the best best: transitional weather essentials

Weather or not, my wardrobe is ready for spring.

March kicks off one of my favorite seasons of the year. Yes, spring is officially right around the corner, but more importantly, it’s trench coat season, and I couldn’t be happier. This season, or rather this small, treasured window of time, only comes but twice a year. And while a trench coat may seem like just another core staple, this piece has the ability to elevate any look. Checking all the boxes on my favorite outfit adjectives—chic, effortless, classic.

The transition from winter to spring is truly unmatched. And while I love the transition from summer to fall just as much as the next person, nothing beats shedding your heavy coat after a long winter. It’s energizing—igniting some of the best outfitting we see all year. It’s the time to mix up seasonal staples, engage in creative layering, and incorporate new color palettes. We’re pulling out dormant accessories, tapping into our full range of footwear, and checking the weather incessantly. Because no one wants to be over or under-dressed for the daily forecast!

I know that you’re thinking, this sounds like a grand ol’ plan, but where to begin? Well, spring will sadly not arrive overnight, and the weather will bounce from warm to freezing more times than we’d like—did that kind of rhyme? But no matter how abruptly the weather pendulum may swing, you can ease into spring by making a few simple adjustments. Ultimately, you want to start to lightening up every look! This applies to fabrication and color palette. The goal is to strike a balance between your winter wear and seasonless staples. Adding more color and beginning to show a little more skin—I’m talking about necks and ankles!

Beyond the beloved trench coat, I’ve recapped the best best transitional weather essentials to effortlessly bridge your wardrobe from winter to spring. A little wardrobe re-org/refresh is just what we need to get through the final days of winter and hopefully will the warmer weather we’re all craving. And while we still have some frigid days ahead, know that I’ll be incorporating a trench into my look whenever possible—and you should too!

Xx, my best best!

1. Trade your winter coat for a trench (& other light outerwear).

It’s time to lighten up your outerwear! Beyond the trench, these are the jackets/frabrications to work into your outfits—perfect for layering up on those lingering chilly days.

1. Massimo Dutti Sailor Collar Trench

2. Quince 100% Leather Oversized Bomber Jacket

3. Massimo Dutti Cotton Jacket

4. Rue Sophie Provenance Oversized Jacket—the olive is also really great!

5. & Other Stories A-line Funnel-Neck Jacket

6. J.Crew Rain-or-shine trench—I love love the shine on this jacket! A great option if you already have a khaki trench in your wardrobe to add a little variety!

7. Massimo Dutti Trench Coat

8. nobody’s child Black Gingham Reversible Quilted Jacket

9. Rouje DENNIS trench coat

10. Everlane The Long Denim Barrel Jacket

11. Kule The Albie

2. Incorporate lighter wash denim.

Incorporating your lighter denim is the easiest way for your outfit to go from winter to spring. When grabbing for your lighter washes, focus on baggier, relaxed fits, as well as vintage silhouettes for an effortless vibe.

1. Madewell Low-Slung Baggy Jean

2. LNA Lennon Pants

3. AGOLDE Low-Slung Baggy Jean—one of my most beloved pairs of denim!

4. STILL HERE Cool Jeans

5. Levi’s 501 90s Jeans

6. Just Black Denim The Relaxed Straight Leg Jean

7. Pistola Cassie Super High Rise—latest denim addition to my wardrobe, and I am obsessed. Have already worn them more times than I’d like to admit. Great price point, too!

8. Zara High-Waisted Mom Fit Jeans

9. J.Crew Camp-pocket wide-leg jean

10. Reformation Cary High Rise Slouchy Wide Leg Jeans

11. BODEN High Rise Wide Leg Jeans

12. Levi’s Wedgie Bootcut Women's Jeans

13. STILL HERE Childhood Jeans

3. Layer with a light sweater or cardigan.

It’s almost time to stash the turtlenecks, but light sweaters and cardigans are here to stay. The perfect piece for layering, pair wool knits with cotton jackets for the right balance of warmth and breathability.

1. Sezane Gaspard Cardigan—one of my mot worn pieces, period!

2. Everlane The Knit Boatneck Top

3. DONNI V-Neck Sweater—if this isn’t in your price point Gap makes great cotton sweaters as well. I have this one!

4. Apiece Apart Drippy Tissue Cardigan

5. Almina Concept Classic Crew Cardigan

6. ALEX MILL Nico Cardigan—because apparently I am incapable of not trying to push this sweater on everyone I know. I love it so much! Great quality and price point, and it's one of my go-to pieces for travel.

