How to Shift Your Wardrobe: Late Winter to Early Spring
Late Winter is a tease.
The light is bright and welcoming, but the air is still harsh and biting.
Until recently, I dressed the same regardless of the season. Same color palette. Same fabrics.
It turns out I have two distinct personalities when it comes to my wardrobe.
Fall & Winter Brenn loves layers and rich colors like burgundy, navy, charcoal, olive, and black, along with thick fabrics like corduroy, moleskin, denim, suede, wool. And boots. All of the boots.
Spring & Summer Brenn is all about flamboyant bright pastels: pinks, blues, purples, and buttery yellow. Short shorts and tank tops. Slide sandals, blucher mocs, or classic sneakers.
The air is still cold, but I crave brighter colors. The wind is gusty. Warmth is non-negotiable. I hadn’t considered shifting the color palette while keeping the layers — bright and warm.
Here’s what I’m working with: cold mornings with clear skies and sharp sunshine but freezing blasts of icy air. By afternoon, the sky clouds over and the temperatures turn tolerable but muted by the absence of the sun.
I’ll start with warm sweaters, but in the bright colors that lean toward my Spring & Summer preferences. The shift turns navy to lighter blues. Burgundy and maroon will give way to purple and mauve and light pink and coral. Charcoal fades to light gray. Butter yellow will show up in warm fabrics like cotton sweaters and hefty long sleeve polo shirts. Olive softens into mint green. My beloved winter plaids morph into stripes that hint at summer while staying firmly on neutral ground.
Then, as the air finally catches up with the sun, the fabrics change. Lighter sweaters replace thick wool and heavy cotton. Washed jeans in lighter-weight fabric step in for the stiff dark denim that works so well in Winter. Cotton chinos sub in for moleskin and corduroy. Solid soft-colored flannel shirts maintain a cozy layer for afternoons with brisk breezes.
I don’t change everything at once.
Color moves first. Fabric follows when the air catches up.
Spring doesn’t have to arrive all at once.
