Five key Spring layering pieces every closet needs

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This time of year it’s very common for me to receive an email or DM along these lines: “What are your key Spring layering pieces I need to own? What are the key Spring closet items I should buy?” I figured it is time to compile my recommendations into a post that you can refer to any time!

When writing this post I’m focusing on people who live in 4-season territory. Where the cold and snow melts around April or May finally giving way to blushing blooms and warmer temperatures. As I write this it’s March and some of my friends down South already have early season tree blooms and are rapidly shedding layers to shorts and tank tops. Up here in NYC it will be another few weeks before trees and flowers bloom, and there may be a surprise cold day or week yet to come in April and May.

No matter where you live though we all struggle with frigid office air conditioners and the occasional chilly evening, right? So hopefully this post helps you arm your wardrobe with the key Spring layering pieces every woman should own!

1. A moto jacket.
Whether leather, faux leather, knit or tweed, a moto jacket is a must and a modern classic every lady should have at the ready. Personally I’m right on the border of owning too many moto jackets. They’re so hard to resist! Especially when each year brings cute new twists on a very classic shape.

No longer are leather moto jackets our only option. These days you can find plenty of knit options and so many other materials. No longer do they just come in a solid neutral like black or camel. Last year I invested in a beautiful lilac moto jacket and this year I found myself drawn to one in buttercup yellow.

These days it’s acceptable to wear a moto jacket over just about anything, from a blouse for work to a tee shirt for the weekend. You can even wear it over a dress for a very on-trend take.

When looking for the right moto jacket for you, here are some things to consider:

• If this is your first moto jacket what color will work best with your wardrobe? Black and dark brown will be your most versatile options and can be worn year-round, but a bright color like pink or light blue might be better for Spring
• Length is important. Do you plan to wear your moto with jeans? Look for a longer jacket that hits over the hips. Over dresses? A cropped moto will do great. With anything and everything? Look for something in the middle, that is not cropped but not super long either.

 

 

2. A long-sleeve henley.
The henley doesn’t get enough love these days! Which is odd to me because it’s one of the perfect key Spring layering pieces. It’s a perfect midweight layer that doesn’t add heft to an outfit. Cute buttons right up near the neckline draw attention to our lovely faces. Henleys can play any role from base layer to middle layer to top layer.

Henleys come in all kinds of sleeve length and neckline styles, but for my layering purposes I’m specifically thinking of long sleeve henleys with buttons up to the neckline. They can either be functional buttons like on this super-soft tee, or more decoration like this cashmere blend henley or this beautifully adorned option. On colder days a thermal henley is fantastic; I like this waffled option. I also appreciate henleys with pretty design touches like the sleeves on this henley or this one.

Mostly, I love to wear my long-sleeve henleys with a button or two open and a cute scoopneck tank top underneath. This combination allows for mixing and matching of prints, colors, whatever. Henleys look great under moto jackets! Or any jacket for that matter. An easy sleek work outfit for me is leggings + henley + blazer. It’s easy to see why henleys are one of my key Spring layering pieces. Three minutes and I’m done! Can’t really beat that.

 

 

3. Cardigans (long and short).
Much like henleys, cardigans can be either a middle layer or a top layer. That versatility makes them a necessary piece for any Spring closet! Getting dressed for work or a date is easy when I can throw on a dress and add a cardigan that’s nearly the same length for a put-together effortless outfit. Heck, some cardigans can even be dresses themselves when worn closed!

When it comes to cardigans I have a few different characteristics I like to look for. This time of year the marriage of warmth and breathability is important to me, so materials like fleece are a soft and comfortable cocoon to wrap myself in. I adore this cardigan for its pretty color options, and this one for its circle shape that wraps me up in a soothing yet stylish way. This cardigan is technically a jacket, but it’s shape and drape when open read cardigan all the way to me!

Shorter cardigans are excellent for taking a simple outfit from casual to work-ready. Though I mainly prefer buttons on my cardigan, this open option in a thin knit and this thicker option are both living in my office right now, ready for any unexpected meeting that may come way in a chilly conference room! Details like side ties or belts lift cardigans up from ordinary to special pieces.

Sometimes all you need is a pack of basic cardigans to throw on for errands; other times fun details are called for. And sometimes, you just want a lot of buttons for a body-skimming look! Snap buttons seem to be quite a trend right now — I also really like this long snap-button v-neck cardigan and this one as well. No one should miss out on a cardigan or three, one of the most important (and most fun!) key Spring layering pieces.

 

4. A white cami. 
Whether on the sexier side or the more work-appopriate side, no closet is complete without a few camis inside. Camisoles look amazing under blazers or cardigans and often have pretty details like lace, pleats, or a combination of both!

Of course, you can wear camis in any color. There’s just something so classic about white and ivory though! I personally am wearing the combination of this longer cami with this oversized knit jacket to work very often these days.

When looking for a work-ready cami, you’ll want to make sure that the neckline is higher and the cami comes down to at least your hip hips. To avoid looking like lingerie details like embroidery or buttons help a lot. For casual you can go any number of ways! I love to wear this cami under my moto jackets, and this longer eyelet cami also looks spectacular under a coat.

 

 

5. The Field Jacket.
Known under a few different names, the Field Jacket takes a masculine style and softens it in a lovely way for womenswear. The very similar anorak and utility jacket also fall into this must-have category for me — they add an air of purpose to outfits that pleases me to no end.

When it comes to the field jacket, I usually either look for classic stylings like waxed jackets or funnelnecks as the first closet addition. Then I might append it with some more feminine details, like camo in an unexpected color or tie sleeves or a peplum.

I love styling my field jackets over lacey camis and dresses — especially white ones. Certainly the field jacket also looks amazing over striped tops, solid-colored tees and Summery tank tops. Whatever you put your field jacket over, make sure it hits around your mid-hip for the best silhouette, unless you want a cropped version to wear over dresses.

 

What items do you consider to be a must-have for Spring? What are your key Spring layering pieces? If you’re looking for shoe pairings, check out this recent shoe trend post. And if you think it would be fun to shop with me in person for some of these ideas, head over to this post for details about a very special shopping event!