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Seasonal variations of style?

Sal

Veteran

Hi

I have been thinking about how I find it easy to find summer clothes that I like, that fit and flatter - and I have to stop myself buying. For winter, I struggle away and don’t get excited by the items, what I find is either the wrong colour, or shape and I end up with a very lean winter closet.

Now I can wear transitional clothes often as our climate is pretty temperate. So I do have options. But I currently own three sweaters total. None are very warm. I have one wool knit short sleeve jacket as well plus casual hoodies. I own three pairs of jeans total and two pairs of work pants. In contrast I have about 8 lovely summer dresses!

I can’t seem to translate my summer style to winter.... or can I? In winter patterns are harder to find ( I am not particularly plaid or animal print biased). And I am not a great layerer - I rely on simple shapes with pattern.

Where am I going with this thread?

Di you find it easier to dress in a way you love in summer or winter?

Do you feel your style is consistent all year?

How could I translate my summer successes into winter ones?

Interested in your thoughts either how you manage this or ideas you have.

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from The Cat

Gretchen

Veteran

Great question!
For me, winter is easier, because I have more of a uniform. Find me any non-working day in a sweater and jeans/pants with flats or sneakers. I have to pull myself back when all the Fall looks hit the stores.
Summer is harder for me b/c I don’t have a uniform. Do I want a cute top or t-shirt? Pants? Shorts? What if there’s air conditioning, maybe I need a topper?
Maybe it’s worth identifying what works in your summer looks - fit, color, pattern? And seeing what of that can carry over? I had more success this summer when I focused on adding specific colors that worked for me.
Following this thread with interest!

Sal

Veteran

Thanks Gretchen. I can see how winter can be easier as some options are just not available. And if you love jeans and boots or sneakers there are rich pickings!

I have a camel capsule and a navy one too to complement black. I would like to add red. I think i wear colour in pattern rather than blocks....maybe new jeans might get me excited next year?

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

Winter is so much easier for me. I like the extra interest that layering brings. Since I started actively working on my summer capsule, though, it's gotten better. What it took for me was zeroing in a couple of easy formulas I could follow for the season, rather than just trying to wing it.

rachylou

Veteran

I have the reverse problem - no summer version of my style, which is *a little bit angry.* Lol. It’s hard to look even a little bit angry in a sundress and it’s too hot to do something like add a moto jacket. My solution is to just go with a totally different style... also, I have to note it can be hard to take my preferred style to different geographic locations when the same cultural references don’t exist. For example, there’s no referencing punk rock in the West Indies. There really isn’t.

Helena

Veteran

This is an excellent question ... I find extreme temperatures hard to dress for, because they are so limiting imo and most styling tricks and trends are well-suited to temperate climates ... which is a problem when you live in Canada and basically have either extreme cold or heat, with little middle ground!

For winter Sal, I'm not much for layering either, so I tend to wear more fall-weight stuff and then put camis underneath, wear really warm socks, and keep a cozy cardi on the back of my chair to put over anything and everything as needed ... maybe you could do similar and your transitional pieces would do the job perfectly well?

L'Abeille

Veteran

Can you make your summer formula work for winter by choosing a dark floral dress and wearing it with boots, booties or oxfords?

I tend to dress more ladylike or preppy/nautical in the summer. Winter brings out more of the Gentlewoman side. With the occasional lean into post apocalyptic, don't know how that fits in (need for endless boots and rugged outerwear I suppose).

Sal

Veteran

Thanks all.

LÁbeille - my better winter looks do include a dress and boots, or a good jacket. I struggle when I layer the jacket though over anything more than a teeshirt!! Maybe I need thin merino or similar tops that allow layering.... We don't have the same outerwear needs here although I do wear winter coats.

Yes I am short a cardigan Helena - I kept wanting one and never found the right one at all. I think my issue with layering is that I quickly feel too bulky.... And I know that I don't have the extremes to deal with so it does make it easier.

Rachy - haha that is a different problem. And some style is better suited to cities, or beaches, or countries. Hair is your best angry accessory in summer.

Jenn- you are good at layering. I do have a simple winter formula but I struggle to find the right pieces that are practical for my casual life but still stylish and not black and denim...

notsaf

Veteran

Sal, sounds like you gravitate towards dresses in summer. Might be worth thinking about how to translate dresses to winter, as L'A suggests above. If start with pins!

I'm really a fan of the shoulder seasons, when I can wear booties, cropped jeans, a thin top and blazer, and a trench. That's my happy place.

Bijou

Veteran

Sal I find it hard to get good winter knits at a reasonable price locally. I tend to get mine online from JCrew and Boden and watch the sales on Shopbop. Winter is all about coats, boots and jackets for me, that worn with my transeasonal dresses.

Helena

Veteran

I agree Sal - winter layers are bulky and annoying!

