While we’ve made it through the calendar months of winter, March in Manhattan is still, well, cold. The weather app’s promise of an upcoming flurry, however, is no longer thrilling, and the coziness appeal of all your oversized sweaters isn’t as strong as it was circa early November. Buying new knits is out of the question with spring right around the corner, but stepping out in anything not made of wool is still, to me, frightening. Which is exactly why this time of year calls for a little more creativity.
Considering you’re already wearing tailored pants or jeans, all it takes is slipping on a dress from breezier days right over them. Requiring zero purchases, the little closet trick can instantly double the use of pieces you’d probably hold off on until spring. Plus, the pants themselves provide more warmth than any pair of tights would.
When you pair a long-sleeve floaty frock with straight-leg jeans, the sharp contrast injects an immediate edginess, turning the prairie-girl level way down. Be sure to opt for a lightweight dress in order to cut out unnecessary volume and prevent potential overheating. Leave the buttons buttoned all the way, or undo them up to the waistline of your jeans; the choice is yours. Alternatively, make a little fashion mille-feuille in this order: pants, turtleneck, sleeveless strappy dress (hello, ’90s), and a coat for good measure.
Lo and behold, winter outfit rut, solved.
