Fashion month is in full swing, and style blogs and websites are awash with pictures of shivering fashion folk on the streets at New York fashion week. Officially, spring has landed. It might be tempting to get out your warm-weather finest and swish forth in florals, bare legs, perfect pedicure, but that way madness lies.
Still, winter has dragged on forever, you are tired of your cold-weather wardrobe and layering up has lost its appeal. You crave a fresh burst of something that reminds you of spring, but still provides the insulation you need.
Colour, texture and a smattering of prints are powerful ways of perking up a winter uniform and nudging it slowly into spring. A new season does not have to mean a complete closet overhaul: the key to mastering the winter-to-spring switch is to opt for the kinds of pieces that will not look out of place with cosier, chunkier items and can seamlessly slot into your current wardrobe. Here is a rundown of 10 spring multitasking pieces you can wear now and all season long.
Bright bag
Accessories are the most painless, and often inexpensive, way to change your look. From cobalt gym bags at Dior to zesty, yellow, oversized hobos at Marni, a splash of colour will perk up even your most sullen outfits and ignite your neutrals.
Silk scarf
Want to ward off a slight chill but a heavy wool scarf is out of the question? A pretty silk scarf draped around the neck not only
protects you from a cold snap but also signals the bookish-chic look of Gucci’s spring collection.
Sunglasses
Eyewear has evolved into a cutting- edge accessory. Sunnies of all incarnations were a feature on the catwalks, from logo-covered shades at Chanel to encrusted enamel daisies at Dolce & Gabbana, so add a statement pair to your accessory arsenal.
Bomber jacket
When it’s not quite coat weather but come evening a chill has set in, there is a solution: the bomber jacket. The athletic shape lends an edge to anything overly feminine. Go for luxurious fabrics, a striking print and a zip detail.
Little wonder it's the jacket of choice for designers Victoria Beckham, Versace and Elie Saab.
Floral print dress
If you have the urge to wear a pretty dress as soon as spring arrives but the thought of freezing all day makes it less appealing, there is a way. Keep the sleeves long, layer with a polo neck and invest in a black-based floral print that will work with opaques now and bare legs in summer.
Metallic shoes
A dash of silver, gold or bronze peps up dark and dreary skirts or trousers and will work just as well with summer shades later on in the season. The Carvela ones
here are a good all-year-rounder that will do for a summer wedding and for the office.
Cardigan
The humble knit has been somewhat shunned of late, with the sweatshirt and polo neck stealing the spotlight in seasons past. But the throwback staple is in the midst of a renaissance, as Saint Laurent makes the cardigan cool again. Wear over a slip dress for instant now (and cosy) factor.
Pink trousers
From palest blush to dusty hues, the sugary shade has been heralded as the colour of the year by Pantone.
It might be too chilly for shorter skirts or shorts, but it is nice to show a little ankle after months of winter, so stick to no-nonsense tailored trousers and team with dove grey to stop the saccharine shade looking too sickly.
Bold stripe
Give a little twist on the classic Breton with a bright and bold stripe and a lightweight spring knit. This is the ultimate wardrobe workhorse, which works just as well with jeans and flats, as with an office-ready pencil skirt.
Shirt dress
The shirt dress with its one-size-fits-all, feminine-meets-tomboy charm, is a perennial spring classic, and for good reason too. Button it up to peek out of jumpers or belt it and layer it over trousers on chillier spring days.
