What Did You Buy in May? The Month’s 7 Top-Shopped Items in Review

A lot happens in a month—especially when we talk about shopping. New collections trickle in, past season pieces sell out, popular styles go in and out of stock. Most of our curations are defined by what we love in the moment, but that doesn’t make us any less curious about what you clicked on and bought. Our collective shopping carts act as a prism for a broader story of the brands we couldn’t get enough of, the trends that shape our wardrobes, and the outfits that captured the cultural zeitgeist. Here’s what rose to the Top of the Carts in May.

1. Flip-Flops

Who knew, several summers in, that the humble flip-flop would continue to spark heated debates over its logical use in a city—or earnest philosophical inquiries into the kind of energy the thickness of the strap brings? Whether or not you wear yours beyond the beach is a personal matter; though many of the ones below, like A.Emery’s Kinto or Isabel Marant’s coveted Havaianas collab, can effortlessly do both.

Isabel Marant

x Havaianas Ikat print sandals

2. The White Jean

The window for wearing white jeans is short (or long, depending on who you ask)—for most, though, it peaks in the late spring, where it looks great with flip-flops and ballet flats alike.

3. The Summer Wedge

It was only a matter of time before wedges staged a comeback. It’s been a slow burn, but the pair that changed things for me was Le Monde Béryl’s (pictured above in the croc tan). I got them in red the early spring, and then, as it goes with the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, they suddenly appeared everywhere—sculptural at Khaite, strappy and lucite at Alaïa, and so on. Tracing it back to the source brings me to Maryam Nassir Zadeh, whose wedges have long been a Vogue editor-favorite and are now stocked on Net-a-Porter.

Le Monde Béryl

micro wedge flip flops

4. The Raffia Bag

The ultimate sign of summer, with plenty of options in size, weaving, and color. The one on my wish list? Hunting Season’s—it’s the perfect everyday shape.

5. Jet Set Style

The paradox of how to pack and what to wear while traveling is enough to send even the most dialed-in dresser into a downward spiral. Laurel Pantin addressed the “how to” in her May column—her approach is a strategic, four-step one—while the many well-heeled celebrities arriving in Nice for the Cannes Film Festival provided ample inspiration for the “what to wear” part. Everyone’s go-to travel outfit looks a little different, but it often comes down to a few uniform pieces (a sleek and organized bag, a stylish sneaker, a great jacket) that can serve more than a single purpose upon landing.

6. Decorative Accents

Our summer shoot, styled by Madeline Fass and photographed by Michelle Huynh, put the spotlight on bold, bright, and personal accents. We’re ushering in Summer in Technicolor with an edit that’s all about dressing with a handcrafted feel—think, charm-adorned sandals, playful necklaces with beads as big as orbs, and a bounty of nautilus shells—to take you far, far away.

7. The Easy Summer Dress

Like clockwork, we saw a huge uptick in interest for dresses in May. The styles you gravitated to most were one-and-done numbers in airy cotton and lightweight silk; pieces that work in the spring with a lightweight jacket, but will also carry you seamlessly into summer. Most were simple in design; others featured smocking or draping (like Toteme’s butter yellow one, which might the year’s best wedding guest option). Print and color aren’t mutually exclusive either: Dôen and Matteau’s pretty polka dot dresses round out the edit.

Revisit April’s top-shopped, below.

1. ’90s Fashion

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s story couldn’t be told without taking a closer look at her wardrobe; however, there are plenty more ’90s fashion icons whose style defined the decade. Itty-bitty camis, slinky slip dresses, and cigarette jeans are a few of the era’s staples with enduring appeal.

2. The Sneakerina

A little sweet, a little sporty—call it the footwear equivalent of umami. Demand for the sneakerina continues to soar, and styles from Adidas and Puma top the list.

3. The Pump

Pumps bypassed trend and went straight to essential—widely endorsed by the fashion set for their elegance and wearability. We love Le Monde Béryl’s pointy toe Babouche for day-to-night wear (as seen on Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martinez), and Aeyde’s Helia for its soft almond shape.

Tory Burch

double T buckle pumps

4. Earth-Toned Denim

Jeans appeared in every color under the sun for spring, but the wash that took off this month sits a little closer to earth. I have a soft spot for Ossou’s Drift (it’s the pleats for me); though, many of you gravitated towards Levi’s low-waist pair and Mother’s straight-leg style.

5. A Lot of Lively Color

Did someone turn up the brightness on my screen? From the California desert to the streets of New York City, the month’s outfits suddenly appeared in technicolor. Jennifer Lawrence’s pink and red look stopped me in my tracks—I remember sending a screenshot to a coworker as soon as it appeared on my feed. I recognized the shell pendant (Tory, sold out) but had to figure out those incredible studded pants (Siedrés, also sold out).

