25 Feel-Good Spring Items to Buy Now

It’s finally late February. In New York, that’s the time of year when mannequins in floral dresses appear optimistically in store windows, looking very lost. It reminds me of being at JFK the Friday before Christmas when you’re hustling to your gate wearing the giant coat that didn’t fit in your suitcase, and then you pass by the last few people boarding a flight leaving for Mexico… It’s slightly soul-destroying when it’s 34º for the foreseeable future, but those mannequins are also a beacon of hope, reminding us how even on the gloomiest day, we’re inevitably headed for breezy fabrics, pastel-colored sandals, and all the other things guaranteed to put me in a good mood.

Spring just has a feel-good quality baked right in, and that’s inspired this new-season most-wanted list in more ways than one. While I’ve yet to discover a brand that’s truly “sustainable,” I’ve definitely found plenty making positive moves, whether it’s a commitment to responsibly sourced materials or cruelty-free beauty products or giving back to local communities. In the Venn diagram of cheerful spring buys and mindful purchases, the 25 items below all exist in the overlap––which is to say, they’re doubling down on the feel-good buzz.