How to start planning your spring outfits in winter

For many of us, how we dress is one of the most accessible and playful ways of expressing ourselves – it certainly is for me. Of course, that’s not the only aspect – it’s also essential for staying warm while at home or out and about, and getting that combination of functionality and aesthetics just right is a careful balancing act. I sometimes hate the winter for that! Layering isn’t always fun and chic!

As we get deeper and deeper into the winter months, many of us will already be thinking about how we’ll plan our outfits when spring arrives. Since we’re very nearly into 2025 and spring is almost around the corner, below, I’ve included tips on how to create a wardrobe that’s equal parts expressive and functional, to make your planning process a fair bit easier.

Think about your clothing needs

As we look forward to spring, it’s important to think about what your clothing needs will be. For example, will you be working outdoors and require something that can keep you warm and dry? Or are you an office worker, who can afford to be a little less ‘practical’ in your style?

Either way, these kinds of general clothing requirements will gently guide your outfit choices. There’s still a lot of wiggle room no matter what your needs will be, but they should be an important factor that you keep in mind. I always have to tailor my clothes to what I’m doing on that day as I don’t have any set routine for being inside or outside with the content creation.

If you will be mixing indoor and outdoor activities or work, lots of light layers are a really good option as you can add and remove some, depending on where you are.

Look at what you’ve got already

Before you go and buy a whole new wardrobe, think about what you already have from previous years. Empty out your entire wardrobe and all your drawers, and have a huge clearout. Look at the outfits you already have, what you’d need to add to create new ones, and which items you can afford to get rid of. This will help save you money and effort when buying new items! It’s also a really sustainable way of living, it saves money, and stops you ending up overwhelmed with too many items.

The basics that you will need would be t-shirts, shirts, cardigans or light knitwear, a pair of trousers and jeans, some cute dresses and skirts, tights and a nice coat/jacket or leather jacket. You can create many different looks with these pieces! I’m not including bags and shoes here as we need those for every season.

Go personalised

If you really want to embrace a unique spring aesthetic, then you could consider personalising some items of clothing. You can print designs that hold a personal relationship to spring in your heart, whether that’s a specific colour, pattern or flower.

You don’t have to be a textiles expert yourself to get this done. You can just send a design to a clothes printing service like Screen Textiles, and they’ll be able to do it all for you. They’ll also be able to provide you with an item to print on, and a range of different printing methods.

DIY is a big hit for the coming seasons as it’s so unique and personal, meaning nobody will have the same item as you, and giving life to older pieces of clothing is really sustainable.

Mix and match from different seasons

Lastly, remember that your wardrobe shouldn’t resemble a branded catalogue. You can absolutely have seasonal overlap, as it would make no sense at all to just abandon your winter items because a new time of year has arrived.

Whether you want to keep wearing your woollen socks for cold, spring morning walks, or you fancy hanging onto your thermal undergarments for just a bit longer before they go into storage, don’t jump into your spring outfits too quickly.

You may find yourself lacking in certain areas if you do so, and this is absolutely unnecessary. By following these basic tips, you should be able to find yourself a perfect range of spring outfits, without buying unnecessary items.

I usually swap out my seasonal clothing in my wardrobe, but always include a couple of items from the previous season, just for those unpredictable weather days! I’m also big on repeating items from the previous year. I will definitely be wearing most of my spring dresses and clothes from 2024 in 2025. That’s never a fashion faux pass for me as I always pick timeless items.