The Art of Transitional Dressing
The Art of
Transitional Dressing
words by Zoë Kendall
IMAGES by Marina Denisova
As Winter melts into Spring, the days become longer and the skies a little bluer. But the change of season also brings weather patterns that can be unpredictable. Cold mornings turn into sweltering afternoons and rain showers erupt from clear skies. The constant back and forth is dizzying, to say the least. The key to weathering these conditions, however, is mastering the art of transitional dressing.
Like the turning of the seasons, transitional dressing is about transformation. It’s a way-of-dress that allows us to pass comfortably from one state to another. Layering is one way to achieve this: piling on and peeling off clothes lets us adapt to sudden temperature changes. It also gives us the opportunity to re-contextualize our favourite pieces.
Wrapping ourselves up in layers of knitwear -- like our fluffy chenille Rosée polo and fine cashmere Niwa pullover -- brings us warmth during cold snaps. It also brings us comfort. Having an extra layer to throw on (or take off) is reassuring, like carrying an umbrella or our Kasa bucket hat in your purse during the rainy season. And when draped around the shoulders or tied around the waist, an extra sweater is much more than a cold-weather security blanket; it’s a handsome accessory, too.
Like the Spring, the act of layering brings a sense of renewal to our wardrobes. When the forecast calls for doubling up on our tops and bottoms, new pairings emerge. Our Nami maxi dress, once worn on its own, looks extra cosy with our Ombre culottes peeking out the bottom. The soft shape of a mock neck collar complements a spread collar’s straight edges quite nicely. As does a pair of fluffy socks with some leather sandals.
ROSÉE polo in Matcha, NIWA sweater and KYANDORU pants in Eggshell.
Layering colours and textures also adds new dimension to our closet staples. Our thick Jisho polo highlights the sheer quality of our Kumo pullover, and vice versa. Icy white warms up next to tangerine orange, while mist grey mellows lemon yellow.
Sometimes the act of transformation is built into the garment, itself. The slitted sleeves of our Hakate sweater can be worn on or off the arms, providing us with the comfort of transitional layering without the layers, themselves.
And as much as layering conceals, it also reveals. Beneath two (or even three) layers, we find new ways to show glimpses of ourselves. The slit of our Aro skirt displays a pair of our Orage leggings. Our vented Onsen sweater reveals the outline of a knit-covered hip. Our cropped Givre pants show just a bit of ankle. Like layering up, removing these layers is equally delightful. Shedding our garments lets us enjoy Spring’s warmth, even when sunny days are few and far between.
Finally, transitional dressing marks the passing of time, the continuous passage into the future. Just as the seasons are constantly evolving into something new, so are we.
ARO skirt in Persimmon, HAKATE sweater in Eggshell, and ORAGE leggings in Eggshell.
MIRAGE hat and JISHO polo in Eggshell, KUMO sweater and GIVRE pants in Pale Blue.
NAMI dress in Matcha, NIWA sweater and OMBRE pants in Eggshell.