Natural Fiber Outfits I Wore Visiting Nashville in Spring

Greg and I spent a long weekend in Nashville last month and had the best time.  We love Nashville!  Country music, live music, good food, and laidback vibes.

If you’re planning a trip to this iconic Tennessee destination, here are a few must-do experiences that have made our visits extra special.

Natural Fiber Outfits I Wore Visiting Nashville in Spring

Late April in Nashville is warm during the day and a little chilly in the mornings and evenings, which is absolutely perfect, in my opinion!  I wore almost every single item I packed for this trip and today I’m sharing the Natural Fiber Outfits I Wore Visiting Nashville in Spring.

If you’ve been following along for any length of time, you probably know about my quest to detox my wardrobe and shift to more natural fibers like organic cotton, linen, and wool.  

Read more about that here:

• Making the Shift from Synthetics to Wool Clothing
• I Tried Five Wool Bras to Find One Clear Winner

Organic cotton, linen, and merino wool

Spring is the perfect time to break out the light linen pieces, and you’ll notice a combination of both linen and organic cotton in the outfits I wore visiting Nashville in spring.  Some of the items are older and no longer available in the exact form pictured here, but I’m sharing great alternatives in case you’re wanting to add similar pieces to your wardrobe.

Near the end of this post, you’ll also find a list of my favorite retailers for quality organic cotton, linen, and wool clothing.  I’m also sharing a pro tip for sourcing fun, high-quality clothes without breaking the bank.  So, be sure to read to the end of the post!

Natural fiber base layers tops for spring

I have loved stocking up on a variety of simple base layers made from high quality organic cotton.  My absolute favorite is this scoop neck tee, which comes in a sleeveless tank, short-sleeved t-shirt, and long-sleeved tee.

I have all three versions in multiple colors, which allows so much versatility in creating easy outfits.  For this trip, I packed the white tank and white t-shirt.  I prefer a fitted look that allows for tucking without appearing baggy.  If you’re between sizes, consider sizing down for a slim, fitted look.  For me, this means size XS.

Organic cotton tank top

The organic cotton tank worked well with linen pants and a linen cardigan, which was perfect for daytime temperatures in the high 70’s and low 80’s.  Linen is so cool and breathable, but also warm enough to wear inside with chilly air conditioning.

Organic cotton scoop neck tee

I wore the t-shirt version of this favorite scoop neck tucked into statement linen pants with a fun floral print and a jute belt.  A drape front linen cardigan was the perfect layer for evening temperatures and indoor air conditioning.

Organic linen tank tops

A collection of organic linen tanks also provides endless versatility in creating outfits for spring and summer.  I find myself reaching often for this same linen tank, which I own in at least six or seven colors.  Pro tip: the color availability changes from time to time, depending on the year and the season.

Size small worked well for me when I was carrying extra perimenopause weight, but I’ve since switched over to the XS (and am wishing I could size down my entire collection of organic linen tanks!).  The white linen tank pictured here is size small, and I’ve created a more fitted look by tying a knot on one side.

The final evening of our trip, we went to dinner with Greg’s team from work and I got this quick pic with my K mug of decaf coffee after dinner.  Pictured here is the linen tank in size XS, in a navy stripe.  So comfy and versatile! 

Floral linen cap sleeve shirt

I also wore a floral linen top the night Greg and I went out country dancing.  It was perfect: fun, casual, and most importantly, breathable.  I’m always on the lookout for linen tops in fun prints.

My floral top is no longer available, but this brand is one of my favorite sources for quality linen (the same retailer of my favorite linen tanks!).

Natural fiber pants for spring

Have I mentioned how much I love linen pants?  Linen is so comfy and breathable, perfect for spring and summer, and also perfect for travel.  It’s more odor-resistant than cotton, which makes it possible to get several wears from the same piece.  It also holds its shape better than cotton and is easy to refresh with a quick ironing.  

I packed–and wore–three pairs of linen pants for our spring trip to Nashville.  I could definitely have gotten away with only one or two, but I had the space and felt like mixing things up.

Of all the outfits I wore visiting Nashville in spring, these two pictured here might be my favorites.

Blue linen pants

The first pair is older, also from Old Navy, in size small. The length shown here works better with flat shoes, but they worked okay with these platform sandals.  A drawstring waist provides easy customization and a fitted look.  If you lose or gain a few pounds, no problem!

Here’s a similar pair, and I’m also loving updated versions with a wider leg and a high rise. 

Floral linen pants

The second pair was a jackpot score: such a fun floral print!  They can be dressed up or down and make a great statement for date night, beach trips, or really any spring or summer event.  The waist is fixed, and again, I noticed they’ve become a bit loose on me, but the belt allows for a more perfect fit.  The length is perfect for heeled wedges.  No longer available, unfortunately.  This is a fun option from the same brand.

Navy linen trousers

Unfortunately, I somehow failed to get a photo of my outfit on our final full day in Nashville.  It was the first day of Greg’s work conference (he was in Nashville for work and we went a few days early to have a getaway weekend together) and I had a few professional meetings of my own (more on that another time!). 

That day, I wore a pair of navy linen pants that I probably should not have packed for this trip because they somehow wound up fitting very loosely and I didn’t have the right kind of belt to wear with them.  It’s a good problem, and I’m thrilled to see some results from my recent Pilates sculpting work, but these pants were a little saggy that day. 

I’ve already dropped them off with my tailor and will try to share a picture after I get them back.  Originally, I thought they might need to be hemmed, but it turns out that when raised to the correct waist position, the length is perfect.  I ordered size 6 petite, but should have ordered size 4 petite.

