I’ve lived in a cold climate and I’ve lived in a hot one too.
A few weeks ago I was in the UK and it was really cold, which was pretty easy to dress for really as coming from Australia I just kept layering my thin-blooded body with every bit of warm clothing I could lay my hands on.
But in Australia, mid season dressing is a bit different, and in the South West, where we live, the weather can blow hot and cold as the season changes giving way to a blustery winter.
I’m loving this Covered Perfectly* fit and flare top at the moment which is proving a fabulous mid-season item. It goes with white or black pants and the longer arm length to the elbow is really flattering, so is the flare over hips and tum. For the slightly warmer weather we’re having at the moment, I’m teaming it with lightweight white pants and Frankie4 Sandals * with a black felt hat to shade my face from the sun.
This top can also be worn with Ponte Pants because it covers the bum nicely 😉 I’ve teamed it here with silver covered shoes to add a bit of sparkle – Frankie4 JENNiEs *.
I’ve grabbed a white scarf as an accessory …
Which can be double draped if needs be for a nice warm neck!
Covered Perfectly was started by Pauline Durban an English woman who moved to America. How she started the company is really interesting – anyway if you’d like to read about Pauline’s story or see the full range of flattering tops to buy one, you can … Here.
I love my mid season macs – I have two trench coats, one a cute, royal blue Danni Minogue from Target (below) and the other I’ve had for years, and can’t remember where it came from. It’s light beige and goes with everything.
I thoroughly recommend a light trench coat moving towards winter.
Getting the balance right with clothes in SWA can be a bit tricky, and it’s probably the same where you live, as it’s often too hot for a thick winter coat and too cool for a bolero type cardi, so I keep going with my summer wardrobe and a few additions until the weather takes a turn for the worse.
Mid season items I keep handy
Chunky knit cardi-coat
A long sleeved, delicate knit jumper.
Bolero cardigans
Lightweight fashion jackets
A light trenchcoat/mac – this is one of my favourite mid season staples as it’s warm enough and not too bulky
Flattering scarves – big ones that you can drape around your shoulders for warmth and thinner ones you can loop around your neck.
Rainy Days and Sundays
In the south west winter means rain for us. So a light rain poncho with a hood is generally stuffed into my handbag to cover any mad dashes I need to make from the car (I don’t like umbrellas).
How to refresh your wardrobe for winter
- Take all your clothes out of your wardrobe and put them on your bed.
- Separate your clothes into piles – dresses, pants, jeans, T’s, blouses, jackets, etc.
- Toss out anything that looks worn or tatty. This goes for shoes as well.
- Put your summer shoes into a storage container. I use big plastic containers (with lids) from Bunnings.
- Look at your clothes carefully. Take out anything which is definitely a summer item and unlikely to be worn in winter, make sure it’s clean, then fold it neatly and put it into a storage container for next year.
- Some summer dresses and skirts look cool with winter boots and tights – decide which of your dresses you will keep in your winter wardrobe and hang them up. Put the others into a storage container.
- White jackets will probably not look great with your winter wardrobe staples, but leather jackets, bright jackets and denim will – I like to wear them over long sleeved T’s or long sleeved shirts – then I dress them up with scarves whether it’s cold or not.
- Depending on which part of Australia you live in, you might want to store your T-shirts, cuts-offs and capri pants until next year.
- I store most of my short sleeve T-shirts and my white capri pants so that they feel like new next spring!
- When you’ve decided what you’ll keep, organise the garments in your wardrobe, either by colour or item, depending on how you like to look for things.
- I like to keep my dresses, pants, blouses and jackets in separate sections, EXCEPT if I have special outfits which I’ve bought specifically to be worn together because the colours go so well. These I try to keep in my ‘Outfits’ section. Yes, I’m not perfect – they do get muddled up as I mix and match.
Items marked * have been gifted to me for editorial consideration as per my Disclaimer policy.
Linking up with Jess at #iBot today
What’s your favourite mid-season or winter piece of clothing?
