As we head into April, you may be wondering: What does one wear when it’s cold in the morning, warm by midday, and back to chilly in the evening? Winter coats can be overkill, but lighter jackets alone may not cut it. While many find dressing for the weather challenging going from April to May, it can also be a very creative time, style-wise. When navigating this in-between weather period, it’s important to have a solid foundation of wardrobe essentials, like notable knitwear, versatile outwear, and layer-able basics like tights, leggings, and camisoles. Here are a few outfit ideas for the transition from winter to spring.
Probably the most important item for a transitional outfit formula starts with outerwear. A classic staple, the trench coat is an easy go-to regardless of the forecast. I tend to favor a more preppy take when wearing a trench as it can easily top off an outfit of a black midi-skirt, light-blue oxford button-up, and a beige cable knit sweater. With April showers in mind for footwear, I’d recommend a waterproof Chelsea or knee-high boots layered with leggings, tights, or knee-high socks, depending on low and high temps for the day. For a casual take on the trench, go with an oversized tee, jeans, and a hoodie. Finish the look with standard rain boots or sneakers and a baseball hat. For either outfit, when it is hotter in the afternoon, shed the sweater or hoodie and drape them over the shoulders of the trench. You can then re-don the mid-layers in the evening as the temperature dips.
An unexpected option for transitional dressing is a boxy biker jacket; vintage is preferable. I love this with a sweater dress, tights, and heels for the evenings. For day, pair it with a contrasting outfit of trousers, a blouse, and a cardigan. If biker is not in your style wheelhouse, consider an aviator jacket as an alternative. Either option gives any simple tee-shirt and jeans outfit a bit of edge. I also like the idea of matching jewelry to the hardware of the jacket for a cohesive look.
A perennial favorite, the plaid shacket brings a bit of coziness into transitional outfits. We often think of autumn as the comfy-cozy season, but early spring offers just as many opportunities as fall to pull out sweaters, fleeces, and wooly socks. You can top off an outfit of fleece leggings, turtleneck, shift dress, and boots with a plaid shacket to bring warmth to some workwear. Or throw a shacket over a pair of joggers, a striped sweater, and sneakers for the weekend.
I can’t highlight shackets without talking about sweater coats, aka coatigans. Coatigans can come in various silhouettes and lengths. There are cable-knit versions with buckle closures and cowl necks or blazer-like options with lapels and pockets. I prefer a longer-length duster-style coatigan with buttons and pockets. For any coatigan silhouette, you can pair it with a Henley-style shirt tucked into a high-waisted trouser and loafers. Or embrace the spring, layering it over a floral, high-neck blouse, white jeans, and a metallic shoe.
Lastly, the jean jacket. Denim jackets are handy to pair with other outerwear for an extra layer that not only provides warmth but also contrasting texture to an outfit. For days when the lows are freezing or below, you can pull a fitted jean jacket over a button-up and pants, then layer a trench or bomber jacket over it. Worn on its own, a classic jean jacket is a practical garment to have, and while it’s been disdained in the past, the “Canadian Tuxedo” of denim on denim is trending for spring. So, by all means, pair your jean jacket with standard jeans or a denim skirt. As the weather turns warmer, consider flipping the script on the casual jean jacket with a white version over a lacey cami, crochet top, trouser shorts, and flats for a more feminine and flirtier look to welcome the month of May.
Hopefully, some of these outfit ideas will help you combat this season’s erratic temperatures. Sure, we may get one more snowfall, so don’t put away your puffy coat and heavy boots just yet, but I think it’s safe to say goodbye to winter and hello to spring!
