The thing that people forget, when they think of March, is that ~technically~ it’s still winter – for much of the month, anyway.
That means changeable weather, or the type that tricks you. You know, the sort where it looks sunny and you feel warm indoors, thanks to the central heating, but if you dare to go out in the wrong type of coat or minus your vest #SEXUAL, you feel chilled to your absolute mother effin’ CORE.
There’s a reason why this phrase from the 18th century(ish) makes popular ancient folklore:
“Ne’er cast a clout till May be out.”
A clout is an old word for a piece of clothing, but in my mind it means VEST. Or at the very least: extra layers, lots of.
Some people think ‘May’ refers to the month but others take it to mean the May flower or hawthorn. The tree flowers in late April or early May. basically, it’s saying: don’t take off your warm clothes until the May blossom is out because cold weather can return during the spring months AKA right now.
Anyway, enough of the cold. Actually, no wait – one more thing. While we always want it to snow in December for the ultimate(ly Instagrammable) “white Christmas” as far as I can recall, we tend to get more snow after the big event, quite often February and March. I used to continue to wear my usual clothing in seasons past, especially when I worked in fashion houses. Looking back, I’m not sure how I remained upright in platform heels.
Now because I’m older/wiser/more boring, I wrap the fuck up and wear a sturdy shoe. Well, boot. Luckily, hiker boot styles are IN at the moment, but they won’t ever go away for me, not now.
Current go-to styles are this brown pleather pair from M&S (which I have jazzed up with my own red laces) and this black leather pair bought in the Clarks sale and my God, I don’t care if I’ve reached peak Granny chic, Clarks shoes are sooo freakin’ comfy and warm and waterproof and they don’t slip in the snow. They are the Holy Grail of snow boot for me RN.
I even made them work in a Goth/Emo kind of way when I had to get to London for a gig in deep snow last month. Wore them with leather-look skinnies and an oversized, slouchy star print jumper and I think it worked. Gaz Coombes seemed to like it, anyway.
OK, a few more of my (more positive) March observations from previous years:
The clocks “spring forward” for Daylight Saving Changes this month, meaning lighter evenings at last!
This year, on Sunday, 25th March 2018, 01:00:00 clocks are turned ~forward~ 1 hour, meaning sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later than the day before, hence the longer days, yay! In fact, prior to this we have the spring equinox on 20th March, where day and night are of equal length.
Also, blossom. The perennial Instagram fave. March means the start of meteorological spring. Bare tree branches suddenly bloom; foliage starts to unfurl. It’s a very emotionally stimulating seasonal spectacle. Not for the Insta opportunities alone, but the joyful promise of spring. That better, brighter things are coming. You see this with the spring-time flowers, the vivid splashes of colour from daffodils, tulips and primroses.
What’s in season?
Purple sprouting broccoli and rhubarb
Here are a few March pics from my camera-roll from this time of year:
