Spring has well and truly sprung, with UK temperatures predicted to reach the mid-twenties by the middle of next week. And with that, our Winter fleeces, hats, gloves and snow boots are optimistically retired for another year, regardless of how long the unseasonably warm weather lasts.
Yep, whilst we realise that we’re prematurely manifesting the onset of Summer by banishing sleeves and layers until Autumn, our focus should perhaps instead be falling on those transition pieces which are perfect for heralding the shift into Spring. Personally, we love this time of year, with the lightening of outfits reflecting a brightening of mood.
Though this season is certainly looking a little different (we’re going to try and get through a whole article without mentioning the C word), there are several seasonal wardrobe mainstays which are sure to be back in fashion as March turns into April and beyond. With that in mind, here are 4 essential style staples for Spring 2021.
WHITE JEANS
“For a garment that can be ruined by one unguarded sit-down, they have proved virtually indestructible as a trend… a looser cut on the leg and a wide, high waistband into which you can tuck a crisp shirt have shifted white jeans into an elegant, grown-up place.”
Nicely put @Guardian, we couldn’t have put it better ourselves. Indeed, white jeans are a key Spring piece we come back to year after year, symbolic of a lightening of outfit and an uptick in mood, and ideal for days spent under the sun, in a park (on a rug, of course, unless you want a mucky bottom) or at the beach. With alfresco living set to be the only way to socialise in the coming weeks, expect to see white jeans everywhere.
COMFORTABLE SHIRT DRESSES
You just can’t beat a floral dress to truly herald the arrival of Spring; we all know this. However, another Spring dress staple that often gets overlooked is the shirt dress.
This season, according to Glamour, the shirt dress trend is coming out gunning for our sweats and we’re very much here for it. After months in loose and (admittedly) comfy clothes, the idea of putting on something more formal than loungewear feels odd. But the shirt dress seems to fit the transition brief in style; it’s still loose and flowing, but it still represents a definite departure from our pyjamas.
As the fashion experts at Glamour highlight “the shirtdress is an effortlessly cool wardrobe staple with tons of versatility and layering potential for transitioning between seasons”
ELEVATED KNITWEAR
We think that benching your joggers and comfortable sweaters for something just a little more formal is going to be a recurring theme here. The fashion experts at Harpers Baszzar agree, suggesting that it’s time to “Switch up your loungewear game with elevated knitwear that goes beyond dresses and plush joggers. A midi skirt gives the same polished feel you’d get from pencil styles for the office”.
Speaking of knitwear, finding the right thickness of jumpers is key in Spring, when temperatures are so unpredictable. The perfect balance, we think, is realised in a delicate though durable material.
We’re taking inspiration from Loro Piana’s collection this season. They specialise in the softest cashmeres and extrafine wool, as well as rare fabrics like Vicuña, and their collections are all about balance of different weights and materials.
It’s the idea of having different weights and materials which is key here – something that is essential for every Spring wardrobe and for us, cashmere is ideal for the season. Moreover, its ultra-soft feel isn’t such a shock to the system as some other fabrics, particularly after spending lockdown in ultra-comfortable lockdown loungewear for months on end.
The wonderful thing is that you can get cashmere in varying levels of thickness, ensuring that you’re the perfect temperature, whatever the weather. Moreover, when cared for correctly, a high quality cashmere jumper can last up to ten years – meaning that it can be a staple in your wardrobe for many Springs to come.
TRANSITION SHOES
We’ve all been there; as soon as we’ve decided it’s time to bring out our sandals for Spring, a bout of afternoon showers arrives and has us slipping around all over the place. And while we’re huge fans of white sneakers for Spring, which seem to pair effortlessly with those floral patterns and minimalist shirt dresses we previously mentioned, they do tend to get seriously dirty during Spring showers – especially the shoe laces. The answer to your transition-season shoe woes? Cute and comfortable loafers.
Right now, loafers are bang on-trend and pair effortlessly with a diverse range of outfits. As Glamour highlights “Having a similar resurgence are thicker soled styles that were the ultimate in cool during the mid-Nineties and fit with fashion’s current retro obsession.”
Remember, as the old fashion saying goes; ‘’boots are for Winter, shoes are for Summer and loafers are for everything in between.’’
And if you’re playing the long game and are keen for more seasonal fashion tips, then check out our article on 5 upcoming spring/summer styles to invest in now.