What To Wear When You’re Freezing…But You Know, Fashion – Transitioning To Spring Style

So, this is karma’s way of kicking my butt for constantly slagging winter ALL THE TIME. While shopping for coats a couple of months ago, I only had one requirement: CUTE. I was sick of looking dumpy in my overstuffed parka. I wanted to swan around in the dead of winter actually looking like a fashion blogger as opposed to a person not suffering from hypothermia. Sigh – maybe spring style was clouding my judgment.

While cruising the Zaful site, I spotted a white, black and red wool coat that fit the “style bill”. I quickly ordered it as the price was right and a couple of weeks later, it arrived on my doorstep.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Coat – Zaful (sold out – similar here) | Black Knit Sweater – Shein | Boyfriend Jeans – Rag & Bone | Boots – L’Intervalle (similar here)| Watch – Daniel Wellington | Initial Necklace – The Righthand Gal

When I tried it on, I was saddened to see that it had bracelet-length sleeves. F*CK. Where am I going to wear this?? It’s frigid outside. I mean, I could throw on my long, black cashmere gloves to make up for the missing fabric and shield my poor forearms from flash-freezing in Ottawa.

Still, I was pissed. Long gloves just won’t cut it during the nuclear winter months of January, February and March. I frankly HATE this particular bracelet-length cut because I’m always cold. Bracelet sleeves should be left to J.Crew’s popular Tippi Sweaters and that is it. OK. Rant over. After calming down, I realized that this look would be perfect for transitioning to spring style. The coat was heavy enough for warmer winter days, and absolutely perfect for spring days that are mercifully right around the corner. Eitherway, I was still stumped by those devil sleeves.

I turned to my pal Alyssa for help styling this coat. Her eyes lit up when she saw it, which is understandable. Alyssa is Queen of Making Anything Look Good. She grabbed my arm, pushed up the sleeves even further to expose my chunky black sweater even more. Not one to simply stop there, she put her Emmanuelle Alt hat on and popped my collar and tucked one side of the sweater into my jeans. Not bad, not bad. I was looking more Parisienne by the second. Thanks, A!

Alyssa’s styling tips inspired this post and I thought it would be helpful to share my best tips for looking great while transitioning to spring style. Read on!

Spring Style Tips

1. Don’t buy a coat with bracelet-length sleeves if you live anywhere near the Arctic Circle. Got it? Good.
2. Wool coats are my favourite and for spring, there are so many pretty pastel shades to choose from. Now is the perfect time to lighten up the colours and the heavy materials.
3. Consider a trench coat with a removable lining. As the temperature rises, this is great option. Pay a little more for a quality trench coat that shields you from the rain and keeps you warm for years to come.
4. Layers!! While in Montreal, I saw a popular blogger (Eeeeee!) strolling around Vieux Montréal in a shearling moto jacket. It looked way too light for the sub-zero weather, but she was wearing a thick and cozy oatmeal sweater with a cowl-neck underneath. Under that was a little crewneck. The sweater matched her slouchy knit hat and in addition to all of this, her Chanel Boy Bag pulled everything together. #WinterGoals. With the spring days comes warm afternoons, so it’s easy to shed those layers throughout the day. A Michelin Man puffy coat? Not so much.
5. A great bag in a fun colour screams “Spring Is Here!!” Choose one in a fun, bright colour, and check out the ones with large fun, embroidered straps! Better yet, swing by a place that sells guitars and pick up a cool guitar strap to attach to your bag and voilà! You’re a handbag designer.
6. One word: scarves. Switch out the giant wooly blanket scarf for a fun one in silk, cotton or light cashmere. I couldn’t think of a better reason to visit Hermès right now.
7. Splurge on a show-stopper of a hat. I’m eyeing gorgeous wool hats in pastel colours by Janessa Leone. Fabulous.
8. Find something to replace your leather jacket like a great blazer. It’s lighter, not as heavy looking and looks really classic and pulled together. I’m loving a white blazer for spring, or a classic navy blazer with gold buttons.
9. Sunglasses. Finally! I can wear my awesome rose-gold RayBans with their matching reflective frames!! Perfect for the warmer weather!

What are your fave transitional weather styling tips? I’m always learning and you guys are the best teachers! Let me know in the comments!

*Thanks to Zaful for the coat in exchange for my honest opinion. Photography courtesy of Alyssa Beltempo.