When our Editor-In-Chief, Anna Cottrell, first laid eyes on Walmart’s newest collection, from Free Assembly x Scoop, there were two pieces that were guaranteed headliners: the Ribbed Turtleneck Sweater + the Cropped Wide Leg Jeans. The sweater itself deserves mention for its timeless silhouette + chic versatility, and the jeans’ practically inform the relaxed-cool-girl style. Not to mention, both finds are each under 30 bucks, so there’s no real contest here. We asked our EIC for tips on how she decided to pair these pieces together with other staples in her closet. The biggest standout for her was the versatility.

When you’re plugging in the basics, the equation couldn’t be simpler. From top-to-bottom styling, we recommend elevating your sweater + denim pairing by reaching for a wide-brimmed chapeau or puffy headband [think variables], and chic balances casual with our tried x true sneaker pick: Converse Chuck Taylors. 

This is our first installment in our Spring Lookbook series: a guide for curating a tasteful capsule closet of ready-to-wear pieces we can actually afford. Much of our lookbook has taken inspiration from Brandon Maxwell, the new creative director + brains behind Walmart’s newest collections from Free Assembly x Scoop. While we take pages from his book, we spin our own tried x true styling rules on ready-to-wear apparel. If you want a crash course [or even a little refresher], you can find our latest styling chapters for our complete Spring Lookbook Series : Look 02, Look 03, Look 04, Look 5, Look 6