Bringing Fall into your Wardrobe when it’s Still Hot

This time of year leading up to fall is filled with anticipation and wonderment for me. With the Texas heat that persists even into September, the idea of cooler temperatures, getting cozy under more blankets and drinking all of the hot coffee draws out the romantic in me in a way that I just can’t help.

And with all of this dreaming, I tend to be all to quick to romanticize what my wardrobe should be, grabbing for all the woolly sweaters, long coats, and boots only to realize that we are still in the 80’s and 90’s on some days.

But it’s safe to say after this many years I have learned my lesson, I’ll still be a romantic, but I’m saving the wool for when it’s actually cold.

Even so, that won’t keep me from being creative with making outfits feel fall, and also cool enough to wear. And I’ve been doing so by incorporating certain colors in my wardrobe, and playing with textures that feel more fall appropriate!

New outfit formulas are the way I have been working in texture and color. If you aren’t already familiar with outfit formula’s, they are a basic combination of a top, bottom, shoe, and sometimes accessory that you love and repeat with different items over again. I love outfit formulas for having a signature look, or something to go to when life gets crazy, but sometimes it can be easy to get into a rut with outfits if you don’t experiment with different items or come up with new ones.

That’s one of the reasons I am not adding any skinny jeans in my closet this fall or winter, and instead incorporating all different pant cuts. It’s for sure been a really fun exercise, and it’s given me so much life.

For now though, here is one outfit formula I came up with to still stay cool, and also feel fall appropriate.

Fitted top + Wide Leg Pant + Textured Mule

This will definitely be a fun formula I will be repeating often!

Styling Notes|| With this formula I switched my usual look from loose top + fitted bottom + shoe of choice to fitted top + loose bottom + shoe of choice, just to create an outfit with some symmetry. Of course, I’ll wear fitted things with fitted things, and loose things with loose things, but it can create a lot of visual interest and balance to contrast items based on their shape, so that’s what I did!

I love how the crop top still gives me those nice breezy vibes I need in the summer for when it’s so hot outside but feels fall appropriate when paired with the Sienna pant and fun leopard print mule that brings some interest to the outfit through texture.

I added a bold earring for a flair and my beloved Cole Haan black purse that I’ve had for 5 years, which gives off a vintage vibe with the pleating.

Shirt (conscious, old linked to similar) | Pants | Mules | Purse (old, linked to similar) (similar, conscious)| Earrings (conscious) | Sunnies (old, linked to similar)

But whatever your style is, I have found this to be a very wearable combination for the pre-fall time. Whether I go the way of the wide leg or use the same colors with skirts and dresses, I feel like I still have a small taste of fall while remaining comfortable temperature wise.

So tell me, how do you deal with warm fall’s, do you keep your summer clothing going strong, or do you change up your colors, and textures?

So much love,

Mary Beth

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