Are you team “I’m so excited for fall”? If you are, you’re not alone (most of my clients are on this team!). You may be thinking about pumpkin spice everything. And falling leaves. And cozy autumn outfits. And while you can already grab a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks - it may be a little too early to start wearing chunky sweaters and knee high boots. And the leaves aren’t falling yet, either.
One great thing about this time of year is that you can focus on transitional items – styles you can wear right now and also wear for the next few months. But that seems to trip up a lot of people. You may have a clear idea of your summer style and a focused notion of your fall style. But when it comes to in between the seasons, your style instincts may flounder.
But guess what? If you already have a stylish, functional wardrobe with a good proportion of seasonless styles, you’re probably all set to transition to fall. After all – jeans and t-shirts work year round, right? Right. But there are also a bunch of other styles that are perfect for the seasonal transition that you might not have thought about.
So, I wanted to share a few of my favorite fall transition items - specifically, ones that you might not expect to wear in September AND October AND November. I’ll show you how to outfit them now and all the way through Thanksgiving. And one more thing – these 3 transitional pieces are part of the new Girl With Curves collection exclusively at QVC, available in sizes XXS-5X. Tanesha Awasthi gave me a sneak peek of her brand new collection so I could share a few outfit ideas that are perfect for now - and the next few months.
NOTE: This article was originally published in early Fall 2021 - so while you can still shop the Girl With Curves collection at QVC, these specific items may no longer be available.
A (FAUX) LEATHER SKIRT
You might be thinking, “Paul, you expect me to wear a leather skirt right now?” But hear me out – when you’re heading into cooler September temperatures, a (faux) leather skirt might be the perfect piece to add a little unexpected edge to your everyday (or date night) outfits. And when it’s a lightweight, fuller option in a non-black neutral, it feels a bit more wearable than a serious black leather pencil skirt.
For September weather, keep it super simple. A sleeveless top and sassy slides are pretty much all you need to make this skirt feel fall-forward but late-summer-right.
When October arrives and crisp weather finally gets here, put this skirt into your regular rotation. A lightweight sweater, denim jacket and light colored booties create a perfectly appropriate (and supremely stylish) outfit for your return to the office. And then read this for 3 other outfits that work in any office environment.
By the time it’s November, you’ll be in your fall style groove. So, a chunky sweater and your favorite boots are no-brainer additions to a vegan leather midi skirt look.
A WHITE (or IVORY) BLAZER
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while (or follow me on Instagram), you may already know how much I love a white blazer (click here to read why). And you may think that a white (or ivory) blazer is only useful in the summer – but I’d like to challenge that opinion. A white blazer can also be your late summer into early fall friend. My only suggestion is to pick a seasonless fabric (as opposed to something linen or super light weight). And if you’re afraid of stark white, go for off-white or ivory.
When it still feels like summer, a white/ivory blazer is your wardrobe workhorse. Wear it as the basis of an easy jeans look that can take you from work to lunch to dinner (and everywhere in between).
When it finally starts to feel like fall and you’re in a black and white mood, throw your ivory blazer over a black dress. It’s a timeless combination that you could pretty much wear all year round.
Your ivory blazer becomes a versatile layer as you head into the holidays. Add faux leather pants, heeled booties and a chunky scarf and you’re good to go.
A dark print MIDI DRESS
Ok, so a dress might not be a completely unexpected transitional item. But it is honestly one that a good portion of my clients forget about. So, when you’re thinking about which styles you can wear right now and into fall, make sure you put a dress on your list.
For an easy breezy summer-is-almost-over look, a straightforward midi dress totally fits the bill. And if you want a printed version that can transcend seasons, stick with darker based prints like this black stripe.
When you’re looking to turn heads in early autumn, use your dress as a layer in your outfit (a shirt dress works best for this). Add a tank and skinny black pants, unbutton some buttons and impress your friends at girls’ night out.
The quintessential way to wear a cute midi dress deep into fall is with a chunky cardigan and knee high boots. Just add tights and you’ve translated a warm weather staple into a cold weather essential.
Which of these 3 transitional styles will you wear now AND in October/November? Let me know in the comments. And if you want to evolve your style beyond your basic jeans and sweater combos, click here to see how I can help you create a wardrobe you love and the style you deserve.
Don’t forget to check out the Girl With Curves collection available at QVC. And follow Tanesha on Instagram at @taneshaawasthi.