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Friday chatter: Does your style change with the seasons?
Yesterday was the first day of spring, and I welcomed it with open arms.
I’ve noticed that when spring starts to hit, I have a strong desire to make changes. Every day, I see dramatic changes taking place around me. The sun shines in the morning more and more, my walk to work is filled with flowering trees, and the little vegetable seeds I planted are starting to sprout.
Maybe this is what reminds me, after a monotonous winter, that transformation is always possible.
Not dramatic transformation, necessarily. I’m a pretty happy person and quite satisfied with my life overall. But suddenly I feel the need to decorate the house, clean out my cabinets, try a new form of exercise, buy or make all new lighter clothes.
I’m feeling it even more this year than usual. Maybe it’s because I feel like I’ve undergone a lot of personal change and growth in the last year. I feel like I’ve shed a lot of layers that were not serving me well, and I want to see that reflected around me too. Simplicity and light are the order of the day.
Do you feel a strong desire for change when the seasons start to turn?
[image above via my instagram]
Comments
sara
March 21, 2014 #
I feel more alive when Spring comes. I also feel like the way I dress in Spring and Summer is a better expression of my personality than the onion layers of winter. It’s funny, but I wonder if it has to do with what season you were born in. My daughter is a Winter baby and she prefers Winter dressing. I was born in July.
Stephanie
March 21, 2014 #
Yes definitely! I wardrobe rotate so the changing of the weather definitely heralds a change in wardrobe. Plus I tend to gravitate to darker colors and jewel tones in the fall winter and brighter bold colors in the spring and summer.
Helen
March 21, 2014 #
I can definitely relate to wanting to start dressing differently. Dark colours, boots and heavy fabrics suddenly feel wrong, when the mornings and evenings become lighter, and there is blosssom on the trees.
I wouldn’t say I am more inclined to want to spring clean, but the sun has a nasty habit of showing up the dirty windows and dust…
Diane @ Vintage Zest
March 21, 2014 #
Stephanie and I must have twin wardrobes! Of course, there are just certain colors and patterns that look strange during the colder months, so it naturally evolves with the weather. When else am I going to wear my favorite mint green lace top except during the spring? It doesn’t work during winter the for sure!
Spyderkl
March 21, 2014 #
I do have 2 different wardrobes, mostly due to our climate. It’s chilly with the possibility of snow in winter (and more than a possibility if we go up to the mountains), and hot and dry in summer. Winter is more my style, I think – lots of black, jewel tones and sweaters.
Sara Mayo
March 21, 2014 #
Yes. And that is why it can be hard to sew for the Spring before Spring actually gets here. You really need that change of seasons to properly inspire you and “get your sap flowing”. I’m looking for a Spring color palette right now. I found a winter one that really worked for me, but green/brown/cream/cranberry needs to be replaced with something more Springy – just waiting for inspiration to strike.
Emily
March 21, 2014 #
I definitely feel that desire for change at the change of the seasons. From winter to spring I feel the need to start things fresh – maybe a fresh perspective on a job, or in the past, fresh relationships. This year that “tug” feels kind of extreme – right now I’m rethinking all my career decisions and it’s a bit overwhelming!
Summer to fall, however, is kind of the opposite – I feel a “settling in,” a comfortable satisfaction with the opportunities in front of me.
And my wardrobe is definitely affected, too!!
Gwen
March 24, 2014 #
I like that! A “settling in”. How true about fall. When I watch the school autumnal scenes in “Hocus Pocus” that’s how I feel too.
Mady
March 21, 2014 #
It’s the same for me! When spring hits I find I’m in a need of changes. I’m really creative and new ideas are flowing, I try to eat cleaner,exercise more, I want to clean and redecorate my house and organise my wardrobe. For me is like waking up after a long sleep, which for me is winter. I appreciate winter for what it is, but spring and summer are the seasons I really feel alive, creative and energetic.
Shannon
March 21, 2014 #
I agree, especially this year! I am in my last year of high school, and I’m so excited to be almost done. Now that spring is here, it really feels like I’m near the end. I’m definitely ready for a change in my life!
My wardrobe, on the other hand, doesn’t really change that much in the spring. I live in a mild climate so I don’t really have the need for a heavy-duty winter wardrobe. It certainly changes in the summer, but not so much for spring, especially since my school stays more-or-less the same temperature all year round. I don’t like lots of bright colours or wild prints, so my spring and summer wardrobe is still pretty subdued – just a warmer-weather version of my winter style.
Sharon
March 21, 2014 #
It my be because I live in the North West of the UK but my wardrobe is similar all year round. Same base clothes with or without tights and a cardigan. I remember having distinct wardrobes as a child; my mother would put winter/summer clothes away. My taste in clothes is quite colourful whatever the weather.
Stephanie
March 21, 2014 #
Seattle is still chilly (happily wearing a newly thrifted down sweater today, i’m so puffy!) until May, so only thinking about the new summer playdress (last summer was a wood print, working on an oranges print on Spoonflower) at this point.
Fall is still the ‘change’ season for me. Thirtyplus years out of school and I still think about back to school wardrobe shopping. And I don’t wardrobe shop anymore.
