We are less than a month away from daylight savings time, which in my mind is the unofficial start of spring. Of course, we all know that spring takes its time to fully emerge, making winter seem never-ending in this part of the world. It can be a challenge to dress practically, yet stylishly, this time of the year. The key is to curate a collection of trustworthy and versatile pieces to mix and match through the next few months.

By trustworthy, I mean a functional go-to staple, like polished trousers. This workwear essential should be comfortable, not something skinny or cropped. A loose wool pair should have enough room so you can easily slide a pair of legging underneath for super cold days, but shouldn’t be too baggy to be mistaken for pajama pants. Even if you typically wear jeans, consider adding a wool blended pair of navy, black, or grey trousers to your transitional dressing wardrobe and bring a bit more sophistication to your style this season.

Another trustworthy, and often overlooked, garment is the blazer-coat hybrid. A blazer-coat is a well-tailored coat that’s cut like a blazer, but with a longer hem, usually mid-thigh, that can be worn on its own or with under-layers. For work, wear it with a cardigan, and your polished trousers. For the weekend, swap that sweater for a hoodie, and pants for jeans, or even joggers. I prefer a lightweight wool blazer-coat — aka “car coat,” but you can also find them in leather and polyblends.

If you’re not feeling like a tailored blazer-coat, consider an alternative hybrid piece — the coatigan. This is a heavy-knit cardigan, again with a mid-thigh hem, that can be worn with outerwear, or as outerwear depending on the weather. I like my coatigan to have a collar, pockets, and front closure, either buttons or zippers. Those with drapey, open-front silhouettes feel more like loungewear. Don’t get me wrong; I’m all for wearing comfy layers around the house in March and April, but, for leaving the house, I recommend a substantial knit that functions more like a jacket.

Now for the versatile side of the sartorial aisle. As briefly mentioned above, leggings are great for layering, both under pants and dresses during the winter. However, as the season transitions to warmer weather, consider wearing your patterned or color-block leggings on their own. An athletic pair can do double duty outside of the gym when worn with sweaters, button-downs, and your blazer-coat for a fashionable twist to your casual look. Also, try sporting your wintertime base layers on their own as the snow starts to melt. Fitted turtlenecks and thermal shirts can be worn solo as tops with jeans, or your looser workwear trousers from above.

The best jeans for the transitional season are looser fits in a sturdy denim. Stretchy jeans don’t hold up well in late-winter winds, and skinny jeans don’t provide enough room to layer tights underneath. Of course, it is easier to sport boots with skinnies; however, I’m a big fan of a cropped, high-waisted flare-legged jean. I know, that sounds a bit ridiculous, but hear me out. The wider leg gives you room to wear tights and knee socks. The cropped hem gives you space for snow/hiking boots, while the higher waist makes it easier to tuck in base layers, whether you wear them under additional shirts, or as a stand-alone top.

Speaking of boots, having versatile footwear for the transition from winter to spring is crucial to surviving this wet season in style. While it may be time to retire your heavy-duty snow boots as March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, you’ll probably still need a sturdy shoe to see you through until sandal season. I’m all about waterproof rain boots, particularly duck boots for weekends, and a sleek matte Chelsea-style boot for work. You could also go with the classic Wellingtons that hit mid-calf under your cropped jeans, or an UGG insulated wedge boot with either leggings or polished trousers.

Lastly, to finish off your transitional ensembles, try outerwear accessories. Scarves, knit caps, crossbody bags, or satchels can amp up your overall look here in the coming months. And with all of the winter sales going on right now, you can find a lot of great deals to round out your transitional season wardrobe.