The time has come. It is now the weird period between winter and spring when on any given day, the temperatures could be in the 30s at one point and the 60s at another. It hasn’t been long since the snowstorms, and it doesn’t quite feel like spring each day. So, what do you wear during this purgatory? Here are a few tips to help you transition your wardrobe from winter to spring.
- Layering is key
Because the weather could go from cool to warm and back within a few hours, it is important to layer with pieces that you can take off or put back on easily. You can also layer this way without compromising your style. Something as simple as wearing a T-shirt under a sweater or sweatshirt and putting on a jacket gives you the opportunity to either bundle up or cool off and get three different looks out of one outfit. You could also layer winter turtlenecks under T-shirts or tank tops and take off the underlayer if the temperature rises.
For this outfit, I wore plum-colored overalls with a white T-shirt to lighten it up. The deep tone of the overalls is one of the forecasted trends this year as well. I added a cream-colored sweater with rainbow dots for the layering aspect of the look. The dad sneakers and socks keep the look playful and make the outfit perfect for walking up the Hill or playing games on South Lawn.
- Mix sleeve and hemline length
The mixture of temperatures allows for a mismatch of sleeve lengths and hemlines. One way to still get use out of your favorite sweaters is to pair them with shorts or a short skirt. Short overalls are a nice way to pull off this trend. For a more street style look, pair a sweatshirt with a skirt and throw on a denim jacket. In order to avoid showing too much skin and getting too cold, get the last few wears out of a pair of boots or your favorite socks and sneaker combo.
For this outfit, I did a monochromatic look with another trendy color of the year: jade green. Because the skirt and sleeves are short, I paired the look with boots and a denim jacket. When the wind is blowing, it is still a bit too chilly to just wear shorts and a T-shirt, so a light jacket and comfy shoes are the perfect solution.
By the same token, wearing a shorter sleeve with pants or a long skirt can help regulate your body temperature when the weather is changing. If you happen to have wool pants or a knit skirt that you feel you can only wear when it is cold, a T-shirt will not only keep you cool, but it will also make the outfit more casual for class. This combo is also a great way to break out your favorite sandals. Because the pants are long, your body will be able to stay warm enough for you to wear those trusty Birkenstocks — even on the cooler days.
For this outfit, I wore a pair of deep cherry-colored trousers with a tank top and an oversized yellow, gingham button down. These pants are a bit on the warmer side, so I paired them with black Dr. Martens sandals that tie in the black of the tank top. The deep red and light yellow complement each other, and they coincide with the next tip.
- Add pops of spring colors to your winter wardrobe
This may not be a tip pertaining to transitioning weather, but one way to get the last few wears out of your winter wardrobe is to mix in spring colors. Winter clothes tend to be full of dark browns, greys and blacks. Make sure to break up the darkness with pastels, tans and whites so the outfit reflects the warm mood of spring rather than the cold darkness of winter.
With the fluctuating weather, it’s not only hard to dress accordingly, but it’s also hard to decide whether to finally pack up those sweaters until fall rolls around. However, hopefully through these tips, you will not have to say goodbye to those clothes too soon.