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We are a week into March! Spring is just around the corner…or not. Depending on where you live, you may have a few more weeks to go in your cold-weather clothes. Living in Wisconsin, I do not expect to be in my spring clothes until, oh, June. The transition between winter and spring can be a challenge so the remainder of March Fashion Fridays will be all about ”spring transitions” starting with layering.
Layering is a great way to start wearing your spring clothing items when it might not be practical to do so. Layering allows you to wear your winter clothes in new ways that make them feel fresh and exciting rather than same old, same old. Finally, layering helps you navigate between fluctuating temperatures that are common in spring months. And if you still need convincing on the power of layering, if the baby spits up on you or oatmeal somehow appears on your shirt, you simply remove that layer and get on with your day. Here are my five favorite items to layer:
Shirts
We all know the great benefit of throwing a jacket or cardigan over a shirt or dress. Take layering into a creative direction that you may have not done yet. Swap your usual cardigan with a button down shirt or put a button down shirt between your base layer and cardigan or jacket.
You also may have been extending some of your short sleeve or tank shirts over the winter months by wearing them under jackets or cardigans, but have you tried wearing them OVER another shirt? Similarly, have you tried wearing longer sleeves under short sweaters?
Dresses
Can’t wait to break out your spring dresses? Sick of the dresses you have been wearing all winter? Here again, the cardigan/jacket are a logical first thought, but consider layering in all directions: Over or under on top OR bottom.
Here is a winter dress that gets a lot of wear (photo 1). Layering a skirt over the bottom portion of the dress (photo 2) mixes it up! Your dress becomes a shirt. Layering a sweater over the top (photo 3) gives another look!
Like wearing leggings under dresses? Try wearing skinny jeans or other slim fit pants. Your dress becomes a tunic!
Wear any type of shirt or sweater over the top. Your dress becomes a skirt.
Scarves
If you have been a regular Fashion Friday reader, you know that it is no secret that I love scarves as a layer. But, I often wear scarves the same way so I have been trying out some new ideas. Here is the same outfit with the scarf done four different ways. (I used this tutorial for the woven scarf and this tutorial for the bow.)
More scarf ideas here!
Necklaces
Try layering your necklaces, a still-going-strong trend seen on some of the recent runway shows. Check out this post for tips!
Socks
As it warms up, you can replace tights with socks under your boots. Still a bit cool? Layer socks over your tights! I chose short socks with short boots (photo 2) and knee-high socks with taller boots (photo 3) instead of just tights (photo 1).
You can try the same trick with socks over your jeans with boots. If it is too bulky, create faux-boot socks. Cut off the sleeves of an old sweater and voila – boot socks that give the appeal of a layer, yet no bulk to deal with below the boot.
Do you like the layered look? What are your favorite items to layer?
Check out our Pinterest Board Layers Upon Layers for more inspiration and how-tos!
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
cute outfits!
Great post, Amy. I love layering, too. In Massachusetts, like Wisconsin, spring styles are still quite a way off, but I love to include a pop of spring color in an outfit at this time of year. We have had sooo much snow, and just letting a little pink, gold, or any bright color peek out from behind a warm sweater or jacket can hint of spring to come and liven up a tired winter look. I love scarves as much as you do, and they can have the same effect. I little pop of color at your face can work wonders. Anybody else have a washed out winter complexion?? Your tips also help to extend the wardrobe in your closet (great economically for SAHMs) and give it a fresh look.
Thanks for the comments, ladies! Maureen, I am with you – bring on the color during these dog days of winter!