summer outfit planning with these fun Amazon finds:

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

Recently, I holed up for an entire weekend to watch “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy — extended editions — for the first time.

Disclaimer: I’m fully aware that I’m about 25 years behind and that this is rather the embarrassment for a fantasy and Harry Potter nerd. But better now than never, right?

And don’t worry, I loved it. The ring clearly has its power over me because I’m already itching for another marathon.

That seems to always happen with fantastical movies, and even more so with books. They leave my mind wandering in the magical realm even after I’ve left the screen or pages and returned to the real world.

I love the mythical creatures, the enchanted lands, and of course, the fashion.

The latter got me thinking: What would these characters wear today? Or better yet, what could I wear, inspired by them? (Outside of Halloween that is.)

So, here’s a roundup of 15 whimsical and ethereal dresses inspired by 15 “Lord of the Rings” characters, from the Fellowship of the Ring to villains and leading women.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

My favorite part about going to see a movie in theaters — aside from the crisp fountain Coke, popcorn, and a purse full of candy — is the debrief.

Typically, I only see a movie on the big screen if I really care about it: I’ve read the book, it’s a sequel of a franchise I love, etc. So by the time the movie has ended and I’ve waited to make sure there are no post-credits scenes, my brain is typically moving a million miles a minute.

Was it what I expected? How does it compare to the original? Did I guess the ending? How was the casting?

On and on it goes.

I always have to share these thoughts, and usually it’s with an unsuspecting family member waiting at home. In this case, it was with my boyfriend who laughed, but nonetheless, participated in my manic routine after seeing the “Devil Wears Prada 2” with me on Thursday.

I waited to write this until I came down from the natural high (plus, I honestly didn’t have time this weekend) but let’s be real, it’s still on my mind days later.

So here are some of the moments and details I’m still obsessing over that deserve a little more rant time.

Table of contents:

• The Fashion

• The OG Characters

• The New Characters

• Product Placement

• The Ending

• My Overall Take

• Bonus: How Many Stars Would You Give the Movie?

The Fashion

Let’s treat this like a fashion closet clean out: Keep or Ditch.

Keep: Miranda Priestly’s (Meryl Streep) Dries Van Noten tassel blazer that almost didn’t make the movie. It was everything, from the colors to the textures to the way it moved. Every second of screen time it had came with a new detail to discover. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

Keep: The return of Nigel Kipling’s (Stanley Tucci) oversized aqeeq cocktail ring. It not only drew attention in the sequel, but it showed how statement and quality pieces are fashion investments that are supposed to stand the test of time.

Keep: Miranda Priestly’s Armani Privé Spring 2025 Couture Black Sequin Coat and a Rixo Black Metallic Feather-Printed Blouse had me drooling in the theater.

The black sequins with the gems on top added contrast and sparkle without drowning the piece in color. Not to mention how the black and metallic colors in the blouse perfectly played with the aforementioned shine and colors in the coat. It was also fitted, so it didn’t swallow her shape, despite the length.

Keep: Nigel’s Moscot Foygel Classic Havana glasses had me taking mental notes a few scenes in. My best suggestion if you think you want a pair of these glasses: Watch them on screen. They are not just circular in shape. The edges of the frame are thick and rounded as well, creating depth and showcasing obvious quality. I’ve never seen glasses like these.

Ditch: Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt) was plastered in Dior for all of her initial scenes. A fashion savvy woman who knows the style handbook inside and out would have never been caught dead in such an aggressive brand marketing outfit. She would live and breathe quiet luxury because she fundamentally believes that those who get fashion, get fashion, and those who don’t, don’t.

Ditch: Emily’s platinum blonde hair (yes, this qualifies as a fashion statement). She dyed it at the end of the movie to signify a change in her character and her next steps. However, it would have been more impactful and sentimental if she had started the sequel with dyed platinum hair to signify her “villain arc” and career change. She then could have returned to the red hair that we know and love as a full-circle moment when she makes peace with Andy.

Keep: The return of the cerulean blue cableknit sweater — this time as a sweater vest. A costume designer for the movie tracked down the original piece from the archives, and it was Anne Hathaway who took scissors to the sleeves and neckline of its stunt double. This is the kind of detail the audience deserves.

Keep: Jay Ravitz (B.J. Novak) and his quarterzip. This may not seem in the realm of fashion. But at its core, fashion is all about individual style, and this business-bro style archetype worked perfectly for the character. It said everything it needed to.

Ditch: Andy’ Sach’s (Anne Hathaway) style was too good at the start of the movie. As a thrifter, I’m not buying that her whole wardrobe is thrifted designer gems and that she learned that level of a fashion sense in her brief time at Runway. Plus, she denounced the fashion world when she returned to her previous life.

It felt like a choice to just make Andy look pretty and to have more “fashion moments” versus being true to the character.

Ditch: Andy’s style went downhill when she went to Milan Fashion Week. Glitter gauchos with knee-high leather boots? A disco ball dress with a plaid tie and burgundy leather trench coat? What were we doing?

The OG Characters

There are probably a million things to discuss about each character, so let’s keep it brief:

1. Miranda was softened to the point of giggles and casual conversation in a way that felt untrue to the woman we met in the original movie.

2. Andy was more Anne Hathway than Andy with her charming smile and “Princess Diaries” formal way of speaking, but she was nonetheless a charming character to follow for the length of the sequel.

3. Nigel was as endearing and fashionable as ever and remained true to the core of his character.

4. Emily has to take the cake with best acting of the movie as she seamlessly went from the exact character we missed dearly to a villain and back again — and yet, I still loved her the whole time.

The New Casting

1. Amari (Simone Ashley) took my doubts on whether an actress who played a sweet “Bridgerton” character (one of my favorites) could have the fortitude and range for such a cut-throat role and threw them out the window without even a glance — or a glare — back.

2. “Charlie the Chair” (Caleb Hearon) made an incredible impression as a lovable character despite having a minor role and only a few lines — all in the chair.

