How to Transition Your Wardrobe For Spring

Forgotten how to dress for warmer weather? Me too. Sometime around April every year, when I can’t bear the thought of wearing a winter coat for another day, but it’s still too cold for my easy summer uniform of dresses and sandals, I have to remind myself how to dress for these in-between weeks. Because I’m an optimist and like to pack away my winter wardrobe as soon as is practically possible, but also because I refuse to buy anything that I can’t wear for at least an entire season each year, I like to make my warmer weather wardrobe work for me from the moment the spring blossoms starts to appear (even if the weather is not so obliging). Here’s how I get as much mileage out of my style staples as possible, and transition my wardrobe from winter to spring:

1. Pack away your faux fur and heavyweight coats. I stubbornly refuse to wear a winter coat between April and October. Instead, opt for a lighter trench coat, blazer, or jacket in a neutral shade that will go with everything in your wardrobe.

2. Take advantage of the mild temperatures and mix your winter and spring pieces. Whereas in summer I wear dresses almost exclusively (I love how effortless and breezy they look and feel), these in-between months are the perfect time to embrace good separates. Wear a white dress with a trench coat for now and on its own for summer (like I did here), team your favourite jeans with ballet flats and a pretty broderie lace blouse + a blazer if it’s chilly outside, or layer a sweater with a midi skirt and heels or trainers.

3. Lighten up your palette. Stick to just one or two dark pieces per look and start brightening your outfit with paler shades of your favourite colours. At this time of year, everything from my dresses to my bags get gradually swapped over to a spring palette which mostly consists of shades of white, blush, neutral, and light blue (vs my usual winter palette of black, blush, fuchsia and navy).

4. Embrace the joys of ‘bare ankle weather’. Trade tights and boots for ballet flats, classic pumps, and white trainers until it’s warm enough for sandals and espadrilles.

5. Go to new lengths. I think it was England’s mild climate that first made me fall in love with the midi length, but a midi or maxi dress with sleeves is the perfect answer when there’s still a chill in the air but you really want to wear a dress (I bought this dress last month and have been wearing on repeat ever since). And although I’ll often wear a shorter dress or skirt teamed with tights in winter, a lower hemline feels more chic when worn with bare legs.

6. Swap your winter accessories. Replace your wooly scarves and berets with cute hair accessories, head bands, and silk scarves tied around your hair, neck or wrist.

7. Don’t forget your beauty routine. Swap dark lipstick for pretty neutrals, warm up your skin with a hint of (faux) tan, and trade your winter perfumes for fresher versions that feel perfect for spring.

Wearing: Topshop trench coat (runs large so size down) // Boden skirt c/- // Bella Freud sweater // Christian Louboutin heels (less expensive style here) // Lulu Guinness clutch c/- // Karen Walker sunglasses (also in black) // Chanel brooch (vintage, but similar styles here) // J.Crew earrings // Accessorize hairlip (similar style here) // Mac ‘Creme Cup’ lipstick (the perfect pinky nude). 

What are your favourite wardrobe styling hacks for spring?

Love, Briony xx

Photos by Joe Galvin