12 Winter to Spring Transition Outfits
I don’t want to get too ahead of myself, but we are nearing the end of February and things are starting to feel a little more like spring around here. (I say this as I see snow in the forecast next week—ha! Winter’s not quite done in Idaho.) It’s not quite time to fully transition your closet for the warmer months, but there are a few ways you can bring spring into your winter outfits!
If you’re looking for styling tips for your winter to spring transition outfits, you’ve come to the right place! I rounded up 12 of my favorite winter to spring transition outfits from the past few years and shared tips for putting together transitional outfits you’ll LOVE. And yes, some of these outfits may not be entirely in style at the moment, but you can always make tweaks and substitute the older styles for current styles!
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12 Winter to Spring Transition Outfits
1. Wear a bright puffer coat
If you happen to own a brightly-colored puffer coat, the end of winter/beginning of spring is the perfect time to break it out! This is the time of year I feel a sort of “rebirth”—the sun is a bit higher in the sky, it’s setting later, the temperatures are getting warmer, and I just feel rejuvenated and excited about spring and color!
2. Wear winter items in spring colors
Speaking of color, one of the best ways you can welcome spring while it’s still winter is to wear winter pieces (sweaters, pants, boots, hats, etc.) in spring colors. Here, I’m wearing a pink chenille sweater with boyfriend jeans and olive green ankle boots. It’s still cozy for a chilly winter day but the colors are a nod to spring!
3. Make your cardigan a coat
Few things are better than when it’s warm enough to not need a coat! I love keeping the winter energy and wearing a chunky knit cardigan as a coat to complete my outfit. This is one of my favorite outfits; the creamy ivory, stark black, and cognac brown color combination has been a go-to of mine for years.
4. Light-colored layers
I love a good borrowed-from-the-boys outfit, and this one is perfect for the winter to spring transition. Layer a wool coat over a cream sweatshirt, add loose jeans, and finish the look with white sneakers and a baseball cap. Easy, warm enough for the 50-degree days, and stylish without trying too hard.
5. Transitional flannel
A flannel shirt is a perfect transitional piece. I love how soft they are, but I usually reach for sweaters and fleece in the winter because I’m perpetually cold. When it warms up a little bit, I like to pull out a flannel shirt, and a light colored flannel shirt like this one is exactly what I reach for in a winter to spring outfit.
6. Wool coat over a spring outfit
Put together a cozy spring base outfit with a cream sweater and light pink jeans and finish it off with a wool coat and ankle boots. This outfit is the perfect mix between the two seasons; the colors make you think of spring, and the coat and sweater are what you’d wear most often in the winter months. I also really love the color contrast between the cream/light pink/tan base and navy coat!
7. Swap boots for flats
Here’s another variation of the pink, cream, and light brown color combination that I gravitate towards for spring! Instead of wearing a pair of boots, as the temperatures warm, swap them for a pair of flats. Throw on a cozy cashmere cardigan to ward off the chilly evening temperatures. (And swap the skinny jeans for an updated silhouette if that’s more your style!)
8. Swap a wool coat for a trench coat
Similar to the outfit above, when the temperatures warm, you can ditch the wool coat and top off your spring outfit with something more lightweight like a trench coat. Keep the light color palette going with a pair of white jeans; they’re a classic you can wear all year round and especially in your winter to spring outfits!
9. Break out a dress or skirt
The winter to spring transitional time is the perfect time to break out a shirt dress! If it’s still chilly out, layer tights underneath, and you can complete your outfit with a matching waist belt and ankle boots. I don’t wear a lot of skirts or dresses in the winter, so it’s fun to break them out again once the weather warms up again!
10. creamy winter whites
Winter whites are a classic, and they’re especially fun to wear as we near the end of winter and start of spring! Mix your whites for the perfect “stick of butter” monochrome look and complete your outfit with a neutral pair of flats. Any winter outfit with a light color palette like this will get you in a spring state of mind.
11. Bright sweater and flats
The happy winter to spring sweater makes another appearance in this simple outfit. Truly, some of the best purchases you can make are of clothes that simply make you happy when you wear them! A bright sweater is exactly the serotonin boost I need in the grey, often rainy days that come with late winter/early spring.
12. Lighten up your workwear
I tend to wear a lot of dark colors in the winter months; are you the same? This casual workwear outfit is a good mix of winter and spring: the black pants and chocolate brown boots read winter, while the stripe tee and camel sweater blazer bring in the lightness of spring! Try playing with the contrast of your work outfits and adding a couple of pieces to brighten them up.