Anonymous

I'm totally with you! Remember "grumpy week"?
Summer is easy, little dress, sandals, jewelry, done. No layers, no clutter, no extra laundry. Even if the dress is loose, legs and arms are bare, so it offsets it.

I try to do dresses and skirts with boots in the winter, when it's not bitter cold. But...there are tights, which are a pita cause they snag easily. Especially if one has furbabies! And toppers, and coats- all of which have to be removed when changing at the gym. And all sorted out at home- what's wearable again, what needs washing? Plus you have to be sure layers fit (length and width) under other layers- pita, pita, pita! Now there are a few glorious days a year, that are mild enough for just a jacket with no topper over. Maybe 30, max.

Pants are another (sad) story. I wear them when it's really cold, but really hate them. They are not meant for ladies of 8 shape/Latina bum construction. Decided this year it'll be ponte only, to accommodate weight fluctuating wonkybody. But no matter what the sort, they never feel dressy enough. Especially when it's cold enough that I need a knit top, instead of a blouse. Frumptastic And- most of the knits are wool, cashmere, alpaca- which all feel like the time I played in insulation as a child.
The only good things about winter are the darker colors in shops and holiday stuff (when it has %$^& sleeves for crying out loud). Oh, and fuzzy socks. I really really love fuzzy socks!
Rant over!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

YES, until this year. I've taken painstaking steps to even things out year round showing a lot more consistency in my style across 4 seasons.

A lot of my love for Summer has to do with what I can wear in hot weather. I love wearing soft, breezy and flowing fit & flare dresses and knee-length A-line skirts without feeling cold. I enjoy wearing a single layer (with or without a camisole, depending on the humidity) instead of being all bundled up. I like to wear shoes that don’t need socks because my feet can breath. I enjoy the delicateness and prettiness of Summer fabrics, like lace, eyelet, tencel and Swiss dots. I enjoy the pretty Summer footwear like pointy-toe ballet flats, loafers and refined fashion sneakers. I love sheer Summer fabrics like cotton and silk. I enjoy crisp, bright and cheerful Summer patterns. I adore the swoosh and movement of drapey Summer skirts and dresses on my legs. I like to showcase bare ankles with cropped pants and jeans, instead of insulating them with knee-highs, socks, and high-shaft boots.

I love how VARIED my style can be in Summer and hotter weather. I feel more elegant and alluring because I’m not all bundled up. I’m feeling the breeze, energized by the warmth, and walking with a spring in a my step.

In the colder months I’m focussed on feeling adequately warm, dry and insulated because I have little resistance to the cold and am 99% on foot braving the elements! I used to feel extremely bored with my cold weather jeans style. But I FINALLY have an assortment of warm and fun Winter pants in checks and solids that I wear ALL the time. I also have an excellent assortment of bright and happy knitwear, plus great shoes and outerwear to go with it. And once in a while I'll pop on a Winter dress and skirt with hose and tall boots. It took TIME to get to this point in my style, Sal. I've only really got it completely right - or "consistent" as you put it - this year because I couldn't get the pants right. You can't buy something that isn't there - until it is! This year thanks to an excellent shopping season of pants and jeans, I could achieve my style goals.

Sal, would you feel warm enough is skirts, dresses, sweaters, jackets and boots in your Winter? If so, that's the way to go. Those '70s wide crops in substantial fabric can be "skirts" too.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

We have a short winter and, although I much prefer heat to cold, I do enjoy the chance to play with jackets, coats and boots all of which I have collected disproportionate amounts. If anything, I think I can be more expressive in the colder weather because I can add more stuff! On the other hand, long shorts, interesting shoes and prints are pretty central to my style. But mainly the two goal posts that I bounce between are quirky and elegant, which basically pull me in very different directions. So I will say I am consistently inconsistent all year long.

Joy

Veteran

It is hard to find good colors and patterns for winter. Scarves and the occasional blouse have saved me. It helps to stick to the silhouettes you like in summer. Merino wool can be warm and bulk free. You wear dresses well. Try sweater dresses that are not bulky.they can be hard to find in color rather than neutrals but it is possible

cindysmith

Veteran

I find it hard to dress for summer. Mostly because I have trouble finding what I want in summer wear. I want dirt colored, patternless, loose tops that are a mid-thigh tunic length, with no sleeves, in a natural fiber fabric. I hate it when I start running low on summer tops, because it's so freaking hard to find more that I like.
Winter is easy. Oversized and loose sweaters abound, the better to layer with. Longer lengths are easier to find in winter. In winter, I'm ok with synthetic fabrics, because I want something that holds my body heat in my body where it belongs.

