Shop these 7 stylist-approved pieces for a late-winter pick-me-up

This time of year is when our closets seem the least appealing: We’re sick of the gray winter skies and drab winter clothes, and spring is temptingly, but still unreachably, around the corner. It’s not quite time to take off our tights, but after five months of putting on the same thing day after day, our go-tos could use a little refresh. 

Enter the perfect late-winter pick-me-up: A new top or cool cap that puts a little joie d’vivre back into the last of winter’s gray days. It should be something that makes you smile when you wear it, ideally with a bit of color or shine to liven up the weekday. 

With warmer weather soon to come, we talked to stylists and other style experts to find out what they’re adding to their carts to pep up their winter wardrobes as the cold, gray season wraps up. 

These seven items will give your closet a little spark of joy now and serve you well during the spring to come (so soon!). Find out what stylists recommended and shop their picks below.

Stylists’ top picks to pep up a late-winter closet

A boldly modern cardigan: Cult Gaia Monroe Cardigan, $498. Marigold and barrel-sleeved, this cardigan is modern and chic.

A pastel sweater: The A&F Madeline Merino Wool-Blend Crew Sweater, $75. Add a pop of color to wintry gusts and chilly spring evenings.

An off-white pair of jeans: GAP High Rise '90s Slim Straight Jeans, $90. Fresh ivory updates looks that feel meh with a crisp twist.

A velvet snapback cap: New Era Los Angeles Dodgers Velvet Official Team Color Snapback, $39. An under-$40 instant update for any outfit, dressy or casual.

Elevated gold earrings: Jennybird Florence Earrings in gold, $158. A little sparkle instantly refreshes tried-and-true outfits.

An unexpected belt: Rhodes studded belt in navy blue, $48. Switch up black and brown for neutral but unexpected navy, complete with Y2K vibes.

A trendy knit hood: Hooded scarf, $30. This budget-friendly pick gives any coat or jacket a thoroughly 2026 vibe.

Expert Spotlight

Anna Lavo is an NYC-based celebrity fashion stylist who has run her own company for more than 11 years. She’s worked with more than 500 clients, including not just individual clients but celebrities, fashion campaigns, social media content, photoshoots, and model styling.

Personal stylist Dianne Boyer, from Detroit, Michigan, focuses on styling women over 50 as well as professional women looking to add a little more confidence and joy into their wardrobes. Before working as a stylist, she worked in marketing and PR at a handbag company, which gave her an on-the-ground education in the fashion industry.

Nikki Venus, business and style coach at Nikki Venus & Company, is the pro behind the pros: She coaches stylists on how to take their styling business to the next level and restore balance to their personal lives through smart company strategy and proactive growth.

Montreal-based wardrobe curator Sharon Warten has worked in most parts of the fashion industry during the past 24 years, including buying, merchandising, showroom sales and designer collaborations. For the past decade, she’s focused her work on private personal styling both virtually and in person, and she’s also been featured as an expert in publications like InStyle, The Zoe Report, Real Simple, CNN, The Today Show, Bustle, and Brides.

Style expert Autum Love is a fashion editor, digital stylist, and founder of autumlove.com, a fashion media platform that reaches millions of women each year in more than 140 countries around the world. She also created Ask Autum, an AI-powered tool that helps women solve everyday outfit problems.

FAQ

  • We only spoke to professional stylists and fashion experts to recommend products for this article. 
  • All recommendations from the featured professional stylists and fashion experts are independently chosen. They don’t have any brand affiliation with featured brands or products.
  • We never pay experts for their recommendations.

If These Walls Could Talk” operates independently and exercises sole editorial discretion in all content decisions. While certain brands, products, or services referenced may have current or prior relationships with our affiliated marketing agency, such relationships do not influence our editorial content. We disclaim any liability for conflicts of interest, omissions, or outcomes arising from reliance on our content. All information is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as professional or individualized advice.

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