5 Styling Hacks to Take Your Wardrobe from Summer to Fall
Because the slow slide toward autumn can go on for weeks, we’re often eager to start dressing for the new season before the weather actually warrants it. And so, over the years, we’ve come up with some creative solves. Here, we’ve distilled it down to our five best strategies for the sartorially confusing period between summer and fall.
Go dark.
Keep your summer whites in rotation a little while longer by sandwiching them between darker pieces, like a black cardigan and matching mesh flats. If that contrast feels too stark, swap black for navy, chocolate brown, or charcoal to achieve the same goal.
Make small but strategic adjustments.
Pair your pretty summer tops with dark denim. Replace your go-to sandals with a closed-toe alternative, like a loafer, sneaker, or ballet flat. And extend the wear window of the open-weave sweater you bought back in July by layering a ruffle-neck top underneath.
Invest in light layers.
Many of your favorite shorts, skirts, and dresses can be worn into the cooler months with the addition of a lightweight sweater—say, a V-neck cardigan draped over your shoulders, or a cashmere crewneck tied around your neck.
Lean into seasonal tones and textures.
No matter how familiar they might be, your favorite silhouettes—T-shirt, bucket bag, longline sweater—can feel fresh when rendered in new materials, like brushed alpaca, soft suede, or a textural cotton-tape yarn.
Refresh your jewelry box.
Summer is for wearing whimsical earrings to the beach club and adding strands of candy-colored beads to your neck stack. Fall, on the other hand, is for simplified styling and edgier designs punctuated by richly colored stones and black-rhodium settings.
