It’s not Spring here yet but we had an unseasonably warm Winter’s day yesterday. I went shopping and (out!) to lunch with my mum. Because it was warm and we would be outdoors, I wore an outfit that I would usually wear in early Spring.

Suntiger asked me how I transition to early Spring, because we both favour a deep or dark Autumn palette. I’ve been thinking about this some more and wanted to share some thoughts.

I like to wear deep and rich colours all year round but I do find early Spring challenging because it’s still cool so I generally need long sleeves and/or a jacket and boots. But wearing full coverage dark clothing (especially black) can feel wrong when the days are getting longer and the light is changing. Especially during the day.

My strategies:
*Wear separates that include lighter colours. I like to go light coloured on top, darker on bottom. This tends to work with my favourite outfit formula (patterned skirt on bottom) and is more flattering and practical for me than wearing light colours on bottom. And, because I favour longer skirts, the darker colour is still visually dominant (which I like).
*Wear boots with bare legs. A flash of skin adds some lightness for me.
*Wear lighter coloured boots. I have tan and cognac coloured tall boots that I wear a lot in early Spring. Also tan ankle boots. I don’t tend to wear black tall boots in this period because they feel too visually heavy with dark bottoms. (Except at night.) But I will wear black combat or ankle boots because they are visually less dominating.
*Use lighter coloured or metallic bags.
*If wearing a darker colour, wear it in a pattern, in a more floaty (less fitted) style and/or in a fabric that is visually more lightweight (an open weave knit, cotton, silk or chiffon). Layer underneath for warmth if required. (I’m wearing a full length ponte slip skirt underneath my chiffon skirt for extra warmth.)

Thoughts? Do you like a deeper colour palette all year round? What are your strategies for Spring?