Spring Forward with Lightweight Layering

With the last heavy winter snow fading from across the Midwest and Northeast (we hope), it’s time to put away those chunky knit sweaters and cozy cashmeres and bring out your “it’s almost warm but it’s not that warm” closet for spring.

Yet, with such changeable weather at this time of year – and with the season starting off very wet across most of the I-95 corridor – it can be tough to know what to wear to work in the morning. After all, nobody wants to be caught in what feels like a different season later in the day!

Transitional dressing can be difficult to master but, once you’ve got the hang of it, you’ll wonder how you ever got through spring without it. Start with the basics and you’ll be smartly dressed in more ways than one this season.

Add color to the mix

Imitate nature and bring some bright colors back into your daily dressing. After months of rich forest greens and warm red cardigans, it’s a great feeling to pull on a lighter shade and appreciate the longer days ahead. Our Textures for Spring collection takes this idea and goes one step further, combining these ever-popular brighter shades with eye-catching design details and light, breathable fabrics. There’s just something lovely about adding to your sunny-day staples with knitwear you know will last for seasons and look great all spring. Our popular 100% Cotton V Neck Pointelle Sweater is the perfect example of this: even better, the colors are so versatile it’ll do you all summer too.

Layer with Neutrals

Before you start dressing in a riot of color, let’s not forget the importance of having a good stash of neutral knitwear basics for your spring wardrobe. It’s all too easy to get lost in choosing the brightest and boldest clothes for the new season, but a practical yet stylish neutral layer will suit every occasion spring can bring. Of course, transitional dressing is all about the layering: luckily, spring shades and neutral tones are a match made in sartorial heaven. Choose something breathable for the nicer weather towards the end of May, but with enough heft to get you through the stray snowfalls and wet weather of April. We’ve put together the Layer Up with Lightweight Knits collection to help you make the most of the all-rounder neutral, in a variety of different fabrics to suit your state’s springtime temperatures. (Sorry Maine – it’s not quite time to pack away the Lambswool yet!)

Cotton is king

It’s no surprise that spring knitwear needs to be able to tackle both the heat and the cold with ease but, before you resign yourself to carrying two sweaters around, you should have a think about cotton. We love the way that 100% cotton adds a stylish touch to spring season coverups, but it’s also known to be a fantastically breathable fabric that’s seriously durable. For a season with such changeable weather, you really need a versatile knitwear companion to take you through the days with comfortable ease. Cotton looks great in both a neutral palette or in vibrant colors, so it’s no surprise that it’s the most ultra-wearable of all the lighter weight knits – you just can’t beat a 100% cotton crew neck sweater for dependable work to weekend dressing at this time of year.

Care for that Cashmere!

Unless you’re in the most northern states, you’ll be packing away your heavier, winter knits right about now, but if you’re tempted to just chuck them in the spare closet or throw them in a vacuum packed bag, take a step back and think about what they’ll look like come October. Cashmere doesn’t deserve to look like you’ve picked it up from the thrift shop floor, so show it some love and you’ll be rewarded with knitwear that lasts for years. You should consider giving your lambswool and 100% pure wool knits the same star treatment… this winter might shape up to be a cold one! Always cleanly fold your knitwear away – heaviest items at the bottom – and if you’re feeling fancy wrap them in a bit of tissue paper too. Keep them fresh with some lavender & cedarwood essential oils, and you’ll have a ready-to-wear closet for when the cold comes back again. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen for a good few months…