Every year in August when it’s practically too hot and humid to go outside I long for cold winter nights, snow days, and layers upon layers of chunky knits, wool coats, and tall boots, but come February my wind burnt cheeks, chapped lips, and freezing toes have just about had enough. I actually do really enjoy piling on the layers and getting bundled up to go outside, but thoughts of idyllic balmy spring weather (and being able to go outside without freezing my bum off) make me eager for warmer days.
Living in DC you quickly learn how to dress for in-between weather because the transition between seasons in the District is wildly unpredictable. The turnover from winter to spring is particularly fickle, putting the city in a state of limbo going back and forth between warm and cold days until the buds are blooming and spring finally sets in. It’s easy to get caught up in spring fever and all the florals tromping up and down the runway, but whether you like it or not you may very well be holed up under all of your layers for a few more weeks (at the very least.) On the upside, taking a spring attitude to your winter wardrobe by way of creative color combinations is all you need to hit refresh on your winter favorites.
My mindset for getting dressed is putting together looks that make me feel chic, sophisticated, and comfortable, and dressing for my mood always helps me to get there. I don’t go crazy with colors much, but something about transitional weather makes me want to wear all the colors all the time. I think it’s just a reflection of my excitement for the change that I let come out in my clothing, and it definitely explains the uncharacteristic obsession with pink I’ve been having lately.
In my last post, I waxed poetic about my newfound love for pink and how fun it has been reinventing the color for myself in a more boyish way. I talked in particular about this lovely shade of dusty pink, that is so close to nude it can be worn as a neutral but also brings out the natural pinks of your cheeks and lips. I also mentioned how pinks in classic patterns are an excellent way to add a touch of toughness and shed the girly girl vibes. It goes without saying that when I came across this dusty pink gingham button up shirt it went straight on my wishlist, and my sweet Valentine surprised me with it this week. I wear button up shirts on a regular basis, and this soft mid-weight number will be perfect layered under sweaters in the winter and thrown over a bikini in the summer.
Every season I fall in love with one color. Sometimes I see it in a catalogue, styled in a window display, or even come across it on a painted row house on Capitol Hill. Something about how I see the color in that exact image be it an elegant color pairing, set in the dewy morning sunlight, or in a richly woven texture really inspires me and I go into my closet looking for pieces to recreate that image. Last fall the color was marigold. I was flipping through a catalogue and spotted a blue velvet couch with a tribal printed woven marigold pillow on it that was positively sticking. Go figure, I had zero pieces of marigold in my closet and so began the hunt for a relaxed marigold sweater.
After weeks looking for the perfect crewneck marigold sweater I had pictured in my head, I came across this v-neck cardigan on a sale rack. I don’t wear cardigans much because they make me feel like a librarian. There’s nothing wrong with librarians, but seeing as I’m not one it just doesn’t feel very me. I was disappointed when I pulled the hanger out and saw the sweater was two sizes too big- and a cardigan. But the gold button and grosgrain trim detailing made me want to try it on…so I did… and I totally fell in love. Because it was two sizes bigger than my normal size it had the relaxed look I wanted, and the elegant buttons and trim erased any notions of belonging in a library.
I got this sweater last year when we were in our Indian summer that lasted until the end of October, and the first time I wore it I paired it with a dusty pink bandana which was something I had been wearing throughout the summer. It wasn’t a traditional color pairing (for me at least) but something about pairing the pink summer accessory with the rich fall color made the combination feel like a natural pairing for the transitioning seasons, which still holds true six months later moving from winter to spring.
These jeans were a major sale buy from last summer, and I’ll tell you something, they don’t call them mom jeans for nothing. These are one of my favorite pairs of jeans because they’re hands down the most comfortable jeans I’ve ever worn. My shirts stay tucked in all day under the ultra high waist, and the denim is moveable and breathable AKA perfect for running errands, a casual weekend brunch, or chasing your kids around at the playground. They do tend to bag out so I have to wash them a lot, but let’s be real I’m washing them a lot anyway because little fingers rub dirt and everything else on whatever I’m wearing. These are Madewell’s “Perfect Summer Jean” but they are in fact just the perfect casual jean period. The high rise and straight cut is classic and perfect with tennis shoes or flats. Word to the wise, the sizing is a bit iffy. Based on online reviews I sized down one size which I could hardly breath in. I exchanged for my regular size which felt about two sizes too big. I ended up keeping my normal size but took them to my tailor to have them taken in. These are currently available at full price, but I got mine for less than $50 so if you’re interested just keep your eyes peeled and I’ll bet they end up in the sales again.
These flats are another recent addition to my wardrobe and also another big sale buy. I had been eyeing them since last fall, but I don’t wear flats like this much because I have a hard time finding ones that don’t hurt after a couple of hours. This pair caught my eye because I really love shoes that are black and white. A black/white shoe is a classic neutral for almost any outfit, so you get a lot of mileage out of them. I have a pair of black and white loafers and snake print slingback flats that I wear all the time so I was hesitant on whether I actually needed these shoes. But when this pair went on sale the rave online reviews for outstanding quality and comfort convinced me, and so far I’m really happy with them. These are off-white so a bit different than the other two pair I have, and the classic and feminine aesthetic of these shoes with the soft leather and cap toes contrasts very nicely with more relaxed looks like this. While this pair is almost sold out, there is a new selection on tap for this season that is worth a look.