3. The Cameos: Did we need so many? It felt more fan fest than hidden Easter egg.

Product Placement

The movie was still going on, and I was already internally raging about the product placement.

I’m well aware that movies use product placement, whether it’s a Coke cup or McDonald’s run. I’m also well aware that I studied media in college and spent time analyzing this tactic, so my brain picks it up more than the average person.

But MY GOODNESS.

There simply was no need in many of these use cases, or it was not done subtly enough to pass easily into the viewer’s subconscious.

For example, why was there a bright green Mrs. Myers hand soap in Andy’s original bathroom? And when the camera zoomed in at an angle on the dirty water coming out of the spout, why was the soap label perfectly straight-on?

Or why was an Owala the only thing I noticed in the background in Lily’s kitchen?

And then, there were fashion product placements that made sense for the movie but were poorly executed and overdone, such as Emily being a walking billboard for Dior or the Runway fashion closet being a billboard for Chanel’s tennis collection.

The Ending

Nigel and Andy’s ending:

Nigel and Andy have a lovely moment where he reveals that he’s the reason she got the job at Runway this time around. They hug and he winks and tells her she’s always been his girl.

I love this full-circle moment that brought together loose threads. However, I didn’t like how the scene was written.

Nigel saying Andy was always his girl is a bit of a stretch given how short of a time she really worked at Runway the first time around and how many people over the many years he’s worked with since. I don’t doubt that he would remember her or get her the job, but the full display seemed like fanfare.

It would have been more in Nigels character for him to vaguely connect the dots for Andy and walk away with a straight face before turning back to wink.

Miranda and Nigel’s ending:

How Miranda and Nigel wrapped up the movie left a lot to be desired. The sequel gave attention to how Nigel wanted a more prominent leadership role at Runway. But all we got was a quick apology from Miranda before it was yesterday’s news and back to business as always.

With Sasha buying Elias-Clarke and Runway in the end, Miranda should have become the Global Head of Content for Elias-Clarke like she wanted, promoting Nigel to take over Runway.

Maybe it was a choice to stick close to Anna Wintour’s real-life tight grip on Vogue, but it left me feeling very unsatisfied in the end for Nigel.

Miranda and Andy’s ending:

In an end scene, Andy is in Miranda’s office watching her work. Miranda asks her what else she wants, and Andy replies something along the lines of “Nothing.” To which I internally screamed: Why didn’t Andy say “That’s all”????!!! It would have been a mic-drop movie moment.

My Overall Take

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and didn’t leave saying the sequel should never have been made — which says a lot. My biggest tell for how I really feel about a movie I see in theaters is if I’m dying to rewatch it as soon as it ends.

And I can confidently say I am.

★★★★☆

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

For whatever reason, the holiday always creeps up unexpectedly, and before you know it, you’re left with the daunting task of finding a fitting gift.

Have you done a quick Google search for Mother’s Day gifts only to be left unsatisfied with the results? It’s probably because every mom is different, and would therefore, appreciate different gifts.

But don’t worry, I can help.

I narrowed down a list of all the wonderful mother archetypes I could think of to eight and selected five gift ideas for each.

Short on time? Find a gift card selection for each archetype as well.

Table of contents:

1. For the Wellness Mother

2. For the Gardener Mother

3. For the Book-loving Mother

4. For the Cook Mother

5. For the New Mother

6. For the Luxury Mother

7. For the On-the-Go Mother

8. For the Working Mother

Gift card option: Her favorite post-sweat coffee or matcha shop

Gift card option: Home Depot

Gift card option: Barnes & Nobles or her favorite local bookshop

Gift card option: William Sonoma

Gift card option: DoorDash

Gift card option: Massage or manicure, pedicure

Gift card option: Her favorite quick food or coffee spot

Gift card option: Her favorite place near her office for coffee or after-work drinks

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

Last night, stars took to the feared fashion stairs at the 2026 Met Gala, and the looks didn’t disappoint. This time around, however, I wasn’t just seeking out looks that were stunning or that made statements.

In February, I wrote an article on how I would interpret the Met Gala dress code, so instead, I had my eyes peeled for anyone who shared my visions.

For those who need a recap, the dress code was “Fashion is Art,” which invited attendees to reflect on what fashion as an art form means to them and to revisit “depictions of the dressed body throughout art history.”

The event honored the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute’s spring exhibition “Costume Art,” which will be on display to the public from May 10, 2026, until Jan. 10, 2027.

“Rather than prioritizing fashion’s visuality, which often comes at the expense of the corporeal, Costume Art privileges its materiality and the indivisible connection between our bodies and the clothes we wear,” Andrew Bolton, The Costume Institute’s curator in charge, said.

Right after the announcement, I shared three routes I would have explored if I had attended this year’s gala: a fashion-in-progress look, a look that doesn’t let fashion cover my body insecurities, and a look that puts anatomy first.

To my utter excitement, these celebrities were on the same page. Plus, see five attendees whose interpretations of the dress code left me awe struck:

Interpretation #1: A fashion-in-progress look

Interpretation #2: A look that doesn’t let fashion cover my body insecurities

Disclaimer: Since this interpretation is deeply personal to each individual, for this section I have chosen Met Gala looks that fall into either of these two categories:

1. Looks that I would have chosen to showcase my own insecurities such as my hips, thighs, stomach, etc.

2. Looks that showcases beautiful parts of our bodies that society has pushed us to cover up or not appreciate as fully as we should such as a woman’s pregnant body, a disability, or our natural curves.

Interpretation #3: A look that puts anatomy first

Plus: 5 unique celebrity interpretations that left me awestruck.

See a roundup of all the looks on Vogue.com.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

It just so happens that the sequel to fashion’s biggest movie hits theaters on the same weekend as the Miami Grand Prix. So while my boyfriend — who I promised I’d watch the new film with — is on a plane to Florida, I am coping with the best alternative as a fashion Substack girly: rewatching the original movie and writing this article.

It’s clear with every rewatch that the only thing able to rival the fashion, is the movie’s quotable scenes. So, why not combine the two?

