BRITISHVAGUE: THE REALIST'S GUIDE TO SPRING DRESSING

Coat: Alexon at John Lewis, Sweatshirt: asos, Jeans: New Look, Shoes: Next, Bag: River Island, Sunglasses: River Island, Necklace: asos, Rings: H&M

It's Spring! Wonderful Spring. I've yearned for you for months. Time to get out the straw hat, Breton top, and go for a picnic... Right? Well, not really. Because this, as I have come to realise over the past month, is what can be diagnosed as The Spring Fantasy. The Spring Fantasy is a phenomena which afflicts a large proportion of the British population. Symptoms include waking up from the 1st March onward expecting to be greeted with sunshine and birdsong, and deeming anything over 15 degrees 'ice cream weather'. Today has actually been rather beautiful (say whaaat?!), but on the whole, the actuality of Spring is a much damper and chillier affair. So what are we to do on those days where Reality doesn't live up to the Fantasy? And more importantly, what are we to wear if not straw hats and Breton tops?

Step forward today's outfit; a look warm enough for those more Wintry days, but with Springtime hints. Because who's to say we can't look good when Spring does let us down? And who's to say that just because it's chilly, we can't indulge in some of our Springtime stylistic fantasies? No one! That's who! So this year, we're gonna stick it to the man.

I've opted for the following 'F U Spring, I'm wearing it anyway' touches:

1. Shades. (Even when the sun's not really shining, these River Island sunny-Gs make me at least feel like it is.)

2. White. (Fresh, light, and airy, white clothes are what Spring ought to be. So I'm wearing this asos sweatshirt to remind the weather of that fact.)

3. Strappy shoes. (Because my poor feet need to roam wild after months caged in boots - like chickens, they're happier free range.)

Trusty denims and a big black coat bring us back to reality/save me from pneumonia. The coat - channelling vampire hunters, Sherlock, and Michelle Pfeiffer c. 1988 simultaneously - was such a good investment. I'm a big fan of long coats and you can chuck this Alexon babe over anything - ANYTHING - and it'll instantly amp up your sophistication levels. It's also very warm, which is kind of the point here: it lets us do our Spring thing without risking hypothermia.

It's where Reality meets the Fantasy.

Vaguely,

Elizabeth x