An epiphany about my wardrobe

Angie's post today came hand in hand with a lightbulb moment I had walking from my car to work today: I don't really change my wardrobe seasonally. The only thing that changes is footwear and outerwear - I go from light trench in summer to down puffer and down skirt in summer, and boots come out more often in winter. And of course, when I'm doing something active outdoors like skiing, I'm in layers of gear. But otherwise, I don't really layer or de-layer by season.

For instance, today I'm wearing my trusty Heed UWP sweater with a pair of Vince strapping pants and my Topshop patent booties. I would easily wear this on a cool summer day. The only time I add layers for warmth rather than style is when the temperatures really drop down below 0. Otherwise, although I run cold, I'm generally not willing to put on extras for indoor wear. Instead, I'll just wear warmer fabrics - a cashmere sweater instead of cotton, for instance, or wool pants rather than linen.

Not sure what to make of this realization, just thought I'd share.

8 years ago

catseye

Veteran

Well, if you only wear linen in Summer, and no cashmere in Summer, then you do have a little bit of a seasonality going on.

Sal

Interesting. I think I am the opposite although I live in a more temperate climate.

While there is a good chunk of clothes that get worn all year, I tend to layer a lot more in winter, accessorise more, and also wear darker colours.

My true summer pieces are mostly brighter, more patterned but simpler designs.

I think you have a consistent "aesthetic" Una (that sounds a little "Project Runway")whereas I am more all over the place/varied/erratic and can be modern classic, retro, sporty casual, trendy casual within a week of dressing.

Diana

Interesting. This sounds totally whack given that we're talking about Alaska here, but I think you are able to pull this off because you actually don't have as huge a temperature fluctuation as some other places have because you have really cool summers. Do you think you could wear your "uniform" in a Boston summer, just out of curiosity? I know I couldn't....

I think your preferred aesthetic also lends itself to "seasonless" dressing. On the other hand, I could never give up my favorite bare-legged looks, but neither would I want to give up my layered handknits so in some part I dress "seasonally" just because I want to wear both.

celia

That is a great epiphany. Your sense of style always seems pretty consistent to me but this new insight will cement even more your options.

Beth Ann

I always click on the epiphany posts -- those "lightbulb" moments are part of what keeps me active at YLF. I do think it's interesting that you, a resident of the natural wonder that is Alaska, would be our first openly uni-seasonal dresser! I would have expected this from someone like Denise, is CA, or one of our PNW fabbers. And you say you run cold?

It sounds like you prefer to dress by silhouette, rather than by season. And varying fabric weights and types is an excellent way to manage most weather situations.

gryffin

I'll join you on the teams seasonal bench. I end up sweltering in the summer since I don't swap much out, other than footwear and outerwear. Well I guess I do like to be warm. Also I consider black an optimal summer color!! But you knew that!

Peri

I think that's amazing. We have so much seasonal variation this would never work at all. But really, I thought Alaska got decently hot in the summer. No? Maybe just parts of it.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

My dear Una, you DO wear seasonal clothing!!! You just listed the differences! To your point though, you wear a lot of the same items year round because indoor temperatures are consistent.

catgirl

Ok, it's not that I don't wear seasonal clothes - it's that I don't layer for seasons. For example, I don't put a warm layer under a blouse or sweater, nor a blazer over anything more than a shell or tee. I just wear warmer or cooler versions of the same things. Does that make more sense?

Janet

I'm in admiration that you can make so much of your wardrobe work so well year-round. I am just the opposite. Our climate is such that there is very little I can wear in July that I can also wear in January...and vice versa!

Jaime

I think Angie hit on a key point - indoor temperature. Although our winters are closer to your summers, the indoor temperature is often quite chilly - bad heating and insulation because apparently everyone forgets about winter during the long summer when the building gets done.

But I do get your point about dressing the same way all year long and now I have to drink more coffee and figure out how it applies and what it all means :-).

abc

I don't seasonally swap either. But my weather is mild most of the year.

Suz

Una, what you say makes sense, but so does what Diana and Angie say make sense. I don't think you could do as you do unless you had relatively stable indoor temps. Because then even the items would need swapping out -- jeans wouldn't feel right in a super hot summer, for example. Or boots.

Actually, even your outdoor temps might be more stable and thus make layering less necessary in a way. That's why you can switch out the fabric alone and be comfortable? Whereas I often feel the need to layer and switch up fabrics.

That is correct, Suz. Rarely do we have really hot temps, let alone humidity and thus no A/C. I dress for indoors. I would not be able to do this in Boston. But I also think my tolerance for cold has increased, and my discomfort with layers (bunching, sticking, tightness, lumpiness - all my own sensitivities) has never gone away.

lyn67

Think you dress rather for constant indoor temperatures and level of dressiness, as I do, too-and so, it's not really the layering (except for the outer layers) but the colors and fabrics(+/-hosiery)-for the seasonal dressing.

rachylou

That's fascinating, Una. I'm an ignant... But forgive me, don't temps drop below zero for a seriously long time? Ok... Remember I'm a Californian; we get below 32F for about a week every year... Only at night... So more than a week is eternity in my mind... I don't see how a little cashmere sweater would cut it. Although, when I was 25, I did manage a week of 25F day time temps in NYC with just a wool overcoat... But I couldn't live thru that now. No really... I'm serious...

Lisa

Interesting observation. And if you desire a smaller sized wardrobe (I am always trying to shrink mine) going seasonless is a great way to do so.

Aziraphale

I don't change much between seasons, either, except if we have a really hot spell (in which case I loll around complaining and sweating, wearing as little as possible ;-)). I mostly wear jeans and some kind of top. It the winter it's more likely to be long-sleeved, but not necessarily. The jacket and coat depends on the season (and the weather), as does the footwear.

I think if you live in a climate that doesn't fluctuate wildly between seasons, this is what happens. My brother in Montreal can't do this. They need block heaters for their cars there, but in the summer it's super hot and humid.

What's the summer weather like in Alaska? Is it cool?

JAileen

You're lucky you have cool summers. I grew up with thick summer fog. I hardly ever wore shorts or sandals. Now, of course, I have fierce, brutal summers. It also gets quite cold in the winter (it's already dipped into the low teens). So I definitely have summer clothes and winter clothes.

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