Bring this classic movie and its iconic lines to life in your wardrobe with these modern looks:

Blue Cable Knit ‘Cerulean’ Sweater

‘Groundbreaking’ Floral Dresses

Teal ‘They’re so different’ Belts

Black ‘I’m not your baby’ Dresses

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

Last night, I attended this week’s Fashionably Late fashion show at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. The lobby glowed in purple hues while a DJ set the vibe. Meanwhile, eventgoers sipped on craft cocktails and lounged on leather sofas.

Starting at 9 p.m., the lobby balcony and ground floor transformed into a runway. The best part? The experience came to you as the models posed in each spotlit corner.

This week’s show featured Kaybea Collection, a small business in Charlestown, Massachusetts. The clothing store showcased 12 looks that had summer written all over them, from floral and seashell sundresses to straw and rattan purses.

Check out all the looks we saw, plus five more that caught my eye on Kaybea’s website:

Looking for more? Here are five other Kaybea looks that caught my eye:

Upcoming Fashion Shows:

The Fashionably Late winter and spring season is almost over. Catch the last three shows in the lineup:

• May 7 – Thornpetal

• May 14 – Akmaral Bridal

• May 21 – Max & Riley

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

It’s almost Derby Day!

Last year, I went to a beautiful garden party in celebration, complete with Mint Juleps, derby decor, and crudités.

I was pressed for time to find an outfit for the event, yet somehow I managed to pull together an ensemble from my closet that I still dream about. I wore a stunning sheer Club Monaco floral dress with Farc Fisher light blue denim heels, my Kate Spade scalloped purse, and my grandma’s sheer navy blue gloves.

This year, I won’t be needing a Derby fit, but I couldn’t help but feel the creative itch. So if you still need an outfit for Saturday, I’ve got you.

I’ve compiled five complete looks with all your derby necessities, from dresses to accessories. The best part: free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime, so you don’t have to stress about the time crunch.

1. The Prim, Proper, and Pearl Look

2. The Little Miss Sunshine Look

3. The Polka Dot Daydream Look

4. The Classy Cocktail Look

5. The Garden Party Look

This article contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you — to help support The Handwritten Edit. All links have been carefully curated, so I hope you enjoy!

Explore my full ShopMy page, or use my link to start shopping or start creating.

The 2026 World Cup is 43 days away.

We know all the teams who will be competing. Friendlies have started. Host cities are preparing for mass crowds with fan fests and transportation options. Final tickets are being sold.

And most excitingly, jerseys have been revealed.

With 48 nations unveiling home, away, prematch, and goalie kits, it can be a whirlwind to sort through them all — let alone, pick a favorite.

So, instead of picking just one, I’ve compiled a list of 15 World Cup jerseys that stand out for a unique reason.

Congrats to these nations, your jerseys are best in class:

1. Best Host Country Reference: 🇫🇷 France Away

At first glance, this might just look like a beautifully colored jersey. But hold your scroll: It’s more than meets the eye. What you’re looking at is a kit resembling the Statue of Liberty, France’s greatest gift to the U.S., complete with a copper crest to represent the statue’s original coloring and tarnishing.

Honoring France, as well as a host country, this jersey is a creative 2-in-1.

2. Best Callback: 🇺🇸 USA Home and Away

Having déjà vu? You’re spot on. In honor of the last time the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994, the team revealed reimagined Stars and Stripes kits. Plus, Adidas commemoratively rereleased the iconic 1994 denim stars jersey.

3. Best Historical Reference: 🇪🇸 Spain Home

🏆 Jersey I’m most excited to rep

¡Viva España! My favorite national team is Spain, and I will be rooting for them all the way until the end — and repping this jersey on repeat. The kit feels authentically Spain with the red and yellow of the flag taking center stage and the blue from the coat of arms having a moment on the sleeves.

The primarily red jersey with blue details also has historical significance. After the Spanish Civil War, Spain switched from red to a dark blue jersey since dark blue was the color of Francisco Franco’s political party. In 1947, the team switched back to the traditional red, and blue has been used in a reclaiming of the color.

In fact, Spain wore a dark blue kit when they won the 2010 World Cup. The 2026 kit’s sleeves are a callback to 2010, as well as a callback to Spain’s 1994 World Cup jersey, when the U.S. last hosted.

The best part of this jersey, however, is the smallest detail: España written on the back of the kit’s neck with a yellow ñ in honor of the Spanish language.

4. Most Aesthetic: 🇰🇷 South Korea Away

I must have missed this jersey when I originally scoured lists of unveiled kits. Instead, I came across it while compiling this list, and I haven’t been able to stop looking at it since.

My favorite color is purple, so I may be a bit bias, but it’s hard to deny the beauty of this color paired with the floral design. I most definitely went on a rant about how there need to be more purple jerseys after seeing this (a favorite being the Mexican women’s Tigres Wonder Woman jerseys).

5. Best Cultural Art: 🇲🇽 Mexico Home

This jersey is undeniably Mexican with the color of its flag on display, textures that resemble indigenous art and embroidery, and heritage imagery such as the Aztec deity Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent, and the Aztec Sun Stone.

For uniting energy for this host country, “Somos México” appears on the back neckline.

6. Most Unexpected: 🇩🇪 Germany Home

When I first saw this jersey, I wasn’t wowed. It felt like just stripes on a white shirt. But then I saw people wearing it in person, and my opinion completely changed.

It is clean cut, bold, and stands out in a crowd — literally, it caught my eye in a rope-drop crowd at Disney World.

7. Best Full Kit: 🇩🇪 Germany Away

Well done, Germany, you’re the only team who managed to secure two spots on this list. The second spot is specifically reserved for the full-kit look. The socks and shorts bring out the aqua embellishments from the navy blue jersey seamlessly. The kit is cohesive and is a rare instance when I’m okay with a non monochrome look.

