“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” ― Wither
SEASONS: A voluntary opportunity for a new beginning.
Sometimes I wonder what life would be like without a calendar, time or our track of changing seasons. Would we automatically recharge or seek a means of doing so?
While I lived in the Midwestern U.S.A., I grew to look forward to the change of seasons and loved when fall approached.
Running outdoors became more enjoyable as the air grew cooler and the leaves graced the canopy with various hues before their finale right before winter; new wildlife immersed while others prepared their nests and burrows for the colder months ahead. Me on the other hand, I found myself evolving creatively in style as I shopped my closet for outfits that could be layered and not just look nice together but was practical and functional as well.
Temperatures may not be as drastic on this part of the globe, but cooler days still afford the opportunity to dress up minor staples for when the weather permit.
Here are some simple ways to transition a simple dress from summer to winter or in my case "cooler winds." Hopefully these simple looks can help you to step out of your comfort zone and try new fun pairings with items you already own.
Easy Ways to Transition Any Dress from Summer to Fall
1. Monochromatic Look
Keeping items within the same colour spectrum for a monochromatic look can take the guess work out of what to wear when layering a dress for the fall.
Neutral tones afford you the opportunity to layer numerous pieces of varying colours be it a cardigan, sweater, coat or in this instance a cape.
Choosing a shoe or boot/bootie is also easy as you can keep your colour palette monochromatic throughout wearing the same colour shoe or a colour in the same family.
For my first look, I decided to pair this dress with my New York & Co turtleneck cape. To keep the look flattering, I took my brown belt and tucked the front part of the cape under the belt for a more defined and intentional fit. If you prefer a more baggy look, you can always let the cape or sweater hang down the front.
To add a bit more of depth to the look, I added my tan fedora and brown booties with gold detail.
This look can be worn for an evening out with friends, running errands in the day (if its cold enough) or even a date night with your significant other.
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Booties | Slip Dress (similar) | Fedora (alternative) | Turtleneck Cape (alternative)
2. Colourblock
Adding a bold coloured piece on top of your slip dress not only adds depth to your outfit but also drama. For days where an extra layer is needed, the basic denim jacket is the easiest ways to add a colour-blocking element.
I decided to pair my neutral slip dress with my waist length dark washed denim jacket. For an even more dramatic colour blocking effect, you can pair a longer length coloured cardigan-a cranberry coloured one for example, or a lightweight multicoloured kimono for a lighter days.
On days when the weather is chilly, layer on other bold coloured pieces like scarves or even a bright pair of stockings.
We often think of colour blocking in one piece, but this can be achieved through by choosing simple pieces that work well together as a comprehensive look. Think about adding a beret or fedora, a headband or turban or even one of the more overlooked accessories a bag.
3. Embellishments
Lately I've been drawn to pearls and pieces with unique appliqués. They have a way of dressing up the most basic pieces and not requiring unnecessary accessories.
Earlier this year, while strolling through the local mall, I found an ivory coloured sweater-very basic-to say the least, on sale for $15.00. I decided to jazz it up a bit by adding faux pearls of various sizes to the front of the sweater.
I've paired this sweater with paperbag pants, skinny jeans with a pair of white sneakers and even dressed it up a bit with a pair of nude pumps. It's a heavyweight sweater with a chunky look to it.
The simplest way of utilising this piece, was to pair it with my baby blue body con dress that I found at a local boutique The Velvet Hanger. This dress is such a pretty pale blue colour and it's thicker than most pieces I've seen in stores. The material is lightweight and has some stretch to it and is very comfortable for all day wear.
For cohesiveness and a bit of contrast I paired this look with my mustard pearled headband and fall booties.
On colder days or nights, I plan on wearing a thicker pair of stockings, perhaps I may try my hand and add an appliqué to them.
Make use of any vintage pieces you may have and pair your bodycon dresses with them for a simple summer to fall transitional look.
If looking for the dress locally, try Body Beautiful or The Velvet Hanger for affordable options.
4. Prints and Patterns
If your wardrobe is filled with pieces in various prints or patterns, why not pair them with your slip or bodycon dresses and wear them during the fall and winter seasons?
The easiest way for me to pair a piece with a print is to choose colours that are incorporated in the print or pattern. For example, I started with the baby blue bodycon dress as my base and added my navy blue tropical 3/4 sleeve kimono with it.
If I wanted to wear this look while running errands throughout the day, I would have paired a small pink crossbody bag with it with a navy bootie or a low top sneaker.
As my look in the photos are more of an evening out and about look, I anchored it with a navy floppy felt hat and my new fall staple, brown booties with gold accents.
It's so fun to shop your closet to utilise pieces already owned to create new outfits for any season. If you try any of these looks be sure to tag me in your photos over on instagram. I'd love to see what you came up with.