4 Womenswear Pieces You Can Transition from Summer to Fall

Image credit: Jeremy Moeller via Marie Claire

The inevitable transition is here: the heat of summer has blown away, leaving cool fall winds in the air. With the change of seasons often comes the urge to sift through our closets and pack away any items reminiscent of the previous season. While freeing up storage space is certainly a perk, it can be tedious to take every single summer item you have and place it in a bin until the next warm day. With this in mind, we offer you an alternative: hang on to some of your summer pieces, and find creative ways to transition them to fall. There is no shortage of ways you can do this, so let us help start you off with a few:

1. Basic tees and tanks

Basic t-shirts and tank tops in the summer are a no-brainer, but the change of seasons often finds them tossed into storage bins and tucked away for months. Before you put them into storage, try using them as a layering piece. The neckline or hemline of a white tee or tank poking out of a thick sweater is a great way to add dimension to your outfit. Not only that, they also relieve that annoying scratchy feeling that so many of our favorite heavy knits bring. When the weather is on the temperate side, you can skip the sweater and simply throw a blazer or a bomber jacket over your basics. Layering is the oldest trick in the book during the cold midwest months, and basic tees and tanks offer another layer of warmth without feeling heavy or bulky.

Best place in Chicago to find basic tees and tanks: p.45

2. Sundresses

If you’re reluctant to part with your sundresses at the end of summer, consider this: they can be layered in countless manners. For mild fall weather, simply throw a blazer or structured jacket over top of it. A cable knit sweater is the perfect layering piece for chillier days and creates the illusion of wearing a top and a skirt. To complete the transformation, switch up your accessories. Instead of pairing your dresses with sandals or sneakers as you might in the summer, try a chunky loafer or a sleek knee-high boot.

Best place in Chicago to find midi dresses: Alice and Wonder

3. Skirts

To adapt your favorite summer skirt to your fall wardrobe, you can use many of the  same strategies you would for transitioning a dress. To keep your upper body cozy, pair your skirts with a sweater, a blazer, or better yet, both. Add tights underneath your mini skirts to keep your legs warm, and throw a long coat on top for added warmth and dimension. If you’re wearing a midi or maxi skirt, try adding a knee-high boot underneath to close the gap between the hemline and your ankles.

Best place in Chicago to find skirts: Bliss & Belle Boutique

4. Cowboy boots

If you’re a follower of “mainstream” trends, you know that cowboy boots were the boot of the summer this year. Paired with mini dresses and denim shorts alike, they could be found on any street for any occasion, no matter the sweltering temperatures. And now, with the summer heat gone, cowboy boots aren’t going anywhere; they’re just being restyled. Cowboy boots in the summer are modish, but in the fall, they take on both fashion and function, as they’ll keep your toes warm while giving you a contemporary edge. With preppy looks beginning to make a comeback, jeans tucked into a cowboy boot is a trend you’ll see often this fall (pair it with a crewneck and a blazer as an ode to Princess Di). Better yet, combine our previous styling tips and pair your boots with a sweater layered over a sundress for the ultimate in season straddling style.

Best place in Chicago to find cowboy boots: Alcala’s Western Wear

We’d love to see how you adapt your summer pieces for fall - tag us in your favorite transition outfits on Instagram!