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Mastering the art of transitional clothing (…well trying)

Day Vies

Veteran

So it’s above freezing, but it’s not quite 50 degrees either. I’m really tired of the dark saturated tones of my winter clothing but it isn’t warm enough to wear many of my pastel light and airy spring tops by themselves. Finding just the right balance for the in-between is something I struggle with every time the seasons change.

Sure I have read all about layering but it’s not just about the warmth its about the colors and texture of the clothing (Well, at least it is for me). Many of my spring and summer tops have feminine details such as flutter sleeves, pin tucking, puffed sleeves, embroidery, pleating, etc. which only show to their full effect when I am not wearing a jacket or cardigan over them.

I came up with this solution for running errands today. I am really pleased because I can also wear it to work. The tunic top I’m wearing is slightly more opaque than lace. But it has the lovely details that I described above concentrated in the center of the blouse – so it will show through the open front of the cardigan. I also love the bejeweled trim on the cardigan. The spring feel of the colors are appropriate for the season and also favorites of mine. I am also really happy because this ensemble is completely me.

BR outlet bejeweled cardigan

BR outlet lace tunic

GAP perfect khakis (long inseam)

Yellow Liz Claiborne tote

Miz Mooz tall boot

Those of you ladies in 4 season clients how do you deal with the in between? Do you have similar concerns?

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40 replies

Latest reply was from unfrumped

Thistle

Veteran

Lovely! I think this will work! Can't wait to see you in it!

We really only seem to have two seasons here in Wisconsin. Barely above freezing, so really still winter temps. As switch will flip, and it'll suddenly be hot. Or it won't flip, and it'll be a cool summer. We've had those before!

We had snow last night and today, so I understand your desire for winter to end!

missvee

Veteran

I'm in a real 4 season climate and I agree, transitional dressing is not easy. For me it means adding lighter coloured clothing and footwear along with some brighter accessories. Today it's about 3 deg. Celsius, so I'm in jeans with a light grass green tee and a winter white wool sweater. Looks springlike, but feels warm and cosy. Your outfit looks great - I love the bright tote.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

I love this! Beautiful colors, and very spring appropriate. Can't wait to see it on you. In my climate, we have a long winter (5-6 months), the three remaining seasons are more or less equally distributed on the remaining of the year. Our summers are often quite wet and cool, so what I call summer would probably be spring elsewhere. We always need to keep a woolen cardigan or sweater at hand, even in July (our warmest month), particularly for evenings. So yes, I know about layering and transitional wear. I like to play with colors, but the textures in wool are - wooly, and not really s/s attire. The contrasts between a wool cardigan and a sheer fabric can be very nice, though, and I also like pairing rough twill and silk, for instance. I don't worry too much about if a fabric is seasonally right or not. I understand, though, that it is more sophisticated to stick to the classic fabric combinations.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Do I ever relate to this. I have exactly the same problems. I find spring the most difficult season of all to dress for and it's for just the reasons you mentioned. I love your solution for today. Bright, cheerful, and yet warm enough (I hope....we had some light snowflakes today).

DeniseP

You look lovely and ready for the season! The sweater and bag colors pop and say: spring! My area is four season, but we have a mild climate here in the southern US. Blazers, jackets and cardigans get me thru till summer.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

You look beautiful in this outfit. Well, you did a great job of coming up with a spring solution. Now, to repeat it with other pieces. I sympathize; right now I'm wanting to wear some of my springy tops, without hiding them completely under warm sweaters.
I've tried layering under and over, which can work sometimes, especially with a lighter-colored underlayer, to keep with the spring-like color theme. If you layer a long-sleeved close-fitting tee under a spring top, you could get by with a vest rather than a long-sleeved jacket or cardigan, for example. The pieces have to be just right, though, on so many levels--color, weight, fit, style--to work together, so it's hard to pull off.

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I think this outfit is wonderfully spring-like! You look so beautiful in bright colors, Day.
I am also struggling with this transitional weather when temps and conditions are still wintery (rain for a week anyone?) but the heart longs for lighter and brighter colors.
You inspired me to wear my new bright yellow jacket to work on Monday!

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

While my own style is more casual and "RATE," I always enjoy seeing your polished, pulled together outfits which have an unforced ease. Your beautiful smile completes the outfit.

Colette

Veteran

This outfit looks fantastic on you! I love the color pop. You win the best dressed for Saturday errands award. I'm wondering if you wore a jacket? I also live in four seasons and share your difficulties in dressing for the transitions. Spring in Chicago seems to be the most difficult for me.

Spiffy

Fun! I especially like the play between the texture of the top and the beading of the cardigan.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Gorgeous! You have solved the problem admirably. We are definitely in spring here - soon to turn into a very long summer. I would wear this outfit today without the boots though - I like to be warm!

Carla

Veteran

I love this outfit. Long and lean, but with the 'pop of colour' that takes it into the spring season.

Snow, again, for us up here in northern Ontario. Rotating between wool costs, and boots a must, still.

Parsley

Veteran

You look lovely, Day Vies!
You've nailed the transitional look: airier textures, cheerful mid-tone colors, and layers. And you look as polished and feminine as ever!

I'm terrible at transitional dressing. We often don't have much spring here (not too far south of you), and when we do, I find myself ill-prepared. My blacks and grays look too heavy, and my summer clothes are not warm enough.

I've been admiring the all white and neutral outfits that people have been wearing here, though, and I'm hoping to put together something like that for spring.

Anonymous

You look perfectly turned out for a crisp spring day.