How Travel Can Empower You
I love this Blog/site its fantastic, however I live in the UK any chance of a basic winter wardrobe ideas…..? I have a seperate wardrobe for weekends away and holiday outfits (but not used much at all) and an everyday wardrobe and a casual sit around house wardrobe I am totally confused I am retired with grandkids but very fashionable and love to look good in Smart/casual but desperatley need help Thank you so much. You look fantastic
Thank you Jackie 🙂 I will have a think around this and let you know 🙂
Yep, time to go through my wardrobe and throw out my “what was I thinking” clothes. I need to take along a friend next time who can give me an honest opinion.
I know just what you mean, Maria 🙂
Sadly I’m in the midst of attempting to sell my place or I’d definitely be following these suggestions Jo. (But can’t make a mess!) If it sells quickly and I have to move it will be the perfect time to do a bit of an audit and rethink though.
Love that black and white top!
Hi Deborah, Oh I know what you’re going through. It’s so hard keeping a house in show home tidiness isn’t it. Let’s hope it sells quickly for the price you want, then you can have an audit, a chuck out and hopefully buy a few new key items when you get to your new house. Good luck!
I love that you have an outfits section in your wardrobe. That’s awesome.
It works ‘some’ of the time Bron 😉
I miss the days of living in a climate cool enough for coats!! I barely need one as it is in winter.
Oh I know what you mean Vanessa – tropics or sub tropics are lovely, but I would miss my seasons.
Lovey items! I love my trench coats. I live in Melbourne and it is IMPOSSIBLE to predict what the weather is going to do from one moment to the next. Today is really windy and the wind is like ice, but when it lets up for 10-15 minutes at a time, it almost feels warm. Impossible! #teamIBOT
Oh dear Emily, Melbourne might be one of the most liveable cities in the world but I don’t know that they took into account its unpredictable climate! Can imagine trench coats would be just the ticket!
My black pont pants at the moment are my favourite, and I was told recently I had nice legs, so even more reasons to wear them. I do need to find a longer line wintery top to go with them though. My best fashion clean out tip is to have a garage sale. It makes you sort through your gear. What is left after the sale bag up and take to a charity shop. I’m favouring our local Red Cross shop at the moment. They are grateful for what I bring in.
So glad you enjoy your ponte pants Jill (me, I do too) and of course you have lovely legs! I love your fashion tip and it is great to support a deserving charity.
That Covered Perfectly top looks great on you 🙂 I am longing for the cooler weather to arrive – have got my winter wardrobe ready for action (on the blog today) but it’s still too hot to actually wear it!
I also love the cooker weather Janet. Will pop over and have a look at your suggestions later too
Hi Jo, I too love the black and white top with the black pants. I wore my coat today, winters sprung x
Hi Rae, I know winter arrived today in a jiffy with no warning. Thanks for saying which you liked better 🙂
Love the black and white top with the ponte pants. They rock.
Hello Jan, and thank you. Seems the pontes win again 🙂
Love the black and white top Jo, particularly with the black pants, ‘fraid I can’t do white pants 🙂 And what a brilliant idea on how to sort your clothes – guess I’ve got something to do on the weekend!
Thanks Pam. Oh dear, I hope it can be a fun job!
I like the idea of packing up your summer clothes during the colder months. It certainly would free up a lot of space in your wardrobe. I might have to do this. I like your black & white Covered Perfectly top. I have a similar one in black & teal and you have now reminded me to find it and wear it again! Because we haven’t had any cooler days just yet, except maybe a few days hovering around 25 degrees, I haven’t thought too much about winter clothing. I have been wearing a button down knee length denim skirt that I purchased from Seed a few weeks ago. It looks great teamed up with a peasant blouse.
Hi Kathy, yup the freeing up of space is a biggie in most households these days I think. And once those clothes are packed up *most* of the time, you don’t think of them again until the next season. Your weather sounds a little bit perfect at the moment!