The first hints of fall don’t mean it’s time to pack away your summer wardrobe. In fact, some of your favorite dresses, linen trousers and skirts still have plenty of life left in them. The secret isn’t replacing everything you’ve been wearing. It’s introducing a handful of carefully chosen clothes, shoes, and accessories that add warmth, texture, and polish while letting you keep wearing the clothes you already love.
Below, we run down the wardrobe additions that make the biggest difference.
1. A Soft Suede Jacket
Perhaps the easiest way to make a summer outfit feel ready for the new season is to add a suede jacket. It instantly introduces texture without being as heavy as wool or leather, making it perfect for those in-between weeks. Wear it over a linen dress, white jeans or a simple T-shirt and trousers.
Caslon Button Front Suede Jacket – BOSS Salene Suede Jacket – Open Edit Suede Trench Jacket – Massimo Dutti Suede Leather Jacket
Massimo Dutti Suede Leather Jacket – Nordstrom Short Sleeve Stretch Wool Blend Bouclé Sweater – Madewell The Emmy Wide Leg Pants – Gola Hawk Suede 86 Sneakers – Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote – Echo The Banquet Series Square Silk Scarf – Madewell Mixed Metal Sculptural Double Hoop Earrings
2. A Fine Gauge Knit
Rather than chunky sweaters, look for lightweight merino or cashmere knits that you can drape over your shoulders or wear instead of a jacket. They add warmth when needed but never feel bulky.
Nordstrom Merino Wool Sweater Jacket – Pistola Korey Merino Wool Cardigan – Nordstrom Cashmere Crewneck Cardigan – COS Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan
3. A Lightweight Blazer
A softly tailored blazer instantly smartens summer outfits while adding just enough warmth for cooler mornings and evenings. Choose relaxed silhouettes in cream, olive, chocolate or navy rather than heavy structured styles.
Open Edit Curator Crepe Relaxed Blazer – Caslon Double Breasted Knit Blazer – Halogen Double Breasted Crop Blazer – Eileen Fisher Organic Cotton Ottoman Jacket
Eileen Fisher Organic Cotton Ottoman Jacket – Rails Josephine Leopard Print Button-Up Shirt – rag & bone Featherweight Lisbon Denim Midi Skirt – Veronica Beard Cailey Ballet Flat – Marc Jacobs The Scene Work Tote – Madewell Mixed Metal Sculptural Double Hoop Earrings
4. A short-sleeve sweater
A short-sleeve sweater is the perfect bridge between seasons, giving you the texture and polish of knitwear without the warmth of a full sweater. Wear one now with linen trousers, shorts or a flowing summer skirt, then pair it with darker denim, tailored pants and a blazer as temperatures start to fall. Look for fine-gauge knits in cashmere, merino or cotton, and introduce richer shades such as chocolate, burgundy, olive or camel for an instant nod to the new season.
Massimo Dutti Oversize Short Sleeve Knit Sweater – Nordstrom Short Sleeve Stretch Wool Blend Bouclé Sweater – Nordstrom Cashmere Short Sleeve Crewneck Sweater – Open Edit Textured Short Sleeve Cardigan
5. a beautiful shirt
A beautiful long-sleeve shirt is an easy way to add a little more coverage while the weather is still warm. Choose silk, satin, lightweight cotton or fluid fabrics that you can wear with the sleeves rolled up now, then layer under blazers and knitwear later. Try richer colors, elegant prints, or a classic stripe, and pair yours with summer skirts, linen trousers, or white jeans to gently shift your wardrobe toward fall.
Reiss Ameira Silk Satin Button-Up Shirt – COS Gathered Crinkled Silk Shirt – Rails Josephine Leopard Print Button-Up Shirt – Massimo Dutti Tie Detail Flowing Blouse
COS Cashmere V-Neck Cardigan – COS Gathered Crinkled Silk Shirt – Nordstrom Leather Pants – Gola Hawk Suede 86 Sneakers – JW PEI Lucia Faux Suede Top Handle Bag – Ettika Pearl Pendant Necklace
6. Loafers or ballet flats
As the weather begins to cool, swapping sandals for loafers is one of the simplest styling updates you can make. They look equally good with dresses, wide-leg trousers and jeans while giving outfits a more autumnal feel.
Sam Edelman Ruthie Ballet Flat – Veronica Beard Cailey Ballet Flat – Cinq à Sept Remi Leather Tassel Loafer – Masimmo Dutti Soft Leather Bow Loafers
7. A Lightweight Trench
Leave the heavy coats in the wardrobe for now. A lightweight trench is often all you need for cooler mornings or unexpected showers, and it works over everything from dresses to tailoring.
