Spring dressing has been a challenge for me in the past, but I’ve finally broken the code. Now that I’ve lived in Ohio for almost seven years, I’ve finally come to understand that spring is a transition season and I shouldn’t be surprised when it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit one day (as it was yesterday) and back in the 40s the next (as it is today). So I’ve stocked my spring wardrobe with pieces that layer easily, as well as a variety of items that suit colder days and warmer ones. You’ll see a little bit of all of that in how I really dressed for my day this week.
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Truly, even when I lived in hot and humid states, like Georgia and Texas, as well as sunny-all-the-time Arizona, I experienced the frustration of fluctuating temperatures in spring. Rather than embrace the transitional nature of the season, I would complain and fight against it, digging into storage to find something warm to wear on those rare but predictable colder days. Now I have a spring wardrobe that works with the daily ups and downs in temperature and I’ve learned to put together outfits that allow me to layer on and off while still looking stylish and feeling seasonal. Let’s see how I accomplished that this week.
What I Wore Last Friday
Last Friday I worked from home, so I wanted to feel seasonably stylish, but also comfortable. I wore a favorite pair of jeans with an easy but beautifully colored top. This is one of those classic spring pairings that reminds me that style doesn’t have to be complicated.
I completed the look with sand colored suede loafers from J.McLaughlin that I purchased in the fall. Suede continues to be so on trend for spring and even into summer. Mine are no longer available, but these and these are very similar. You’ll see that I leaned into these shoes a lot this week.
Spring Wardrobe Tip: Make sure you have a couple of closed toe options for everyday wear besides sneakers. Most days it is too early for sandals. Loafers, ballet flats and Mary Janes are great options.
What I Wore for a Day at Home Saturday
I took Saturday off from work. Well duh. Except I rarely do. I’m working on that, trying to be more diligent about getting loose ends tied up on Friday so I can really relax and do other things on the weekend. Anyhow, I spent most of this day actually putting away my winter clothes, sorting through items from both seasons and then restocking my wardrobe with spring things. It was a full-day job.
Again, comfort was the goal. But I also wanted to look seasonal. Things are greening up here beautifully and flowers are blooming. So I chose to put on a pair of linen pants from a previous year with a favorite cotton crewneck fisherman sweater. I thought my suede Mary Jane flats completed the outfit nicely.
Spring Wardrobe Tip: Stock your spring closet with at least a couple of cotton sweaters. These make great layering pieces or you can wear them alone. They don’t add a lot of heat, but they’ll keep you warm on cooler days.
How I Dressed for Church Sunday
Sunday I taught the children’s Bible study, so I wanted to be comfortable but also polished. It was another beautiful day so I wore cropped length dark wash jeans with my tweed lady jacket. But this time I wanted to try a different color underneath that what I’d done before (see this blog post).
So I wore a lavender sweater tee (30% off with code FAMLOVE) under the jacket, playing on the various shades of blue in the jacket. I thought it worked beautifully. I struggled a bit with the shoes, but eventually landed on my faithful Ally pointy toe flats. But when I added a tote in the same color as the shoes, the outfit looked off. So I opted for my red crossbody, pulling out the little bit of red in the jacket. This combination looked balanced and interesting to me. You can use code KAYFLATS at Ally for 10% off your first pair of Ally flats.
Spring Wardrobe Tip: Spring is a beautiful time to complete your outfits with interesting jackets that add a little warmth as well as style. The trick is to make sure that any jacket you add to your wardrobe can be worn multiple ways. See this blog post for more.
What I Wore Monday
Monday was a normal work from home day. It was cool but I wasn’t going anywhere, so I put on my lightweight Varley wide leg pants in taupe stone. I think they’re super comfortable but also really polished.
I kept things simple here and wore a ribbed white t-shirt under a zip front cardigan. But I felt like that splash of color helped me to feel and look cheerful and more energetic. The cardigan does come in other colors and it runs true to size; I’m wearing a medium. However, I wear a large in their pants per their size chart, which lists a Large as a size 10.
Spring Wardrobe Tip: Modern cardigans are another on trend layering piece for spring. This year lean into those with interesting knits, zippers, collars and oversized silhouettes.
