Let’s talk about my favorite topic: trans-seasonal dressing. This is the best type of styling because it means you can wear an item or a look during every season. It is such a freeing concept when you start to practice it, and it really enables more sustainability in your closet.
Breaking it down
Breaking down the word: “trans” means across and “seasonal” is of course representative of a season, or all seasons in this case. When you combine the two you get “across seasons,” meaning something that can span from winter to fall, spring to summer, and then all the way around again. It’s the type of dressing that lets you wear your white t-shirt in the summer with a pair of shorts, then wear it under a sweater for a layer collar look in the winter. Trans-seasonal items are most obviously available as accessories like rings and hoops, but they are also available in footwear (like the perfect sneaker), and in a great layer piece like a blazer (here I go again). It’s an item that has a color and a fabric that feels like it can work all year ‘round, or it could pair well with more seasonal pieces to then work for the season you’re wearing it in.
Trans-seasonal dressing is more than just wearing the same thing all year round, it’s also a matter of sustainability, and my favorite–breaking fashion “rules.” For example, you can wear raffia in the winter. You can wear velvet in the summer. And you can wear linen in the fall. Just hear me out.
Questioning your preconceptions
Why do we associate certain fabrics with certain seasons? Is it because that’s what we’re used to and we’re all aware of some secret law that dictates what fabrics you can wear and when? Or is it because the fashion industry has decided for us the fabrics that make sense with certain seasons, making a profit on the cyclical nature of seasonal shopping and the need for something new? (Pause to say we all know I’m still working on my shopping addiction, so please don’t think I’m perfect when it comes to not overbuying each season, neigh each month.) It’s an important question to ask ourselves–why do we think that we can’t wear our wardrobe all year long?
I do want to note that I’m not talking about wearing a bikini in the middle of winter in the midwest, or wearing your fur coat in 110 degrees in Arizona, but more so working to build a capsule wardrobe that is founded on pieces that you can mix and match with those things that truly are intended for certain points in the year. This concept is sometimes also referred to as building a capsule collection, but when people talk about a capsule wardrobe I’ve seen it sometimes used to describe a set of items that are bound to a season, and that’s not what we’re talking about here! If you dress trans-seasonally, or in an evergreen (all year, consistent) way, then you are reusing items and truly getting the cost per wear or their value, and you are representing your authentic style.
My own journey
A perspective that has really changed for me in the last nine years since meeting my husband is the idea of repeat dressing. I used to think that repeating a wardrobe ever (let alone in the same week) was so weird. I thought that rewearing something meant that you didn’t have style. But in fact, rewearing an item and even an outfit means that you’re incredibly confident in your style and that you really have a look that people can know you for. And rewearing pieces without having to wash them every day means that you’re probably investing in quality pieces that you either don’t need to wash or that you wouldn’t wash frequently because the quality of them is so good (i.e. not washing or even drying cleaning the infamous Khaite sweater I purchased last summer because it is such a solid piece and the dry cleaning would be expensive and it would deteriorate the feel of it). Over all of this though is the fact that clothes need to be worn.
It really took meeting my husband and seeing him rewear the same outfits to be exposed to this way of dressing. He never worried about what to wear and he had style. It felt European and odd to me at the same time. But after awhile I became accustomed to his way of dressing and started to do it myself. I used to pride myself on not wearing the same outfits twice, putting together so many different fits with so many items from my bulging closet and under bed storage felt like a win to me. But really it made me more stressed having that many pieces, and it created more overwhelm.
Mental health benefits
When you really get your style down, being able to wear the same outfits can bring a sense of peace. You’re no longer scrambling when you’re already 15 minutes late and trying to figure out what to wear for dinner with your friends because you already wore it running errands two days ago. And you don’t need to buy three new sweaters this season because you already have the classic cardigan that you wear all the time and it’ll work over that new dress and with those new trans-seasonal flats that are on your wishlist or already in your closet. I know this might seem new or a bit scary to consider; overwhelming at the least, but as will all things here at With Mads I’m going to walk you through my list of top items that will make up your trans-seasonal wardrobe. Get ready.
The items of a trans-seasonal wardrobe
These are just the start. Trans-seasonal dressing is how you curate the foundation of your wardobe, but also how you make purchasing decisions (let me know if you want to learn more about shopping like this!).
First up, the t shirt.
How to style: With your blazer, pants, jeans, skirt, sweat pants. Every bottom imaginable.
The cardigan (or the sweater)
How to style: Over your t shirt, over a dress, with jeans, trousers, a skirt. Wear it buttoned up and unbuttoned.
The blazer (see I put it third not first, I’m trying to be subtle)
How to style: With everything. Duh.
The sneaker
How to style: With jeans, sweatpants, a dress (yes!).
The trouser
How to style: With your tshirt, and even with a sweatshirt, I love that type of office meets weekend vibes. Then throw a sneaker on.
The denim
How to style: With every shirt, sweatshirt, literally any top. Tuck your shirt in (something I missed dearly while pregnant) or let an oversized shirt hang out (something I’m seeing a lot of lately, love).
The skirt
How to style: With those sneakers, the shirt, the cardigan, the blazer. Try wearing a skirt when you are planning on wearing jeans. I find unless it’s freezing cold or pouring rain it can be a fun substitute!
The dress
How to style: With the sneakers, the cardigan, the blazer. You get the idea. You can use a spaghetti strap dress all year long by wearing a sweater or cardigan over the top for some added warmth. Throw on a boot and some stockings and all of the sudden you’re wearing the same dress you wore on your summer vacay to Puerto Vallarta in the cold of winter.
The boot
How to style: With the obvious like dresses and jeans but also with shorts! Such a fun look right now.
The flat
How to style: With pants the are tailored to touch the ground and aren’t too long. With that dress and skirt.
The jacket
How to style: We love a jacket. Get something in a neutral color or a medium weight texture that you can make it warmer or cooler based on the items that you pair it with.
The trench
How to style: Go for a classic kaki trench and see it work wonders for you all year long. Or if you want to be a bit different try this denim trench. You can wear it will all of the items above. If you want to be extra fun wear it over the tshirt, shorts, and knee high boots during the warmer months and wait for the compliments to roll in.
If you’re excited about trans-seasonal dressing or you’d like help creating a wardrobe that you can wear literally all year long drop me a note and let’s chat! I’d love to help you build a wardrobe that you are excited about, and that brings you peace.
