How to Really Enjoy the Transition to Warm Weather

No matter how many winters have turned to spring, age doesn’t matter.  The weather isn’t transitioning the way it used to, so coping with the variable temperature changes can be more challenging than ever.  Let’s take a look at how to dress during the transition to warm weather with layers, colors, Spring outfit formulas, tips and ways to put it all together!

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How to Transition to Warm Weather

When Spring arrives, suddenly thick tweeds, bulky wool turtlenecks and dark-on-dark patterns look too wintry.  Time to put those away until next year.  Focus instead on light layers and a change in your color combinations.  By layering, you can still be warm without thick materials.

Spring Essentials

Spring essentials are things you easily gravitate towards in order to be comfortable in rain and wind.  A few of these are:

1. a lighter jacket, such as denim or an army green utility jacket;
2. a trench coat;
3. a poncho;
4. a cardigan;
5. a long-sleeve top; 
   

   

6. a lightweight sweater like an open knit or one with cold shoulders;
7. a long sleeveless dress to wear day or night, to layer over in the spring and then wear on its own in the summer;
8. a pair of slacks that can work night or day;
9. rain boots;
10. cut-out booties.

Light Layers

Add light layers that can be taken off when it’s warm, and wrapped back around you when temps drop.  Here are some:

• Instead of your winter coat, grab a light cover-up and be out of the house in a snap. Try a trench coat, leather jacket, bomber jacket, baseball jacket, long cardigan, sweater coat, blazer or a zip-front hoodie.  If it’s still too cold out, wear two or three of these at once.
• Slip a wool cardigan over a cotton shirt or turtleneck sweater and top it off with a blazer for warmth without the weight.  Then wear any bottoms, pants or skirt.  Your wool cardigans will become summer jackets.
• If you own a pale tone cotton twin set or matching cardigan and tank/cami, now’s the time to pull it out.  Get more mileage out of the two pieces by wearing them together or combined with other pieces in your wardrobe.  Wear the shell under any jacket or casual knit shirt and the cardigan over any top.  Combine elements until you find the right combination that works for work or weekends.
• Don’t mix your seasonal signals by combining a summery silk dress with a gray flannel jacket.  Silk/wool blends and jerseys in fitted styles are better bets.
• Scarves and ponchos are great for adding a bit of warmth and color.  Light knits, silk and open-weave crocheted scarves and shawls are good for mild weather.

  

  From Grace & Lace

• As it gets warmer, an open-weave crocheted cardigan is a breezy cover-up that will be useful all through Spring and Summer.
• There are certain pieces in our wardrobe that we know we can wear all year, such as jeans and crisp white shirts. Those should be at the front of our closets right now.
• Your rain boots may have been in use already.  As the weather gets warmer, you will still be able to wear boots.  They just need to be in lighter colors.  And now we have breathable, hybrid sandal boots, too, that are perforated, peep-toe and cut-out.
• And now is the time to switch from opaque hose to sheerer weights in lighter shades.
• Other transitional pieces are a handbag in light-colored leather, peep-toe suede pumps or flats, and ballet flats.

Lighten and Brighten

• A change of color combinations is another good way to break out of the winter doldrums.  Bring light into your life and brighten your day.  A bright blouse worn with a dark pencil skirt is a great transitional outfit.  Pair a peach sweater with a brown linen jacket, or a sky-blue cotton sweater with gray flannels.  And for an automatic boost, add any pattern involving color and white — even if it’s navy and white stripes or white floral on black.

2 Formulas for Spring Layering

Formula #1

1. Khakis or cargo pants; roll them up if you like.
2. A fluid tee, tank top, t-shirt, blouse, slouchy cotton pullover, or roomy blouse with asymmetrical sleeves and high-low hemline.
3. Optional:  a crisp black blazer.
4. Black gladiator sandals, slip-on espadrilles, or any casual sandal or loafer.
5. You’ll need a belt to finish off the look.  Match it to your shoes.  Choose a casual tote, bowling bag, cross-body or backpack.
6. Accessorize as desired.

Formula #2

1. Start with a camisole, tank or tunic, cap-sleeved or short-sleeved top. You need a top that can be worn on its own if you need to remove your outer layer later.
2. Wear over jeans.
3. Add shoes, jewelry and a topper, such as a jean jacket or blazer.

A Casual Transitional Outfit

The basics for this sample outfit are an oversize men’s shirt and jean shorts.  The bottoms should be just an inch or so longer than the shirt.  (Or wear a boyfriend shirt with a skirt or leggings.)  Wear the shirt loose or belt it at the low waist.  For the cooler months, wear tights under the jean shorts.  To polish this look, wear your favorite flats or a wedge heel.  Accessorize with a bright beaded necklace and — go for it — a fedora.

Layering Tips to Transition to Warm Weather

• When transitioning from the cold of winter to warmer spring temps, try wearing a velvet shirt as a jacket over a turtleneck, and tights under a skirt.
• When the weather is not yet quite warm enough, go ahead and wear a velvet shirt as a jacket over bare shoulders.  Add any kind of pants/jeans and sandals to finish your look.
• Add over-the-knee boots to a flirty spring dress or a bright-color outfit.
• You can still use your heavier fabrics; just pair them with lightweight fabrics such as chiffon or even poplin.

• Use your blazers as jackets over any outfit when you venture outdoors, such as a boyfriend blazer or a leather blazer.
• Wear a camisole with built-in bra under another camisole or top for a bit of extra warmth.
• Layer two camisoles or tank tops together for more coverage, making sure both have similar straps, necklines and armholes (you only want a peek of the second one showing).
• Add layers of thin-chained necklaces or a long, skinny, lightweight scarf when wearing tanks or camisoles.

