Issue 43. Embracing seasonal dressing

Do our style key words change depending on the time of the year?

I’m currently reading How to Winter, a truly eye-opening non-fiction read about how our attitude towards winter directly affects how we feel. In it, the author encourages us to consider all the unique and wonderful aspects of each season we’re in, and embrace them as they are.

This got me thinking, I’ve previously rejected the notion of seasonal dressing (i.e. having a warm-weather wardrobe and a separate cold-weather wardrobe) as being “not optimized” for maximum versatility. I still believe that’s true. But what if the metric we evaluate our wardrobes on isn’t “optimization” or “versatility,” but instead, how well our wardrobe at a given time helps us stay present in the current season and conditions? What if we saw each season as a unique opportunity to express a different part of ourselves that may not come out in other seasons?

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Perhaps you’ve heard of the Three Word Method, a concept popularized by

Allison Bornstein

, where you distill down your style into three key words. Allison recommends choosing one word for each of the three following prompts:

1. Realistic: What do you normally wear? Not your favorites, necessarily, just what you wear most.

2. Aspirational: What’s on your moodboard? What would you like to incorporate into your style?

3. Feeling: How do you want to feel?

I love the three-word method.

Annnnnnnnd, I’d argue that if you asked most people what their style key words were, you may get different answers, at a different times of the year, based on how we’re feeling, what we’re doing, and where we’re going.

So, for the sake of science, I wanted to see if we could make a seasonally-aware Three Word Method.

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My attempt (with examples)

I gave it a try by defining two year-round key words (#1 Realistic, #2 Aspirational) and modifying them with a third word according to the season (#3 Feeling).

My year-round key words

These two aesthetics are integral aspects of my dressing, year-round. I even tried not to dress “coastal” when I lived in Seattle—being preppy is NOT cool there—but alas, I am who I am.

REALISTIC

Coastal —A laid back, beachy vibe with lighter color palette, natural textures, and accents reminiscent of the ocean, like blues, whites, and browns.

ASPIRATIONAL

Minimal—Embracing simplicity, clean lines, and a monochromatic palette.

My seasonal modifiers

These are meant to answer Allison’s third prompt “how do you want to feel,” which I imagine is most likely to change based on the time of the year.

To pull this together, I referenced my favorite images on Pinterest and my camera roll, according to the time of year I was most interested in them. Winter was easy, since I just put together a perspective of what I’m wearing this season, and you can check out what I wore in autumn.

AUTUMN

Earthy—A little bohemian, with emphasis on browns, floral prints and suede. There’s a chill in the air, we’re putting on our thick sweaters and getting ready for the holidays.

WINTER

Elegant—More structured silhouettes, and the most highly restricted color palette of the seasons. We’re putting a structured coat on over our matching loungewear and calling it a day.

SPRING

Playful—Adding a touch of whimsy, pops of color, a bit of print, and a lighter color palette. The sun is out and we’re feeling the dopamine rush. Florals, for spring?

SUMMER

Effortless—The most relaxed silhouettes, minimal jewelry, minimal styling. It’s too hot for layers. We’re too busy hopping from one activity to the next. Put on a matching linen set and you’re set.

Also consider the seasonal role of color

I stick to a general set of colors year-round, but may wear them in different quantities according to season. My example below is not to say that I only wear navy in winter, per say, but instead indicate that my two winter coats are both navy, so navy will be prevalent in that season, compared to a light blue denim jacket worn more often in spring and autumn.

Depending on the culture / place you live, you may associate colors with certain holidays or cultural shifts, such as burgundy and olive in the autumn here in the U.S. Or, maybe you’re a true minimalist and wear neutrals year-round, you may still notice that you wear more black in the winter, and more beige in the spring, for example.

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Takeaways

I’m trying to embrace the season of life I’m in, whether that be winter, or my late 20s, or being child-free. Perhaps noticing how our clothing preferences change seasonally can help us stay present and make the most of today.

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Let me know in the comments, do you experience seasonal-style shifts, or are you more comfortable embodying the same vibe year-round?

Best,

Maureen