Organic cotton travel pants

My FAVORITE organic cotton travel pants were definitely the MVPs of the trip: so soft and comfy, with a flattering high rise and wide legs.  I wore these pants on the plane to Nashville, on the plane home from Nashville, and one day in Nashville.  So versatile!

I have them in size small, in the longer length (29″).  The shorter length is meant to be cropped and while I normally love that length, I wanted a longer length for airplane travel.  I’m 5’4″ and the 29″ length covers my ankles and grazes the top of my shoes, which is exactly what I hoped for!

Natural fiber cardigans and jackets for spring

Confession: I have a slight obsession with cardigans and jackets.  It’s just that they offer so many layering possibilities!  They can change up the look of an outfit and help to keep you warm or allow you to cool down without changing clothes.

For this spring trip to Nashville, I packed an organic cotton cardi, two favorite linen cardis, and two denim jackets.

Organic cotton cropped cardigan

The organic cotton cardigan was perfect for the plane ride.  I love the cropped style and oversized buttons.  Mine is a size small, purchased when I was carrying extra perimenopause weight.  If I bought it again, I’d size down to XS.  The fit is generous and slightly oversized.  Super comfy!

Blue/multi linen cardigan

My fun blue and neutral linen cardigan from Chico’s is older, but I’m always on the lookout for a good linen cardigan.  I love the drapey fit and 3/4 sleeves of this cardigan.  The color scheme works well with whites, neutrals, and denims.

Good places to look for organic cotton or linen cardigans:

• Quince
• Garnet Hill
• Fair Indigo
• Pact
• Everlane
• Eileen Fisher

Drape front linen cardigan

I love, love, love this neutral drape front linen cardigan. 

In fact, there’s a long story behind this one…I originally bought it to wear on our 20th anniversary Mediterranean cruise.  It was the perfect piece for layering in October in a variety of weather scenarios.  

I wore it a few times and decided to wash it for the first time so that it would be clean and fresh for our big trip.  Sadly, it developed a hole in the back, in a very visible location.  The retailer offered a refund but what I really wanted was a replacement, and unfortunately, it had already sold out for the season.

I was so disappointed after building a lot of my travel capsule wardrobe around this sweater.  Long story short, I found it in a smaller size, pre-owned, and was able to get it in time for our trip.  The hole in my first sweater was obviously a fluke because the replacement sweater has held up wonderfully for a few years now.  And the smaller size actually worked better for me after my strength training transformation.

Distressed denim jacket

My slightly oversized, distressed denim jacket is a few years old, from Old Navy, but similar jackets are easy to find.  Denim jackets are definitely a wardrobe staple!  I like this organic cotton option.  

White denim jacket

I also have a dark wash denim jacket in a dressier, tailored fit, as well as a white denim jacket, and I wear all three jackets on repeat throughout the spring, summer, and fall.  

In fact, I wore the white denim jacket on the final full day of our trip, paired with the striped linen tank and (slightly baggy) navy linen pants.  It was a very comfy and breathable outfit that I look forward to wearing again, after I get the altered pants back from the tailor.

Neutral heeled sandals for spring

I packed two pairs of sandals for our trip to Nashville and wore them both.  They both match my woven handbag: one pair matches the strap and the other matches the body of the bag.

This pair in particular is most similar to the sandals I wore with the floral linen pants, which are no longer available.  Unfortunately, my sandals are hidden by my pants in the picture. 

I wear these sandals all the time during spring, summer, and early fall.  They are so comfortable and versatile!  And they add some much-appreciated height to my 5’4″ frame.

My lighter-colored woven sandals are also no longer available, but I’ve rounded up several options with a similar look.  See those here: Neutral woven platform sandals.  

Western boots

I’m a little embarrassed to reveal that my fun Western boots pictured here are not made of real leather.  I looked and looked for something that met my exact criteria for color and heel height and kept coming back to this pair that is so fun but is also made of synthetic materials.  I’ve had them for years and wear them often, and if you ever come across a real leather version, please let me know!

Woven handbag for spring

When I first ordered this handbag, I had some reservations.  I thought it might feel too big, with a different style from the bags I normally carry.  However, I was preparing for a trip to Hawaii and needed something with a summery feel.

As it turns out, this is my most-used bag for spring and summer!  I absolutely love it.  It’s the perfect size for carrying just a few things and also works well for an entire day out and about.  It hangs close to the body and doesn’t feel like it’s always slipping down.  

The woven material looks great with woven sandals, while the handle helps the bag pair well with brown leather sandals or shoes.  I also like to wear it with white sneakers.  It can be dressed up or down and really is so versatile for a variety of scenarios.

How to save money on high-quality sustainable clothes 

I should probably devote an entire post to this topic, but for now, I have a quick secret to share: one of my favorite ways to source high-quality sustainable clothes is to shop with ThredUp.

Shopping via ThredUp is like visiting a high-end thrift or consignment store from the comfort of your own home.  I’ve found countless wardrobe staples through ThredUp and have saved lots of money when compared with purchasing brand new items directly from retailers.

The natural fiber outfits I wore visiting Nashville in spring included four ThredUp scores:

1. Blue/multi linen cardigan from Chico’s
2. Neutral drape front linen cardigan from Garnet Hill
3. Floral linen pants with jute belt
4. Floral linen cap sleeve shirt

If you’re curious to try ThredUp for yourself, you can save 45% with free shipping on your first order by shopping via this link.

I can’t wait to hear about what you find at ThredUp!  And if you have any questions about shopping with ThredUp, please let me know in a comment below.  I’d love to put together a comprehensive post to help you make the most of your ThredUp shopping experience!