7. KULE The Farley Knit Polo—I am obsessed with the green, but this layered look is taking right back to high school in the best way!

8. VRG GRL Mason Knit Top—this is giving C&C layered tees from the 2000s in the best way.

9. J.Crew Featherweight Cashmere Cardigan & Shell

10. Zara Linen V-neck knit sweater

11. Soeur Dua Pullover—this is the perfect balance of sexy and chic!

4. Add a pop of pastel.

Sometimes, a pop of the right color is all you need. Pastels are going to have a moment this spring. Think baby blue, butter yellow, mint green, and lilac.

1. Birkenstock Boston Clogs

2. The Line by K Smythson Top

3. Argent Single Pleat Trousers

4. Burberry Long Lightweight Trench Coat—transparently, this is not within my spending budget at the moment, but I hope it’s within yours. So chic!

5. DONNI The Simple Silky Pant—also love in Ballerina!

6. Massimo Dutti Raglan Sleeve Trench—yes I had to sneak one more trench here!!

7. Mango Satin lyocell shirt

8. Reformation Veda Celine Jacket—this coat looks like butter, and all Veda leather jackets feel like butter!

9. DÔEN Henri Top—this top was everywhere last summer (& possibly the summer before!?) but the pale pink is everything to me!

10. Reformation Dusk Knit Top

11. American Vintage Vitow Cardigan

12. Comme Si The Yves Sock

13. Undo No. 4 Claw Clip

14. Reformation Eli Oversized Shirt—as you know my obsession for button downs runs deep, and I love love LOVE this stripe.

5. Mix up your bottoms.

Lean into the full range of non-denim bottoms, as well as silhouettes that have been tucked away during these winter months. Dust off your silks, knits, and cropped trousers. Time to expose those ankles again!

1. J.Crew Patch-pocket No.3 Pencil skirt

2. Rue Shopie Donette Cropped Pant

3. Comme Si Silk Bias Pant

4. H&M Straight Twill Pants

5. LESET Kyoto Carpenter Pant

6. VRG GRL Rue Pants Snake

7. ALIGNE Ned Check Barrel Leg Trouser—there are so many checks and gingham in my future for spring/summer!

8. Argent Straight Leg Trouser—everyone needs these in their wardrobe!!

9. Banana Republic Pintuck Taffeta Midi Skirt

10. Free People Buckle Back Trousers

11. Zara Pants with Side Stripe—another option would be to lean into the Adidas track pant, but I love this option from Zara.

12. Massimo Dutti Box Pleat Skirt

13. Pêche Harlow Trouser

14. DONNI Rib Kick Flare—you will not regret adding these into your rotation. Can’t stress enough how much I love these and how versatile they are. Can truly be dressed up and down for many occasions!

6. Tap in some fresh accessories.

Pull out your spring and summer forward shoes, bags, and jewels; think color, woven leather, and acrylic! I know I’m ready to mix up the all-black shoe assortment I’ve lived in for the past few months. It’s also time for my boots to head to the cobbler for their annual refresh to ensure they stay in my wardrobe for many more winters.

1. Lizzie Fortunato Ridge Cuff

2. Mango Buckle leather shoes

3. STAUD Timmy Beaded Shoulder Bag

4. Madewell The Ruth Ballet Flat

5. Madewell Braided Belt

6. Seavees Acorn Trainer—this sneaker comes in so many great colors!

7. Notte Jewelry FRUTTA SEASIDE SOUVENIR NECKLACES

8. Anthropologie Square-Buckle Suede Belt

9. J.Crew Berkeley Bucket Bag

10. Madewell The Ophelia Slingback Flats—my obsession with green is really on display, but these look expensive, and I can’t wait to style them with cropped trousers/denim.

11. Rachel Comey Raindrop Earrings

12. DRAGON DIFFUSION Santa Croce Small Bag—my Dragon Diffusion tote is on my fav bags, I carry to work daily and get SO many compliments. If this isn’t in your price range at the moment, Madewell has a great dupe here!

13. COS Classic Leather Mule

14. Lizzie Fortunato Organic Hoops in Mocha

15. Pêche Ronan Loafer—PSA Pêche finally has size 39-41!!

16. ANNI LU Sardrine Bracelet

17. ÉLIOU Espiral Earrings

*BONUS Boat Shoe—not numbered!