Most years, doing a denim skirt post is a colossal pain, because most of them are minis, and the ones that aren’t can skew frumpy. But there is—at least compared to past seasons—a veritable bumper crop of cute ones right now, and I’m especially enamored of  this retroish APC number.

The white buttons on this black denim skirt pop nicely.

The slit here makes this one a little daring, but the length keeps it safe.

I really dig this well-priced burnt orange option.

And the asymmetrical hemline here is a cool and nicely subtle touch.

The extra-high waist on this one from Veronica Beard intimidates me a little, but I think it could be really flattering and sexy on.

This patch pocket skirt is just like something my mom might have worn in the 70s.

I don’t usually like maxi-length anything, but this is really graceful.

From Madewell: a white zip-up choice with a (near) universally flattering A-line shape.

I’d wear this pencil skirt with my most worn-in white button-down and a belt like this, for a low-key preppy look.

And I really like this faded-out option too.

I love sunglasses, but I hate every single trend that’s happening in that universe right now. The tiny frames, the over-embellished ones, whatever crazy future-shock business business this is—all of it leaves me cold, or worse. But I do like the following quite a lot, starting with this cute, bright red-framed oval pair from Anine Bing.

These Karen Walkers are big and square and very statement-y, and I dig the purplish lenses.

These remind me of classic Wayfarers, but with a slightly more feminine shape.

You can’t beat a pair of old-school Ray Ban Clubmasters for a classically cool-girl look.

These are from the delightfully-named brand Crap Eyewear, and I think their yellowness is a perfect delight as well.

I owned a pair just like these wire frames in college, and found that something about the shape was more flattering than aviators for me, and now I want another pair, bad.

I do seem to have a thing for square-ish frames at the moment, and am very tempted by these too.

Cat-eye lenses are appealing, but can be unflattering on some faces, so I like this slightly rounder version. I like this thicker-framed version too.

And finally: I am not entirely certain why I love these, because they verge on being altogether too much. But I do.

Here is the combination that makes my sartorial world go around this time of year—and especially right this second, as it has been freezing out for mid-May, and when that kind of weather happens, layering up isn’t just a style proposition, but a necessity. This Nili Lotan hoodie is rather perfect—nice long sleeves, good crop, not-too-big front pockets—and might even be worth the cash if you are a dedicated hoodie-wearer.

Here’s one from Uniqlo that’s perfectly classic, exceptionally reasonably-priced, and available in a multitude of colors.

This quilted option is on the splurgy side, but I am a sucker for quilted everything. It’s also slightly bulky, so you’d need to layer it with a bigger jacket.

This one from Gap is nice and long and butt-covering.

This denim workwear jacket is just so very perfect: clean lines, spiff bracelet sleeves, and a nice off-white hue.

My friend Michelle says hoodies layered under blazers is “Very mid-aughts,” and I see her point, but we both agree it’s still a very good look. This Everlane blazer is such an excellent, chic blue, and the cotton-linen blend is great moving into summer.

An army green jacket with a slight bomber shape.

Your standard Levi’s denim jacket—but a bit oversized, which makes it ideal for layering.