6. Off-Duty Everything

Fashion month may be in the rearview mirror, but model off-duty style continues to inspire with its cool, laissez-faire attitude. The wardrobe non-negotiables? A slouchy leather jacket, straight-leg jeans, and retrofuturistic shield sunglasses.

7. Dynamic Duos

April was a really good month for fashion collaborations: Burberry and Hunza G teamed up on an ultra-chic swim edit, Victoria Beckham and Gap launched a capsule of elevated everyday basics, and sleek new trainers arrived at Versace and Jil Sander by way of Onitsku Tiger and Puma, respectively. Stella McCartney revealed an upcoming collab with H&M, set to roll out on May 7—save the date.

Revisit March’s top-shopped, below.

1. Primary Colors

The warm weather in Paris meant Fashion Week showgoers were particularly upbeat this March. That exuberance translated itself into a joyful color story on the streets, inspired by the spring’s key shows—notably Celine’s, which was rich in bold primary hues and gave rise to many spirited combinations.

2. White Derbies

The Michael Rider effect continues, with one particular preppy staple leading the conversation: the white leather derby. Softer than a loafer but with more structure than a ballet flat, Celine isn’t the only label to champion the style—Jil Sander, Lemaire, and Proenza Schouler all have their own take on the shoe, which my colleague Laura Jackson aptly described as an elegant foundation for wardrobe staples—and just the right pared-back counterpoint to a statement look.

Andrea Gomez

Antonia full leather shoes

3. The Vogue Vintage Market

The Vogue Vintage Market took place for a second time at Roll & Hill in SoHo on March 28. Attendees included April cover star and Vintage Market host Doja Cat; co-hosts Emma Chamberlain and Paloma Elsesser, plus guest curators Liana Satenstein and Amy Astley. It was a fashion-filled day with three floors of vintage treasures to comb through—including a standout menswear edit from our stylish friends at GQ—all ready to find a new home.

Miu Miu

retro vintage kitten heel mules

4. Designer Debuts

The wait is over! Spring collections from the new designer debuts finally arrived in stores this month—from Jonathan Anderson’s Dior and Louise Trotter’s Bottega to Simone Belloti’s Jil Sander and Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel (a closer look below). Choose your allegiance and add to cart accordingly.

5. East-West Bag

Look left… look right… that’s an east-west bag, alright! The elongated shape (recognizable for its tubular handles and barrel-like base) found renewed interest this month, in both shoulder style and top-handle form. Alaïa’s Le Teckel remains emblematic of the trend, though the brand’s Le Click isn’t far off. Khaite introduced the Donna this spring, in three luxe leathers with two-way zippers. Bottega has an E-W version of its Andiamo bag; Prada too, with the Bonnie. Meanwhile, Savette’s slim Symmetry pochette embodies the spirit of the design as a handbag-slash-clutch chameleon.

Alaïa

medium Le Click East-West bag

6. Colored Denim

From grounded earth tones to saturated brights—colored denim found its footing this month. The question remains: Do you go soft, with Agolde’s pale pink or Ossou’s loam, or bold, à la Versace’s cobalt blue or Still Here’s cherry red?

7. Chanel Mania

Matthieu Blazy’s spring collection launched in boutiques worldwide this month—and the lucky few who could get their hands on one of the house’s coveted accessories didn’t keep them wrapped up for long—Vittoria Ceretti was seen during PFW carrying the brand’s new Maxi flap bag, while Vogue’s Lisa Aiken was spotted (also in Paris) in her newly minted black and white pumps.

Revisit February’s top-shopped, below.

1. The Leopard-Print Coat

If there was one cat, uh, coat to rule them all this Fashion Month, it was a leopard-print one. Arma, Nour Hammour, and Toteme were behind the styles we saw most.

Rixo

Milly leopard-print faux coat

2. Adidas Sambas

In the court of public opinion, this headline settles the debate: “Mary-Kate Olsen Declares That Sambas Aren’t Dead”.

3. The Sporty Jacket

The perfect foil for spring showers. Easily dressed up, down, or layered, it works for a wending press tour, an SNL after-party appearance, or—perhaps when it’s the most in its element—a hike in the Gunks.

4. The Colored Pouch

What’s bright, irresistible, and impossible to play favorites with? You know the answer: the colored pouch. Petite in shape yet powerful in presence, unofficial popularity rankings have Prada’s silk green tied with Celine’s leather cobalt blue for first place. I like to them think of as the handbag equivalent of Skittles—one of each, please.

5. The Bomber Jacket

Warmer weather is on its way—trust the process, or at least, the calendar. Until then, it’s all about strategic styling to ease out of the season: The bomber jacket proved to be the ideal topper for Fashion Month showgoers in New York and London, whose layered looks served a greater sartorial purpose beyond warmth.

