It’s hard not to feel compelled to start shopping for warmer weather when the sun starts to peek out, I know. So many cute things come out in spring and since I’ve seen sunshine I’ve been thinking of sandals and short sleeves. To make matters worse, my inbox is getting flooded with spring sales and new releases, all pulling at me to want to shop for spring. BUT, I think it’s important to use what’s in your closet during this transition-season. Especially if you live in Sacramento, like me, you know that this beautiful time of year is quick to come and to go and that summer is just around the corner….

In looking at working with what I’ve got: Instantly, when I realized that I was going to be dealing with cooler temperatures in the morning and tons of sunshine in the afternoon, I reached for all the dresses in my closet. Spring is the one time of year that I give these dresses a full spot light, I think. There are so many other amazing spring trends you can look to to transition into this season, but dresses are my personal favorite. It makes sense though… I’m ready to start showing a little skin, but I won’t lie that I’m not cold in the A.M.

I’m a huge fan of long sleeve dresses as well, further making this the perfect time for them. Really, I think the big trick here for “using what you’ve got” is to ‘summer up’ your winter clothes & ‘winter down’ some of your summer clothes. Here’s what I mean by this using dresses only as an example:

• Winter Dress: Has a long sleeve, thicker fabric, longer skirt.

  • I would ‘Summer up’ the dress by

    • Adding a floppy hat as an accessory

    • Wear a heel instead of a boot

    • Opt for no jacket

• Summer Dress: Has short sleeve/tank, thinner fabric, shorter skirt

  • I would ‘Winter down’ the dress by

    • Adding a scarf as an accessory

    • Wearing a boot instead of a heel

    • Wear nylons or tights

    • Pair with a sweater or jacket

You might have noticed I can think of more options for wintering down a summer dress. You might have guessed this is my favorite option. If you did, you were right. It totally is. PLUS, I can bite into some of the excitement for pulling out summer dresses by just wintering (is that even a word? It is now) them up a bit so they’re still weather appropriate.

Another good rule of thumb for transitioning to spring is to really think about proportions. The eye wants to only focus on one thing at a time, so when it comes to showing skin, or lots of fabric, remember to keep it minimal and all in one focus point. I don’t follow this for fashion-rules sake, but more so because this rule of thumb ensures I’ll feel good about the outfit every time.

For instance, don’t wear a long flowy skirt and a super baggy sweater - that will end up feeling frumpy. Instead, pair the long flowy skirt with light blouse; and save the baggy sweater to go over a t-shirt dress. Other ideas: If you’re feeling ready for a short sleeve; go with a longer hem or nylons, and maybe a boot. If you have on a long sleeve and a shoe that gives you full coverage, don’t be afraid to show some leg. If wanting to wear a sweater, consider showing some leg by picking a shorter hem. You can always add nylons in the mix for warmth or to make sure you aren’t showing so much skin it feels like summer. The key is hitting a balance - that way you feel like you hit the “spring time” look nail on the head. With random life events this week + rainy weather = I’m leaning back on some old pictures here to draw inspiration this year. Check out the slide show below for some spring time outfit inspiration:

What’s your favorite way to use what you’ve got to transition into Spring styles?

Share your ideas for spring time outfits below!

xoxo