I will wear summer tops long past their prime, simply because I hate having to try to find new ones.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’d be happier dressing for temps under 80 year round. I don’t love hot weather dressing — namely, skin-baring. I don’t have gorgeous legs or super toned arms, and it’s not getting better with age. So I wear what is comfortable and reasonably flattering and get on with it. Thank god for midi dresses lately. Plus it’s not easy to inject a little badassery into summer dresses, as rachy points out. So my summer wardrobe tends to be a little preppier or traditional than I would prefer.

I wish I lived in a climate where I could get wear out of boots, jeans, and light jackets for more of the year. I feel I have so many more options in cooler weather!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I much prefer winter for boots and jackets. But I also prefer the textures on offer - wool, leather, brocade, velvet. All of which seem luxe and cozy to me. Summer textures - linen, cotton, silk, viscose - seem flimsy and coarse by comparison. They don’t grab me at all. And I’m walking a constant line between trying to keep cool (shorts, sleeveless top) and being adequately protected from the sun (sleeves, longer bottoms). I hate the daily ritual of smearing sunblock all over myself (it inevitably gets on your clothes and shoes) and detest the humidity (which leads to perspiration marks).

Here is a photo of my EF sandals after one summer’s wear. Just one summer. The damage is from perspiration and sun block - cleaning does not remove it.

It’s a real challenge to look polished in Australian heat!

That said, I do like some of the lifestyle changes that summer offers (eg longer days, bbqs, summer fruits) so I don’t hate summer as such. I just have to put my style aspirations away for a while

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Gigi

Veteran

I am so with you! I have five winter sweaters: one cashmere, two cotton, one wool, and one rayon. The cashmere and cotton ones are intarsia and so have designs on them (one has a dog, another an apple, and another a heart with leopard-print fill). The wool one is a cream-colored cardi that is in a retro style; I wear it buttoned up as a top. The rayon one is in a caramel color and has a cropped bottom and a deep sweetheart neck.

And I live in a very cold climate! Seems ridiculous that I have only a handful of sweaters...and three of those are five years old.

What attracted me to the above sweaters is that they were somewhat unusual. The intarsia design elements are certainly unique, and that makes me happy. The rayon one, although a solid color, is unusual in its cut, with the shorter hem and deeper neckline. The style of the cream cardi, as noted, is kind of retro. (Unfortunately, I think the cardi is going to have to be donated, as I wore a hole in it...)

For me, the issue is how to make the sweater interesting somehow. I feel that most of the sweaters out there are kind of preppy, and that is not part of my style at all. So I look for interesting cuts, or interesting designs, or interesting colors and patterns. But I agree that it can be hard to find unique sweaters. It requires a lot of diligence, IMO.

Cardiff girl

Veteran

I love summer but find it difficult,outfit wise, to do with out the layering which to my eye helps make an outfit so I really enjoy winter layers.Maybe that’s because our summers are generally about 2weeks long here and I have had more practice at winter dressing!You have good advice here already.If dresses are your thing try and find dresses in winter fabrics and thin thermal layers under clothes do away with the need for bulky ,visible layering if that’s not your thing.

Style Fan

Veteran

My favourite season is Fall. Unfortunately, Fall is extremely short in Canada. Practically nonexistent some years and shows up when you are not expecting it. Winter is 5 or 6 months long. I tried to pretend it wasn't for the first 60 years of my life but I have decided to be more realistic now.
Winter dressing is all about keeping warm and layering. I end up wearing the same things over and over because I don't spend my clothing budget on winter necessities. See above. This year I have tried to buy some items with the deep freeze in mind.
Winter dressing means cardigans, thermals, thick socks and fleece pants. I look a bit like a teddy bear. I am embracing the look.

Lululemon has some cute dresses for your winters. Not mine!!! One was a top Angie pick.

On Repeat Dress

View Info

Top Pick

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nemosmom

Veteran

Transitional weather is the easiest for me, since I lived in a transitional climate for so many years. I love light layers like hoodies, jackets, closed-toe shoes, and jeans and those outfits feel the most natural for me. I struggle most with hot weather - I don't feel like myself in dresses or sandals, and the combo of heat, sunscreen, bug spray, and sweat is really rough on my clothes. My kids play outdoor sports in the summer, and standing outside, feeling goopy and hot just makes me super, super grumpy.

Maybe you can find some warmer jumpers or dark floral or polka dot tops that appeal to your summer side? Having a close-fitting base layer like heattech (uniqlo) under a warm jumper might feel less bulky??

Anonymous

I'n the opposite , Sally. I am not as confident in skin -baring clothing as I used to be, what with less-toned arms, aging skin, and not exposing myself to the sun anymore (i.e tanning, lol) thus looking pasty and spotty. I find it easier to "hide" in fall and winter clothes, and love layering and being more creative with dressing. None of this happens in hot weather. So, my style is hugely inconsistent across the two seasons, and each year, I vow to get summer-dressing right, but it never seems to happen.

