Let’s be real–are spring and summer that much different? Sure, there might be a 20-degree temperature difference—depending on where you live—and instead of traditional floral print and pastels, you may be embracing clothing with tropical prints and warm tones. However, most of the clothing in our spring rotation, like plus size maxi dresses, can transition into summer to not only save you money but also to add a unique touch to your favorite summer looks.
While adding new pieces to your wardrobe may be inevitable—44 percent of people shop for new wardrobes every season—you may be able to take fundamental spring wardrobe essentials into the warmer months. The good news is that many of the trends we saw in the spring haven’t lost steam and are making their way into summer. Here are some ways you can successfully identify clothing that can stay in your closet for the upcoming season and how you can fuse spring and summer to create the hottest looks.
1 Take Inventory of Your Closet
Do you know what’s in your closet? If you don’t, you’re not alone. Most people don’t wear 50 percent of the clothes in their closet. Taking inventory will help you identify versatile pieces that you can transition into summer with. So let’s get started.
Filter Through Previous Seasons
If your closet is full of clothes for winter, fall, spring, and summer, you’ll need to either move them out of season clothing to the back of your rack or store it in a tub so you can focus on transitioning your current clothes to the next season.
Identify Seasonal Pieces
Create a section for your favorite spring looks or remove them from your closet and lay them out on the floor or your bed. This will help you visualize the clothes that will also work for summer.
Put Your Basics and Staples Front and Center
If you have basics that work in your wardrobe all year round, place those in an easily accessible place and give them a one-way ticket to summer.
Invest in Pieces for Summer
After you take inventory of your wardrobe and figure out what pieces you will be bringing with you from the previous season, take note of some of the summer trends below that you want to embrace.
2 The Summer Fashion Trends + Your Spring Wardrobe
As you prepare to embrace your spring favorites during summer, it’s essential to identify the trends you’d love to keep up with for the season. This will be the key to making your spring wardrobe work for summer.
Tie-Dye
Whether you have some fun pieces you have recently tie-dyed, or you went on a tie-dye shopping spree as the trend rose to prominence in the spring, this trend is here to stay for summer. You can easily sport plus size tie-dye shirts as a crop top by tying them up and pairing with a mini skirt or cut-off shorts.
Faux Leather
While you may not think to wear this material during the hot summer months, faux leather is going to be a statement you’ll see all season. And the chances are that you have some pieces in your closet from spring that will fall in line perfectly with your summer wardrobe. Focus on bringing pieces like faux leather bralettes or crop tops into your summer looks.
Matching Prints
Co-ords are going to be huge this summer, so if you have any matching sets from spring, you’ll want to wear these as is this season. This was a popular trend spotted on the summer catwalks during Fashion Week.
Slip Skirts
These chic bottoms have been making statements since last summer, and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Instead of pairing these skirts with a slouchy sweater, leather moto, or denim jacket, pair them with a slinky tank top, crop top, or a tucked-in graphic tee for the perfect summer look.
Chunky Boots
If you’re a big Doc Martens fan, good news! You can bring your boots to summer. These edgy boots are being paired with dainty dresses for the ultimate contrast. This look was also a big hit on NYFW runways.
Bralettes
If you’re over wearing crop tops and tank tops during summer, your favorite plus size bralettes are getting their chance to shine this summer. Swap out a regular top for a chic bralette for a sexy and confident look. Looking for a more conservative look? Layer light, loose tops over a bralette for an easy and put-together outfit. These bralettes are so versatile that you can dress them up or down, and they can even work for seasons beyond summer.
Bold Sleeves
Puffy Victorian sleeves are totally in for summer, which is great because they were also a must-have in spring. Instead of taking your long sleeve tops into summer, only bring the tops with short embellished sleeves so you can stay cool while looking hot.
Sheer Overlays
Mesh is back—as if it ever left—and it’s just what we need for summer. The chances are that you have plenty of mesh or see-through fabrics in your closet from the spring fascination around organza. Bring mesh or organza tops into summer by pairing them with mini dresses, skirts, or palazzo pants for a cool girl vibe.
Split Prints
Something super exciting we started to see in spring was articles of clothing that meshed together two different prints in a symmetrical fashion. This trend will continue into summer. So instead of pairing your split print jumpsuits with jackets, ditch the outerwear and enjoy the weather. Pair split print pants with cute crop tops or simple tank tops.
Head to Toe Denim
No matter which season they fall under, if you have denim, it’s automatically going to summer. Yes, denim jumpsuits and head-to-toe denim looks may seem excessive during the hotter months, but the fashion gods said this is the season for denim. Take your favorite pair of jeans and pair them with a denim bralette or a chambray shirt to get the full-on denim look. You can also match stunning denim pieces together to create a unique look. Experimentation is key here!