8. Best Disguised Detailing: 🇨🇴 Colombia Home

The color: vibrant and energetic. The pattern: subtle and magical

Colombia’s home jersey features a hidden monochrome butterfly wing pattern in a tribute to Gabriel García Márquez’s writings such as “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” which used yellow butterflies to represent happiness, love, hope, and change.

This jersey serves as the perfect “Easter egg” for literature lovers.

9. Best Puma Jersey: 🇵🇹 Portugal Away

This jersey immediately caught my eye, and it made me (a Nike jersey lover) applaud Puma. The aquamarine color is stunning and plays perfectly with the white shapes to mimic waves.

Both of Portugal’s World Cup jerseys represent the ocean, and this one in particular honors the country’s maritime history of exploration, as well as its Atlantic Ocean coastline that connects it to the world.

The V shape represents both forward motion and momentum, and also resembles a Super Hero suit for the players who have been global inspirations, connecting the world like superheroes.

10. Best Tribute to Country’s Landscape: 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire Away

Sun, palm trees: Say less, I’m there. This jersey immediately calms my nervous system and transports me out of the bitter New England weather — to Côte d’Ivoire perhaps.

When you looks at this kit, there’s no questioning the nature of this West African country. It perfectly reflects its beautiful beaches and rainforests, rich with sunshine and botanicals.

The imagery also represents the country’s La Fête des Masques, particularly the festival’s dances.

11. Best Storytelling: 🇬🇭 Ghana Home

These intricate colorful lines spreading across the front of the jersey are far from randomized: They’re a web.

This draws from West African folklore about Kwaku Ananse, who often appears as a spider and who uses cleverness, intelligence, and tricks to outsmart stronger opponents.

If Ghana embodies any of those characteristics on the pitch, it might lure a team into its web.

12. Best Nostalgic Jersey: 🇨🇦 Canada Away

This jersey is not nostalgic in the way you may be thinking. No, I’m not referencing old soccer jersey nostalgia, I’m talking about nostalgia for my own childhood.

Let me take you back: It’s a fall day in elementary school, and you’ve collected various leaves on your walk home. The bigger the leaf, the better, and maple leaves were always a jackpot. You set up at the kitchen table with your craft supplies and place a leaf under your construction paper. You unwrap a crayon, hold it horizontally, and in what always felt like a magical moment, a colorful leaf imprint appeared on the paper as you dragged your crayon back and forth.

This jersey induces these memories at full strength. Everyone knows the Canadian maple leaf, but this jersey made it relatable.

13. Best Neckline: 🇲🇦 Morocco Home

Cultural identity is on full display in this kit. The pattern of the jersey’s collar and sleeves replicates Moroccan mosaic and geometric art and architecture such as that found in zellige tiles. It also showcases the country’s traditional clothing, which frequently features detailed necklines.

The kit’s intentional hems, and the details such as the button and the two crossing collars, create a visually intriguing and clean-cut look.

14. Most Vibrant Color: 🇳🇱 Netherlands Home

When Nike first announced that the Netherlands were revealing a never-before-used shade of orange, I giggled a little. I thought, what could be so different about a shade of Dutch orange? And honestly, I felt like it was a cop-out for doing a more intricate design.

When I saw the final product, I noted it admittedly came out nice. It wasn’t until I saw it in person, however, that I was really struck by the shade’s impact. The jersey is much more neon that the photos, which is sure to make an even more exciting sea of orange at the World Cup.

15. Most Unmistakable: 🇭🇷 Croatia Home

What’s red and white and checkered all over? If you’re a soccer fan — and likely even if you’re not — you know its Croatia’s jerseys. This kit stayed true to the country’s national identity with the pattern drawn from its coat of arms.

There will be no need to look up this kit when you see people sporting it around town. And yet somehow, it looks even crisper than previous checkerboard designs.

Read more World Cup style coverage from The Handwritten Edit:

My favorite part about thrifting is that you never know what you’re going to find. You parse through endless crammed clothing racks in hope of discovering a hidden gem you didn’t expect. It requires a bit of style imagination, and you’re usually better off not looking for something specific.

However, the World Cup is fast approaching, and specific items is exactly what I need to style my looks. With time and thrifting logistics not on my side, I set off this weekend to a Buffalo Exchange and a Goodwill outside Boston.

Such an occasion called for honoring the Boy Scouts by being prepared, so I made a thrift wishlist to stay on target. I had my eyes peeled for anything orange, sporty — specifically retro Adidas or Nike — or western since I’m going to Texas for Netherlands group stage games.

Check out the 15 items I was looking for:

The two stops, surprisingly, had multiple items from my wishlist. But the question remained: Were they worth thrifting or was I better off passing?

Western hats:

A cowgirl hat made my thrift wishlist in hopes of ironing a Netherlands soccer patch on the front. Buffalo Exchange had three, but they weren’t the color or style I was looking for, and the zebra pattern was a bit too much to work with.

I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for either an orange or a straw cowgirl hat.

The “Hold your horses” hat also caught my eye for either me or my partner. It was cute and perfectly on theme. What I didn’t like about it? The price. The hat was new with tags and was selling for $16.

Sure that might be a normal price for a hat, but this is thrifting.

What really sold it as a no, was the hat was on Amazon for $24.99. While the thrifting price was cheaper, the hat wasn’t a nice enough brand to deserve that high of a second-hand retail price.

Plus, we would probably only get a few uses out of it. While there are a few items I’ll be getting for the World Cup specifically, I want to stick to the ones on my wishlist to be sure they’re worth it.

My choice:

Pass and keep looking

Western buckle heels:

Thrifting requires looking in every nook and cranny — including crouching down uncomfortably to see what’s in the dark back row of the bottom shoe shelf. And thank goodness I did because these shoes summoned a mental “Eek!” of excitement.

Not only were they cute and on theme with a western buckle, but they were new with tags, had a cushioned sole, and looked even cuter on.

I’ve been looking for heels without a back strap for a while now, but every pair I’ve tried either slips off or creates an aggressive clunk and snap sound while walking.

