A transitional-season look is the look that handles a day that starts cold in the morning and turns warm by the afternoon. In spring, that kind of day is the rule: the season is known as a transitional one precisely because it mixes heat, cold, and rain.

On the first day of spring 2025, the forecast for Curitiba called for a low of 5°C and a high of 25°C. With a 20°C swing between breakfast and lunch, a coat becomes dead weight. A scarf doesn't.

Why a scarf is the answer to spring

The logic of transitional dressing is to work with thin layers that come off as the day warms up. A coat stays draped over your arm all day after 11 a.m. A 70x180cm pashmina and a 90x90cm scarf fold up and fit in any bag.

Cold fronts don't give notice, either. In its spring 2025 forecast, Climatempo warned of sudden drops in temperature as cold fronts moved through, and of cold spells lasting into November. If you leave home with a light layer in your bag, you won't be caught off guard.

The right fabric for every time of day

The viscose pashmina is the most versatile first layer: it keeps you warm in the cold hours and folds down small when the sun comes out. If you tend to feel the cold more, the Diamond Cashmere blends cashmere with modal, a fiber with a cool touch that absorbs moisture from the skin, so it stays comfortable as the temperature rises.

With silk, the advantage is different. The natural fiber lets air circulate, so a silk scarf can stay around your neck into the afternoon without feeling stuffy. If the forecast calls for rain, choose polyester, because water splashes can leave marks on silk.

Three transitional-season looks with a scarf

1 - For work: a cotton shirt, tailored pants, and a viscose pashmina in a neutral tone over your shoulders as you leave home. In the air-conditioned office, it stays on. On the way back, in the afternoon heat, it goes folded into your bag.

2 - For the weekend: a white T-shirt, jeans, and a 90x90cm silk scarf around the neck in a simple knot. When it warms up, the same scarf becomes a headband or goes onto your bag strap, and the look changes without changing clothes.

3 - For the evening: a light dress or a linen set with a 60x210cm silk mousseline long scarf over the shoulders. It's the right layer for an air-conditioned restaurant and for the breeze that picks up after sunset.

Where the scarf goes when it warms up

That's the question that defines the transitional season, and a scarf has more options than any coat. Tied to a bag strap, it becomes an accessory. Folded into a band, it holds back your hair or defines your waist: a 90x90cm scarf folded on the diagonal reaches 127cm in length, and a 110x110cm one wraps around with room to spare. On the wrist, the 8x130cm twilly wraps like a bracelet.

For step-by-step tying guides, see how to wear a scarf at the waist and a scarf in your hair.

Color: neutral scarves in the morning, prints in the afternoon

One simple rule keeps you from going wrong. The morning layer stays in a neutral color, because it has to go with whatever you're wearing underneath. The print goes on the silk scarf, which shows more once the pashmina comes off.

Off-white, nude, gray, and caramel work for pashminas; florals and colorful prints, like those in the Floral Print Scarves and Pieces collection, belong on the afternoon scarf. To build your spring layer, start with pashminas for the morning and silk scarves for the afternoon.

Frequently asked questions

What is a transitional-season look?

It's a look designed for days with big temperature swings, which are common in spring and fall. The base is light, and the layers are thin and easy to take off, like pashminas and scarves, to keep you warm in the morning and come off when it heats up.

Which scarf should I wear in spring?

For cold mornings, a 70x180cm viscose pashmina or the 70x200cm Diamond Cashmere. For warm afternoons, a 90x90cm silk scarf. For the evening, a 60x210cm silk mousseline long scarf.

Is a viscose pashmina warm?

It's warm enough for cold mornings and air-conditioned spaces, without the weight of wool. For intense cold, a 100% cashmere piece holds in more heat.

Can I wear cashmere in spring?

Yes, if you choose the right line. The Diamond Cashmere is half modal, a fiber with a cool touch, and was designed for the transitional season. The 100% cashmere lines work better in winter.

What should I do with my scarf when it warms up during the day?

Take it off your neck and wear it on your bag strap, as a headband, or at your waist. A 90x90cm scarf works for all three; at the waist, fold it on the diagonal for extra length.