Ah, I’m so happy it’s warm outside. I feel most embodied and aligned in summer. Baggy jeans, a tee, and flip flops are my soul in clothing form.
I’ve been reflecting on how my approach to getting dressed changes from season to season. After years of close observation, I’ve noticed I go through basically the same cycle each year.
I’m a visual person, so I drew it out:
SPRING: In early spring, I’m open and excited to try things I might not normally try. Experimental! I notice I feel pressure to look younger. As spring continues, my style gets a little untethered and chaotic. For a while I love it, and then I start to feel like I’m losing touch with my style, so I lean back into my staples.
SUMMER: When the heat starts to set in, I feel aligned with my true self. I feel less pressure to look younger or to be completely inventive in my style. I just want to get outside — under the trees, into the water, wherever — so ease becomes very important to me. Can’t be bothered with buckles, laces, fussy things. Just give me loose dresses, loose pants, tees, flip flops, button up shirts, etc. Sometimes it feels repetitive or boring, but usually this familiarity feels more like comfort. I feel settled.
FALL: Fall combines the excitement and experimentation of spring with the groundedness of summer. My style tends to get a little dressier. I’m excited to layer, and the first cold snap is SO FUN, but I wait as long as possible to put away my flip flops. I feel a little dread about cold weather dressing since it’s not my strong suit.
WINTER: I feel the least like myself and I’m often at a loss for what to wear. Pretty uninspired. I see other people exuding effortless winter style and I wonder why I can’t feel as comfortable in my clothes as they are (or seem to be). There’s also always this hope that maybe *this time* I’ll crack the code on winter style.
Then it all begins again in spring!
What about you? Do you go through a similar cycle each year? What season feels most aligned with you and your style?
And did you catch yesterday’s Paris travel capsule? I had so much fun making it!
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OUTFIT DETAILS
(If you see something you like, you can shop it and support my blog at the same time by using the affiliate links in this post)
Madewell x Laetitia Rouget Shirt (wearing S)
Madewell Broken In Baseball Cap
Abercrombie Mid Rise Ultra Wide Leg Jean | Similar: Abercrombie Low Rise Ultra Loose Jean & Madewell Super Wide Leg Jeans & Citizens of Humanity Annina Wide Leg Jean
Roxy Gabbie Flip Flops | Similar: Madewell Gabi Thong Slide Sandal (these are gorgeous!)
Plaid Tote | Similar: Gap Blue Linen Cotton Tote
JEWELRY
Jenny Bird Medium Tome Earrings
Monica Vinader Heirloom Chain Bracelet
Red Bracelet | Similar: Free People Intention Bracelet
Madewell Mixed Pearl Beaded Necklace
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Those are such interesting observations! I would have never thought to write it out like that or observe a pattern. I think I shall go do that…
That being said, I think I’m opposite to your circle. Summer dressing stresses me out. I want to be 20 years younger and I don’t like showing so much skin but it’s too hot not to. Fall is when I feel most myself and then winter – my jeans/sweater/boots game is strong.
Spring is so all over the place where I live that a style is impossible, one day it might be warm enough for shorts, the next you’re pulling on a warm hoodie – or sometimes that’s all in one day.
Thanks for this inspiration!
This is SUPER interesting! I think I’m also the opposite – all summer I’m just trying to be comfortable and have no inspiration at all, just waiting for winter – jumpers, jackets, scarves, boots – l love it all… Maybe it’s because where I live we have a looooooong hot summer, about 2 weeks of spring/autumn and a short, not very cold winter.
I’m with you here, not feeling it in winter! The chunky jumpers, big raincoats and waterproof overtrousers we need in our area make me feel less than attractive… Working and volunteering outdoors up to 6 days a week I’m much happier in summer weather, when I can dress for who I feel I am deep inside of that makes sense. :) I tend to overspend on winter clothes because I make more “styling mistakes” err lessons learned in that department, but I’ve owned a more or less stable summer wardrobe with minor additions over the years.
I love the way you wrote out your style cycle. I absolutely shift from season to season too. I grew up in Seattle, so I’m a cold and rainy kind of girl–very comfortable in fall and spring. In the winter and summer, I care much less about style and more about dressing for the weather and being comfortable outside. In spring I ALWAYS go through a week or two when I’m obsessed with color and rainbow and loud plaid. And then the rest of the year, I fall back into my usual color palette: lots of black and white, blue, green, and some red.