stripes for summer, plaid for winter

I put away all my true summer clothes in October, but some of the clothes I kept out for the fall/transitional season, I'm discovering, have a lower-than-expected joy factor. These are things I look at and love, but once I put them on I just feel "off" somehow.

In particular, I am not reaching for my striped tees, even the long sleeve ones, which in theory are a nice cut/weight for layering under a blazer, hoodie, or cardigan. I guess nautical stripes are too breezy and summery to wear this time of year. This is probably why I've never been drawn to the heavier-weight breton tops like the ones from Saint James -- I really only need warm-weather bretons!

Other items that feel too "breezy" this time of year: chinos and light-wash denim. In theory these are great transitional items, but in practice I'm tired of them by October, even if it's warm and sunny out. I haven't reached for these at all in November, except under extreme laundry-induced duress.

What I want to be wearing instead: plaid instead of stripes. I definitely need to add a couple more flannel shirts to the rotation, in different lengths and weights. Possibly pinstripes: if I'm not wearing striped tops all the time, striped and plaid bottoms become a workable option. Corduroy and black/grey denim instead of lightweight slouchy chinos. Thick cozy sweater tunics, hooded dresses, etc. are interesting to me again, as they're something I haven't worn in several years. This means I might need to beef up my selection of leggings and tights.

The one striped top I am enjoying is a merino top with a slight cowlneck and longer length and sleeves. It's olive and grey, so I think I'll probably want some starker, "moodier" stripes for winter wear -- black/grey or black/white -- but not navy or brights. I like navy a lot in the summer, but wearing navy in the winter feels overly preppy to me.

This might also mean I have to stop lumping fall and spring together as one big "transitional" season. Even if the temperatures are the same, my mindset is not!

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I absolutely agree. Some of my favorite garments that stay in heavy rotation in my closet...
well, even though they could work right now if I used them in a layered outfit, they just don't "feel" right, or I'm momentarily needing a break from them.

I also agree about lumping spring and fall together. Even though many of the same garments could work for me in both spring and fall, I tend to go for brighter colors in spring as the world wakes up, and more dun-colored things in fall when the plant starts going on hiatus. In spring, I tend to reach for the lighter blues, the tans that have a bit of a blush tint to them, and the whites. Once summer rolls around, I reach for things that won't show stains, because Texas heat makes me sweat like a buffalo LOL. In fall, it's greys, browns, blacks, and some navy blue things. Come winter, those greys and browns and blues get even darker (like charcoal greys and midnight blues or inky tones that aren't quite black)

I also get a sense of excitement when I break out those things that I needed a break from, once their season rolls back around again.

these are things I had never really thought about, so thank you for making me dig around and analyze what was going on with me. This will probably prevent a lot of churn in the future when I start transitioning between seasons. I can recognize that I probably will love it again in a few months, and just move it to an "out-of-sight-out-of-mind" location in my closet.

L'Abeille

Ha LaP I could have written that post... I've never seen a Breton stripe T that I didn't immediately want to own. I live in them all summer, and breaking them out in spring cheers me with anticipation of boating season to come. But in fall, even though some of the heavier ones suit the temperatures better, wearing them feels like I'm refusing to let go.

We've had no snow yet (crossing fingers) but I've finally switched out my wardrobe, and rediscovered my tartan, tweed, and houndstooth skirts and pants and my sweaters. And back to black as my neutral and base colour: I am no longer reluctant to mix black and navy, but they don't seem to belong in the same season.

This year, though, the warm weather stayed so long (or I was so lazy about switching), and Advent begins so early, that in less than a week I'll be pulling out the jewel tones and metallics that made holiday season dressing so much fun last year. Perhaps come January, when those suddenly look garishly bright, I'll be feeling the tartans again.

And in spring, or rather "spring" during the long wait for the snow to leave, I will crave and reach for the pale blue and turquoise items that, the rest of the year, I can't remember why I own.

El Cee

I am the same way about striped shirts. To me they have a Springtime nautical vibe, so I find I just do not reach for them as much this time of year. I have one heavier weight striped top that is more of pullover than a long sleeved tee. The stripes are wider, so it has a different vibe than the ones I have packed away for Spring. As far as denim is concerned, I do keep out one white pair (slim straight) for tucking into tall boots and one pair of light wash skinny moto style jeans for wearing with moto boots. I also have some lighter wash gray jeans that get play in winter. All my chinos and the other lighter colored jeans get saved for early Spring. They are just not as practical for our snowy, slushy, messy winters. Like you -- I am all about plaid this time of year.

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by El Cee

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Anonymous

This makes a lot of sense to me. My color palette and patterns of choice change dramatically from Summer to Winter. Two separate and unique wardrobes.

lyn67

Sorry to say, but think you got the YLF or the refined fashion flu:-)...As you said, I did "lump fall and spring together as one big -transitional- season" for decades long but after joining YLF quickly discovered that is not really working anymore for me, and... "even the temperatures are the same, my mindset is not!"...
Welcome to YLF, as a refined fashion mindset, once again:-).

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