5 Transitional Tips for Dressing Springy (Yet Warm!)

Sweater: Madewell Wearing XS, Runs TTS–I also love this mock-neck sweater in the same pretty blush color! Shop more Madewell here–I love buying it on Shopbop bc super fast free shipping! ??) If you love the faux wrap style but want a different color, this version is so pretty and a great price–it comes in grey, oatmeal, and a pretty orangey-brown spice color! This Topshop version is similar and a cashmere blend for extra softness! White jeans: Madewell (I FINALLY FOUND AMAZING NON SEE THROUGH WHITE JEANS! HUZZAH! Run TTS!) Oxfords: c/o Everlane (come in so many colors! Run small and narrow!) Scarf: Madewell–they have so many cute ones, I’m rounding up more favorites below! Trench: London Fog (runs a big large, wearing XS)–it’s one of my favorite purchases ever! The removable liner makes it extra warm, and I love that the hood is detachable. (They also have a single-breasted version, it’s on sale!) LOFT also has the cutest trench right now as well as Abercrombie! Lipstick: RMS beauty’s “RMS red“–one of my favorite brands for lipstick! They’re an awesome clean beauty brand and their lipstick is the perfect mix of matte and non-drying, too!

Happy Thursday! (But isn’t it great that it only feels like Wednesday?!)

Guess what I’m doing today? I’m getting acupuncture for the first time! ? I’m really excited–Leah, my skincare guru (mention my name and get 20% off your first service!) introduced me to Suzie, who does acupuncture out of her medical spa. Suzie specializes in Japanese Facial Rejuvenation, which from what I understand is some type of anti-aging acupuncture that reverses fine lines and signs of aging. She’s also doing some facial mapping to help me figure out why I keep breaking out on the right side of my face. VERY INTRIGUED. Will report back.

Anyway, another thing I’m excited about–sharing these photos from our trip to Dallas today! My friend Ali from high school lives there (and also has an adorable blog that you need to follow called A Dash of Details!) and we grabbed lunch at Bird Bakery last Wednesday and it was SO. CUTE. It was also such beautiful springy weather (you know, sunny, warm, but chilly enough to where you still need a sweater?) We sat outside on their patio and split sandwiches and bowls of their amazing tomato soup–it was heaven!

We’re also in for more of that “sunny and springy but not exactly warm” weather in Chicago later this week and next (YES! Anything-but-puffer weather, I will take!) I am absolutely desperate for any bit of warmth I can get this time of year, so you can say I’m an expert at this whole in-between-winter-and-spring-weather, thing ? If you’re looking for some inspiration in this, “what the heck do I wear?” time of year, read on my for my tips!

The perfect white jeans:

My favorite trick for when my wardrobe is feeling a bit “bleh” is to simply swap out my current dark skinny jeans for white ones! No matter what you pair them with, they really do go a long way in “brightening up” your outfit. (Seriously, even with a BLACK sweater, it feels like you’re wearing a bit of sunshine!)

I searched high and low for WEEKS with no luck–Abercrombie’s white jeans were see through with FAKE pockets. (Who wants fake pockets?!) then I tried Citizen of Humanity’s (another brand I love) but they were just frumpy, ill-fitting, and again–see through! Why can you always see the pockets of white jeans? It makes no sense.

Well, I finally turned to you guys on Instagram stories (WHY didn’t I ask you to begin with?) and so many of you told me that Madewell’s white jeans were the real deal. (J.Crew’s were a close second!)

Let me tell you, you guys were RIGHT. I absolutely adore these jeans! They’re high-waisted, not remotely see through, and while this sounds impossible for white jeans–they’re actually insanely flattering! I love that they aren’t too thin but aren’t too thick, they’ve got a bit of stretch so they hug all the right curves–really, they’re just that good. And if you’ve been looking for a pair for awhile, you need to bite the bullet and get these ones!

A light sweater in a springy hue:

As soon as I saw this pretty sweater online, I knew it had to be mine! I’ve been loving the faux-wrap trend I’ve been seeing lately. I think it’s really flattering (a v-neck is the most flattering neckline for virtually every woman of any bust-size– it elongates the neck and draws your eye down to define the waist!) and I think a sweater with a deep V is a lot easier to dress up because it can be made a little bit sexy! (But don’t worry, it’s not TOO low to where you couldn’t wear it to work!) My favorite part about it though, is the color–it’s colorful but not insanely bright. It’s in between a bright coral and a pastel coral, and felt perfect to wear this time of year whenever I needed a pick-me-up!

Close-toed shoes in a lighter tone: 

You guys know how much I love Everlane, and I’ve gotten a lot of wear out of these oxfords for a couple years now! I love that they’re a lighter color, which really goes a long way to just brighten up any outfit you pair them with. I always associated dark with winter and light with spring, so even just a simple swap from dark to light footwear can make a difference in your outfit!

Invest in a great trench:

I first purchased my trench coat before my trip to London last year, and I have gotten SO much wear out of it for every season! It’s so classic, so classy, and is not only beautiful but also super functional–it’s water resistant, has a removable liner (that adds quite a bit of warmth) as well as a removable hood! Sizing: Runs big, size down. Wearing XS.

Accessorize with new colors:

In the winter, I’m always drawn to black, cream, and camel. Those are my winter colors, and it’s very apparent when you look at my accessories. But right around this time, I really crave a bit of color and I’m dying to bust out my spring clothing (even when it’s too cold to actually wear anything other than sweaters and long pants ?) I find that a happy medium is to turn to some colorful accessories–in this case, it was a new bandana with a fun pop of orange, and a bright orangey-red lipstick!

Do you have any transitional dressing tricks? I’d love to hear them!