Five Pieces To Take Your Wardrobe From Winter To Spring

Sick of wallowing about in a swathe of grey and black to get through the winter dreariness (and my, has it been dreary!)?

With spring just around the corner, you might be wondering what the fastest way to update your look is, and how to instantly transition from cold to warm in the wardrobe department.  Let’s all celebrate the impending sunshine while honing in on the top five items you need to transform your look from dull winter pieces to a spring-y, vibe-y, sunshine-y ensemble.

1. Something sporty

First up, and this may shock you: Giraffe print leggings, by Adidas. Why? You ask. And well you might. Two years ago, a pair of exercise leggings would never have been on my fashion horizon. But something has changed in the style landscape that’s crossing boundaries between gym gear to casual day gear. It’s now perfectly acceptable to wear gym gear out during the day, as long as it’s spiffy, shiny and new. Don’t believe us? Even the folks at net-a-porter are getting in on the act by launching net-a-sporter, and those folks at Lululemon and Lorna Jane haven’t become household names for nothing. Let’s ease into this trend with animal print tights – giraffe is the new leopard – which can work equally well at a yoga class or for your girl’s lunch afterwards.

$40 from Adidas.

2. A New Crop Top

This is easier to wear than you may think. Unlike crop tops of the 90’s, which bared the lower belly and all its jiggly glory, the crop top of 2014 is slashed well above the navel, around the ribs, and is surprisingly flattering. The hard and fast rule is to wear with high waisted pants or a skirt, so that skin on show is a sliver at worst. As long as you team the crop top with a skirt or pants that you feel great in, and that doesn’t allow for much tummy to be bared, you can completely get away with it. Try one with voluminous sleeves to get a great, top-heavy illusion happening, like this ultra fashiony

Maurie & Eve top, $159.

3. A White Heel

Once the epitomy of a trashy wardrobe, the white shoe has become synonymous with high fashion and instantly brings spring to streamlined, tailored outfits. Team with jeans, tapered pants, an above-the-knee skirt or a maxi dress to emphasize your point. Heels can be either strappy or closed toe and the best part is they don’t even have to be uber high. The new block heels means low shoes are now chic. Isn’t that what we always dreamed of?

Alexander Wang, $535

4. Something boho

It’s baa-aack. There’s nothing to bring spring alive like a lightly floralled, boho piece. It makes you feel free, easy, loose of those work shackles and ready to hit the beaches or parks or wherever you choose to spend your spring days. Maxi or mini, whatever works for you, there are rarely any rules with boho. Do heed the new way to wear it however, and team with something plain and “tough” like a biker jacket or grey marle t-shirt, instead of a head to toe pretty look, and remember, suede is a boho girl’s best friend.

Spell and the Gypsy Collective skirt, $220

5. A Cropped Jean

It’s amazing what a few inches can do. Sliced off the bottom of your jeans, whether they’re skinny or baggy, and you have a brand new look. This pair embodies two trends in one: the crop and the big-rip-at-the-knee, which, at the risk of sounding too much like we care what people think, will instantly make you look uber cool (though cool people don’t say uber. Some advice: never say uber when trying to sound cool. Cool people use words like rad or sick or wicked and, er,  never, ever write about how to, ahem, sound cool).

Ripped jeans, Siwy, $203.88

What are the key pieces in your wardrobe as we move into Spring? Tell us in the comments below!