Fashion "hangxiety". It's like a bad fashion hangover and I'm suffering. I'm so bored with my winter clothes and experiencing low-level anxiety over what on earth to wear as I attempt to dress for that annoying in-between-season period. It's not helping that the weather is all over the place. One minute I'm ready to retire my winter coat and sweaters — I can barely even look at my black blazer— and the next I'm reaching for something to shield me from the April showers.
If you're also feeling the wardrobe malfunctioning effects of fashion "hangxiety", fashion experts come to the rescue to share the trans-seasonal style forecast and their top tips to master in-between season dressing.
There's a New Way To Layer
"Dressing between seasons is actually my favorite time of year because you can really show off your personal style with lots of layers. There's definitely a modern take on grunge and hippie right now, so many trends are a mix of hard and soft, masculine and feminine. The trick is to contrast, by pairing light with heavy," says Fashion Times fashion market director Sarah Meikle. "I love doing a heavier jacket or blazer over a pretty floral summer dress, or spring skirt. This season it's definitely all about skirts. I also love the idea of faux fur contrasted with a spring skirt and tall boots, or booties. This look is a little like what Chloe did for Fall 24. There were lots of delicate light lace dresses and tops with coats and capes draped over them and then accessorized with tall boots and boho-inspired leather bags. Miu Miu also showed lots of white looks with darker coats which looks super fresh. There were pretty white cotton skirts styled with oversized sweaters and low pointy black boots and white dresses with bare legs and faux fur coats, it was pretty cool."
A Trans-Seasonal Take on Pants
The no-pants trend is going strong in fashion and ticks the trans-seasonal dressing box — you don't actually wear no pants, it's all about hot pants or tight micro shorts — and you can take a tip from Sydney Sweeney and pair them with pantyhose and a long blazer. Or take another cue from Meikle and embrace long shorts and cropped pants. "I'm super into long shorts at the knee right now, they're kinda everywhere, along with pleated shorts. Or go for shorter shorts with a simple T-shirt and army anorak-type jacket and cute pico loafers in a classic shade like navy. Showing some skin like bare legs or arms in a nonchalant way is very cool. And again it's about pairing heavy with light — heavier wide pants with a sleeveless tank. Cropped pants worn with little thin socks and a sandal or high-heeled sandal to show a little ankle cleavage are also great for trans-seasonal dressing.
Transition from your Toes Up
"Transitioning into spring, for me, starts at my toes. I start swapping boots for heels and flats with no socks or tights," says fashion influencer Larissa Mills. "It's a process of shedding the heavier for the lighter but the silhouettes and general look of the outfits remain the same. Long wool coats become lighter bomber jackets and trench coats. Wool pants become twill, which then becomes linen. I also start to incorporate more color like a chartreuse slip dress with a sweatshirt and sneakers (no socks). Some go-to brands that always do transitional dressing well are Posse, The Frankie Shop, Sezane, The Denimist, and Ganni.
Embrace the New Elevated Take on Athleisure
The lines between workout gear and lounge wear continue to blur and while the athleisure trend is anything but new, "elevated athleisure" has emerged as a new twist on the sporty, comfy, take-you-anywhere trend. Even high-end fashion brands like Gucci, Loewe, and JW Anderson have created chic sports-inspired pieces where the humble tracksuit has become the star of the show. Making a case for sweatpants was J.Lo who was recently snapped wearing a matching cream tracksuit pant and sweater combo which she paired with casual AllBirds sneakers. She added an expensive cream fur and Birkin bag, but hey it is J.Lo. "Athleisure wear has become an integral part of the wardrobe, especially in the post-Covid world," says Samantha Brown, celebrity stylist and best-selling author of Dressing Up. "Adding versatile statement pieces like an Alo Yoga bomber, to your wardrobe is a great way to easily shift between the gym and jeans for lunch with the girls. A few other brands that have "elevated athleisure" down are Lululemon, Tory Sport, Staud, and of course Nike and Adidas.
Reframe Seasonal Classics
"I do try to encourage my clients to wear what they already have but give it a little update between seasons. Accessories are a great way to do this and I always advise amplifying a look with a cool belt," says Brown. Playing with proportions and adding an expected color can also bring a look "instantly into the now" says fashion consultant Rebecca Klein, one half of styling duo Beckie + Martina. "Introducing a brightly colored scarf elevates the look of a neutral-colored coat or blazer that had a lot of wear during the colder months. A scarf is also a beautiful addition to any spring outfit, as they aren't heavy, but it will keep you warm and are a perfect way to inject some color and print," says Klein. Another good idea is inspire your trans-seasonal style is to consider pieces from resort collections and brands whose DNA is in seasonless staples like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Pucci, Zimmermann, and Farm Rio.
Double Denim is Perfect Transeasonal Suiting
Denim on denim is one of this season's standout trends and the look has also been given a style upgrade courtesy of new twists on the Canadian Tuxedo (which Katie Holmes just rocked like a queen), western-inspired riffs, and plenty of 90s and Y2K inspired washes and silhouettes. Moving on from the "slim on slim" version, made famous by Britney Spears in the early 2000s, the Canadian Tuxedo looks great in sleeveless styles, wide-leg trousers, and contrasting washes. "Denim on denim is a very tailored look that is a nod to modern suiting. To dress it up tuck a chambray or denim shirt into a pair of wide-leg jeans and belt it. The look is ultra-chic and also work-appropriate, and you can mix medium and dark washes or try coordinating the entire outfit within the same color story to create a cohesive color palette, akin to a jumpsuit, " says Brown.
Update Your Accessories To White
Loafers are a classic and a great transitional shoe that works just as well with a winter outfit as they do paired with a spring dress or skirt. "Loafers are still having such a big moment in fashion and fit the bill for that kind of in-between weather because they look really cute styled with socks," says Brown. For a fresh twist this season, trade in your black or tan loafers for crisp white. "It's all about white shoes, bags, belts, and sunglasses for spring. I love an all-black outfit broken up with a white belt or bag and a white loafer or bootie is seriously cute and will instantly update any look."
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