It’s Spring!

According to the calendar, it’s spring. Actually, with climate change we might still have a blizzard. But let’s think positive.

With spring we have blazers, sandals, and spring coats. You might think “What’s a Spring coat?” For my younger readers, spring coats were light-weight coats that were worn in the spring; when we actually had four distinct seasons. Now spring and fall just seem to morph into summer and winter.

I always had a spring coat. My parents would take me shopping for a beautiful spring coat just “like the big girls wear.” All fashionable women had them. Now we wear raincoats and blazers. I suppose it’s more practical.

I love taking advantage of the warmer weather to wear lovely pastels and bright colors. But then, even in winter I wear bright colors and pastels. 

Do you have long satin gloves? I think they’re lovely but I wouldn’t know where to wear them. Unless, of course, you have a part on Downton Abbey—Lady Mary wears hers all the time.

Actually, when I think about it, I sometimes wear long kid gloves in winter. So why shouldn’t you wear long satin ones? If you have them, wear them! They can add a special touch to an otherwise plain outfit, or perhaps a vintage dress. And no one said that you have to keep them on all the time. You might just choose to make an entrance, have a drink, and then take them off.

If you’re invited to a garden party, by all means accept and dress festively. A short cocktail dress, but nothing too spangly or over-the-top. A lovely summer dress is fine. It’s funny, I wouldn’t wear black to a garden party but I have worn black to a summer wedding. You’re not supposed to, but each time I have, I received many compliments. I’ve heard of brides putting their bridesmaids in black, so why not?

Getting back to coats, rainy spring days call for a chic raincoat, of which I have several, all trenches. I think nothing has the dash and style of a trenchcoat. But I also love blazers and I have quite a collection. Every time I see a beauty, I have to buy it.

I wear blazers with skirts, dresses, and pants. A beautifully cut blazer and a pair of jeans with elegant accessories make a very chic outfit. If you really want to look chic in pants, think about a man’s dinner jacket and matching pants.

Buy something you’ve never worn before or a color you’ve never worn and try it. It’s spring!

Miriam Silverberg is a freelance writer and owner of Miriam Silverberg Associates, a boutique publicity agency in Manhattan. She may be reached at [email protected].