It's that time of year. Mother Nature will be taking us on her erratic roller-coaster-weather journey. It will be hot one day and frigid the next. What to wear seems to take on an entirely new meaning this time of year. Spring makes it's debut next Friday. But what exactly does that mean? While we equate Spring with warm sunny days, green grass, buds bursting, and flowers blooming, in much of the country Spring doesn't really arrive until well into May and until then we're sort of in limbo. 

How does one dress when the early morning thermostat still reads 30 and yet, when the sun shines down on us brightly during the afternoon hours, we're all ready to take out our summer wardrobes? The key to dressing well this time of year so that we look appropriate and feel comfortable is simply by layering. Layers can be peeled off as the temperatures rise, and then put back on as they start to cool again. But there's more to it than that.

Almost anything goes. Gone are the rules that white cannot be worn until the end of May. Yet, a frilly, gauzy sundress certainly would not be appropriate (at least in the Northeast) until temperatures reach into the 70s in succession. And fur looks silly then. And long, down puffer coats worn with little sandals looks silly as well. But a trench coat, worn over a warm sweater with strappy sandals is perfectly acceptable - so long as there's no snow under foot. Right now, while the thermometer is erratic we can pull items from both summer and winter wardrobes. The key is to be appropriate. The key is to look appropriate.

While we are all ready to pack up our scarves, boots and heavy coats, to do so would be premature. Even though we've been enjoying temperatures well into the 50s, Mother Nature has been known to dump snow on us well into April in the past. And I wouldn't put it past her again. As much as we are eager to break out our sandals and pastels, we'll need to keep some cold weather items on hand, for a while longer. 

I believe in dressing for the weather as opposed to dressing for the season. And since the weather is a little bit winter and a little bit spring, that's how we'll dress. We will layer colors and textures and fabrics. If you've tucked your white jeans away for the winter, even though Memorial Day seems eons away, it's really ok to bring them out and put them on. Pair them with darker and more neutral colors so that they are worn appropriately. White jeans are seasonally perfect when paired with a dark colored jacket, sweater and boots. As the weather continues to warm replace the boots with pumps or flats. Or maybe you still prefer to wear darker colors, blacks, navy, grey. Liven up these dark tones with pops of bright and pastel. A white, beige or pastel coat will lighten up your wardrobe perfectly. Replace tights with leggings and show a little skin. Boots can still be worn with dresses with or without tights. The wonderful thing about fashion today is that almost anything goes and the rules are all meant to be bent.

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