Seattle Style: How to Dress for Spring
I'm adjusting my style for spring in Seattle. It's quite different from what I'm used to, from my former life in sunny California. If I were still kicking it in the Golden State, I'd already be bare legged and in cut-off shorts paired with a light cotton top by now. Here in Seattle, there are no shorts, no bare legs, and no light cotton anything. It's still chilly, even during those sunny moments, and most often, grey, overcast and rainy. Why, just a few days ago, I enjoyed a mid-day lightning/thunder/hail storm. Spring is a bit different here. So Spring dressing calls for a different tact as well.
How to dress for Spring in Seattle:
- Say hello to layers. Layer your look with lightweight jackets and sweaters.
- Get Rain Ready. Wearing water resistant fabrics are key to staying dry + stylish.
- Go sheer, not naked. Sheer legs add warmth yet avoid a dowdy wintery look.
Springtime in Seattle: Hola, Layers.
Say Hello to Layers. Spring style in Seattle means dressing in lightweight layers.
You can wear flouncy floral dresses IF you layer them with season appropriate jackets and sweaters. I've packed my warm but wintery woolens, and replaced them with light colored + lightweight sweaters, jackets and coats.
Rain Ready means Wearing Water Resistant and Irresistible Style
Get Rain Ready. Style in Seattle means being ready for rain at a moment's notice. Since you never know when rain showers will strike, utilizing umbrellas, raincoats, and wearing water resistant fabrics are essential tools for staying dry, warm and stylish in the Emerald City. You'll gladly embrace water resistant materials that dry quickly. Soggy wools or sodden cotton have no place on your back, or your wardrobe this rainy season. Look for stylish renditions of breathable micro-fibers, rayons, nylon; even select polyesters make great garment choices for Seattle style this time of year.
Getting a Leg Up on Rain: Go Sheer and Stay Dry
Go Sheer, not naked. As much as I love dark tights for winter, they tend to look too heavy for springtime looks. But the chill factor here means that a bare leg is sartorial foolishness. Your remedy? Sassy, stylish and affordable, high quality sheer pantyhose! A silky sheer nylon leg adds a layer of warmth, and finishes a look, without an ounce of style sacrifice. I styled my Hanes Silky Sheers two ways, one in jet black and one in nude, for two very different looks; both are perfect for the Seattle spring season. Sheer nylon panty hose help keep your legs warm, while keeping the look light and chic. With sheer panty hose, you can avoid a naked and cold leg. Stay warm and dry- and keep those stems covered!Look #1: Black, White and Mixed Print All Over
- Vintage 1960s Gingham Print Raincoat
- Vintage 1960s Floral Metal Brooch
- Old Navy Striped Scoop Neck Pullover
- Vintage 1970s Floral Polyester Dress
- Vintage 1950s Houndstooth Parasol
- Hanes Control Top Silky Sheer Panty Hose in Jet Black
- Alice + Olivia for Payless Striped Wedges
Look #2: The Black + Tan
- Vintage 1960s Tan Suede Jacket
- Manteau Retro Boat Print Rayon Dress
- Vintage Floral Brooch and Bracelets
- Vintage Coach Handbag
- Hanes Control Top Silky Sheer Panty Hose in Nude
- Micheal Antonio Vegan Suede Nude Heels
See me kicking it, Seattle street style! My styling of Spring's fresh graphic prints in bold black + white crop up over at Seattle Street Feet.
Don't Go Naked: Get Nude. Hanes Silky Sheer Hose in Nude for a Stylish Springtime in Seattle.
One thing that surprised me, was how keen I became to the nude sheers. I mean, I haven't worn nude colored pantyhose since the mid-nineties. These 21st century sheers however are super silky, super sheer and very fine. They don't seem to snag as easily as I remember, and the quality feels superior to the nylons of old. The price is right too- no need to plunk down anything over ten spot for a pair- you can find Hanes at your local drug store and for under $6.
An added boon for my +40 year old figure was the control top! The waist was perfect, not too binding, not too loose, and it smoothed my curves just right for hip hugging skirts and dresses. I (trust me, it's not as crazy as it sounds) even wore them under a pair of jeans, and LOVED the way it made me and my jeans look. I tried this after reading a great post about nude hose over at You Look Fab. You can read the style inspiring post HERE. Adding a layer for warmth, my Hanes smoothed my "double hourglass" and looked FAB with a pair of high heels.
Seattle dressing in the springtime requires a bit of creativity- good thing this city is a hotbed of creative people. As I warm up to my Pacific Northwest home, I'm glad I know these 3 simple tips to transition my winter wardrobe seamlessly into spring, and do it in style.
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
