Comfy Spring Outfits You Can Wear Now And Later

It feels very weird to be writing about shopping for spring outfits right now. Something about buying a new sundress when people all across the country are losing their homes just seems ethically wrong. But at the same time, if you are financially able to shop a little, The New York Times and I agree that’s the best way to support your favorite retailers and make sure they are still in business when this is over. And because times are tough, a lot of stores are having mega sales right now (think 50% off new pieces!) so you get a lot of bang for your buck.

At the same time, I hope to goodness that you’re not going out in the world right now. And I’m not planning on socializing at all this spring or summer, so I want to make sure that anything I purchase has a classic feel to it that won’t feel outdated when I pull it out of my closet a year or two from now.

So, I’ve pulled together some of my favorite outfits with suggestions on how to style them now as you work, live, and play at home, and how you can dress them up in the future when we begin to transition to a new normal.

Flowy Maxi Dresses

I cannot get enough of this maxi dress. The length and cut cover all manner of sins (if you’ve been eating too many pancakes, for example) and the neckline is very flattering. I also love the back which is stretchy with criss-cross straps. I’d wear it now with a jean jacket and sneakers for a walk around the block or for cocktail hour in my driveway with neighbors. And when I have a real social life again, I’d wear it on a date with black wedges and a straw clutch.

Jumpsuits, Rompers, and Overalls

I know everyone is really into sweatsuit sets right now, but for a similar feel with a more put together vibe I love a good jumpsuit or romper. While I’m staying at home I’d wear one with some easy flat sandals, and when we are going out again, I’d throw on some wedges.

And we need to talk about overalls, too! If you haven’t jumped on the overalls bandwagon yet, now is the time. I wear mine with sneakers and a long-sleeved t-shirt in cooler weather, and a crop top and sandals in the summer.

Breezy Mini Dresses

I’m so sorry to say that this exact mini dress sold out before I could share it with you but this one is very similar. It is so light and easy that it feels just barely one step above pajamas, so something like this would be a great choice if you’ve developed an aversion to getting dressed. But at the same time, outfits like this will be great to dress up in the future with wedges and a clutch for a hot night out at an outdoor concert or something like that. You know, when activities like that exist again.

Little Black Dresses

I’ve been told before that I seem to have a little black dress for every occasion. And I do! Here are two of my favorites, a swingy shift, and a more form fitting dress, that work equally well for Zoom staff meetings or Friday nights out. For now I’d pair both of them with a long, soft sweater, like this classic cashmere one that I wear several times a week.

And right before lockdown began I got these cute sandals that would look great with almost all spring outfits. I was supposed to wear them on a vacation to the Dominican Republic that I had planned for late April. And now … oh, well.

Fancy Dress

Now let’s be real – there is absolutely no point in buying fancy dresses right now. But this dress is so perfectly me and it was almost 70% off, soooo … Now I know what I’ll be wearing on my first Sunday back at church, even if that’s next year!

So, if you need something to look forward to wearing, a sartorial light at the end of the tunnel, or even just a look for your fanciest Zoom gatherings, maybe you want to snap up a fancy dress while they’re on sale?

Oh, and if I looked good in red, I’d order this dress in a heartbeat.

So there you have it. My guide to dressing for the lives we have right now, and the lives we’re eager to get back to. Now I’m going to go put all my purses back in the basement, because it’s just too depressing to look at them every day.

How are you feeling about getting dressed these days? Are you putting on real clothes or just rotating between daytime pajamas and nighttime pajamas?