The 6 Must-Know Tips For Transitioning to Fall

Layer like a boss. It’s time to start adding layers—both for interest and for warmth—or what we like to call “third pieces” to your arsenal. We’re talking vests, long cardigans, dusters, and casual jackets. It’ll deal with the first chill in the air, and it’s also a great way to get a longer burnout of your summer-ish clothes: Try a vest over a lightweight blouse or wear a blazer or shrunken leather jacket over everything from jeans to casual end-of-summer dresses.

Embrace the love of a long-sleeved t-shirt look. A long-sleeved t-shirt isn’t just a classic, easy piece - this time of year it is the hero of your closet. Wear it on its own or put something over it (a vest, cardi, jacket, button-down) to add warmth and interest.

Swap out the shoes. You might want to alert your feet: It’s time to return to “real shoes.” The slides and sneakers you’ve lived in for the last three months should get some much-deserved time off, and in their place, we recommend a pretty pair of ballet flats. Easy peasy.

Use textural fabrics to add “weight” to your look.Tweeds, knits, and bouclé - when done in cotton or cotton blends - give your fits a bit of texture and weight without suffocating you. We like seasonal colors like olive and rust as much as we like soft and pretty neutrals.

Introduce fall neutrals on bottom. Replace the pale nudes of summer (light blue, pink, yellow) with darker neutral tones (stone, butterscotch)—they’ll blend with everything and effortlessly transition into fall. Sweaters are a smart place to start, but we also like the idea of colored jeans, which are a bit more unexpected and chic.

Lock down an interim coat (or two). As the days get cooler you’ll need an extra something. We love a lightweight leather jacket, a three-quarter cloth coat, or a trench.