Who knew there was such a clinical term for dressing well in-between seasons? A trans-seasonal wardrobe can be a tricky thing to master for even the most discerning of dressers. However it is imperative in a country like Ireland where even in the height of so-called summer the weather turns chilly in an instant. We are now into that in-between season commonly known as Spring, where heavy winter clothes look and feel drab yet it’s far from T-shirt time. Let’s face it you’re probably still debating whether to ditch the tights. We decided for our inaugural blog post we would delve into the world of what to wear when it’s neither here nor there?
The key is, when in doubt, dress for the coming season and not for the season past. Think Spring with touches of cosy dressing and not the other way around! To help you along your way we have come up with 8 key pieces that are on-trend and functional for your perfect trans-seasonal wardrobe.
Pastel Biker Jacket
Pastel is a major trend for Spring/Summer 2014 as seen at the gorgeous Burberry SS2014 Show
The great thing about pastel as a trend is its versatility. It can be incorporated into any girl’s wardrobe by teaming it with any garment. In keeping with the trans-seasonal theme we recommend a spring-time take on the essential transitional piece, the leather jacket. Perfect for throwing on over a summery dress or with skinny jeans and a slouchy T-shirt, the Pastel Biker Jacket is a trans must have! This stunner is available in Zara stores now for €79.95 and we LOVE. Oasis and Needle and Thread also have great versions of this must-have.
Cigarette Pant
The cigarette pant is the perfect piece for easy no-fuss spring wear. You can throw these on with a crisp white shirt for work-wear, dress up with an ankle strap sandal for going out, or dress down with flats and a sweater for weekends. River Island have a great selection in both high and mid-waist styles, statement prints, florals and plain colours. Prices range from €45-€55.
The Zip Yard Top Tip - Trousers
Make sure the Cigarette Trouser fits perfectly and sits high on the waist; Also important is the length and the width of the hem. The trouser should end at the narrow point just above the ankle and be narrow against the leg without being tight and clingy. Call into The Zip Yard to make any trouser into a perfectly tailored spring cigarette pant.
Ankle Strap Sandal
The ankle-strap sandal is going strong with all high-street stores offering their version. It’s a perfect shoe to dress up the aforementioned cigarette pant or combining with a party dress. The best we have seen are in Zara, such as these perfect dressy flats at €39.95 and these silver super minimal sandals at €59.99. Cheaper but equally sassy styles are also available in Forever 21 and Penneys.
Crisp White Shirt
We can’t emphasise enough how staple a piece this is in ANY wardrobe! The perfect trans-seasonal piece, a crisp white shirt is your trusty spring time friend as it’s equally perfect alone or for layering under a sweater or leather jacket for cooler temperatures. It is and always will be a classic. French Connection has our favourite this season at €49.99, but any version will do, just make sure to it fits perfectly and please, replace it when it turns grey!
The Zip Yard Top Tip - Blouse
Do you find your blouse tends to gape at the bust? Or billows at the back with out any real shape? We can add snap fasteners, extra buttons and buttonholes or darts to add shape and definition.
Midi Length Skirt
The longer hemline is going nowhere! This is great for our trans-seasonal theme as its mid-calf length is perfect for mid-seasons. Marks and Spencer Limited Edition line has a gorgeous pleated Midi for €59 (nicely incorporating this season’s Pastel too!) In fact this style hangs even longer in length this season becoming more of a Tea Length skirt as worn beautifully by Jessica Alba at New York Fashion Week. We adore her minimal ankle strap sandals and cropped knitted sweater too bringing us nicely onto our next trans-seasonal trend, Spring Knitwear!
The Zip Yard Top Tip - Skirt
The fit of the Midi skirt has to be perfect to flaunt your assets. Make sure the waistline goes right up to the narrowest point of your waist and fits well and defines this point. Getting the hemline right is also key to flattering your shape. Go for a shorter length midi if you are not so tall; the hemline should hit at the narrow point of the leg just below the knee. If you are taller you can go for a longer line that hits mid-calf also.
Spring Knitwear
Knitwear was another major theme across the catwalks for spring featuring everything from neon, pastels, statement prints, and inventive cuts. Anything goes this season with knits. Think about even getting yours cropped like Jessica Alba to incorporate another huge trend, the Cropped Top. This is the perfect transitional piece as it is warm, breathable and perfect for layering in chillier weather.
Great high-street spring knitwear available at Acne, Jaeger, and Zara.
The Zip Yard Top Tip - Knitwear
Did you know we can also alter knitwear at The Zip Yard? Make your spring sweater neater, short sleeved, or even cropped.
Collarless Coat
This is the perfect layering piece that will serve you well starting right now! It will also take you from summer into autumn. It is after all, a functional piece, for cooler temperatures. Its streamlined collarless cut gives it a clean Spring look, and if you go for a bright or pastel shade, it will straddle the seasons even better. Olivia Palermo does Trans-Seasonal layering like a pro (but of course, darling), make like her with high street pieces from Miss Selfridge and Zara.
The Zip Yard Top Tip - Coats
Turn last year’s coat into this year’s collarless spring must have, especially if it’s in a gorgeous pastel tone. We can restyle dated coats for this spring by simply removing the collar, Easy!
The Backpack
The backpack is definitely the bag of the moment, featuring heavily across London and New York Fashion Weeks. This accessory is perfect for the run into spring as it is young, playful and functional; a structured serious handbag just feels too stuffy and serious this time of year. Check out Topshop and River Island for high street takes on the trend, if you are brave enough!
Trans-seasonal dressing doesn’t need to be difficult; just a few key layering pieces will bring you right through, hopefully our pieces will inspire you to bridge the gap between seasons effortlessly in your wardrobe.
