Transitioning your style between seasons can be tricky for a lady when you live in temperate climates. The British weather is something special in itself, as it likes to change hour to hour not merely day to day. It may be nippy first thing when you leave the house for work but beaming when you pop out on your lunch break, be lovely and temperate midday but sodden with rain by mid-afternoon. Dressing for it is hard enough even when you’re in the middle of a season, but on the edges of changing seasons it gets harder still.
When it comes to the approaching spring, it’s easy to want to break out the floral summer dresses as soon as the weakest ray of sunshine begins to peak through the winter gloom, but that’s not always the best thing for our pale legs and nippy arms. Here on the isles, we have to practice some foresight and common sense when we open our wardrobe doors in the mornings. So for all you lovelies new to dressing in a vintage style, here are my top tips for transitioning your style into spring without regretting your outfit choice once the weather turns.
The main two things to bear in mind are colour and temperature. You don’t want to be caught out sleeveless and skirted when it begins to rain, and depending on your personal feelings about wearing only seasonally-appropriate colours, prints and fabrics, you also might not want to be wearing a bright summery Hawaiian print when it begins drizzling outside. If the latter concerns you, try to steer away from your boldest summer prints and colours, opting instead for jewel tones, neutrals and pastels, all colours that look good in the wobbly weather of spring. Florals are a springtime delight, but perhaps put aside your Hawaiian prints for a couple months more if you only like to wear them on unfailingly bright days.
When it comes to the temperature, the key to keeping your vintage style pristine in spring alongside optimum comfort is the same as it is in winter: layers. The difference is, rather than sneaking as many layers as you can into your ensemble, it’s important your spring-time layers are adjustable or removable. Opting for twinsets, retro jackets, a bolero or a cardigan over your outfit is an easy way of ensuring you can take off your top layer if it gets warm, regardless of whether you’ve chosen trousers, a skirt or a dress to wear with it. If you want to wear some of your thinner day dresses before the temperature rise has yet over-taken the breeze factor, think about layering a silk slip under your dress.
Compared to thick winter tights, seamed stockings help keep away a mild chill on your legs without threatening to overheat you if it warms up a touch. However, if you’re someone who doesn’t like seams when the sun is shining, you could forego them for a pair of nude tights instead. They’re easy to remove in the facilities if you get too warm but will help you against the worst of any gusts and breezes.
Once it’s time to pack away your winter booties, think about working up to your summer sandals with closed-toe wedges, saddles shoes, brogues or simple ballet style flats. Switch your fur-trimmed winter coat for a classic trench, which are typically more lightweight, and keep both your sunglasses and a retractable umbrella in your handbag so that you’re prepared for all weathers when you’re out and about. Additionally, pack a comb, a travel sized can of hairspray and a pack of hair grips too so that you can fix your hair if rain, wind or good ol’ humidity alone ruin your carefully coiffed brush out. Finally, pack face powder and a compact mirror so you can fix any possible face sheen that may result from the weather overpowering your makeup.
Personally, I don’t think you need to follow any particular style rules for what is or isn’t ‘allowed’ during the different seasons. But if you try to put a little bit of extra thought into making your outfits weather-appropriate when you get up in the morning then you’ll hopefully end up spending a lot less time bemoaning bad weather and a lot more time accepting compliments for how you always seem to be so polished and put together. And on that note, happy spring time to you all!
