Transitioning Pieces Through the Seasons
By Brooke Keane
Pittsburgh's changing weather conditions can be tough on your wardrobe. It can go from bitter cold and snowy to sunny and 90 degrees in a matter of months, and dressing to fit the temperatures gets expensive when you have to buy new clothes every few months just to accommodate the weather. Luckily though, there are ways to effectively stretch your closet and in turn, your wallet. Here are five ways that every Pittsburgh woman can take her clothes from summer to winter or vice versa.
Scarves
Gap
5436 Walnut Street
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15232
(412) 683 8588
Not just for bundling anymore, scarves are more versatile than ever and can be sported year round. Typically the colder the weather, the heavier the scarf, while more lightweight scarves can easily make seasonal transitions. The pashmina, however, is the perfect weight to carry you from snowflakes to sunshine, plus they come in tons of patterns and colors. A pashmina with a colorful pattern will brighten up a dark winter coat or add some pop to a plain white tank. The Gap offers a variety of scarves in neutrals, solids and fun patterns. You can also find tons of colors and patterns right on Penn Ave. in the Strip District, most for under $10.
Shorts
Express - South Hills
301 S Hills Village
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15241
(412) 835 9560
After a long frigid winter, it's great to let your legs breathe and break out your shorts, but just because the weather cools down again after a few "short" months doesn't mean your legs have to go into hibernation! Try pairing your favorite denim cutoffs with a pair of patterned tights with boots for a rocker look. Or grab your classiest pair of dress shorts paired with heels for an alternative office outfit. Tights aren't just for skirts anymore! High-waisted or low-rise, shorts and tights is a great way to expand your wardrobe and add a little funkiness to your monotone winter outfits.
Boots
DSW Shoe Warehouse
451 Clairton Boulevard
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15236
(412) 655 7420
Boots are typically reserved for stomping through snow, but with so many styles of boots, you can strut through the seasons in certain pairs. If you're going to try and rock boots in warmer weather, don't wear them with pants, try them with skirts or dresses. Also, ankle boots work best, or any boot that you can easily roll down into an ankle or mid-calf height. Flat boots with a floral print skirt and bright top works well for day, while heeled boots with a solid cuff in a dark color work well with fancier skirts or dresses for night. Cuffed boots come in especially handy at night when the temperature drops, then you can just roll them back up! Boots with a peep-toe are also perfect for warm fall days when your toes need some air.
Sundresses
Jupe Boutique
2306 E. Carson Street
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15203
(412) 432 7933
Hours: Mon to Sat 11am - 7pm, Sun 12pm - 4pm
Sleeveless, short and usually with some sort of bright pattern or floral print, sundresses are a summer staple. Though certain patterns are hard to translate over to winter weather, others can pay off handsomely. For day, try a bright pair of colored tights in a color featured in the dress with flats and a cardigan (or a blazer if you're headed to the office) or give one of my personal favorite looks a try and pull on some legwarmers and tuck them into a pair of boots. If you're headed out for the night, pair darker tights (or leggings if it's especially chilly) with heeled boots and a denim or leather jacket: Sexy and reminiscent of the warmer months that are going to eventually appear again.
Vests
Nordstrom
1000 Ross Park Mall Drive
Pittsburgh, Pa. 15237
(412) 548 4300
So this one may be a little more obvious but vests can really easily transition from winter to summer and vice versa. No matter the vest, all business with buttons, funky with fringe or army-inspired, throwing a tank underneath for a fun summer outing is an easy way to dress up a simple tank, while putting a vest over a light sweater can add warmth while still making you look cool.
Of course you always have the obvious options of throwing a cardigan or jacket over a tank or cuffing your skinny jeans, but hopefully these tips gave you some options for not only expanding your wardrobe, but freshening it up with some new ideas while giving life to some of your older pieces.
Brooke Keane acquired a bachelor's degree in journalism from Pittsburgh's Point Park University where she served in several editorial positions on school weekly, The Globe. Since graduating, Brooke has blogged for online vintage clothing boutique Crazy Hot Clothes and tried her hand at some freelance work. First a writer and then a fashion-lover, Brooke can be found spending time at the mall, when she doesn't have her nose buried in an AP Stylebook.
