How to Transition Your Wardrobe

If you’re an FTF follower, you recall my friend, millennial cutie Brittany.  FTF has done previous blog posts with Brittany (Eyelash Extensions and Millennial and Mid-Lifer Shop and Style Fall Fashion Trends and A Millennial and a Mid-lifer Style Lilly Pulitzer).  Brittany is Lori’s niece.  She and I had an immediate connection over all things beauty and fashion.  Brittany is passionate about fashion and likes to look stylish at work and even at home.  She loves to find good deals and enjoys accessorizing from head to toe!  I believe she is my millennial clone!  A girl after my heart for sure! We often text each other for opinions and fashion advice! I adore Brittany!

Tips on Transitioning Your Wardrobe for Fall

1. Keep Your Maxi Dresses

Equally at home on the beach as it is for weekend shopping, maxis are easy and cool for those hot summer nights. But before you relegate them to the back of your closet, restyle them by wearing them with long sleeves. Whether it’s a belted blazer, a chunky-knit sweater, or even a knotted chambray shirt, the trick to wearing a maxi dress in the fall is to layer up and then define your waist to offer added structure.

2. Add Tights or Leggings

Adding tights to your outfit can be a fun way to play with pattern, color, and texture for the fall. By stocking up on tights you have a way to extend the life of your favorite summer skirts and dresses. Look for opaque tights. A pair of gray textured tights worn with your favorite khaki skirt and boots is about as autumnal as a pumpkin patch.

If you’re not into tights, try leggings. Some styles look a lot like pants, but have tons of stretch. They’re perfect to wear under your summery tunics for more coverage, while still staying fashion-forward.

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3. Layer Up

Brittany and I love our black jumpsuits! To transition them into fall, it will be easy to layer them up by adding a sweater, cardi or jacket. In addition, you can add darker colored accessories and switch out sandals with pumps or booties. Think creatively and shop your closet!

Layered looks aren’t only fashion-forward – they’re also completely functional. As you layer up your summer clothes, you create new looks that will actually keep you warm. I’m always cold so this might be my favorite tip no matter the season! LOL!

But how do you know which looks to layer? Try this rule: Layer long over lean. This means matching up longer-length tops (think tunics or boyfriend cardigans) over leaner bottoms, such as tights or skinny jeans. This can help you extend some of your summer favorites, such as a long tank top.

The “long over lean” rule helps to avoid the bulkiness that can sometimes be a result of overenthusiastic layering. Then, just add a sweater or jacket, a light scarf, and a pair of boots to finish your perfect fall outfit.

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4. Invest in a Statement-Making Jacket

I’m a sucker for jackets, blazers, and other toppers. They can make such a large impact on the overall tone and look of an outfit that they can eclipse summer fabrics and prints, making them more fall-appropriate. My advice is to purchase one statement-making jacket that really stands out, but goes with all of your summer clothes as you transition into fall.

Consider any one of the following:

• A military-style cargo jacket with a waist that cinches, perfect for skinny jeans and flat booties.
• A leather jacket with moto styling, which you can wear with summer dresses and boots and looks great with a graphic tshirt.
• A well-cut blazer (I love ones with military styling). Toss it over your light summer tops for a night on the town.
• A classic trench coat in a darker neutral, such as gray, navy, or camel. This is a wardrobe workhorse that goes with everything while fending off inclement fall weather.

A jacket or blazer can stretch your wardrobe by allowing you to create new combinations and always look put-together and polished.

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5. Add Deeper Colors

Brittany has styled a navy top with her white statement jewelry and peep toe booties! The darker navy color is a great way to transition into fall with deeper, richer colors!

I love the deeper colors that come with the changing of the leafs. The pastels and neons of the spring and summer give way to rich jewel and earth tones. But don’t worry if your closet isn’t already stocked with all of the Pantone Fall 2019 colors, you can add a couple of pieces to extend the life of your lighter summer clothes.

Take a lavender pair of pants for instance. It was perfect for summer but do you have to put it away for fall? If you add some heavier textures and jewel tones, you’ll be able to keep wearing it. Consider pairing it with a plum cardigan and a sleek pair of booties. Suddenly, the addition of a deeper color tones down the brightness of the lavender, resulting in a more cohesive and fall-appropriate outfit.

Stay on the lookout for pieces in jewel tones that can pull a summer wardrobe into fall. A pair of rust-colored skinnies, a turquoise statement necklace, or a mustard scarf can all add a pop of fall-appropriate color on the cheap.

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6. Ignore the Rules

It’s taken me some time to be able to break the rule of wearing white after Memorial Day! These Old Navy Rockstar jeans are the best! I’ve added this off the shoulder H & M sweater and leopard accessories to transition this look into fall!

One of the reasons fall shopping can be so expensive are all the supposed “rules” that surround dressing in cooler weather. Whether it’s not wearing white after Labor Day, skipping tights with open-toed shoes, or even pairing black with navy, these silly rules severely limit the scope of your fall wardrobe. Feel free to wear white after Labor Day (a chic, yellow-toned winter white looks perfect with jewel tones), or wear your favorite open-toed booties with a pop of colored tights. Don’t spend too much time thinking about whether or not an outfit is fall-appropriate, but that it’s weather-appropriate and makes you feel great, regardless of the rules. If you love it, wear it!! That’s my rule!

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7. Buy Boots

Boots are an autumn staple that easily make all of your summer outfits warmer and more functional. And while you can spend a ton of money on good-quality boots, purchasing a few pairs of lower-cost fashion boots (more about looks for the fall than function in the winter), you’ll extend everything from dresses, to jeans, to shorts.

Try a summer dress worn with knee-high boots and a leather jacket. Or, be daring and treat your beloved shorts like a skirt: Add over-the-knee boots and chunky sweater for a “city look”. You can even buy booties on the cheap and wear them with your favorite skirt and cardigan combo. Boots are an ideal item to stretch your wardrobe.

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This post contains affiliate links, meaning when you click on an item or purchase an item, I may receive a very small commission for the click. These picks are NOT sponsored, are selected solely by me, and opinions are entirely my own.

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