It’s the second week of August and the weather is still fantastic; sunny and hot just the way it should be. Now more than ever we savour every ray because as much as we would love to deny it, fall is on its way. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. End of vacation or back to school sounds like bad news but it comes with a super sparkly silver lining: NEW CLOTHES. Don’t get me wrong. Just because every mall in the city and every ad on tv would like you to believe that back-to-school requires the purchase of an entirely new wardrobe, that is not necessarily the case. The drop in temperature simply means a change in the way you put your pieces together. Use these tips to help you stylishly make the transition from summer to fall:
Mix and Match and use Layers
September can be a warm and sunny glorious month but not in the steamy way it was in July. Mornings are crisp and the evening chill comes early. Play both sides. Pick one piece from each season. So, either pair a long sleeve top with a pair of shorts/capris or a cute sleeveless top with pants or jeans.
Maxi dresses are great just use a fitted jean jacket or cardi to give you a little more coverage and you’ll achieve a harmonious balance of summer and fall.
Leggings and tights can maximize your minis and your dresses. Make sure to pick a patterned pair (not a pickled pepper) for a true fashion statement.
Footwear is another easy way to make the shift. Open toed shoes and flip flops (all except the rubber ones from the dollar store) are acceptable for the transition. It’s always fun to pick up one more pair (now that they are all on sale) in a darker colour likebrown, grey or wine. These will take you through until your frost hits. Alternatively, soft leather boots look fantastic with a dress. This look is not just for country signers anymore!
Colour
Making different colour choices is the simplest way to jumpstart your look for the next season. In the weeks to come, slowly retire your hot pinks, yellows, greens and bright blues that shone so gloriously in the sun. People in the Caribbean can get away with bright colours year round, but once the sun starts to fade, switch your handbag from white or bright to a tan or camel. Use leather belts in gold, bronze and brown to bring down the ‘heat’ of your look. Navy, plum, and burnt orange are not required from head to toe just yet. Use them as accents before we bundle up for cooler weather!
Scarves
Last but not least, I have to reiterate my love for scarves. I have been a long time fan but now more than ever there are SO many to choose from I just can’t get enough. This is the one piece you can go to in all situations. It’s both an elegant fashion piece and practical for warmth. Not to mention, a scarf gets along with every other item in your wardrobe. It works with coats, tank tops, sweaters and dresses. Can any other piece of clothing say that?
The next few weeks will be packed with all the activities we sadly won’t be able to do once the colder weather hits; Barbeques, picnics at the park, splashing in the pool. But this year summer has been very good to us. We cannot complain. What we can do, is eagerly await the arrival of sweater weather and all the goodies that come along with it! Coats, sweaters, shoes, boots, jeans, trousers…
