ankle pants all year round

I strongly believe in versatile clothing; if I love a piece I want to be able to wear it regardless of the season and I especially want it to work with lots of other favorites in my wardrobe. Earlier this summer, my mom fell in love with the simple dot print of these ankle pants at LOFT and decided to try them out even though she doesn't normally wear printed pants.

The great thing about this pattern is that it is subtle and classic. Dots are pretty much always in style and the neutral color palette makes it easy to mix and match with. Although these were marketed as a summer pant, they are ivory as opposed to a bright white which helps them to transition between seasons much more easily since winter white is always a hot color during the colder months. An ankle pant also is appropriate most of the year because the length is often interpreted as a style choice, rather than a seasonal choice. With a simple change of footwear you can rock an ankle pant from early March through Thanksgiving.

This first outfit, with the ruffled long sleeve purple blouse, red necklace, and silver belt, can be worn almost year round. During the summer months it can be paired with a silver sandal and for cooler temps it will look great with ballet flats and pumps. By  choosing a classic fabric such as silk for the top and a versatile color such as ivory, you are not tethering yourself to any particular season or trend.

Of course, some of your pieces will work better in some seasons than others, so don't be afraid to embrace your current weather. On the left, the watercolor print silk shell and grey ruffle front cardigan give the ankle pants an unmistakable spring feel. Although all of those items can be worn year round, the combination of light colors, soft edges and minimal accessorizing is very evocative of a fresh April day. Pair this with a metallic ballet flat or a nudish-pink peeptoe heel to finish off your ensemble

On the right I played up the bright bold colors of summer with coral and added a twist (literally!) by knotting the ends of the camp shirt to mimic one of this season's big trends. Although there are plenty of button-down shirts for sale this season that are specifically designed to be knotted, it is more practical to simply unbutton the bottom two buttons and double knot the extra fabric. This allows you to continue to get use out of your camp shirts once the weather forces this summertime trend to the back of the closet. Slip into a pair of comfortable sandals and you'll be set to spend an afternoon on an outdoor patio with a glass of wine in hand.

In both of these outfits the tiny dots on the pants play second fiddle to the larger, more vibrant patterns happening on the tops. While the dots on the pants may not be visible from a distance, the people closest to you will see an extra layer of visual interest on your outfit.

A light colored ankle pant is a great transition piece for those September days when you are not quite sure if fall has arrived yet.

For early fall, layer a bright colored tank underneath a neutral cardigan and add some bright pops of color. I love that the cardigan and ankle pants both have a dot motif in the same color palette. Although it is tempting to ditch your summer pieces after Labor Day, the weather will still be mild so mix and match as much as you can.

As the season progresses the colors become more subdued. To create a cooler look, all of the layers are light colored neutrals for a similar feel to the ever popular winter white suits that appear around early November. Pair with a closed toed pump or a light colored ballet flat while the temperature permits.