Take Notes—This Is How to Rewear 7 Items From Your Winter Wardrobe in Spring

As much as I love to shop (which comes with the territory of being a shopping editor), I want to cut back on unnecessary purchases. When each season rolls around, two things are inevitable: 1) There will be a drastic change in weather, and 2) the shops will be full of exciting new purchases, so my usual instinct is to pack away everything I wore in the preceding three months and refresh my wardrobe with some shiny new seasonal purchases. But not anymore. 

At Who What Wear, we advocate for smart shopping, and that includes investing in the kind of purchases that will last far longer than a season. So while we're thinking about the sunnier spring ahead, instead of relegating my winter clothes to the back of the wardrobe until the end of the year, I'm taking it all with me into the next few months. (Granted, it is still pretty cold outside.) And as it turns out, some of the key pieces we wore all winter actually make some brilliant spring options.

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(Image credit: @jordanrisa)

In order to help you better organise (or should I say "spring clean") your wardrobe, I pulled out some of winter's most important pieces and made them wearable for spring with just a handful of clever buys. (You should even be able to apply this method to summer and autumn.) So if, like mine, your wardrobe is still full of chunky knits, sensible boots and fuss-free basics, keep scrolling to find seven new ways to wear your winter clothes in spring. I promise you it's a time saver. 

1. HOW TO REWEAR A TURTLENECK IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE IT IN WINTER
(Image credit: @valerialipovetsky)

Style Notes: Ah, the turtleneck. Perennial style icon and practical layering piece. In winter, the turtleneck came into its own under shirts, dresses and knitted vests, but with a sunnier season ahead of us, it's time to peel back the layers. The best solution to transitional dressing is sleeveless knitwear. Warm enough to feel the benefit of the wool but still with enough ventilation to keep you cool, all you need to add is the other star of the season, the trench coat, and you've got enough lightweight layers to tackle anything the weather throws at you, rain or shine. 

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HOW TO WEAR IT FOR SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR)

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2. HOW TO REWEAR KNEE-HIGH BOOTS IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE THEM IN WINTER
(Image credit: @chrissyford)

Style Notes: I don't know about you, but I spent the majority of last year counting down to when I could wear knee-high boots again. Sure, flats are comfortable, but there's something about a tall boot that makes any look feel instantly more polished, and that goes for casual, mild-weather outfits too. Swap out layers of wool for denim and cotton, and by adding a satin midi skirt, you've got an outfit that can easily go from desk to dinner. 

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HOW TO WEAR THEM FOR SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR )

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3. HOW TO REWEAR LEGGINGS IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE THEM IN WINTER
(Image credit: @emmarosestyle)

Style Notes: In all fairness, leggings are all-year-rounders, but it was in the autumn and winter of last year we realised their full potential. On the days when you don't want to have to zip into tight, unyielding jeans, leggings are the perfect versatile base for any look, and while we relied on thick coats and ankle boots for winter, it's time for a fresher update. Ballet pumps are the flat shoes that go with anything, and with leggings, they're a match made in heaven. Take some tips from French styling, and pair two-toned pumps with leggings and a belted jacket, et voilà—a chic assemble that looks like you spent ages getting ready.

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HOW TO WEAR THEM IN SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR )

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4. HOW TO REWEAR A CARDIGAN IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE IT IN WINTER
(Image credit: @annaaborisovna)

Style Notes: A good cardigan is one of the those pieces you'll never regret buying. They're perfect in spring, a saviour on summer evenings when a jacket is too much, great as a jumper in autumn and easy to layer up in winter. What's not to love? I'm rewearing cardigan that I've been relying on for the last five months with a satin slip as a cosier evening option. Throw on a trench or a leather jacket if there's still a chill in the air, and enjoy your evening in comfort and style. 

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HOW TO WEAR IT IN SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR)

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5. HOW TO REWEAR JEANS IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE THEM IN WINTER
(Image credit: @modedamour )

Style Notes: It's been quite the year for the humble jeans. After they had an unexpected runway reinvention, we were almost convinced that the only jeans worth wearing would be low-waisted, low-slung, supersized and baggy, but let's face it, dragging hemlines are not a good pairing with wet British winters. Despite the general move towards noughties inspired denim, we're still loyal to one of the most classic cuts on the market: the straight leg. And unlike the divisive skinny or supersized flare, these jeans go with everything you already have in your wardrobe, so all you need is a couple of brighter accessories to bring indigo denim into springtime territory.

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HOW TO WEAR THEM IN SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR )

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6. HOW TO REWEAR A BLAZER IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE IT IN WINTER
(Image credit: @babba)

Style Notes: Is there anything that a blazer can't do? I'd argue that any piece that dresses up everything from a slip dress to a plain white tee is worth its weight in gold, and the fact that some of the blazers in my wardrobe are at least five years old is a testimony to their longevity. The new classic is a boxy, oversized fit that we gratefully wore with chunky knits last year, but now its most stylish pairing is a slinky, understated midi dress, the very definition of high/low, business/casual dressing.

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HOW TO WEAR IT IN SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR )

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7. HOW TO REWEAR CHUNKY CHELSEA BOOTS IN SPRING

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HOW WE WORE THEM IN WINTER
(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen)

Style Notes: It seems as though everyone had the same style checklist this winter: a puffer coat, a neutral knit, easy leggings and chunky boots, and if you're wondering how to get much more wear out of your go-to uniform, it's time to polish your boots. The perfect accompaniment to thick-soled and sturdy Chelsea boots? A dreamy, romantic dress of course, and spring is full of the ruffles, florals and pastels that make this season feel like a welcome reset after a very grey winter. Just carry a knit to tie around your shoulders, and you're good to go. 

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HOW TO WEAR THEM IN SPRING
(Image credit: WHO WHAT WEAR )

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Up Next, 9 Wardrobe Staples That Are Officially Trend-Proof

Fashion Editor

Remy Farrell is a London-based shopping editor with nearly 10 years of editorial experience covering fashion, beauty and lifestyle. After graduating with a journalism degree and working on the editorial and fashion teams for titles such as Grazia, Elle, Cosmopolitan and British Vogue, she moved into the luxury e-commerce sector, working as fashion assistant at TheOutnet.com styling for the social media channels and helping to develop the collections for the in-house brand Iris & Ink. After expanding an assisting and styling portfolio that includes shooting talent such as Gigi Hadid, Victoria Beckham and Miquita Oliver, she also branched out into beauty, creating tried-and-tested reviews and diverse beauty content.

In her role as shopping editor at Who What Wear, Remy is interested in discovering new and exciting brands to share with the Who What Wear readership and particularly loves uncovering hidden gems at affordable prices to make shopping accessible to everyone.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Yorkshire, Remy moved to London in 2014 and lives in the Docklands with her partner and pug Billie.