It seems like the seasons are melding together lately, with summer and fall blending together the most. You know what it’s like: you wake up in the morning and it is freezing but by the time you get out of work or class in the afternoon, it is sweltering and you have to throw your hair into a bun.
But what about your wardrobe – how can you blend that? Without buying a ton of new clothes, you can actually make your summer wardrobe work in the fall by just investing in a few pieces that will keep you warm.
Pieces I love:
Tighten Up
Add some boots to your look if you really want to have some autumnal vibes or try to color block with a matching scarf.
Just Add Boots!
When the boots come out, you know that it is time for autumn. They are an easy way to update any outfit from summer casual to fall comfort. If you are looking to extend your wardrobe, there are quite a few different kinds of boots to invest in. A low ankle boot will work great for jeans or even cut-offs while high shafted boots look great with dresses and tights. But that isn’t all – you can pair boots with almost anything from your summer wardrobe and it will make you look ready for autumn.
Try a cotton dress with a denim jacket and boots for a football game or a tunic, leggings, and boots when you go to pick apples. If you are feeling especially summerlike, take those lace shorts you wore constantly, add boots, and get ready for a night of line dancing or a fall festival. Don’t break the budget with these, and you will be able to get tons to match everything.
Cozy, Comfy, Cardigans
Cardigans have a place in almost every season and they just might help you to extend the life of your summer wardrobe. Adding a solid cardigan overtop your floral dresses can make you the pop of color that you want. If you want to hide some of the pattern, you can button the cardigan or, if you want to show it off, add a belt over it but keep it open.
Cardigans are a little lighter than a sweater, and they are open in the front, so you have some options here with your silhouette. This is another item you can keep around at all times for the variations in temperature.
Getting Scarfy With It
Let’s face it ladies, in the summer a lot of us tend to lose our heat from our chest and neck. In order to make your wardrobe transition, you are going to need to do something about that heat loss. A nice, light, and draped scarf will keep you warm (without overheating you) and bring your outfit into fall.
For the warmer days, you might just need a scarf to loop around your neck when you wear a dress or you can add a jacket for when you think it will get a bit colder.
The best part about a scarf is that you can use it in many ways. Depending on the size, scarves easily transition into shawls, capes, hair protectants, and even hats. Keep one in your car to be safe if your daytime activity transitions into night.
Deepen the Color Pool
If you have summer outfits that you really love and want to bring them into fall, one of the best ways to do so is just add some accessories in a deep, autumnal color. Pastels, neons, and bright whites may make up a majority of your wardrobe for summer, but never underestimate the beauty of a rich jewel tone or the earthy browns and oranges.
Invest in a few pieces (look at the ones on this list) that are in jewel tones like emerald, plum, or turquoise.
Let’s say that you have a light purple dress that you fell in love with over the summer. Instead of retiring it, add some dark plum accessories like a purple cardigan and some gold jewelry to deepen the look. The gold will highlight the changing leaves and the cardigan will mute some of the boldness of the dress.
Max-It!
Your maxi dress was the go-to item for just about everything during the summer: plane travel, trips to the beach, and barbecues, so why shouldn’t you also wear it for Halloween parades, fall festivals, and day trips? Since most of us have sleeveless maxis, you have to focus on what to put up top: a belted sweater, a chunky cardigan, or even a knotted shirt in chambray or a plaid pattern.
Bring out your fall booties and add a pair of tights if you need some more warmth, and you can’t go wrong. Just make sure that you define your waist and you’ll be able to keep that maxi around for a little longer.
Sweater Weather
If you are in a pinch, the best way to bring your summer wardrobe into fall is to add a sweater. You probably have plenty, and if you throw it on and if it gets too hot, you can take it off.
Putting a large sweater on top of a dress makes you comfortable and cozy, whereas putting a cropped sweater overtop a dress will highlight your waist. Add a sweater underneath a dress for a different look that is still sweet and cozy – just make sure you choose a slimmer fitting sweater.
Plus, sweaters are usually warm enough that you can put cropped pants or even shorts on the bottom and you will still be comfortable.
Making your wardrobe’s transition from summer to autumn should be fun and easy and for the most part inexpensive. What are some other ideas and suggestion you have to make the summer wardrobe shift to fall?
