tran·si·tion
tranˈziSH(ə)n,tranˈsiSH(ə)n/
Transitioning into summer style for me often starts with my jewelry wardrobe. I take a break from the heavy link chains and bangle groupings that represent the classic part of my style personality and invite my inner boho princess to take residence for a while – although both feel authentic to me, the transition keeps me more relevant to the time of year. Summer officially begins when I breakout my collection of friendship bracelets and layer my vintage African trade beads with some chains and crystals. It’s a process that occurs over time however as the days get warmer and not a jolting calendar occurrence.
Transitions are just that – the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. One could argue that we are in a perpetual state of transition.
I picked up the July issue of Vogue and was reading an article about the new creative director of Hermes, Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski. There was a statement from her point of view in the article that caught my attention ~ “Fashion doesn’t change all the time — but you need to be relevant with your time.” Ms. Vanhee-Cybulski substantiates design direction changes to Hermes but I find her statement important to how we dress. Relevant with your time… I touch on the importance of being relevant with my clients when we assess what to keep and what to purge in their closets. There are items that will immediately date us and knowing when to flush those items out and add new “ relevant” pieces, keep us relatable to each other. Major fashion houses identify when they need to incorporate new ideas and inspiration in order to be relevant to their audience. I suggest doing the same in our own wardrobes but transitions should never be jarring. Tying one state to another means you find some common ground between the two identities. Just as creative directors honor the history of these brands as they transition them into a new era, we should honor our own histories of who we are in a similar manner in order to feel authentic.
In the world of fashion, transition clothing is the collection designers create to bridge seasons. From winter to spring, the clothing is brighter but the fabrics are still heavy. In the summer to fall, the prints get darker but the weight of the textiles remains light since the climate is still warm. In order to be “relevant with your time” or what the climate is, it’s important to identify these pieces in your own wardrobe. Sometimes they can seem confusing when you’re looking for something to wear and see a dark print in a sleeveless top or a short sleeve dress in a heavier knit in ivory. This is why it’s helpful to organize clothing in both lights to darks and by the weight of the fabric. In order to properly utilize your clothing, you need to next identify opportunities to wear these transition pieces. I try and point out transition items to my clients when working with them in their wardrobe. Many of us shop in the realm of immediacy and then seemingly have nothing to wear at certain times of the year. Creating scenarios for your wardrobe will help you utilize your clothing knowing you have something to wear in October on a day where the temperatures reach 85 degrees. The items that are hitting stores currently are the pieces that will satisfy a warm fall and keep you from feeling awkward in fluorescent tropical prints – the ones on sale and tempting you now!
