It’s that time of year when you don’t know what to wear: spring. We get bits and pieces of spring in between cold and rainy days, when the weather doesn’t know what to do. But, in Toronto, when spring actually comes, it typically lasts all of 3-4 weeks in a row.

If you’re like me, your closet is set up for one season or another. In the Fall, I put away my warm weather clothing in the basement. Because I’m always cold, my winter clothing consists of lightweight, long-sleeved t-shirts and a sweater or blazer. For six months of the year, I have to wear two long-sleeved layers of clothing, including some kind of wool top. So, when it’s those in-between temps like we’re having now, I find myself turning to thin wool sweaters or thick cotton sweaters.

That’s where the cardigan in this post comes in. It’s a thick-knit cotton cardigan so it has some structure and weight and acts as a blazer-like top, giving the outfit a smart casual look. It’s perfect for wearing now. It might be hard to tell in the photos, but it’s all navy, except for the black 2-inch detailing around the neck, sleeves, and placket. The two-toned knit makes it easy to pair the cardigan with jeans, navy, or black pants.

I’m wearing this with an oxford faux wrap tie top. It’s a ‘faux’ wrap in that the ties in the front are just for decoration. They’re sewn into the side seams of the shirt and you tie them in the front. Otherwise, the shirt is a full button-down under the ties. You may have seen this faux wrap style on other items of clothing this past winter, like sewn into sweaters or dresses. And, you’ll see it in summer clothing as well. It’s kind of a fun detail.

As the weather warms up, I know I’ll be wearing this cardigan with t-shirts and tank tops. I can’t wait!

What do you reach for this time of year as the weather gets warmer?

(Cardigan: Autumn Cashmere; Faux-wrap top: H&M)