As the seasons change, they can seemingly blend one into another, punctuated by bouts of unpredictable weather. Now more than ever, people are building transitional wardrobes that can work rain or shine and adapt to changing temperatures. If you stock your closet outfit with core pieces and extras you love, you’ll always be well-dressed. Here are our tips for building a collection of stylish women’s clothing you can wear from spring to fall and beyond.
Pick Transitional Staples
The key to a transitional wardrobe is having good-looking, functional, easy-to-wear staples at the ready, so you can step out of the house feeling comfortable and well-dressed at any time.
1. Dresses or Breezy Pants
For many people, dresses are an essential wardrobe element. A flowing mid-length or midi dress with a short or elbow-length sleeve looks intentional and appropriate for most occasions. You can dress it up or down, depending on the accessories you choose. A stripe or a subtle floral, tribal, or geometric print can be worn with everything, from booties to sandals. You can layer it over tights when it’s cool and go bare-legged when the temperatures rise. If you’re just not into dresses, an easygoing pair of pants with a drawstring or unstructured waist can have a similar effect when you wear them with a coordinating top.
2. Jackets and Sweaters
The whole point of having a transitional wardrobe is to be ready for anything. With a jacket or sweater on hand, you’re covered. Pick pieces in neutral, pastel, or bright colors that coordinate with the rest of your clothes in color and style. When you favor a preppy look, you might go for a linen or light wool blazer, sweater, or cardigan you can throw on whenever there’s a chill in the air.
If you choose a piece in natural fabrics and a medium weight, you’ll be comfortable on cool spring mornings and cozy nights when the leaves begin to fall. When the weather gets hot, you can always throw your outer layer over your shoulder or tie it around your waist.
3. Jeans
Nothing anchors your wardrobe like a great pair of stylish jeans you can dress up or down, whether you’re headed out to coffee, a football game, or a country drive. You can’t go wrong finding a pair of jeans in a dark or medium wash that flatter your figure, and you can look great with everything from pullovers and Henley’s to button-down blouses and structured jackets.
4. Shoes
Picking out cute women’s shoes that will carry you through the seasons may seem like a tricky proposition, but it doesn’t have to be! If you have a pair of dressy ballet flats, boots or booties, and nice sneakers, you should be able to get dressed easily, any time of the year. The trick is to pick classic styles that balance your outfits and aren’t too heavy. This way, you’ll look put together, your feet will stay happy, and you’ll be able to walk and move around with ease, no matter the weather.
How Do I Make My Transitional Wardrobe Work for Me?
Now that you have an idea about how to stock your closet, how do you make the pieces work for you? The good news is, if you know what you like and what suits you, putting outfits together should be effortless. Here’s how to make transitional dressing a breeze:
5. Curate Your Wardrobe
One of the best things you can do to make spring and fall dressing easy is to curate your wardrobe. Go through your closet and pull out anything that doesn’t fit or make you feel good. Take these items and pack them away, or better yet, upcycle or donate them to charity. This way, it will be easy to see what you have left and what you’re missing. Do all the clothes in your drawers and your closet suit your lifestyle? Can you quickly select jeans or a dress and add a jacket and shoes to feel dressed for the day? If so, you’re on the way to having a transitional wardrobe that lets you express your style anytime.
6. Pack Away Winter Basics
As you’re paring down your wardrobe, pull out your heavy, bulky winter coats, sweaters, and boots and pack them away in storage. Making space in your closet helps you see what’s in front of you and makes things easier to find. It also gives your lighter-weight clothes room to breathe and helps prevent them from wrinkling.
7. Layer for Unpredictable Weather
When it comes to dressing well in any season, the name of the game is layering. If you use jeans or a natural-fiber dress as the foundation of your outfit, you can dress for cooler weather by adding a long-sleeved shirt underneath or layering a sweater or jacket on top for warmth. Once the sun comes out, you can switch things up with shorter sleeves. Opting for breathable fabrics like wool, silk, cotton, or linen will help your body regulate its temperature even when the weather is changing.
8. Incorporate Trends and Accessories
While practicality is one of the major advantages of building a transitional wardrobe, you’ll still want to express your style. Adding cute jewelry to your outfit will help you look polished, no matter where you’re going. Choosing accessories in pastel and bright colors for spring or jewel and earth tones for fall is the perfect way to signal that you’re in tune with the season. For spring, think about pairing a lighter-weight bag with an airy silk scarf. Switch to a leather or tapestry purse and a cashmere shawl for the fall season.
Build Your Transitional Wardrobe, and Dress with Delight!
Now that you’ve stocked your wardrobe with quality items you love, you can mix and match pieces to your heart’s delight. No matter what the weather throws at you, you’ll look great whenever you walk out the door!