I have four definite seasons and identify with your struggle. These posts of Angie's have helped:

http://youlookfab.com/2010/04/.....your-step/

http://youlookfab.com/2009/11/.....g-weather/

http://youlookfab.com/2011/04/.....ith-style/

My problem now is that I have some transition pieces that I need to learn to wear during other seasons...example: bright pink trench. My most helpful pieces have been white and now a deep nude pair of jeans, and scarves in white, yellow, and turquoise. The SE Petty Pythons have been great this spring to be my lighter footwear that's still warm. I've yet to really bring out the warm weather things. In fact my challenge for myself this week is going to be to dress for spring but in a way that is still comfortable for cold wet days.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Your outfit looks great DV and I can completely relate to the frustration of transitional dressing. I live in a 4-season climate. I find "distinct" seasons like summer and winter easier - you either dressing to be warm or dressing to be cool. It's the in-between seasons of spring and fall that I find difficult. You're not completely out of one set of clothes but you're not quite into the next set. I find making outfits with pieces from both seasons seem to work for me - for example, in the fall I will take a summer dress but add boots and a leather jacket to carry it into winter. That sort of idea, you know?

Beth Ann

Veteran

I feel your seasonal frustration (quite literally, as we share the same city). This is crisp, polished and feminine and not one bit seasonally confused, which has been a challenge this Spring!

Is your BR tunic new? I've found that the outlet fits me better than the straight BR line. Probably a vanity sizing thing, but I think they must cut a little curvier -- Loft, too!
Oh --- and you've reminded me to get my yellow purse out! My arms won't be cold from carrying a Spring bag -- my toes, unfortunately, are complaining about being stuck in boots!

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

I think this look is a perfect solution. I find the key is spring colors and layering pieces for the warmth as i hate feeling cold.

Day Vies

Veteran

Beth Ann - nope the tunic is 2 years old. I think you are right that the BR outlet clothes are cut curvier because I'm definitely a 16 on top and this top is a 14. I am not sure about LOFT outlet because I have more BR stuff. I also have a BR outlet skirt that is a size 10 that fits perfectly and I know I'm a 12.

Joy - thank you for the links to Angie's articles I will have a look at those tonight and tomorrow.
Colette - I did wear a knee length trench coat with a scarf over this outfit.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh - back to look at the outfit, which is just as fab as I expected. I love how feminine it is -- that seems especially fun for a weekend. More unexpected, somehow. It feels like a "Sunday best" outfit except with trousers!

Liz A.

Veteran

This is my most favorite outfit that I have seen you post. I just love the colors.

Lantana

Veteran

I particularly appreciate your point about the "colours and texture" of the clothing. Your solution here is dazzling.

Vix

Veteran

Hi Day Vies --

You look as fresh and seasonally appropriate as a flower poking its head up from the still-bare ground; I'd be so happy to have you in my visual landscape!

Love what you said here:

>>Sure I have read all about layering but it’s not just about the warmth its about the colors and texture of the clothing (Well, at least it is for me).

I'd add that the quality of light matters to me as well -- in my climate, ours is generally weak sun or "none" in spring. I think I'm in the YLF minority, but for my usual lows-of-30s, highs-of-50s temps the super-light/white or icy shades feel wrong except in small doses.

I will say that a few years ago I got tired of nothing feeling right during Winter/Spring or Summer/Fall and so started purposely buying for those times. Shockingly, being purposeful paid off, ha -- it's now *less* of a struggle to dress for 4+ months out of the year.

What worked best for me (a few photo examples below...happily the blue/white animal print blouse is currently being worn with navy, cobalt, and grey vs all-black):

* I started buying tops, scarves, and dresses in prints and patterns that mixed my best dark neutrals with light or skintone colors (especially dresses, so then they looked ok with my very pale bare/almost bare legs)

* I had a few things made in lightweight wool color-colors that look good with dark neutrals and lighter tones (an emerald green pencil skirt, and then a medium-purple sheath)

Of course this year, we've had a FEW days of strong blue skies and high 60s to record-breaking high 70s temperatures. Hellooooo, Mother Nature, I don't have my "incredibly atypical seasonally appropriate work capsule" ready!

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Anonymous

DV I think you look great. I like the colour pallete you chose and it all works beautifully. I struggle a bit with transitional wear too so I'm going back over the comments above again

Day Vies

Veteran

Vix -- thank you for your very insightful post! It's so funny I was just reading your post from a year ago about boho style.

I love your suggestion about neutrals and skintone colors. I have been very attracted to this combination but have not been able to find pieces that allow me to pull this off.

I just bought a mid tone purple dress and a green skirt. I have not worn them yet but it's nice to know I am on the right track.

sarah

Veteran

I think your solution is perfect - warm and layered, and yet fresh and spring-like.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

You look just lovely and the pops of color add so much to keep things spring. I am having the same problem, especially with coats- too light or too warm.

Jewell

Veteran

I feel your pain regarding transitional dressing. It finally started to feel like spring here a week ago. I'm so excited as I was sick and tired of my fall and winter wardrobe. This outfit is fab on you! I LOVE green and blue together and the yellow handbag is perfection!!

kkards

Veteran

This winter seems to be never ending....I've found that this year I've embraced the nautical look, a lot of navy and white, with red and grey tossed. This has made me feel like spring, but still wear clothing that is warm enough. I have also adopted an outside/ inside footwear strategy, ie I wear boots from my house to the office, and change into something lighter, and then reverse at the end of the day.

lyn67

Veteran

I'm in a real 4 season climate and I agree, transitional dressing is not easy! I like your outfit! And I aggree it's not only colours, but textures and fabrics, corelating with right outerwear, scarves, shoes and bags, too:-). NOT EASY at all!!!
I never payed too much attention to spring and fall items, but since I have joined YLF, and find it much more rewarding! Only, if I would have the space to store all those clothing I need for feeling well dressed all year and all occasion round....not easy at all, too.

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