How I Dressed for My Day Tuesday
On Tuesday I wore some favorite white jeans with a different cotton sweater. It looks very similar to the Jenni Kayne one I wore on Saturday, but it’s from a new-to-me brand, Mersea. Have you ever ordered from Mersea? I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have. They were kind to gift me this sweater, and I do love it. It’s definitely a little more over-sized (I’m wearing the size S/M, so this is as small as it gets), but the quality is really nice.
I also added some pretty jewelry on this day. This Lulu wrap necklace is just stunning, and I’m so excited to add it to my spring and summer outfits especially. It and the Jinja bracelet stack are from Noonday, “a people first lifestyle brand that collaborates with artisans in underserved communities to create {their} selection of soulful goods one handcrafted piece at a time.” I love that. And they’ve given my community, YOU, a coupon code for savings. Use code KAY10 for 10% off at Noonday. You’ll also get free shipping on order of $100+. Learn more about the mission behind this brand here.
Spring Wardrobe Tip: Now is a great time to add white or ecru denim to your closet. But be prepared to wear it with chunky cotton sweaters and cashmere as you transition from cold days to warmer ones.
What I Wore for a Casual Coffee Date
Thursday I actually left the house. Yay! I met a young woman for coffee at a local coffee shop, but I had to dart out of the house really fast, not having time to give much thought to my outfit. That made me grateful that I have some dependable standbys that always work.
Since the meet-up was indeed very casual (she was wearing a sweatshirt and a baseball cap), I felt good about leaving my cotton shirt untucked over my modern straight leg jeans. It was chilly outside that morning, so I popped on my cropped trench jacket.
Spring Wardrobe Tip: A trench coat of any type will instantly add a little polish and structure to any spring outfit.
How I Dressed for “YouTube Research” on Thursday
Thursday the temperatures soared back up and the sun shone bright. I was caught up on work, so I decided to get out for a little YouTube research, aka shopping. Truly, shopping is definitely not the hobby it once was. It’s work. But I do still enjoy it very much.
I barely wore the linen jacket at all, but I wanted to have it in case air conditioning warranted it. I wore some slate blue linen blend pants that have an elasticized waist and no drawstring. They’re a smart choice for work because they’re very on trend, but the absence of the tie makes them a little more polished. Plus that fabric is truly luxe. Unfortunately the top is not yet available, but you’ll find similar options here. And they and the pants are 40% off right now.
Thanks so much for dropping in today. I hope you have a fabulous weekend!
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Blessed for My Day
Truly, there are actually many benefits to being a little older. Sure you have your senior discounts, retirement and grandkids. Those are some sweet blessings indeed. But one of the most enduring blessings of older age is a little perspective. We always say that hindsight is 20/20, right? Well we have a lot of hindsight. LOL!
But for real, we have the opportunity to look back and see how God has walked us through good times and hard ones, prosperous days and leaner seasons, victories and heartbreaks. And through all of those days, if we look closely and open our eyes a bit, we can indeed see the fingerprints of a faithful and generous God. Let’s be sure to share that perspective with those who are younger than us and don’t yet have that benefit.
I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.
All day long he is gracious and lends,
And his descendants are a blessing. ~ Psalm 37:25-26
Hi Kay! I love your tips and insights! I also am blessed how you share your faith and spiritual growth. I am curious about how you budget for your wardrobe and accessories. I know you get some freebies, which is awesome! How does your budget work to factor in all the purchased items? Any insights you have would be greatly appreciated! Blessings to YOU!!
This is a very timely post for me! I am planning for a trip to the Netherlands in early June. All the on-line packing advice says to bring layers suitable for changeable weather. “How to dress in layers” would be a great topic for a video Kay. I thought all your outfits looked lovely.
Thank you Kay Your advice and suggestions are a blessing!
Such smart tips. I have heard that linen blends can actually compromise the linen over time if the other fabric doesn’t have the same characteristics as linen. Can you clear this up for me?
Anytime you blend fibers there is a give and take. When you blend linen with polyester you get a fabric that is less prone to wrinkle but more prone to stains setting in and less breathable. With other blends you can run into things like itchy fabric, difficulty with cleaning, different structure or drape and less breathability. A lot of women like a blend for the “less wrinkles” feature but I personally don’t mind the wrinkles and do prefer 100% linen or a blend of linen and another natural fiber like silk.
Love the message. I enjoy seeing all your outfits. I live in Texas and weather can turn cold one day and next day it is hot. I’m wearing my jeans and layering with cotton sweaters. I have my linen pieces ready but probably won’t be wearing them until it stays hot.