Apparently it’s spring. You know that season where the sun shines, the birds tweet, flowers bloom and animals procreate.
It’s a rather exciting time of the year, the smell of freshly cut grass is in the air and the racing season is just around the corner.
Unfortunately, here in Melbourne the beginning of spring has been frigidly cold and the only reason that I acknowledge the change of seasons is that my partner has begun his seasonal sneezing ritual.
Every morning, like clockwork, he sneezes about seven times in a row. And they’re not tiny inoffensive sneezes either, these are big, manly full bodied sneezes that just about blow me out of the bed.
Anyway, my partner’s nasal quirks aside, what I actually wanted to write about was how it can be difficult to figure out what to wear in spring.
We’re at that tricky time of the year when we’re making the transition from winter to summer and often the day will begin quite crisp and cold but by the afternoon it’s sunny and warm.
Now I don’t know about you, but personally I find this a bit challenging. I walk out the door in the mornings wearing a shirt, a jumper, a coat and a scarf, but by lunchtime, the sun is shining and I’m totally schvitsing. It’s rather frustrating.
I guess this is why magazines are always banging on about ‘transeasonal’ items of clothing. Yes, it sounds like a total wank, but I suppose those fashion editors have a point; it makes sense to wear layers of light-weight clothing that will keep you warm in the morning but are then easily shed for the warmer afternoon.
So, in light of my recent enlightenment, here are a few tips for spring dressing:
Show some leg… with skirts and dresses. If it’s too brisk to go bare-legged, then chuck on some leggings for extra warm. A cardigan will keep you cosy up top. Kookai always has a great range of dresses that are easily layered and will take you from spring right through to summer.
Lighten up… swap your heavy winter coat for a lighter jacket. A lightweight trench is a good option and will always keep you looking stylish. Or for a more current look try a cute fitted blazer in navy or white.
In-vest… yes, I’m talking about vests. When you think about it, they’re really quite nifty and they’re rather cute, and sometimes they even come with hoods.
Accessorise economically… enough with the giant woolly scarves and gloves. Embrace the lighter side of life with scarves made from silk and cotton, they’re light and flowy and a great way to inject some colour into your outfit. As an added bonus, they can still keep your neck warm.
Colour your world… yes I know colour won’t help regulate your temperature, but it will improve your mood and make you feel more summery. It’s the best way to say adios to winter and bonjour to a long, hot summer.