7 Winter-to-Spring Transitional Pieces
As the weather warms up, you may be looking into your closet and scratching your head. What to wear? What to put away? Will any of it work for the new season?
This year, instead of spending lots of money on spring pieces, why not make your winter wardrobe do double duty? It shouldn't be too tough, since mixing fabrics and textures is the name of the game this spring.
Tweedy wools and light chiffons have never looked better together. But beware: When mixing textures, limit yourself to just one heavy garment, and make sure all of the other pieces in your ensemble are similar in tone, so everything ties together nicely. Here, seven ways to do it right:
Layering Pieces Instead of hiding all of your fabulous embellished tops, lightweight shells, and shift dresses under layers of cardigans, sweaters, and jackets, let each individual piece stand alone this spring. Don just one of your favorite layering pieces and watch as it shines all on its own, paired with spring shoes, pants, or skirts. Sort through your winter wardrobe and keep an eye out for lightweight fabrics, pastels, and anything that will show off your tan. Be sure to avoid chunky sweaters and thick wools -- even in a sleeveless shell, these will make you miserable in the heat.
Lightweight wool skirts Worn with tights and boots, wool skirts are a must-have for women who don't want to be stuck in pants all winter. Don't put them away just yet though, because these super-functional skirts have a much longer shelf life than you've been giving them credit for. Pair them with bright, breezy shoes and tops, and you won't even recognize those dark wool tweeds. Look for a-line and trumpet skirts with a hint of color, and wear with bare legs for a breezier look.
Patterned Topcoats Banished to a life underneath heavy coats, these light, pretty toppers can come out to play again. The perfect piece to add polish and elegance to spring's ethereal silks and chiffons, this coat will keep you just warm enough to endure heavily air-conditioned spaces without making you uncomfortable in the sun. We love this Banana Republic coat ($198; shown here).
Cropped Pants You've been wearing your cropped pants over boots and feeling ever-so-trendy all winter. Now that the sun is out again, give your toes (and your pedicure) a little room to breathe. Try cold-weather cropped pants -- yes, even the winter-weight wool pieces -- with strappy sandals and a light, playful top. The effect might just blow you away.
Shrunken Jackets These snug-fit jackets were great for layering under coats because they insulate without being too bulky. Even though your down coats are now a thing of the past, you can keep wearing these jackets over anything from shift dresses to jeans. They'll add a little structure and panache to any outfit.
Winter Whites A fairly new trend, these whites and creams come in heavier fabrics and are a great way to transition from cold to warm. The light hues will fit right in with this spring's sailor stripes and flirty florals, and the winter textures will add a little dimension to your ensemble. And the fact that they'll keep you warm and cozy even after the sun sets certainly doesn't hurt.
Accessories Weather that gray area between seasons with some of your superstar accessories from fall and winter. You loved wearing mid-calf boots with tights and skirts, or rolled and tucked-in jeans this winter. But that doesn't mean you can't revamp the look for spring. Pair your flirty new spring skirts and dresses with bare legs, mid-calf boots, and a skinny scarf, and you'll look like you bought an entire wardrobe just for the transition period.






