Third Month, Third Pieces

Transitional seasons require transitional style

His Style

In with the new, out with the cold

“Hey, Bentley, how do I transition from winter clothes to spring clothes?”

I often get this question from clients I’ve worked with. Transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring can be difficult without the proper guidance — especially if you live in Nashville, where you could have all four seasons in one day. (God bless you, Lelan Statom!) Here are a few tips I use when helping my clients make their seasonal transition.

Layer up! Have you ever left the house in the morning wearing one thing, only to be sweating by lunchtime?

Temperatures tend to fluctuate in the spring. Layering — or having a third piece like a jacket or shirt-jacket — is a great way to combat the unpredictable spring weather. Having a top layer that you can pop on and off is essential, and no, your North Face jacket and Patagonia puffer vest do not count as a third piece! We’ll talk more about that next month.

Chino? Chin-yes! (I’m sorry.) An easy seasonal transition is trading out jeans for chinos. Denim is a heavier fabric — great for cooler months, but terrible in warmer weather. The lighter fabric of chinos is perfect for spring. Put a little cuff in them, show some ankle and you’re ready to go! Pro tip: If you need the denim look, navy chinos achieve the same look without adding heat. Let’s be real; there’s nothing worse than the feeling of sweaty blue jeans.

Boot the boots! Loafers and sneakers are the name of the game during spring; in terms of fabrics and uses, the versatility is endless. Bonus: They’ll look great with your cuffed chinos. Relieve your heavy winter boots of their duty with a salute. They’ve served you well.

Even though Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow in February, spring is right around the corner. Hang in there! If you still need help with your closet’s seasonal transition, reach out to a stylist. We’re here to help!

BY BENTLEY CALDWELL

Bentley Caldwell is a Nashville-based men’s personal stylist who helps guys up their style and confidence and take the guesswork out of dressing themselves. Have a fashion or styling question? Visit his website bentleycaldwellstyling.com or follow him on Instagram @bentleycaldwell

Her Style

Start spring on the right foot

I don’t want to speak too soon, but I’m predicting we only have about a month left of chilly temps before warmer weather comes a-knockin’. As a personal stylist, it’s a goal of mine to work one step ahead of the calendar so my clients feel well-prepped for the season to come. To achieve this, I really start to look at their spring itinerary in February and March.

It might feel a bit odd to start thinking about warmer temps before the Valentine’s Day chocolates have even had a chance to go … missing … but this approach to evaluating a wardrobe can help negate impulse purchases and stress-shopping when the season is in full swing. Of course, this is the kind of thinking we should apply to closets regardless of the time of year.

Living in the South seems to give us an advantage here, too, so let’s go through a few steps you can take to transition your wardrobe seamlessly into spring.

Keep it together! For the most part, especially in the South, we live in seasonal overlap — which brings opportunities for versatility across our wardrobes. I encourage you to think of your closet as one holistic arsenal of clothing instead of two entirely separate collections to be swapped out twice a year. Unless space requires you to swap your closet seasonally, which is a very common issue, most pieces can be styled for multiple seasons and live happily together in one space. I do, however, like to store hyperseasonal pieces — gloves, hats, bulky coats, etc. — out of sight or in a separate closet all together.

Find your footing. Shoes can be a limiting factor any time of year, but I find that people can get particularly stuck during these transitional periods. While it’s not quite pedicure season, we can start to let those ankles breathe a bit! Consider swapping out your booties for a backless slide or a loafer.

Add a third piece. A midi dress or a jumpsuit is a workhorse in any wardrobe. Rather than stowing industrious ensembles until summer, try layering them with a “third piece:” Any sort of lightweight jacket or topper that makes an outfit feel polished. Think of a chambray button-up or light-colored suede jacket — these would be a great way to merge seasons and maximize versatility!

BY CARSON LOVE

Carson Love is a wardrobe & personal stylist based in Nashville. Her main goal is to help clients present and feel like their best selves, so they are ready for whatever life brings them. Visit her website for more: carsonlove. com or her Instagram @carsonmlove