Gwen
March 24, 2014 #
You’re designing your own fabric prints? That’s fun. And of course, oranges are a winner any day. Citrus is what inspired my first piece for the Little Alters 2013 exchange project I was on (on my blog). I enjoyed studying all different forms of citrus from kumquat to pomelo. I took Tula Pink’s seminar on fabric design at Sew Expo this year and found it fascinating and inspiring (on my blog). I agree with you about Seattle being chilly until May. I definitely need to make some more layers to wear with my cute summer dresses so they can be multi seasonal. Do you do the same? Or do you tend to buy your “over” layers?
Lesley
March 21, 2014 #
Well its the opposite for us downunder! After a very long summer (its still deadly humid here in Sydney), I welcome a cool night or a fresh morning! I’m really looking forward to hunkering down for a winter, cooler weather always encourages me to exercise more. I guess now we’ll see all the US blogs covering lighter, cooler clothes. The difficulty is not being sucked into the vortex of summeriness on the webosphere while I’m freezing my tits off here in a southern hemisphere winter! I approach the ‘other’ season like a designer preparing for the next show – out of season. What a topsy turvy world!! BTW Loving your wardrobe archtitect series.
Heidi
March 21, 2014 #
My wardrobe is the same basically all year round. I have clothes that I wear an extra layer under or over in winter and on their own in the summer. Keeps it simple :)
Amy
March 21, 2014 #
My style DEFINITELY changes with the seasons. In the winter I tend to dress in more menswear-inspired and city-girl looks, where the summer is all about flirty skirts and dresses … When my “country girl” truly shines. Obviously there’s some middle ground somewhere in there, but that pretty much sums it up!
Jet Set Sewing
March 21, 2014 #
It’s not quite spring in the northeast yet, but then we never know quite when it will hit. I can tell that it’s arrived when my light load for the wash gets bigger than the dark load.
Kat
March 21, 2014 #
I don’t think my overall *style* changes over the seasons, but I’m definitely overjoyed when autumn arrives! I love all the woolens and academic type styles. So, although I don’t change styles over the seasons, I definitely have my favourites!
gabriel ratchet
March 22, 2014 #
black, and white, and grey, and jeans. layer up, layer off, as needed seasonally, or, sadly, hourly. i do wear different scarves, carry a different bags, wear different shoes. more linen and silk, less wool and cashmere. come spring (which is a rather manic-depressive experience here in the rocky mountain foothills) i want to be outside and trying to grow things. since i was born on labor day, september will always be the time for “new school clothes”… and resolutions, and cleaning the house in preparation for the guests of the holidays.
Kate McIvor
March 22, 2014 #
I completely agree, Sarai! It’s only 20 degrees F here in Montana, but the light is changing. I feel a spring in my step. I feel ready to sew some florals. :)
Mary
March 22, 2014 #
Yup! I’ve realized recently (thanks Wardrobe Architect!) that in the fall and winter I tend toward an East Coast sort of look, not surprising since I lived up and down it for twelve years: neutrals, classic pieces, very streamlined. But then spring and summer come and I’m back to my California roots: all I want is maxi dresses and vintagey sundresses and metallic flip-flops! Pretty funny since I currently live in neither place.
Amanda
March 23, 2014 #
I live in Ottawa and we have 3 1/2 very distinct seasons (spring is practically non-existent, it is still full-on winter over here; 15 cm of snow yesterday!). While my overall style is fairly consistent throughout the year, I definitely find myself looking to incorporate more colour, prints and whimsy into my wardrobe come April.
Andrea
March 24, 2014 #
I so hear you, Amanda. Toronto’s not quite as cold as Ottawa, but we are a long way from seeing cherry blossoms or tulips here yet! I am so ready to be done with the pants and sweaters, but they’re not ready to be done with me.
Gwen
March 24, 2014 #
I agree with you. Spring brings a lovely sense of change. After having such great success with Parfait (on my blog) I’ve been wanting to sew Lily. So, with the turn of spring, I joined 3 dress challenges and am using Lily for the Mad Men Dress Challenge III. I love how versatile the pattern is and how easy it is to fit. Plus, because it’s such a solid basic pattern, I can go anywhere with it. So thank you for your contribution to my sew spring fever.
Lady ID
March 24, 2014 #
Since the weather changes here aren’ t too drastic, neither is the change in wardrobe. Mostly I find that I want to wear lots and lots of dresses.
Jessica
March 24, 2014 #
I do love swapping out wardrobes in a new season! But I find that my style itself experiences shifts when I’m going through a change in life, and then remains constant-ish over the seasons until the next change life change comes. An external manifestation of my inner growth, I suppose!
Sophie-Lee
March 25, 2014 #
The only change I seem to make is that I wear MORE bright colours in winter. Everyone wears blacks and navy’s and greys, and it cheers me (and others) up to bring that colour back. I also tend to wear the same clothes year round (I work in a hospital which is always the same temperature) but have been wanting to sew more seasonally recently (more wools for winter and light cottons for summer)
Kamal
March 26, 2014 #
I always love to wear the bright cotton dresses during summer.. it makes my day..