This time of year it’s always tricky to get your wardrobe to suit the weather.

While the high street is full of flimsy summer fashions – even swimwear – you’re still very much surgically attached to your woolly coat and winter warmers. It may seem like suitcase essentials and summer soiree dressing are a long way off, but not in fashionland.

A transitional wardrobe is your key to an effortless jump from winter to spring styles.

But before you picture your bank balance taking a tumble, you don’t have to overspend on new togs to make the most of double season styling.

A few essentials are all you need to don those whimsical dresses and nautical fashions right now, so step into spring while keeping one foot firmly in winter with our expert advice on transition dressing.

So how do you make the daunting move from woolly knits to floral frocks – without suffering frostbite?

The key is not to swap your seasons in one fell swoop. Tights and long-sleeved tees will be your winter saviours.

Go shopping in black tights and a long-sleeved top or roll-neck so that you have that all-important base layer ready for trying the new season styles on.

And if you have to buy just one thing to move stylishly through the coming seasons, make it a trenchcoat

If the thought of getting your top-to-toe transition wardrobe right is somewhat daunting, let someone else do all the hard work and visit a personal shopper to get the job done in one hassle free trip.

John Lewis and House of Fraser both have a really wide range of designers and labels in house which you can choose from and it may help to have some expert advice available.

Don’t be fooled into thinking you’ll be forced into spending a small fortune the moment you enter the personal shopping booth.

Marks & Spencer have their own team of stylists at both the Shrewsbury and Telford branches and they are more than happy either just to advise or work to any budget.

Transition dressing doesn’t have to be difficult.

Go forth with your secret weapon layers and update your winter wardrobe with flashes of S/S (Spring/Summer) trends.

key items for your transitional wardrobe include good tailoring and lightweight knits, a great jacket and tights both black and coloured.