While these wouldn’t be World Cup game shoes, I do have at least one nice dinner in Texas where I could pair these with a dress.

One wear wouldn’t be reason enough to get them, so luckily, I loved them enough that I would wear them on plenty of other occasions. Think black slack capris or jeans and a cute top on a summer night.

My choice:

Thrift with a happy dance

Adidas capris:

Adidas pants or shorts were the No. 1 item I was hoping to thrift because let’s be real: no Adidas is better than retro Adidas.

I specifically had an image of black capris with the three stripes down the leg on my wishlist. So when my boyfriend pulled these out of the depths of a rack that stressed even me too much to sort through, I was immediately infected with the thrifting giddiness.

What were the odds?!

I took them right into the dressing room …

Just to be let down.

What I saw in the mirror did not match my vision.

They were a little loose in the waist and required tightly tying the strings, taking away from the relaxed athletic look.

The actual material of the pants did nothing flattering for my thighs. They weren’t tight enough to shape around my quads nicely or loose enough for a wide-leg look.

Everything just looked meh.

My boyfriend and I both agreed that the bottom of the pants should have either gotten narrower or wider to create better proportions.

This was definitely the hardest hit of the day.

My choice:

Pass and keep looking

Western disc belts:

My vision is a long white skirt with a western disc belt overlayed. And in what felt like a sign for my thrifting luck that day, I found three as soon as I walked in the door.

While I loved the turquoise in the black belt, I am more likely going to be wearing browns in Texas. Plus, the buckle on the brown belt screamed cowgirl. I also preferred its oval discs, which gave it a sleeker look.

Once again though, I did not like the price.

The belt was listed for $22.50, but a quick reverse image search on Amazon showed the exact belt on sale for $16. Even without the sale, the belt was cheaper on Amazon than Buffalo Exchange’s price tag.

My choice:

Pass but may get it off Amazon

Orange skirt

I snagged this orange tennis skirt off the Goodwill rack so fast. It was my size and it perfectly matched the new Netherlands World Cup jersey (which looks more neon in person).

It was to my devastation that I discovered it was actually a Lands End bathing suit skirt bottom when I went to try it on over my leggings.

Could it pass as a tennis skirt? Maybe. I mean, it fooled me. But I really didn’t want to deal with the uncomfortable bathing suit lining as opposed to undershorts.

My boyfriend suggested I wear it to the beach on the day the Netherlands play since we’ll be down the shore for a week, but I already have an orange bathing suit I could wear.

For me, this skirt was only a yes if I could wear it with a jersey.

My choice:

Pass and hope it ends up in the right section

Spain soccer scarf

As we were in line waiting to check out, I spotted a scarf that had to be either a Gryffindor or a soccer scarf. As much as we love Mr. Potter, it was especially exciting to see it was a Spain soccer scarf, perfect for the World Cup.

While I will be attending Netherlands games and rooting for them, my favorite national team is Spain, and I will be cheering them on all the way to the end.

I already have an España scarf to rep, however, so I like to think of this as a thrift wink that sends extra luck to the team.

In the meantime, may some other fan find this gem in time for June’s games.

My choice:

Pass and leave for someone else to find

Western heeled boots

These heeled black western boots were gorgeous, and they looked even better on. I’m in love with pointed toe boots at the moment, and unlike many I’ve tried on, these didn’t slouch and were slim on the calfs.

They would look great with a denim skirt and a black top or an orange and black Netherlands jersey.

You won’t be seeing me in this look, however, since they were too snug on my feet despite being my size.

My choice:

Pass, devastatingly

With 45 days until the World Cup, where should I try my thrifting luck at next?

Read related coverage from The Handwritten Edit:

The World Cup is 49 days away, which means it’s time to move full speed ahead on my DIY and thrift projects.

I’ll be attending the Netherland’s group stage games in Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City, as well as watching various games at Fan Fests and bars in Boston and NJ after that.

My first stop will be a Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill tomorrow afternoon where I’ll have my eyes peeled for sporty and Texas western finds.

Here are the top 15 items on my World Cup thrift wishlist:

1. Retro colorful Adidas shorts

2. Sporty country tanks and tees

3. Adidas wide leg pants

4. Cowgirl boots for a DIY

5. Cowgirl hat for a patch

6. Denim shorts for patches

7. Denim skirt for patches

8. Short white frilly skirt

9. Long white skirt

10. Retro athletic jacket

11. Capris

12. Orange accessories

13. Sporty sets

14. Hoodie for patches

15. Brown and gold chunky belt

Want more World Cup inspo? Check out our Pinterest board:

Read more soccer content from The Handwritten Edit:

I’ve officially reached the stage post vacation where daily life doesn’t seem so mundane and looking back at photos doesn’t leave me with the all-consuming longing to be back in warm weather.

While both of those trip side effects aren’t completely gone, I’ve made enough progress to start recapping the trip through writing.

So let’s start with the basics.

Earlier this month, I celebrated my Dad’s 61st birthday at Disney World. We spent our first and last days hotel hopping, spending plenty of time at the Polynesian Village Resort — our favorite — and shopping and eating in Disney Springs.

Between that, we enjoyed two park days in the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, which was hosting the International Flower & Garden Festival.

Our long weekend was filled with delicious cuisine from cooks from around the world, bubbly beverages, thrilling rides, and plenty of birthday magic.

Here’s a glimpse at our Florida getaway:

Epcot

Magic Kingdom

Food

Drinks

Rides

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

The childhood days of playing house with our baby dolls is about to become a reality for my sister as she prepares to welcome a baby girl in May.

To celebrate, we held a baby shower last month in the theme of her nursery, baby forest animals — perfect for the nature kid who was obsessed with Ranger Rick.

Here’s a look at the event decor, my baby shower gift, and of course, my outfit.

The Outfit

The dress code for the shower seemed like a no-brainer: a pink dress.

Immediately, I was challenged with how to make my dress girly, exciting, and different from what everyone wears to baby showers. The last point meant florals were immediately out. Plus, it was March, which felt a little early for botanicals.