Ginger

Veteran

Oddball here - the transitional seasons/days are the absolute hardest for me. Have been most of my adult life.

Summer, I have down: shorts and a t-shirt, or a dress, both with bare legs and sandals. I'll grab a cropped cardigan if I'll be in heavy A/C. Done.

Winter isn't too hard now, either. I have lots of cozy dresses and skirts that I wear with opaque tights or leggings, depending on how cold it is. Occasionally I'll wear jeans and a sweater. Some long cardigan or cardigan-substitutes (Prairie Underground hoodies) if needed indoors.

But transitional is HARD. Too cold for bare legs. Really too warm for opaque tights and definitely so for leggings. I fall back on sheer hose, which work, but I do get tired of wearing them. They call for more refined footwear, too. So my casual days I try to do jeans and a long-sleeve tee or thinner sweater. But I don't have many casual days. I feel like in the transition, I'm either quite formal or quite casual, with little crossover. There's a lot of crossover I can do in summer and winter, just by varying shoe, hair, and jewelry style. Then add in the days with 25-35 degree temperature swings from dawn to mid-afternoon, and I want to give up. Heavy coat in the morning, carrying coat with sleeves pushed up in the afternoon. Argh.

Sal

Veteran

I have to fly as we have our work do today and a company strategy session which I am leading...

Lots of interesting thoughts which I will comment more on later.

Thanks

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

A jacket over more than a shirt is hard because of the bulk? I don’t want to be too obvious, but thinner material or wider sleeves in a jacket help.

Most of my life, I preferred the simplicity of pulling a sundress on and being done, or being able to wear simple shorts + top. Then came Florida. All that simplicity bored me to tears. Returning to four-season-Land has been wonderful that way.

It’s funny to me that several here have said winter limits their style because there are fewer options. While I totally agree with Suntiger that all the different pieces are a pita (it takes serious time to get dressed in the winter—or undressed, with all that sorting!), they also add many more style options. Ive mentioned before how I thought for years that pants and a welted pullover sweater were the only way to stay warm. Once I discovered warm tights (now I have fleece) and, yes, bodysuits, that changed. I’ve made an effort to choose sweaters and skirts with different shapes, and there are now many different shapes of pants available.

Do you want different summer and winter styles, or do you want to extend your summer look into the chilly months? Toronto and Nemo and Cardiff’s suggestion of a thin base layer is perfect for making that extension. If you want to change it up, then start checking that you aren’t defaulting to the same basic look when you buy things for winter. Make sure you have different colors, patterns (I scarcely have any plaid, and animal print is only on my gloves & silk long johns, but I have lots of pattern) and shapes in your winter closet. Oh, and texture too—velvet & corduroy & raw silk & cables...

Cee

Veteran

Summer is definitely easier with my wardrobe consisting mainly of T-shirts and shorts with sandals which are never hard to find here

Liesbeth

Veteran

I'm with notsaf on prefering the transitional seasons. Also, our summers aren't generally hot so I long disliked summer dressing exactly because ofcthis need for light layering. When I do layer, I prefer a substantial topper like chunky knitwear or a jacket.
Thinking of your typical style, I'm seeing you in lightweight scarves and jackets. Both can be puchased in sleek but warmer styles. You could read up on fabrics. Discovering merino (non bulky yet so much warmer then cotton) has saved my winter style from too much bulk. I like TorontoGirl and FashIntern's suggestions to wear warm underwear under your usual clothes for a simple solution.
I finally got happier with my summer style when I found some ways to translate my usual style to summer. E.g. sleeveless shirts in masculine colors/prints instead of frilly blouses or boring tanks. Linen pants, loafers, and the occasional retro dress. Always look for structure (your mantra could be: always look for sleek, or something). But it sure is hard to go against the grain of a season that isn't you! Good luck and have fun experimenting!

Bennett

Veteran

Summer clothes are a big yawn. Give me interesting textures and layers and I couldn't be happier! Which is fortunate, as our winter lasts six months with the other three seasons jammed into the rest of the year.

Sal

Veteran

I have had a bit of a rubbishy week ( stress of year has caught up with me) and my computer has died!!

Thanks all for chiming I’m here. I am on my phone and can’t reply individually.

I can see why people prefer winter or transitional clothes. I do agree there is a bit more scope ( unless in the extremes).

And I like lots of the ideas.

In particular
- investing in better layering tops such as heat tech
- making sure my tops do layer nicely under my jackets ( fine gauge knits)
- more winter dresses - I have three but one I am a bit tired of
- being more deliberate with my knits

Most days here a dress and boots and tights is warm enough. Our climate is wet more than cold.

The fashions are in my favour at the moment so I think 2020 will have good options. And of course checking out what the northern hemisphere forum members are wearing gives me a good head start.

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