The days are getting longer, the weather’s getting warmer and you can finally start to say goodbye to bulky winter layers. But, if you’re like most guys, choosing which spring wardrobe pieces you need and how to fit them into your existing style can be challenging. Fear not! With this guide to transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring, you can be sure your fashion game is always strong — no matter the season.
Layer Lightly
One of the few things you can predict about spring weather is that it changes constantly. One minute it is blazing hot, and the next, it is cold and rainy. Plus, you have to deal with those famous spring showers. The key to being comfortable and always ready for whatever the season throws at you is to dress in layers you can take off or put on throughout the day as needed.
For example, you could wear a pair of trousers with a basic button-down cotton shirt as your base layer. Sweater vests or men’s dress sweaters make an excellent top layer. When selecting your dress sweaters, choose different styles, such as full zips, quarter-zips, crewnecks, V-necks and cardigans, to inject some variety into your day-to-day look.
Carefully consider your color choices. The drab days of winter are behind you, so embrace bright or light colors and stay away from blacks, grays and browns for spring. Go with pastels, beige, white, light blues and light purple. A bit of a pattern is appropriate for more formal occasions, so don’t feel like you always have to wear solids. Stripes and heather patterns are perfectly acceptable. Save the loud, bold prints for casual events or hanging out with friends.
Wear Short-Sleeved Shirts With Jeans
A classic spring look for warmer days is a short-sleeved shirt with a pair of jeans. You can wear a T-shirt or go more formal with a button-down short-sleeved shirt. Although, strictly speaking, any color of denim is appropriate at any time of year, consider wearing lighter colors during the spring and summer and keep your dark blues and blacks for the fall and winter. Regardless of what shade of jeans, white sneakers are always a good choice. Finish off your jeans with a high-quality belt that is not only functional, but also fashionable. Choose a belt that is made with high-quality materials, so that it is durable and you can enjoy it for several years.
For a bold look, think about wearing white jeans in the spring. White pants go with any other color, so you can pair them with any color of shoes or boots, shirt or jacket. White jeans also look dressier than other colors of jeans because no one would try to do dirty, hard work in a pair of white pants. Throw on a button-down cotton shirt and a blazer, and you can even wear these jeans on formal occasions.
Switch Up Your Shoes
Once winter ends, you will want to put away your winter boots and wear something lighter, such as sneakers, desert or cowboy boots. You might also want to switch up your dress shoes for spring. The category of men’s dress shoes includes more than just black or dark brown Oxfords. Your lighter spring look can and should include lighter brown shoes, beige shoes and even white shoes. Consider wearing loafers, Derby shoes and low Chukka boots in addition to cap-toe shoes and the various styles of Oxfords.
Line Up Some Light Jackets
As the days warm up, you’ll want to put away your big puffer coat and switch to lighter jackets. Sports coats and leather jackets are always in style and are just the right weight for most spring days. A denim, bomber or trucker’s jacket goes well with practically any style of pants. For the colder, wetter spring days, try a slim puffer jacket or a lined soft-shell jacket in a bright, cheerful color.
How To Transition and Store Your Clothes
If you start thinking about your spring wardrobe before spring actually arrives, you’ll be ahead of the game. Go through your closet and see what you have in there. Your spring wardrobe should be based on staples like relaxed trousers, jeans, T-shirts and button-down shirts. For the colder days, you’ll need sweaters, vests and light jackets.
Look through your spring-appropriate clothing and donate any that is damaged or showing signs of wear. Make a list of garments you seem to be short on or are missing entirely, such as a good selection of men’s jeans, and go shopping.
Once spring is here, you should carefully put away your winter-specific clothing. Make sure everything, including your outerwear, is cleaned and mended. Store your clothing properly to ensure it remains in good shape until next winter. Heavy sweaters should be folded and stacked in drawers or storage bins. Hang your winter outerwear pieces on heavy-duty hangers and encase them in garment bags to keep them clean until next winter. Avoid storing garments in the dry cleaners’ plastic sheeting for an extended period covering your clothing in non-breathing plastic can damage the fabric and even cause mold to grow on it.
Stay Stylish No Matter The Season
As winter gives way to spring, you need to transition your wardrobe. Clean and store your heavy winter clothing. Go through your all-year staples and your spring-appropriate clothing and ensure you have all the pieces you need to dress weather-appropriately and stylishly throughout the spring. You’ll probably need to shop to acquire a few new pieces each spring and replace any worn-out clothing. Remember to switch up your footwear, too. With these tips, you can confidently take your wardrobe from drab winter days into vibrant and exciting spring ones.