6. The Look of Love Story

In the run-up to Ryan Murphy’s retelling of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy’s relationship, we took a closer look at the elements of CBK’s enduring style—from the clothes she wore to the accessories that’ve become the stuff of lore—and the iconic outfits that made it into the show’s first few episodes.

7. The Shield Sunglasses

The brighter the screen, the bigger the shades, or so they say… Seen at Loewe, Tory Burch, and Saint Laurent, shield sunglasses are meant to arm you from the (still elusive) sun’s rays with an impossible aura of cool. Their soft curves and smoothed-out edges make them feel less full-face mask and more sleek wraparound, allowing you to maintain basic peripheral vision while out in the world.

8. Scarf Styling

We’ve said it before, we’ll say it again: the scarf remains the season’s most versatile accessory. Wear it over jeans or a coat for a waist-defining moment; knotted over your shoulder as a capelet, or loose for undone elegance. There are no wrong moves, only infinite possibilities.

9. The Pendant Necklace

Great worn solo, even better layered. Anything goes in terms of charms—and styling, for that matter: artful motifs, found-by-the-sea shells, precious stones, or silky tassels.

10. Pony Hair

At the end of last year, we made a not-so-silent plea for pony hair to take off. Two months into 2026, it seems the genie’s followed through on our wish: Nearly everything that could be fashioned in pony hair was, or will be, come fall.

Revisit January’s top-shopped, below.

1. 2016 As a Trend

January is typically a month of reflection, but this year’s throwbacks were more of a time warp for another era altogether: 2016. Amusingly enough, key styles of that year—bomber jackets, backless loafers, and skinny jeans—have never felt more relevant, or ubiquitous, than right now. A reminder that what goes around comes around, and that maybe skinny jeans weren’t so bad after all? (Who are we kidding… they’ve been rebranded to “slim-straight” for a reason.)

2. The Red Knit

Call it the Michael Rider effect (as Vogue’s Nicole Phelps did in our staff meeting) but nowhere is the runway-to-reality pipeline as tangible as here. On one icy Wednesday, nearly all New York Vogue editors showed up in red sweaters. You had to see it to believe it.

3. The Rinse-Wash Denim

Denim washes don’t cause nearly as much a stir as cuts do (lest I remind you of the aforementioned skinny jean?), but there’s no denying the renewed fervor around selvedge and darker washes, captured both on the runway and in street style. It’s a more polished kind of jean you can wear to the office on a Monday—not just on a casual Friday.

4. Faux Fur

Cropped or long, belted or buttoned, patterned or plain—faux fur was the coat choice of many, if not most, this month.

5. The Black Legging

There’s been a steady supply and demand for black leggings this month—partly for lounge, partly for movement (dare I say, is this The Year of the Fire Horse at work?). The Row and Celine might also have something to do with the legging’s comeback as a wardrobe essential, styled more intentionally than just white socks and a chunky sneaker. Rihanna shows us how it’s done in a zippered pair with python pumps and vintage Louis Vuitton.

6. Animal Print

Everyone’s clearly still wild for animal print. We counted leopard most often, followed by zebra, tiger stripes, and fawn spots.

7. The ‘Pop of Color’ Shirt

Rose, mint, baby blue, bright red—if you’re thinking of wearing a button-down, double up on the layers and let it be anything but white.

8. The Purple Scarf

A key color trend for spring, sprinklings of which first came through from Zoë Kravitz in Rome last December and have been going steady ever since—most recently, with Jennifer Lawrence out and about in New York City this month. (They both wore La Ligne’s Ben scarf in “amethyst”—unfortunately still sold out, click at your own peril.) Auralee’s men’s show featured one too for FW26, styled with cobalt blue.

Favorite Daughter

cable scarf

9. Cobalt Blue

Speaking of: My colleague Hannah Jackson traced cobalt blue’s rise earlier this month—a color first endorsed in 2025, but one that lacked wholesale enthusiasm until now. The IKB shade made waves in the spring 2026 shows—Tove, Chanel, and Fforme—before finding its footing in street style (Ramya Giangola carries Celine’s dustbag leather purse) and red carpet appearances (Bella Hadid in Saint Laurent, Amelia Gray in Gucci).

Gabriela Hearst

fringed cashmere wrap

10. The Après-Ski Sweater

Maybe you’re headed to Cortina, by way of Zermatt or Val d’Isère; maybe the closest you get to après is the Winter Olympics commercial break. Either way, a cozy Fair Isle lets you look the part—no matter your level of commitment to mastering parallel turns. January gave us no shortage of multicolored patterns to choose from, including J.Crew’s official collection for the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team, which launched the first week of the month. Cabin fever, but not as you know it.

Guest in Residence

Cloud Chalet Fair Isle cardigan