Creating a Spring transition outfit

 

It’s such a treat to have a working lunch date with my blogging friends, Cindy Hattersley, and Mary Ann Pickett.

One: It’s a chance to be with girlfriends who have active blogs. When we gather it’s to learn more about managing the technical backend parts of blogging—SEO, links, analytics, and countless other things that I don’t have the bandwidth to comprehend on my own. They’re like the big sisters who know everything and I’m the little sister saying, “What? How do you do that? Will you show me again?”

 

 

 

Cindy and Mary Ann write about interior design, travel, and lifestyle. Mary Ann’s blog is Classic Casual Home and Rough Luxe Lifestyle is Cindy’s blog.

 

 

 

Two: We meet at Mary Ann’s Russian Hill apartment in SF which—as you can imagine—is beautifully adorned.

Mary Ann’s apartment is fresh, comfortable and intimate with lots of neutral colors and texture; antiques and collectibles. When I’m at her place I imagine sitting on one of her couches reading magazines or the design books she has stacked with care. Being around so much beauty nurtures my creativity.

 

What I did and did not what to look like

I’m going to tell you that I didn’t tell Mary Ann—I dressed with her apartment in mind. I said to myself, ‘How could I look good near Cindy’s fireplace or sitting on one of her dining room chairs or looking out a window at the Golden Gate Bridge?’ I wanted to be respectful of the ambiance she’s created.

I knew what I did and did not want to wear.

I didn’t want to wear dark colors. I’d feel like I was clashing inside her light-infused space.

I did want to wear polka dots because nothing says spring like polka dots, and this was the first glorious day in the Bay Area after countless cloudy days and record-breaking rainfall.

I didn’t want to be cold. It was still crisp outside, even though the sun was shining.

I did want to layer prints.

I didn’t want to look formal.

I did want to be comfortable.

 

This is what I came up with

I pulled out my Chico’s cotton polka dot jacket from a couple of years back. Gosh, it was fun to see it again! This would be the first time I’d wear it this year.

I got the warmth from my white sweater with a windowpane design. Lines and dots and dots and lines. That combo can entertain me for hours!

I’ve worn the sweater so much this winter. It’s by Theory. It’s a blend of wool, poly, and rayon. It’s fairly sheer so I wore a nude-colored Wacoal tank under it.

 

 

All the white in the sweater makes it a terrific spring transition piece. It’s warm but still looks bright and fresh. I added my silver and black leather corded heart necklace.

From the waist down I’m in my frayed jeans (DL1961) and my go-to black suede Aquatalia booties. Mark this date: This was the first day I wasn’t wearing wool socks with my booties. Instead, I wore half socks like the ones you wear with running shoes. They can’t be seen and my ankles were bare—perfect for being comfortable in 64 degrees. It was my first spring transition outfit, and I felt very comfortable in it.

 

 

Advice for getting started on your spring transition wardrobe

The key to creating spring transition outfits is to mix one-part winter with one-part spring. My sweater was my winter part, and my polka dot cotton jacket was my spring part. My booties have been winter go to’s, but wearing them without socks is the spring addition.

Can you look for things in your closet that look springlike even though it’s cold outside? Lightweight, light-colored cashmere sweaters are perfect this time of year—unless you’re in Florida. Think apricot, yellow, ivory, dove gray, or Robin’s Egg blue.

Do you have springlike pieces that would work as your third piece? Of course, if you’re in the Midwest you’re not ready for that a jacket like mine yet. But do grab any lighter-colored jackets to visually move toward spring.

How are you putting outfits together that have a spring vibe? Can’t wait to hear! Tell us where you live too, okay? That’ll help us get the whole picture.

Happy almost spring!

XO