Wardrobe Oxygen: Transitional Fashion from Summer to Fall

While it's still 500,000 degrees here in Washington D.C., the fashion world has already deemed it to be fall. While I'm in need of a couple more sundresses and pairs of shorts to get through the next couple of months, shops are chock full of chunky knits, long-sleeved shirts and wool skirts. Even though I work up a sweat in this weather just walking to the car, I have to admit I too am lusting for tall leather boots and tweed.

How do you dress for the weather, but also dress for the season?

It's In the Jeans. The easiest way to bring fall's fashion into your summer wardrobe is by adopting a denim trend. This fall, the jegging has returned, but there are also come very fun leg cuts (wide legs, deep flares, baby boots) that will look amazing in October with fall blouses and jackets, but can look quite chic in August with a simple tank and wedge sandals.

A deep dark indigo or colorful hue will make your new denim not only be on-trend for cut, but on-trend for color. Pair with white now for a very crisp and modern look; mix this denim with autumnal hues post-Labor Day for a completely different but still current style.

Run for Cover. Though it may still be steamy outside, it can get downright chilly indoors with everyone's A/C on full blast. Try topping your sundresses with a fashionable fall jacket.

Leather and denim are hot for fall and look great with sundresses as well as wintry pieces. A leather moto or biker jacket can give your floral cotton dresses an urban edge; a denim jacket tempers the sweetness of a frothy frock. Come cooler weather, pair your jackets with pants or dresses of heavier-weight fabrics.

These Boots Were Made for Walking. A pair of tall boots works like a jacket in balancing out a sweet summer sundress. Be they cowboy, classic riding boots, or an ankle bootie with edge, the weight of the leather works in lovely contrast to lightweight cottons, silks and rayons.

A brown boot does a better job of transitioning between seasons, though black can give a tough-girl look with an eyelet or lace frock.

Get Shorty. This season, shorts came back in a big way…and they are here to stay through fall. Unique fabrics such as leather, lace, and glazed cotton can work almost year-round, looking seasonally appropriate based upon the rest of the ensemble. A unique cut such as a paperbag waist will transition nicely as well.  Pair a dark indigo denim pair with a white tank and gladiator sandals now, and with a silky bow-neck blouse and pumps in a couple of months.

Choose dark colors to have a better chance of your shorts looking seasonally appropriate come September. Denim, leather, wool, and heavy twill can be paired with bare legs until the weather begins to cool, and then can be worn through winter with opaque tights and closed-toe shoes.

Color Your World. With each season not only are there new silhouettes and styles, but also new color trends. You can get the fall look by choosing lightweight pieces in the current colors. A silk shell in pumpkin paired with a dark denim pencil skirt, a deep teal sheath dress with a leopard print haircalf belt, royal purple midi-length skirt with a simple navy tank and wooden bangle bracelets. These pieces can look summery now, but also will work with your fall and winter wardrobes.

How do you handle the wardrobe transition between summer and fall?