Peel away winter like an onion

Spring is drawing near and with the hint of warmer weather, you may be tempted to cast off your heavy winter clothing. However, with unpredictable drops in temperature and Boston's staggering winds, you can't put away all your winter clothes just yet. The transition from winter to spring is an awkward time in fashion -- it's all about balancing comfort, practicality, and, of course, style.

The most important concept to follow this time of year is layering. This is by far the most practical way to approach extreme temperature fluctuations characteristic. Layering is a difficult concept for many because it requires a greater level of coordination between multiple garments. Also, the frump-risk runs higher are higher as one dons more clothes.

Layering, therefore, must be approached with great care and preparation. You may be asking, "Who has time for that?" Well, the easiest solution is to build an arsenal of basic items in different weights that can be easily mixed and matched. Everything should work alone or together so that you can add and subtract layers depending on the temperature throughout the day.

A nice solid-colored tee-shirt is a great place to start. I'm not talking about a flimsy undershirt here. Try to find one made out of a nicer, heavier fabric which will look great by itself or worn under something else. If you find a style you like, I recommend buying several colors at a time. Black, grey and white are always appropriate, but the bottom layer can also add a hint of color to your ensemble. Thus, a bright tee-shirt can look quite exciting peaking out from under a button-down shirt or v-neck sweater.

Speaking of sweaters, there are multiple factors that one must consider when selecting a sweater for layering. Crew neck or v-neck? How heavy should the sweater be? What do you wear under it? There are several looks you could go for. For example, a crewneck sweater worn over a polo shirt with the collar up is ultimate prep. A v-neck sweater worn over a button-down shirt with the collar tucked in neatly is a snappy look, while wearing the collar out over the sweater is more laid back.

When considering the weight, or thickness, of the sweater, take into account the other pieces of the outfit. Thick, chunky sweaters are best paired with jeans or trousers of a heavier material. Do not -- I repeat -- do not commit the horrible fashion crime of wearing a dressy bottom with an athletic, oversized sweatshirt. Lately, I have seen far too many slinky black skirts and high-heels worn with ridiculous logo hoodies. You know who you are, ladies....

That brings me to the topic of outerwear. You may find that it is too warm to wear a winter coat over a tee-shirt and sweater these days. Yet, just a tee-shirt and heavy winter coat is not warm enough! The best thing to do is find a neutral light-weight spring jacket. While denim jackets are nice, be careful about mixing contrasting jeans and denim jackets -- this looks absolutely terrible! Instead, find something in a basic chino-type fabric. A sassy little trench coat or a motorcycle jacket would work. If you need extra warmth, try doubling up on sweaters.

I know what you are thinking, "Wear two sweaters? Is he crazy?" Well, it can work. The key to layering is showing a little bit of each layer. Each layer should reveal the other to create a visually appealing "multi-tiered" effect. Just make sure that the two sweaters have different, complimentary necklines. For instance, don't pile on two crew-neck sweaters. Instead, find a zip-front cardigan with a collar. You can zip up the front half way and leave a bit of the crewneck showing underneath.. This multi-tiering strategy is, by the way, the same concept many stores use on their display mannequins.

With a multitude of layering options, you will never run the risk of being too hot or too cold. When the weather goes to extremes, avoid clothing that is too cool or too warm. Instead, opt for several garments that can be removed or replaced according to climate changes. It may not quite be time to break out you spring clothing, but you can still look great in the meantime.