Ensembles that don’t make seasonal sense

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Ensembles that don’t make seasonal sense

— by Angie

on January 27, 2009

There are two looks I see every season that don’t seem practical. Both involve mixing cold and warm weather items into one outfit. It seems that if you wore one of the items, it would be too hot or cold for the other.

Strappy Summer dress with heavy knee-high boots: I’m talking about a skimpy little frock that you’d normally wear in the warmest of weather without a layering cardigan or jacket. If it’s hot enough to wear a light, breezy dress, wouldn’t you be boiling in boots?
Coat, knitwear and pants with sandals: I’m taking about a Winter coat, a cozy knit, jeans and flipflops or strappy sandals. If it’s cold enough to wear a coat and knitwear, surely you need a closed-toe shoe to keep your feet warm.

I can get my head around the three-quarter sleeved coat because you can layer long-sleeved items underneath, or wear long gloves. This is a great option for milder Winter weather or Autumn weather. But I just don’t understand the combinations above. Am I missing something?

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25 comments · Add a comment

Anne

If you are, I’m missing it too!

January 27, 2009 at 7:17 am

Jillian

I am with you sister!

Dare I mention the Uggs and micro-mini-skirt ensemble as another example? It was all over the Hollywood stars a few seasons ago, complete with iced coffee in hand! Then, another addition to your second example: I find the peep-toe heel with winter suit an odd look. How do you get to work without freezing your toes? I love your practicality, Angie! You make me feel I can access fashion yet not be it’s victim.

January 27, 2009 at 7:25 am

Katherine

I saw a guy walking down the street just yesterday layered for the cold New York weather whilst wearing a pair of Birkenstocks. Nonsensical.

January 27, 2009 at 7:43 am

Ann

I totally agree!

Along the same line – I don’t understand news reporters in a studio, reporting on the cold weather, who are wearing short sleeve tops. It just does not make sense to me.

January 27, 2009 at 7:50 am

Danja

(website)

I completely agree. And peep-toe shoes are a great example, Jillian. I had to laugh. I see women wearing them frequently this winter and I wonder…

January 27, 2009 at 8:11 am

Rhonda

I had to laugh when I read your post, Angie! You must be talking about us Floridians! The other day we had cold weather (The temp didn’t even reach 60 degrees!), and I went to my son’s basketball game. The mom next to me had on Uggs with a mini-skirt and I had on jeans, a sweater, and a short trench with thong sandals. We are guilty!!! In all fairness to me, I checked out my shoe collection and found no “shoes”. Only strappy heels, slides, and sandals. One pair of pointy toe, high-heeled boots, which I wasn’t going to wear to a basketball game. We just don’t have much in the way of winter clothing down here. Yes, I agree it does look out of place, especially the light-weight dresses with the heavy boots. At least with the sandals, as the day warms up, all the layers can come off, and one doesn’t look out of place. Forgive us, please!

January 27, 2009 at 8:52 am

Diana

(website)

I thought this was just an issue for Floridians. I see people all the time wearing shorts, tank tops and Uggs. Uggs are for bitterly cold weather. If it’s warm enough to be wearing shorts and a tank top, why would you need them?

January 27, 2009 at 8:57 am

Tanya

He, he, I totally agree with you Angie. However, many times I have a read in a fashion magazine an article on how to ‘winterize” summer items. Especially popular was the summer dress, writers kept suggestibg adding tights, boots and cardigans/coats; all in effort to get more mileage out of one’s wardrobe. So maybe it’s the magazine’s fault too?

January 27, 2009 at 9:21 am

Real Style Real People

(website)

too funny! it was interesting to read what your readers who live in warm climates, above, say about it though- and I can see how that happens…

January 27, 2009 at 9:39 am

Sal

(website)

Hee. I actually dig the first look for spring – but I’m a boot fanatic. The second one trots around the college campus where I work and confounds me endlessly. Really? Cold body, but hot feet?

January 27, 2009 at 10:36 am

Val

I think the first look has a certain appeal if done correctly. I myself rock white eyelet dresses layered with black long sleeve t-shirts, black tights, and black cowboy boots in the winter. It’s a sweet/tough juxtaposition that I love to wear as much as possible.

January 27, 2009 at 11:04 am

bella

Tanya brought up a good point. I agree that pairing up a summer dress with tights and boots helps get more mileage out of one’s wardrobe, however, I still think that some materials are better suited for summer and look out of place even camouflaged under boots and (over) turtlenecks. Some materials are OK but a flimsy cotton dress should remain a summer dress under all circumstances. What do you all think?

January 27, 2009 at 11:22 am

Risa

In Europe you can ALWAYS spot an young American male in a town with a US military post not by his haircut but by the fact that in winter he is wearing shorts and a winter coat! It is some sort of weird fashion trend with them that I will NEVER understand.