Transitional Outfit Ideas

• Wear a bomber jacket over a peasant top & jeans.
• A bomber jacket + a floral or printed skirt + a bright-color top, even a turtleneck.  You may want to wear black heeled sandals, and perhaps a scarf.
• A bomber jacket + a tulip skirt or pencil skirt + any top.  Add boots + sunglasses if it’s sunny.
• A bomber jacket + a graphic or printed t-shirt + jeans.  Add tan footwear, such as espadrilles.
• A black crew-neck top + blue jeans + a moto jacket.
• A fleece vest + a Spring blazer + a skirt.

• A simple t-shirt + a velvet skirt.  You might like to try adding some fun, whimsical jewelry + a trendy bag + metallic ballet flats.
• A velvet t-shirt + jeans + sandals.  You might like to add chain jewelry + a cross-body bag + sunglasses if sunny.
• A velvet slip dress over a crew-neck t-shirt + an olive anorak or a utility jacket.  You might like to add metallic espadrilles + delicate jewelry + a bucket bag or other type of bag that goes with everything.
• A floral, sheer tunic-length or high-low blouse unbuttoned low over a toned camisole (perhaps with a built-in bra) + jeggings or skinny jeans.  Add tall, flat boots + earrings + a bracelet.  Roll up the sleeves on the blouse to show bracelet.
• A tunic top over a warm-weather, knee-length dress.

• A plaid shirt over a slip dress or t-shirt dress.
• A boho midi dress + a little vest.  Add wood-soled heels or heeled sandals + a slouchy bag.
• A floral or feminine top + black leather skirt + jean jacket.  Add tall black boots.
• A fringed top + jeans + Western-style boots.  Add a gauzy scarf + a neutral bag.
• A lacy tank top + a pastel or neutral-color cardigan + any bottoms (joggers, pants, jeans, skirt…)  If you’re wearing a skirt and it’s nippy out, add over-the-knee boots.  You may also want to add a jean jacket.

• A white top + white pants + a jean jacket (or black top and black pants.)
• A white top + white pants + a sleeveless black blazer.  Add sandals + a colorful accessory + your other accessories in neutral colors.
• A white blazer + a jersey t-shirt over a camisole tee + black skinnies.  Add short boots and gold jewelry.
•  A long white t-shirt messy-tucked into faded black jeans + a jean jacket.  Add sneakers + a wonderful long pendant with short and mid-length necklaces that match (they should have the same look).
• Tan over-the-knee boots or tall boots + white jeans + a light tunic.  May add a light-color cover-up.

• A chunky sweater over a maxi skirt, especially if it’s floral or made of a light material like chiffon.
• A chunky sweater over a maxi skirt, especially if it’s floral or made of a light material like chiffon.
• A denim skirt + a chunky sweater + tights + flat boots.  If you add a tank underneath the sweater, you can take off the sweater and the tights when the temps rise.
• A sweater + a short skirt.  Add a utility jacket.  May add heeled booties or wedge sneakers.
• A sweater + a matching-color drawstring maxi skirt.  Add sneakers.

• A sheath dress + a cardigan.  Button the cardi in the middle to create shape.  You may want to add a belt over the waist of the cardi, or leave it open over the belt.  Add a short pendant with a short chain necklace + earrings + a bracelet + neutral colored sandals with a heel.
• A long cardigan sweater + jeans + a t-shirt or feminine Spring dress.  To avoid becoming swallowed up in too much material, add heels or booties with bare legs.  A belt tied at the waist can add shape to a loose sweater and can help take the look from day to night.
• A cozy gray cardigan + a gray tank top (or use other neutral colors) + white pants or jeans.  Add white slides + earrings.
• A leather jacket over a navy top + blue jeans.  Add a scarf looped loosely around with ends in front.
• A button-front shirt + short jean skirt + a jacket.  Add flats + a woven cuff. 
  

  

• Add a short woolen jacket fastened over a longer top & blue jeans.
• A black turtleneck + a light, bright spring skirt.  Add ankle boots + bare legs.
• A high-low tee + skinnies + a jean jacket.
• Pair a long-sleeved white t-shirt with a polka-dot skirt. Add wedges + a cuff + a cross-body bag.  
• Pair a gray t-shirt (a color that evokes comfort) with a black floral skirt (moving into florals but keeping with the dark background.) Add tan booties (incorporates a lighter color but keeps the feet warm and dry.)

• A sweatshirt hoodie + distressed jeans or denim shorts.  Add a couple of long pendants + loads of bangles on both wrists for a shot of metallic and/or color.
• Move into lighter colors and textures but with light layers by wearing:  a blush-color tunic with a lining and over layer over a white lacy skirt. Add tan peep-toe booties. You might like to wrap a long head scarf around. Accessorize with a long string of beads + a big medallion necklace + one or more bead bracelets + a cuff + big rings.
• A linen tunic in a shade of white layered over a shell for warmth and opacity & pants, also in a shade of white. Unbutton the tunic low. Add a bracelet.
• Business:  A winter blazer + a breezy top + lightweight trousers.

Let’s Connect!

Was this helpful to you?  What’s your favorite way to layer for in-between weather?  Please leave a reply below to let us know!  

You might also like to read:  “How to Clean Out Your Closet for Spring in 6 Easy Steps“

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