Although the pools are still open and the kids are complaining about going back to school, the fall season is creeping in upon us! Soon, it will be time for chilly mornings, crunchy leaves under our boots, and pumpkin-spiced… well, everything. If you’re anything like me, you’re getting pretty excited to pull out your coziest sweaters and favorite high-waisted leggings, but before you do, I encourage you to take a second look at your summer wardrobe.
As a stylist, it’s part of my job to make sure my clients get the most versatility out of every piece they own. As we transition into autumn here in the South, there’s ample opportunity to rework our warm-weather pieces into outfits for the new season. Read on for my top three tips for helping you fall back in love with some of your favorite summer pieces (see what I did there?)!
Keep the Dress, Swap the Flops
So many of our favorite summer dresses can transition beautifully into the early fall season with just a change of shoes. I love pairing over-the-knee boots with dresses, but I have a couple of tricks to keep this look from entering “Pretty Woman” territory. First off, use a dress that has sleeves or that could be paired with a jacket, so that the coverage looks proportional. Secondly, for optimal chic-ness, make sure the hemline of the dress is long enough to graze the top of the boot.
They’re an investment item, but these Stuart Weitzman boots are something I get so much use out of every year. You can check them out at the Stuart Weitzman store in the Mall at Green Hills. Tip: you can also swap your sandals for a pair of short booties. I like to opt of a taupe or tan color bootie here, because it’s more elongating and flattering on the legs.
This tank dress from ABLE was perfect with sneakers and sandals during the summer, but simply throwing on a light jacket and booties gives it longevity through the fall!
Third Pieces
“Third pieces” are what I call the final piece of an outfit that brings it all together. Third pieces are something I like to keep stocked in clients’ wardrobes for every season, but they’re essential when transitioning from season to season. These are pieces that can be worn over dresses, jumpsuits, or even paired with white jeans to expand your summer wardrobe into fall!
Tip: If you’re ever feeling like your stuck in an outfit rut, ask yourself, “Have I added a third piece?” For example, maybe you have on jeans and a blouse, but you could add on a jacket, a scarf or a statement earring as a third piece!
One of my favorite examples of this is a trusty denim jacket. My biggest tip when hunting for a denim jacket is to make sure the fit isn’t too stiff or boxy. This one from ABLE is my favorite! They also keep it stocked at e.Allen!
Other great examples of third pieces to check your closet for are utility jackets, boyfriend blazers, drapey cardigans and lightweight scarves. Check out a few that I found at around town at local boutiques:
Utility Jacket from Duet
Boyfriend Blazer from e.Allen
Moto Jacket from Duet
[ad]Mind Your Fabrics
Although much of your summer wardrobe can pull double duty in the fall, there are some things that are too seasonal to make the shift. It’s time to put away the eyelet, gingham, gauzy linen, and other textiles that innately scream summer!
However, this doesn’t mean we have to start burning up in bulky sweaters! Look into your closet for tops that are made of more season-less fabrics such as silk/silk blends, cotton, chambray, and even lightweight cashmere. These are the tops that will move with you into fall without having to crank up the AC.
Check out these pretty examples I found locally! They’re the perfect bridge between summer and fall textiles:
Lightweight Sweater from Duet
Flowy Top from e.Allen
Silk Top from Duet
Chambray Top from e.Allen