January 27, 2009 at 11:49 am

Joelle

I plead almost guilty to the second ensemble of sandals plus cold weather outfit. I have never worn sandals when it’s cold enough to have to wear a coat because that does look odd, but I have worn sandals with a sweater and jeans/dress pants. Usually this is in early fall or late spring, when the weather is cool (50’s or above). I guess my feet have a higher tolerance for cold than the rest of me. Besides, most of my shoes that are both nice-looking and comfortable are sandals, so I wear them as often as possible. With the exception of sneakers and ballet flats, I have not found a pair of closed toe shoes as comfortable as sandals.

January 27, 2009 at 3:42 pm

Eva

It is more of a weather issue. Those in warmer climates will wear the sweater, jeans with sandals in the winter. Your winters are probably the same as a Seattle summer where we almost always have a sweater handy and we may be in sandals. I think Angie’s point is if it is warm enough to wear a winter (not light trench) coat, aren’t your feet cold in sandals? I am always surprised by people wearing sandals in the winter, late fall and early spring here in Seattle. It is alway raining and when it isn’t, the ground is probably still wet from last night’s rain. Their toes get wet and cold when they are outside. How is this comfortable?

January 27, 2009 at 4:35 pm

Oneirix

In California, the ensembles make a little more sense, I think. I personally am not a fan of either look, but they’re pretty common here since the weather is consistently mild enough for something like that to “work,” temperature-wise. I see this sort of mix all year round.

Or maybe some people aren’t as sensitive in their feet? I’m not sure… :/

January 27, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Maya

I was waiting for this post! I’m also not a fan of garments that try to merge seasons. I know they work for some people, but it doesn’t work at all in my climate. If it’s too hot for long sleeves, it’s definitely too hot for a sweater. So why, then. would I want to buy a sleeveless sweater?

Likewise if it’s too cold for short sleeves, it’s too cold for a short sleeved sweater dress. There were entirely too many of those this season. I guess they’re fine in a warmer climate, but the northeast has very extreme temperatures where such things just don’t make sense.

January 27, 2009 at 8:08 pm

alldoneup

(website)

It’s because sometimes I don’t care…lol, I know, it’s shameful but the fashion mishaps you mentioned occur usually when I have nothing to wear or I just don’t care. =/

January 27, 2009 at 9:12 pm

Central heating/aircon!!!

I’m still (been in this country 7 years!!!) trying to get used to the having to carry a sweater around in summer because movie theaters/restaurants are so cold.
In winter I almost always wear sandals/flip flops with my coat and jeans because once I’m indoors the heat is so high that I’m uncomfortably warm if I wear closed toe shoes. And no, we don’t get much snow in winter where I’m at, but when we do I’m generally still in sandals…which are easier to clean/dry off than full shoes. Guess I’m just hot footed and lazy :).

January 27, 2009 at 11:38 pm

Style Eyes Fashion Blog

(website)

I recently recieved a mail shot from a well known and very trendy UK retailer suggesting that peeptoe shoes should be worn with socks in the winter – I don’t think so. I am all for fashion but my tootsies will be kept snug and warm in my biker boots well into spring. Frost bitten feet are just so last year!

January 28, 2009 at 8:42 am

Kim from Nebraska

Agree with Angie on both. Where I live, it can be 61 one day and 01 the next. I’m not kidding. The people who on the 01 day wear what might have worked the day before, we call them Yesterdressers.

January 28, 2009 at 9:46 am

Rachel

Oh dude, you see the Uggs + summer dress combo here in the spring and summer all the time! I don’t understand. But I probably shouldn’t talk, because my favourite clothing season is fall, aka, “jeans with sandals” or “skirts with boots” season. It’s all about balancing the temperatures.

January 28, 2009 at 11:28 am

Hilabeans

(website)

The key to wearing a skimpy summer dress and tall winter boots during the cold season is to:
–add opaque tights and a wool cardigan.
–knee high socks, sheer long sleeve tee underneath the dress, layer a blazer or denim jacket.

You could wear the skimpy summer dress with knee boots and a short sleeve cardigan in the late spring or a cloudy day (especially in the Northwest) where it can get pretty cold when the sun fails to show!

January 28, 2009 at 9:05 pm

Hilabeans

(website)

RE: Peep toes during the winter

I think it’s acceptable to wear these with a dress or skirt/sweater/jacket combo + textured or colored tights is the KEY to keeping toes warm.

Stay away from old school “nylons” or full on socks with peep toes though.
If wearing trousers, I don’t think you should wear the peep toe shoes during the colder months if you can’t handle being uncomfortable or cold =]

January 28, 2009 at 9:08 pm

Tara

Hi,

I think the dress’s and knee high boot thing can be pulled of with the right boots.

I am thinking of these Kirov’s from DUO Boots http://www.duoboots.com/produc...../colour/4/

what do you think? 70% off to!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 30, 2009 at 9:52 am

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