putting a spring in your winter wardrobe

If you live in a climate like mine, the open-toed shoes and short sleeves in your closet don't get any action until May. March and April are months where you want to transition into your spring clothes, but it's too cold to completely abandon your sweaters and boots. Here are some tips for how to dress for the weather but ring in the spring season.

Top your look with a warm layer that is impractical for the snow and wind chill.

This jacket, inspired by Carrie Bradshaw's jacket in a pivotal scene of the Sex and the City movie, is a perfect example of something that is perfect for the transition between winter and spring.

Its 3/4 sleeves and lack of a collar do not really keep me warm in a snowstorm or temperatures below 30 degrees, but if it's 40 or above, this jacket is perfect! And it brings the party - literally - I'm wearing a white t-shirt and jeans with it. And yet, when I wear it, I look like I'm headed to a gala!

Since this layer is warm but is impractical for winter, it's the perfect time to bring it out of the closet and pay it some close attention. If you have some sweaters or jackets that you love, wear them without a big heavy overcoat.

try something new with your wardrobe.

When winter is ending and spring is starting to bud, it's the perfect time to take a risk with your clothes. Here's why! Everyone is so sick of their wool sweaters, heavy coats, and boots; anything that breaks the mold is met with smiles and welcoming comments.

"Oh, I love that color!"

"You look ready for spring!"

"Wow, what a great skirt!"

People crave seeing something other than snow, bare trees and low temperatures. You trying a new pair of shoes or an unlikely combination is going to be met with so much love! Maybe you'll inspire someone else to try something new with their clothes.

In this pic, I paired a hoodie t-shirt with a blazer. This is not a normal look for me, but I took a risk. And I think I look really cool, if I do say so myself. It's all monochromatic but it stands out because the hoodie and the blazer contrast one another.

Get out those fun flats and spring shoes!

If there isn't snow on the ground and the temperature is above freezing, it's time for your flats and spring shoes to get some action!

Once the weather is warmer, these are my go-to shoes. I absolutely hate wearing anything that will make my feet or ankles cold, so these shoes get a seven-month sabbatical unless it's warm enough to expose my ankles again.

As you can see from the picture, I prefer flashy or printed flats. I find them more versatile because they can work with almost anything, as long as you're comfortable mixing prints. For instance, these leopard flats: I wear them with stripes, polka dots, bright colors, houndstooth, and plaid. Those red flats: I rarely wear them with anything red; instead, I add them to a monochromatic or neutral-based outfit.

wear florals.

These are just a few of my floral prints, and I try to maximize their wear in the spring and summer months.

At the beginning of the spring season, I am layering them with warmer wear: sweaters, thick-knit dresses and full-length pants. As the temperatures rise, I layer less and start pairing these florals with my white jeans, my ankle pants, my breezy skirts and eventually shorts and linen and seersucker.

I'm posting this picture as well so you can see how I layer florals under my sweater.

Both of the colors in this outfit - cherry red and army green - are featured in the floral print, so everything works together nicely.

Florals can be worn year round, but there's just something about celebrating the season in which they bloom by wearing them on your body. Don't you think?

As the seasons change, this rainbow-colored floral print will be great with the sleeves rolled up and donned with white jeans and open-toed shoes. Then, when summer rolls in, this shirt is ideal to wear with navy shorts or a casual skirt on a cooler or breezier day. It could even be a swimsuit cover-up with shorts if I am moving from the sand and surf to a beach-front restaurant that requires shirts and shoes. :)

don't shy away from bright colors.

Even this pale Irish girl is willing to pull off this bright watermelon color with bare, untanned legs. Everyone wants to see a little more color once the snow melts and nature starts waking up. The leaves are rebudding (is that a word?), and flowers are blossoming - so should you!

If you're new to incorporating bright colors into your wardrobe, start with a color that brings out the color of your eyes or makes your skin glow. Wear it with neutrals: black, gray, navy, tan, white. It's great to ease yourself into the wonderful world of color.

There are so many ways to ring in spring. I only covered five. How do you do it? Tell me all about it! I'd love to add even more suggestions and pics, so reach out.