My vision led me to black polka dots set on a short pink dress or a soft pink elegant milk maid dress.

But the dress hunt proved to be an even bigger challenge since my specific vision also came with a small budget and a desire for free shipping and returns.

I was starting to face the reality that I would have to sacrifice my vision when it hit me: Dressing in pink wasn’t the only way to dress on theme. I could instead dress according to the actual event theme of forest animals.

The dress needed to be an earthy color, and it just so happened that a fitted brown maxi dress that I’ve been dying to wear for months was hiding in the back of my closet.

What sold me on the outfit was adding animal details: Ralph Lauren Leopard Lanette Haircalf Pumps, a tortoiseshell bracelet, and my vintage Coach purse with leopard patchwork.

The Pinterest Board

Every party starts with a Pinterest board in our household. Here’s a look at our inspiration for the event:

The Decor

• A forest colored balloon photo backdrop with baby forest animal cutouts

• Moss-wrapped floral arrangements

• Fake birch trees

• Ivy garland

• A forest backdrop

• Forest animal stuffed animals

• Green textured table runners

• Real pinecones and acorns — collected by my parents on their walks

• Wood tree candle rests

• Wood tree table number holders

• Floating flower candles in green water

• Forest trees on the cake

• Animal balloons

• Fake birch-wrapped candles

• Customized Hershey Kisses

The Games

• Who’s my mama?

  • Match the animal with the name of its baby

• Guess how many animal crackers are in the bear

• Play-Doh baby making competition

• What do you meme?

  • Meme writing competition for baby photos

• Diaper raffle

  • Bring a pack of diapers, get a raffle ticket

• How old were mom and dad?

  • Guess the ages of the parents in the photos

• Guess mom’s belly size

  • Cut yarn to your guess size

• Don’t say baby

  • If you catch someone saying “baby” take their baby clothes pins

The Gift

The best part of having a baby girl is that you get to play dress up with her, and since my sisters and I grew up loving princesses, a dress up station was a must.

I found the Snow White, Tinker Bell, and Boo outfits — yes, I know Boo isn’t a princess, but I couldn’t resist — on Facebook Marketplace. I also had to order a dress of my sister’s favorite priness, Repunzel. I got each outfit in a different size to fit her baby girl at various stages.

I hung them all on a small clothes rack with baby hangers adorned with Mickey heads in the hope that when her little girl gets older, she can have an actual dress up station in their house.

I also got her three princess books, two of which are about my sister’s favorite princesses, and one to show her what each princess can teach her. I put these in a basket on the bottom shelf alongside baby headband tiaras, Minnie shoes, Mickey & Friends sunglasses, and a sparkly Elsa purse.

And the card of course, had a dress on a clothes line to match.

Read more from The Handwritten Edit:

This weekend, I debuted my clear bag DIY at the NWSL’s Boston Legacy FC inaugural game, and I couldn’t have been happier with the result — I’m talking jump up and down and make girly squeaks kind of giddy (we’ve all done it).

The first step was choosing a bag, which I broke down in yesterday’s article:

I ended up choosing the ScarvesMe Clear Crossbody Bag in Orange. It has a beautiful shape that resembles a high quality bag such an Hermès Kelly and quality gold hardware, including rings on the side of the bag for a strap.

Most of all though, it was the most eye-catching of the bags with its vibrant orange handle and trim. I wanted a statement piece that looks intentional with my outfits for the Legacy game, as well as the Netherlands World Cup games I’m attending this summer. This shade of orange matched details on my Legacy Common Ground jersey and would most certainly match my Netherlands jersey.

The bag choice was a no brainer.

It still, however, needed more personalization. Here are five things I did to my clear purse to make it a DIY masterpiece:

1. Added a Keychain

I got a free keychain from the Legacy’s booth at Boston’s Head of the Charles in the fall that I knew I wanted to sport. I first attached it to the side of the bag using the strap’s clasp, but it felt too hidden, especially since I planned to primarily utilize the top handle.

Looping it onto said handle was out of the question as I didn’t want to risk damaging it. I also wanted it to be super easy to swap keychains for various games. So instead, I dug up a green ribbon and tied it onto the top handle.

For future games, I also ordered 5 Pcs Brass Key Rings to use instead of the ribbon.

2. Replaced the strap

I am not a crossbody bag girl. It brings me back to high school and college where a going-out purse was chosen simply for hands-free convenience instead of style. But I will occasionally don one when a lot of walking is involved.

With that being said, my clear bag strap needed to excite me and make me want to use it. So, I swapped the orange strap that came with the bag for the Wide Purse Strap Replacement in Cute Football Pattern.

3. Attached a momento

When I was home recently, I stumbled upon an old Sky Blue FC ticket from 2009. I grew up going to their games, and it just so happens that 2009 was the year the team won the inaugural Women’s Professional Soccer championship.

But what was ironic about finding this ticket was that it was for Sky Blue vs. the Boston Breakers, which folded in 2018. The game I attended on Saturday was not only the inaugural game for the city’s new team, Boston Legacy FC, but it was against Gotham FC, the rebranded name of Sky Blue.

It was full circle. And I had to include it.

I ended up using a magnetic ID holder that I found in my desk drawer to not risk damaging the ticket and so that it could be removed for a different World Cup DIY.

Luckily, the magnet worked perfectly through the clear material. And even more lucky: The ticket matched the bag.

4. Added a soccer ball stress ball

At the Legacy’s kit reveal celebration, one of the team’s sponsors, Voya, handed out free soccer ball stress balls. When I saw it laying around my apartment, I thought: If the bag is clear and you have to see everything inside, why not make the inside worth seeing?

And so, I tucked the ball into the corner opposite the ticket.

5. Laid turf on the bottom

But what’s a ball without turf?

The idea came to me a split second after placing the stress ball in the bag, and the following second I was already on Amazon looking up artificial turf. I went with 2 Pieces of 12x12 Inches Fake Grass for Crafts, which I cut to size. Beware: It is messy when cutting.

