Style Buzz: Transitioning to an Early Fall Wardrobe
Ideas to Inspire Your Style This Week!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
"Sometimes, a scarf is just a scarf and not a costume."
You know when you're trying out a new style and someone just has to make a comment that's not quite derogatory but seems just a little mocking? Case in point: I was wearing a Kate Spade cream silk scarf as an alternative to a hat, and two people made comments like, Hey Axl Rose! and Oh look, it's a pirate! I corrected both of them: No, it's just a headscarf. People are always going to make comments like that but please don't ever let it stop you from wearing the things you want to. Their comment says something about them, not you.
xxx rachel
TRANSITIONING TO EARLY FALL
So here we are already - it's the first week of September and I'm really not ready for the cooler temps! But I know they're coming, so there are a few things I do to help ease that transition and make me look forward to the upcoming seasons.
Getting dressed between seasons doesn’t mean clearing out what's already working in your wardrobe and starting over. Just one piece can move from Summer into Fall (and even Winter) with simple shifts in color, texture, footwear, accessories and layering. This hopefully will result in less overthinking, more outfit options, and a wardrobe that works with you from one season to the next.
The goal is to pull together styles that carry warm-weather pieces into the cooler months, meaning you can wear them both now and later. The best place to start? In your closet! Use what you've got first. This will help you identify a few pieces that would supplement your wardrobe. Listen for phrases that point the way: "I need a cardigan that will go with those three tops," or "I could use a shoe that's not a sneaker but also not a loafer," or even "A jacket as versatile as a denim jacket but a little more polished would go with all these pieces". When you have something in mind - not an exact piece but one that does what you need - then go shopping.
Next, look at your clothes differently. Can you add something over it or under it - think long sleeve t-shirts or cardigans - to put a summer blouse to good use? Would that sleeveless collared shirt look perfect under a thin sweater? T-shirts with blazers is a cool look that keeps you warm.
Consider accessories as a simple way to extend a Summer outfit into Fall. Add a scarf to a lightweight jacket, add tights to a skirt, add socks to your loafers. Make a feature out of them - one of my favorite phrases is, "If you can't hide it, flaunt it," so if you need more than a no-show sock to keep your feet warm, wear socks with an interesting lace detail or a pretty knit pattern that you want to show off. For dresses and skirts, add a silk scarf that you don't need to take off like a chunky wool one, and wear tights that keep you warm as the days get colder. Start with thinner ones and progress up to thick, fleece-lined ones by Winter.
Looking to stay ahead of the curve? Trends like spiced hues, animal prints, barn jackets, mules, and light colors (think safari khaki) are in right now, helping bridge from one season to the next. Plus consider pieces that aren't a trend on their own but make every other trend work: the boot that isn't a mule, the bag that goes with everything, the tee and the denim doing the important work alongside your latest jacket. This is where all your basics live, so nothing above has to compromise for the sake of an outfit.
INSPIRATION: I've got a lookbook for transitional styling to check out. It's got examples of what to wear now on sunny days and how to style it later in the cooler weather. But if you're still feeling like there's still a gap in your wardrobe, start by really looking at where in your closet is lacking in options and add deliberate purchases there based on what you are drawn to in the lookbooks. Fill in the rest as the temperature continues to drop.
A special offer for your own wardrobe transition to Fall
Did you just get a bit overwhelmed reading about the Fall trends? Or do you just want someone to show you how to get more from the pieces that already work well in your wardrobe? Or how to make new additions work harder? How about a mini session, just an hour with a focus on creating new outfits from what you already have, not a full wardrobe revamp? Would a special offer help? I thought so!
Book your Wardrobe Remix mini session to take place by September 11 and I'll add 5 more lookbooks to your style app. You'll have more outfit options and less fretting about what to wear! It's as easy as your favorite sweater. |
ANATOMY OF AN OUTFIT
This is a peek into my favorite outfit of the week where I break it down for you: why I've put it together and why it works, what elements could be swapped out, things to consider, etc.
One of the tools I give all my clients is a style profile - it's a formula for the styles of clothes that work best on their particular body shape. The info is geared toward highlighting, flattering, and balancing their shape through specific cuts and proportions. But it's just a recommendation, not law. As I've mentioned, I'm a rectangle shape, which means that I need to define my waist via belts or fitted tops, or broaden my shoulders and hips to make my waist appear smaller. Although... sometimes, I just want to wear a sack dress. It does nothing for my figure, but I don't care. It's comfortable and easy to throw on. This one is a favorite and while it makes me slightly shapeless, it's got a couple of helpful details: the cuffed sleeve creates a line near my waist, and the v-neck draws the eye to my face. So go ahead - break the rules!
Dress: Chico's
Shoes: Matisse
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