I am not ready for florals. I am not shaving my ankles yet. But I am ready to stop dressing like I am fighting for my life against the wind.

This in between season always makes me question everything. One day it feels soft and hopeful and I start mentally planning patio outfits. The next day it is grey and aggressively Canadian and I am back in my heaviest coat wondering why I got ahead of myself.

Every year around this time, I feel the urge to “reset” my wardrobe. New season, new clothes, new version of me. But the truth is, I actually like my wardrobe. I just do not want it to feel like mid January anymore.

So instead of panic buying spring pieces I will barely wear before the temperature drops again, I have been restyling my winter staples in ways that feel lighter, softer, and slightly more optimistic. The pieces are the same. The energy is different.

The Cream Knit

All winter, my cream sweaters live with dark denim and heavy boots. It works. It is reliable. It is not exactly exciting.

Lately, I have been pairing that same sweater with light wash straight leg jeans or white denim, and the shift is immediate. The outfit feels brighter and more intentional without trying too hard. Sometimes I lean fully into a tonal look with cream on cream, which feels calm and elevated instead of layered for survival.

If something feels too wintery, I ask myself whether it is really the piece or just what I am pairing it with. Most of the time, it is the pairing.

The Black Coat

In theory, March feels like the time to pack away the black wool coat. In reality, that coat is still very much needed.

Instead of putting it in storage, I have been softening what I wear underneath it. Rather than defaulting to head to toe black, I am reaching for lighter bases and accessories. For example:

• Light denim instead of dark
• White or cream trousers
• A soft grey knit
• White sneakers instead of chunky boots
• A taupe or suede bag instead of black

Suddenly the coat feels structured and chic instead of dramatic and winter weary. It goes from “I have been in hibernation” to “I checked the weather and planned accordingly.”

Transitional Boots

I am not emotionally prepared to give up my boots. They carried me through snow, slush, and questionable sidewalks.

What I am giving up is styling them the exact same way.

Instead of thick jeans and oversized outerwear, I have been pairing my boots with midi skirts, lighter knit dresses, and even sheer tights. It keeps the warmth, because we are realistic here, but visually it feels lighter and more playful.

It is less “deep winter uniform” and more “spring is loading.”

Turtlenecks With a Personality

All winter, my turtlenecks operate independently. Jeans. Coat. Done.

Now I am layering them with more intention. Under a blazer. Under a slip dress. Under a slightly open button down. It feels styled instead of just practical.

There is something about giving a basic piece a second role that makes it feel new again. It reminds me that I do not need more clothes. I just need to use the ones I have a little differently.

The biggest realization for me is that transitional dressing is less about buying and more about balancing.

When I want my outfits to feel less winter, I focus on small shifts:

• Swap dark bases for lighter ones
• Mix structured winter pieces with softer fabrics
• Choose lighter shoes or accessories when possible
• Stop automatically reaching for the heaviest option in my closet

I am not dressing for summer yet. I am just dressing like winter is slowly loosening its grip.

Winter is not fully gone. The boots are staying. The coat is still working overtime. We are just styling them with better intentions.

Love, Laura