If there’s one fashion “rule” I’ve happily ignored over the years, it’s the idea that clothes belong to a single season.
Floral dresses?
Apparently, they’re supposed to hibernate once the temperature drops. But in the words of a smart woman (me), I say, HOGWASH. Instead, we are going to become kids again and have fun with the idea of “how to wear a floral dress in winter”.
Quote of the day: “Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.” Unknown
Most of us already own pieces that could work year-round if we stop letting the calendar dictate our style. I’ve heard all the arguments for putting away our summer things, including that they feel new again when you pull them out of hibernation.
But as someone who doesn’t have an extra closet for that kind of thinking, I thought it would be a good brain activity to get creative with how to wear a floral dress in winter.
And once I decided to play with this, I invited Mireille to play along. We have the same dress, so you can get loads of ideas.
Insider tip: Your dress is different, I realize, but until you go into your closet and try a bunch of options, you won’t know if the ideas will work or not. Think of it as physical Exercise (because trying on different clothing can be good stretching and balancing) AND a brain puzzle exercise.
This dress was originally styled seven different ways as a convertible, summer-friendly piece (you can see that post here).
Instead of thinking I should wait until warmer weather to wear it, I took my advice to be the boss of my clothes.
That mindset led to three creative, cold-weather outfits, all using the same floral dress, just styled differently with layers, texture, and intention.
And yes…some people might call this “too much” or “a little out there.”
I call it fun.
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Before we dive into the outfits, let’s address the bigger idea.
Florals aren’t seasonal.
Color isn’t seasonal.
What is seasonal is fabric weight, layering, and styling choices.
Remembering this will help you get more mileage out of your closet.
Instead of asking “Is this a winter item?”
Try asking “What can I add to make this winter-appropriate?”
That shift in thinking changes everything.
We’ve done this in the past with
–Tank Tops
–Summer dresses
–Transition a summer dress to winter
One reason I chose this dress as my example is that it’s a dark floral…I thought that would make it an easier transition for you to imagine yourself trying these ideas.
But a light colored dress would work for you as well. Just like I did recently in this video.
This first look is a perfect example of utilizing what you already have but using it differently.
Any dress can be styled with a sweater over it. It’s the secret sauce to make the dress look like a skirt.
I’ve shown this in the past
–long ago
–on a cruise
To give it the “extra” that I adore, I even wore a polka dot sweater with the floral dress. Print mixing may be considered advanced styling, but once you start practicing, it’s super fun and creative.
But the real challenge? What do I do with those statement sleeves?
Well, I pulled them up, wrapped them around my neck, and made them look like a matching scarf. It creates intention as well as a cozy element.
This is one of those moments creativity beats consumption.
This is how to wear a floral dress in winter without losing personality while staying warm.
Details:
-This purse was a gift from Valerie. It was made out of three different men’s ties. It’s the perfect example of how to recycle and reuse.
-I knitted these wristlets recently.
-If it were really cold, you could easily wear fleece tights under the dress.
Now let’s talk layering like a boss.
For this outfit, I leaned fully into winter by:
In this idea of how to wear a floral dress in winter, the dress becomes a wonderful blouse or topper.
You can see this idea
–with the original crew
–over a white dress with multiple skirts
Pro tip: I like to think that we can layer skirts as easily as we layer tops and jackets. Combining 2 or more skirts can be such a fun way to change up your closet.
BTW, I left the dress hanging below the skirt a tidge just for fun, but you could pull it up under the belt if you didn’t want it to show.
The skirt adds structure and weight, which is key when styling summer fabrics in colder months. Light, clingy dresses suddenly feel seasonally appropriate when anchored by heavier textures.
This is one of my favorite examples of how summer pieces don’t need to disappear; they only need the right partners.
The other partners in this outfit are the turtleneck and booties.
Details:
-That flower at the “v” of my dress is the extra material from the sleeves after wrapping them around my arms. Then I used a gold pin to keep it in place.
-I bought this gold purse at a local shop where she is a jewelry wholesaler, which is why her items are so inexpensive.
This might be my favorite trick of all.
Because this floral dress is thin, stretchy, and clingy, I pulled it up and wore it as a top instead of a dress. This isn’t much different than #2 except you can wear it with pants or jeans this way.
I kept the same turtleneck under the floral dress, but it would be easy to style other options.
Most people would never guess this “top” started life as a dress.
Isn’t that half the fun? It’s like you are a magician this way.
This is how to stretch your wardrobe without buying more and feeling good about your purchases.
Details:
-I think this guitar purse is the absolute cherry on top of any outfit. I found it at Just Be Youtiful boutique, and while she doesn’t have any others, I did find some on Poshmark (if this one isn’t available when you click, just search for red guitar purse).
-These embroidered booties were thrifted when we were in Idaho 2 summers ago. You can find them on Poshmark, too.
Every one of these outfits started with the same question: how to wear a floral dress in winter?
With a bit of layering, tucking, and getting creative, you’ve just opened a whole new world of styling from your existing closet.
Being the boss of your clothes means:
It also means understanding that style isn’t about perfection. I have shown many of my outfit “failures” on my Daily Outfit posts, and it’s the best way to learn what works and doesn’t work.
The important thing to remember is that you are dressing for your own benefit.
Some people will think they’re “too much.” Others will not appreciate the creativity.
But it’s really only you that matters.
Because if getting dressed brings you joy, creativity, and confidence, then you’re doing it right.
If you take one thing away from this post, let it be this:
Most summer items can be worn in winter with the right layering and a little imagination.
Don’t forget to check out Mireille’s ideas that she styled from her closet.
A floral dress doesn’t need to be boxed into one season or only one way of wearing it. With sweaters, skirts, turtlenecks, and even jeans, you can reinvent pieces you already own.
Because when you start being the boss of your clothes and think “fun” instead of “flattering”, that’s when style gets bold and unique.
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The post How to Wear a Floral Dress in Winter (Yes, Even That One) appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
