spring fever: tips for transitional dressing

We've moved the clocks forward and the weather is supposed to be in the 50's this week here in New York, which means one thing...I've officially caught spring fever. Although I'm ready to break out the sundresses and go tights-free, we're not quite there yet. 

This might not surprise you considering I do most of my shopping at second hand stores, but I'm really cheap when it comes to buying clothes. There are sometimes exceptions, but in general, I usually don't spend more than $40 on an individual item. I blame this on working retail at J.Crew and getting such a big discount, it made me not want to pay full price for anything, ever. With all the end of the season sales going on right now, its tempting to make discounted purchases, but I'm not a fan of buying something that I have to save until next year to wear. 

One of my favorite vintage inspired brands, May 68, recently sent me some pieces from their fall/winter collection. May 68 is a 60’s inspired brand that is designed and manufactured in LA. They seriously create the grooviest pieces and everything is amazing quality. I love the fact that their clothes are ethically made and the quality is still exceptional (because the two aren’t always mutually exclusive). They sent me this plaid skirt and detachable collar I am wearing in these photos, as well as another dress I will share soon. Although this plaid skirt definitely feels fall, I styled it with a bit of spring in mind. I thought I would share some tips as well for how to style your off season purchases so you can get some wear out of them now.

•legwear makes all the difference 
Styling this skirt with black tights would have been a no brainer, but it would have definitely felt heavy and dark, so I opted for white knee high socks instead. Since it was cold (only a high of low 40's) when I shot this look, I decided to add tan pantyhose underneath the socks for an extra layer of warmth. The same rule can be applied for wearing spring/summer stuff in the fall. Adding tights to a floral dress can easily make a summery dress feel more fall appropriate.

•pass on anything that's too holiday 
There are certain things I don't consider worth buying this late in the season. Anything that scream holiday, like fur, sequins and velvet, I wouldn't buy at this point (unless it's a classic silhouette you know you'll wear next year).

•add accessories 
Adding the right accessories can also make a difference. I thought this daisy bag would add to the sixties spring vibes I was going for. 

If you’d like to shop my skirt, you can find it here:
https://www.may-68.com/collections/sale/products/nancy-skirt 

If you’d like to shop the rest of the sale, click here:
https://www.may-68.com/collections/sale  

Happy Shopping!

Skirt & Collar: C/O May 68
Sweater: Century 21; Loafers: Eastland Shoe; Bag: Dandy Boutique; Bow; Claires
Location: Casa Magazines (West Village, Manhattan)