JOANNE WATKINSON
WON’T GET FOOLED AGAIN - WISING UP TO ‘SPRING’
How are you enjoying Fool’s Spring?
If you are of the sensible variety, the type who wears their winter coat until the heating is turned off for summer, you may never have heard of Fool’s Spring. Count yourself lucky not to have been left windburnt and blue by its deviance.
Fool’s Spring is the season that comes after winter, but before actual spring, when you look outside and the sun is shining, skies are blue and before you leave the house, the sound of the birds tweeting confirms your hope that winter is over and spring is finally here. You reach for your sunglasses, ignore your beanie, gloves and scarf, overlook your quilted coat, dismiss anything that resembles fleece, fluff or represents warmth or cosiness, and you head out into the world in a blazer or a wisp of a coat, no cumbersome layers holding you back, for spring is here.
I’m not the only one who has been caught out by Fool’s Spring. I know this because on these bright sunny days when I have been fooled by the blue skies into believing the temperature is higher than it is, I have witnessed other women (not because men can’t be fooled but because men don’t have so much of an obvious seasonal wardrobe switch up), like me.
There they are wearing sunglasses, chatting, pulling their lightweight jackets tightly around them to preserve any warmth, tucking their gloveless hands into their pockets to spare them from the bitter chill that is quite clearly still of the winter variety.
Woe betide anyone still outside in their Fool’s Spring outfit once the sun goes down, that’s when it gets really dangerous. If you have ever had to thaw yourself out after a day wearing a Fool’s Spring look, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Between now and actual spring, it’s about navigating the weather without admitting defeat – that would be going back to full winter garb, ankle length puffa coat and boots, and it’s too late for that.
This time of year is when hidden layers come into their own hidden.
Thermals below a sweatshirt, or a cardigan over a T-shirt offering up blessed warmth, as do gilets layered over a blazer, and I have my eye on a natty fleece waistcoat that can be worn on its own later on.
Hat-wise, this is when I switch to a cap to keep my head warm, keeping my beanies for dog walks, school runs and anything involving hills or mountains.
Chunky scarves I will exchange for a sweater tied over my shoulders. If you have knitwear that’s gone bobbly or has a hole in, this gives it a new lease of life. It’s no longer the territory of golfers, it’s officially a street-style trend, while socks or a colourful bag are great ways to bring in seasonal colours.
See, we’re no fools, we’re just well prepared.