The turf was the perfect finishing touch and truly took the DIY to the next level.

Bonus tip:

Get a small matching pouch for inside your clear purse so the look doesn’t feel chaotic with everything on display.

By some miracle, my current makeup pouch — free from Clinique — that I use to switch between bags is orange, and it made all the difference.

Read more Boston Legacy FC content:

Looking for more World Cup style inspo? Check out our Pinterest board.

Clear bags for sports games and concerts have become the bane of fashion girls’ existence. They’re typically ugly, don’t match, and clutter a look by revealing the secret chaos women keep in their purses.

I ritually find myself asking before a stadium event, “Why can’t I just use my cute purse that matches my outfit?” Well, I know why, and I agree with the safety measure, so after my inevitable rant, it was finally time for a game plan to address the dreaded eye sore.

On Saturday, I attended the NWSL’s Boston Legacy FC inaugural game against reigning champions Gotham FC at Gillette Stadium, and this summer, I’m planning to attend multiple World Cup games — all of which have clear bag policies.

If it was a one-off case for a clear bag, I’d likely suck it up and use the free transparent fanny pack I got at work. But with multiple once-in-a-lifetime games, a fanny pack just wasn’t going to cut it. After all, there’s a reason I’ve been nicknamed Bag Lady since preschool.

A real purse was required.

I went into my research last week with two goals:

1. The bag needed a similar structure and quality to a regular purse

2. It had to match my outfits for various soccer games

I scoured Amazon for longer than I care to admit, but in the end, I came to the conclusion that clear bags with top handles and faux leather trimming on every edge were my best bets.

Here are the three bags I ended up ordering off of Amazon and my honest thoughts on each:

Bag 1: KKXIU Clear Crossbody Bag in Black

Pros:

1. This bag is very high quality with clean stitching and a unique shape that holds its form. It definitely would stand out at events.

2. The top handle feels so chic and would be my go-to way to carry the purse.

3. There are no metal hoops to hook the crossbody strap to. Instead the strap has a piece of metal that slides to the side to hook onto the top handle. So, if you don’t want to use the strap, there’s no awkward metal indicating a strap is missing.

Cons:

1. The purse is smaller than the other two bags I ordered. While it’s definitely large enough for a small purse girlie, as someone who’s used to carrying larger purses, I prefer a little more room.

2. The silver hardware came out beautifully, but I tend to wear gold jewelry and was planning to attach gold World Cup keychains.

3. Not having metal hoops to hook a strap onto eliminates the option of using a fun replacement strap like I had planned.

Bag 2: Amazon VUIASK Clear Purse in Black

Pros:

1. This bag’s shape beautifully resembles a high quality bag such an Hermès Kelly.

2. This bag has the thickest and highest quality clear plastic out of all three bags.

3. It has gold hardware and was the only bag with feet, which is always an indicator of purse quality.

4. It is the cheapest (I got it on sale for $9.99).

Cons:

1. It’s a little smaller than the third bag, which is a similar shape.

2. While black technically matches with everything, it felt like it needed some color to match my outfits better.

3. The only place to hook a crossbody strap would be up top, which would hang a little awkwardly.

Bag 3: ScarvesMe Clear Crossbody Bag in Orange

Pros:

1. Like the bag above, this bag’s shape beautifully resembles a high quality bag such an Hermès Kelly.

2. It has rings on the sides to attach a replacement strap of your choosing.

3. It has gold hardware with a thick turn lock.

4. The color is vibrant and eye-catching. It would be sure to turn heads and matches my Legacy Common Ground jersey and Netherlands World Cup attire.

Cons:

1. This is the only bag that isn’t Amazon Prime. I still received free shipping and can return the item, but this could affect shipping depending on where you live.

2. The clear plastic is nice but not as thick as that of Bag 2.

3. It doesn’t have feet on the bottom.

4. It has a textured faux leather vs. smooth like the other two bags.

In the end, I can honestly say that I love all three and would keep them all if I attended enough stadium events. If you’re just as torn as I was, here’s how I would award each bag:

Bag 1: KKXIU Clear Crossbody Bag in Black

🏅Most unique shape

Bag 2: Amazon VUIASK Clear Purse in Black

🏅Highest quality clear material

Bag 3: ScarvesMe Clear Crossbody Bag in Orange

🏅Most colorful and eye-catching

Check back tomorrow to see which bag I went with and how I personalized it. In the meantime, which purse would you pick?

Read more Boston Legacy FC content:

Looking for more World Cup style inspo? Check out our Pinterest board.

I love a theme.

And one of the best parts about holidays is the excuse to play dress up.

But more often than not, we sacrifice our fashion creativity for what we think we’re “supposed to wear.” St. Patrick’s Day, especially, tends to be a sea of identical green graphic T-shirts.

This holiday weekend, I encourage you to think beyond the T-shirt, from green leather ensembles to sparkly emerald mini skirts.

And if you really want to stand out, don’t forget to incorporate orange for the Irish flag or gold for the end of the rainbow.

Here are seven style options to get your gears turning for your St. Paddy’s Day outfit:

1. Mini dress

2. Sporty

3. Jeans and an accent top

4. Tailored look

5. Sparkles

6. Green leather

7. Suede

Looking for more St. Patrick’s Day style inspo? Check out our full Pinterest board:

Saturday was a day filled with wine, fashion, chocolate, and cheese. What was the culprit of such an indulgent day? The 2026 Boston Wine Expo.

The annual event took place at the Hilton Park Plaza Hotel on March 7 and 8 and was open to industry professionals, as well as self proclaimed wine drinking professionals, such as myself.

The premium experience consisted of wine classes and grand tasting sessions where eventgoers got to sip on hundreds of wines.

The event’s website sums it up best:

As a red wine girl, it was a little sip of heaven.

Let’s break down the day:

The outfit

As soon as I secured tickets, I scooped up my red kitten heels and got to thinking about what outfit would rise to the occasion.