ANINE BING Rickie Cropped Trench – Karen Millen Short Trench Coat – COS Mock-Neck Cotton Trench Coat – ANINE BING Rickie Maxi Trench
ANINE BING Rickie Cropped Trench – Nordstrom Cashmere Short Sleeve Crewneck Sweater – Capri Turn-up Hem Jeans – Sam Edelman Ruthie Ballet Flat – JW PEI Carmen Faux Leather Top Handle Bag – Ettika Pearl Pendant Necklace – Karine Sultan Chainmail Cuff Bracelet
8. A burgundy or olive bag
You don’t have to change your clothes to make your wardrobe feel different. Simply swap raffia bags for suede or leather, introduce a chocolate belt, or choose burgundy or olive accessories instead of bright summer colors.
JW PEI Carmen Faux Leather Top Handle Bag – Marc Jacobs The Scene Work Tote – JW PEI Lucia Faux Suede Top Handle Bag – Longchamp Large Le Pliage Tote
9. Darker Denim
White jeans don’t have to disappear, but adding a pair of dark-wash jeans adds another dimension to your wardrobe. They pair beautifully with lightweight knits, blazers and loafers while remaining comfortable enough for mild weather.
Madewell Boxy Denim Polo – Capri Turn-up Hem Jeans – Madewell The Emmy Wide Leg Pants – rag & bone Featherweight Lisbon Denim Midi Skirt
BOSS Salene Suede Jacket – Pistola Korey Merino Wool Cardigan – Capri Turn-up Hem Jeans – Blondo Cammie Waterproof Boots – Marc Jacobs The Scene Work Tote – Madewell Mixed Metal Sculptural Double Hoop Earrings
10. A Silk Scarf
A silk scarf is one of the most underrated transitional accessories. Wear it around your neck on cooler mornings, tie it to your handbag or use it as a headscarf to instantly refresh familiar outfits.
Nordstrom Striped Silk & Cashmere Scarf – Nordstrom Eyelash Trim Print Cashmere & Silk Wrap – Echo The Banquet Series Square Silk Scarf – Echo Concentric Stripes Square Silk Scarf
11. A leather skirt or pants?
Leather and suede instantly bring richer texture to your wardrobe, making them perfect for signalling the shift into fall. Choose a softly draped suede skirt or sleek leather pants, and keep the rest of your outfit lightweight while temperatures are still mild. Pair with a simple T-shirt, silky tank or crisp shirt now, adding knitwear and jackets as the season progresses.
BOSS Sevani A-Line Leather Midi Skirt – Karen Millen Faux Suede Seam Detail Midi Skirt – Nordstrom Leather Pants – Massimo Dutti Suede Goatskin Barrel Pants
Nordstrom Merino Wool Sweater Jacket – BOSS Sevani A-Line Leather Midi Skirt – Dr. Scholl’s Joplin Riding Tall Boot – JW PEI Carmen Faux Leather Top Handle Bag – Madewell Mixed Metal Sculptural Double Hoop Earrings
12. New season boot or sneakers
Changing your footwear is one of the simplest ways to move a summer outfit into fall. Add ankle boots or sleek sneakers to summer dresses, skirts and lightweight trousers to instantly give them a more seasonal feel. Look for suede, leather and richer shades such as chocolate, burgundy or tan, choosing styles light enough to wear now but versatile enough to carry you well into the cooler months.
Blondo Cammie Waterproof Boots – Dr. Scholl’s Joplin Riding Tall Boot – Gola Hawk Suede 86 Sneakers – adidas Japan Low Top Sneaker
13. Gold jewelry
Gold jewelry is an easy way to bring warmth and richness to your outfits as you move into fall. Swap lighter, beach-inspired summer pieces for chunky chains, sculptural earrings, layered necklaces or a statement cuff. Gold looks particularly beautiful against autumnal shades such as chocolate, burgundy and olive, but it can also give your summer whites, linen and denim an instant new-season update.
Ettika Pearl Pendant Necklace – Madewell Mixed Metal Sculptural Double Hoop Earrings – Karine Sultan Mocha Stone Drop Earrings – Karine Sultan Chainmail Cuff Bracelet
Open Edit Textured Short Sleeve Cardigan – Madewell The Emmy Wide Leg Pants – Masimmo Dutti Soft Leather Bow Loafers – JW PEI Carmen Faux Leather Top Handle Bag – Karine Sultan Mocha Stone Drop Earrings – Karine Sultan Chainmail Cuff Bracelet
Your transitional fall outfits together in one capsule
Below are all your fall transitional pieces in one capsule, so you can see how easily the clothes, shoes, and accessories work together. But don’t think of this as a standalone fall wardrobe.
Mix these new-season additions with the summer pieces you already own. Try a suede jacket over a floaty summer dress, a short-sleeve sweater with linen trousers, a silk shirt with white jeans, or ankle boots with a summer skirt. Even simply adding a burgundy bag or chunky gold jewelry can give a favorite summer outfit a completely different feel.
Continue reading:
- What to wear in August: your August Wardrobe Edit
- What to wear for summer evenings
- What to wear on the plane
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