Style & Fashion

SIX Hacks To Help You Move From Winter Into Spring While Still Keeping Out The Chill

by Sharon Kearns on Feb 09, 2022

SIX Hacks To Help You Move From Winter Into Spring While Still Keeping Out The Chill

Although winter is almost over and we can finally start looking forward to spring next month, the reality is that the weather is still very cold and wet, which means we can't quite break out our spring/summer pieces just yet. However, it's definitely possible to start looking forward to the spring season by slowly eliminating some of our dark winter staples in favour of some lighter and more spring-reminiscent pieces. Dressing for spring when it still feels like winter is a common problem in Ireland, but luckily it's quite easy to solve with some smart layering, accessorising, and choosing the right prints and colours at the right time of the year. There are many ways to slowly move from winter to spring without compromising on warmth – and we're going to show you just a few examples!

Lighter coloured coats/jackets

Start thinking about lighter but more neutral colours to slowly transition from winter to spring. Leave the black coats at the back of your wardrobe, and opt for some beige and camel tones in heavy wintry fabrics that are still going to keep you just as warm as your dark, winter staples. And once the temperature starts to slowly creep up, fabrics can get thinner, and we can start ditching the heavy coats for things like macs, leather jackets or shackets.

Although sugar-sweet pastels are usually reserved for the actual start of spring, there’s no reason you can’t start experimenting with wintry pieces in lighter colours, and we love the idea of a heavy winter coat in a sweet spring hue too! It’s never too early to start slowly introducing those light colours; especially if they’re going to put a smile on your face!

 

Add colour by way of versatile, trans-seasonal accessories

Investing in lighter-coloured outerwear that is still going to keep out the chill in the winter is a great idea, especially as they can be changed up with different accessories; for example, scarves in fun prints or colours that you might not have considered for winter, or cosy winter beanies in an array of bold and vivid colours that will make you feel good as well as look good. This is the perfect time to start slowly introducing spring-like colours into your outfits, and we love the juxtaposition of going for winter pieces in more spring-like colours such as a big scarf in a pastel hue or even something more versatile that can be worn all year round such as an animal print scarf. We think you’ll agree that animal print is a versatile trans-seasonal print, and one which will never go out of style no matter what the catwalks say! Now is also a great time to start thinking about switching up your bags, so swap the wintry dark bags for something lighter. Neutral coloured bags are a great way to start if you don’t want to start off too bold too soon; especially because they can be worn all year round, so they’re well worth investing in as you know you’ll always find a time and place to wear them! However, if you want to buy a fuchsia and orange bag to wear in February, we would never stop you!

Start experimenting with prints and patterns

Stick to the traditional florals when spring officially starts, but for now, you can add some fun to your wardrobe with some different and slightly more unconventional prints. There are so many different ways to add exciting prints into your outfits as you try to keep your winter wardrobe fresh and interesting. A belt or scarf with a fun print or pattern is a great first step to dip your toe in the water! Long-sleeved dresses with geometric prints or with a combination of different colours are great options that will help you stay warm (especially when teamed with winter accessories) and also guarantee that you will stand out without going for very spring-like prints such as oversized flowers. And of course, animal print never fails either!

 

 

Get the maxi skirt out!

Although maxi dresses are usually associated with the spring/summer season, maxi skirts are perfect for this time of year. Not only do they keep your legs covered, but you can also cheat and wear an extra pair of tights or even leggings underneath yours to keep out the chill; and no one will know! (We won’t tell your secret, promise!) We love wearing ours with ankle boots and a thick pair of socks, and a chunky knit tucked ever-so-chicly underneath. Add a waist belt to ensure you still maintain that feminine silhouette and don’t get drowned in fabric. And it goes without saying, but you can never be too generous with the layers and accessories, so an oversized scarf, leather jacket, and warm beanie hat are perfect additions. Swap these out for thinner scarves, thinner jackets (perhaps a cropped denim when the sun is finally out?) and a cool hat such as a fedora when the weather gets a little warmer, and before you know it, you’ll be swapping those ankle boots for your favourite cork wedges too!

Shorter hemlines

Having said that, you absolutely CAN start wearing short skirts again too. Stick to warmer materials like leather so you can still keep out the chill, and team it with tights and boots to make sure you don't compromise warmth for style. This combination proves that you can have it all, and then consider changing the leather skirt for a denim or plaid one when it gets a little warmer, before moving into much cooler fabrics in the height of spring. Over the knee boots are perfect for the start of winter, but these can be slowly switched to ankle boots when spring is just around the corner. And when the weather gets even better, forgo the tights and switch out the boots for ballerina flats or loafers! Now is also a great time to start adding some colour, go for deep tones such as burgundy or dark green (so on trend right now!) and try to avoid black which is more common for the height of winter. You make the rules though, so if you want to get more use out of your favourite winter black mini skirt, how about teaming it with something brighter instead? See our next point for inspiration…

Warm knits in spring colours

There are no rules when it comes to fashion – and we love mixing things up by pairing unconventional pieces together such as a mini skirt (see above) and a chunky winter knit in a bold colour. If you want to save your pastel colours for spring, vivid colours such as blue, pink, or even red are great choices that will add a bold splash of colour while still being appropriate for the winter season. Adding a warm knit to something like a mini skirt, a pair of shorts (yes, really!), or even over or under a spring/summer dress is also a great way to get more wear out of your favourite pieces.

Layer accordingly

We will never get tired of praising the importance of layering, as there are layering techniques for each and every season. If you don't want to be weighed down by an enormous winter coat, layering up with a long-sleeved top, a polo-neck jumper, a gilet, and an oversized scarf will do a great job of keeping out the chill. It's also a great way to mix and match different colours, prints, and fabrics, and you won't have to worry about your big winter coat covering up your hard styling work! We're also big fans of wearing lighter pieces such as delicate shirts and blouses that usually only come out when the weather is warmer, and simply adding something like a warm vest on top. Not only does this allow you to wear your favourite pieces much earlier in the year, but it's another opportunity to play around with colours and textures. Bonus points if the vest is in a fun spring-ready pastel colour too!