I decided to drench myself in a wine-inspired palette with varying shades of maroon and burgundy to create a dimensional monochromatic look.

The pencil skirt layered over a skin-tight mock turtleneck tank created clean lines, and the gold jewelry and brooch paired with my handbag’s hardware to add intentional details. All together, and layered with a blazer, it created a sophisticated look for an elevated event.

But the style planning didn’t stop there. I also got to dress my partner.

I knew I wanted to coordinate colors, and that a dress shirt would be most appropriate for the day. Luckily, as soon as I slid open the accordion doors to his closet, there was a burgundy buttondown staring right at me.

The shirt was left unbuttoned at the top and untucked with the sleeves cuffed once for an out-of-office aesthetic. To avoid darkening the deep red of the shirt and to connect to my gold accessories, we went with a pair of camel khakis and brown Sperry Topsiders.

My favorite detail — which we admittedly forgot to snag a clear photo of while we were having too much fun — was his matching brown watch that actually looked burgundy next to the shirt.

Wines of South Africa class

We attended the South African Chenin Blanc: “There’s Sunshine Inside” class, taught by Jim Clarke, author of the book “Wines of South Africa.”

The class was primarily for industry professionals, and I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’m a red wine drinker, only having white wine about once or twice a year. But as a proud nerd who believes in being a forever learner, I was excited — and I ended up with a whole page of notes to prove it.

The expert first welcomed us to try the wines on our own while he shared the history of Chenin Blanc and the region.

Here are some fun facts from said notes:

• South Africa has the most Chenin Blanc plantings in the world

• The region has a mediterranean climate with a wind that helps keeps bacteria and fungi off the vines

• The grape was used for brandy and sweet jug wine, so it wasn’t taken as seriously; was known as the work horse grape

• Bottles of Chenin Blanc tend to have more variation in flavor compared to other wines of white grapes

• Many South African wines aren’t certified organic or biodynamic because the certifications are based in Europe and get expensive with exchange rates

  • Interestingly, a European winery owner at the Grand Tasting strongly disagreed later in the day, which unravels many layers to both sides of the discussion

After history class, he guided us through the six glasses, wine by wine. My partner and I had some varying thoughts, but we strongly aligned on our first and last place rankings.

My rankings:

1. 2024 Lubanzi Chenin Blanc

2. 2025 Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc

3. 2024 Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc

4. 2024 Reyneke Chenin Blanc

5. 2024 Dalkeith Kalmoesfontein Chenin Blanc

6. 2021 Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc

His rankings:

1. 2024 Lubanzi Chenin Blanc

2. 2024 Lievland Old Vine Chenin Blanc

3. 2024 Dalkeith Kalmoesfontein Chenin Blanc

4. 2024 Reyneke Chenin Blanc

5. 2025 Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc

6. 2021 Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc

Simply put:

• I could picture enjoying the 2024 Lubanzi Chenin Blanc on the back deck in summer

• The 2025 Ken Forrester Old Vine Reserve Chenin Blanc had a beautiful champagne taste

• The 2021 Spier 21 Gables Chenin Blanc would be a bottle we both wouldn’t finish

Intermission

Our class was from 12:30-2 p.m., and most people chose to hop right into the 1:30 p.m. Grand Tasting Session across the hall.

However, I attended one of the grand tastings back in 2023, and my main takeaway was that even with two hours, there simply isn’t enough time to taste all the wine. Tables are crowded, hundreds of wine options are set out, and you spend time chatting with the people from the vineyards.

Losing that half hour from the tail end of our class would have significantly impacted our experience. Plus, we wanted to make a day of it, so we went with the 4:30 p.m. session.

With 2.5 hours to spare, we walked over to our reservation at Lolita in Back Bay and split the bricklayer chicken tacos (grilled pollo norteno, bacon miguelito, salsa morita, and queso fresca) and two orders of the grilled steak tacos (prime skirt, habanero butter, taqueria relish, and shoestrings).

Don’t worry, if your mouth is watering from reading that, it’s supposed to be. Lolita is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Boston. And after some wine? It hit different. That reservation was possibly the best decision we made all day.

It was beautiful outside, so after we ate, we went for a walk on Newbury Street. We even popped into Covet so I could pick up the money I made from consigning a skirt.

By then, the chocolate monster in my brain began to creep up, and I knew it was only going to get stronger with the upcoming red wine. So, we headed back down Newbury to J.P. Licks for quick scoops of ice cream. I savored their featured flavor Mint Irish Lace (very similar to mint chocolate chip) while doing my happy dance all the way back to the hotel.

So maybe that was actually the best decision of the day?

The Grand Tasting Session

Grab a glass, this is where the party begins.

The tasting room alone was mesmerizing with its massive crystal chandeliers, theater balconies, and ornate detailing. It was extravagant for an extravagant event.

It’s hard to know where to start, especially when everyone has just filed in, eager to fill their glasses. So, the best move was to bop around to emptier tables and wait for openings at others.

I chose to strictly keep to red wine after a morning of white — plus, did I mention that there were hundreds of wines at this event? You have to pick and choose.

So I chose my forever favorite: vino tinto. And it was delicious.

I tasted so many wines that they honestly started to blend together and influence my palette. It caused me pain, but I did utilize the dump buckets so I could keep the day going. This was especially necessary since there were mixed drinks tasting as well.

Luckily, there were some nibbles. The bite of prosciutto, cheese, and honey was impeccable and earned three visits. Royce chocolate was also a mouthwatering crowd pleaser.

What surprised me though, was how much I loved the Northeast Vinegar stand as someone who doesn’t particularly like tasting balsamic straight. It had me craving Caprese salad, and my boyfriend has yet to stop raving about the truffle balsamic [insert note to self].

As if the wine and food weren’t enough, there was also an abundance of free stuff. My purse was overflowing with T-shirts, wine stoppers, pins, stickers, and wine polishing cloths.

The only down side of the expo was when the wine booths closed up shop. Now, I’m just dying to relive the day and rewear the outfit. At least we got to keep the glasses.

Cheers readers! 🍷