Hi everyone! I hope you are all having a terrific day. Here is the third installment of my summer to fall transition series.

Today I was all about contrast- but subtle contrast. I built my outfit around the plaid skirt, which is one of my favorite pieces in my wardrobe. It’s by the brand Necessary Objects, and I’m definitely tempted to buy the same skirt in a different pattern- check it out! That one would be great for spring and summer, while this one is better for fall and winter, which is exactly why I’m including it in this post. The black makes it appropriate for this time of year, but the blue is an eye-catching pop of color and keeps it from being boring. The cut makes it very girly despite the darkish colors. The medium-high waist and slightly puffed skirt make it figure-flattering and eternally in style.

My style is relatively simple, and I reply on subtle ways to add interest to my outfit. Today I’ll be talking about two. First, when you have a outfit with just one or two main colors like this one, it’s great to play with textures (also patterns, but since I already have the bold plaid in the skirt, I’ll save that topic for another day). In the fall/winter seasons, that’s super-easy to do with great options like fur vests, corduroy pants, knit sweaters, and more. Today, I’m wearing a pair of textured tights by Vera Wang. The texture looks like plaid, which ties in nicely with the skirt. I love that at first they look normal because they’re completely black, but then make you do a double-take when you see their cool texture. I wore these because I like how they go with the skirt, but if you have an opportunity to pick up some textured tights this season, I’d go with black lace. They are all the rage right now, but should easily carry over into next year. (I hate blowing money on trendy items that I’ll only use for one season!) Textured tights are perfect for fall and that ‘cool-but-not-quite-cold’ weather, while wool tights are the way to go in the dead of winter.

The other way I spiced up the outfit was by adding what I refer to as a ‘style paradox’- some examples are 1) floral dress + leather jacket, 2) conservative button-up + destroyed jeans, or 3) crop top + pinstripe slacks. Basically, any combination that is very unexpected and not from the same style. In my case, it was this sweet, girly skirt and tights with combat boots. I usually wear this skirt with suede boots or flats, but today I decided to employ this technique. This isn’t as extreme a case as some, because the colors of the skirt fit somewhat with the boots, but the cut of the skirt and the vibe given by the rest of the outfit definitely don’t scream ‘combat boots.’ I love the little taste of unexpectedness. 

As for accessories, I layered some black and silver bangles. I took them off before taking these pictures (sorry!) but they weren’t anything special. Basically, I didn’t want to distract from the skirt, just add another facet to the outfit. For make-up, I’d go with the ‘style paradox’ and go in the exact opposite direction from the boots. I wore a shimmery champagne eye, dewy cheeks, and neutral lips- very feminine, sweet makeup. For nails, I left my pink nail polish that I talked about in my post on Saturday because I love how it contrasts with the rest of the outfit.

I hope you enjoyed this post and got some helpful ideas! I’m not sure how many posts I should do in this series, or if I should do another series… What would you like to see? More in this series? More on accessorizing? More on make-up? I’m game for anything. Thoughts?

This is the second installment in my summer to fall transition series. Today I’m wearing a very casual outfit that is great for just lounging around and running errands, or those days when you’re exhausted and just want to wear something comfy and simple but still fun.

Because the outfit is so simple, I decided to spice up the post by showing how your accessories can really give the outfit a different vibe.

On top, I’m wearing a oversized collared shirt from Old Navy. It’s made of a jersey material and is very long and loose, giving it a casual feel. The bold pink and purple stripes make it a good transition piece because it gives the outfit color, but stays away from pastels, which aren’t great for autumn. Because the shirt is so bright, I kept the bottom half simple with generic black leggings and some beat-up black sneakers from Rocket Dog (my favorite brand for non-athletic sneakers) that really solidify the comfy and casual look. And yes, I am wearing pink fuzzy socks— incorporate fun touches like that to let your personality shine through!

There is really no way to make this look formal, but if you want to make it a little more polished, check out the second and third pics. I added a chic belt to give the top more shape and paired it with some black suede over-the-knee boots from Steve Madden.

If you want to counteract the girly effect of the pink shirt, the next photo is the way to go. Some scuffed up combat boots give the outfit a much more edgy look. Mine are from Bucco, but were unfortunately discontinued. Combat boots are a huge trend, though, so it should be pretty easy to find some. Check out thrift stores to score some cool vintage ones!

I’m sure I’ll be loving the next idea in a couple weeks once the weather gets a bit colder. I’m wearing the same Rocket Dog sneakers, but added some thick ribbed leg warmers, which are great not only for warmth, but also add interest to the outfit with their cool texture.

The second to last picture is the epitome of comfiness. I’m wearing some slouchy knit boots from Groove, which are basically like slippers you can wear outside. I wouldn’t recommend them if you have to walk a lot, but for running a quick errand or hanging out with a friend, these are a great cozy alternative to sneakers or boots.

The last picture is probably my favorite. I’m wearing (another) pair of Steve Madden boots. These ones come to mid-calf and have a cool fringe around the top. This was a big trend last year, and I’m hoping that it will survive this winter because I love the look. They definitely make you look a bit more put-together than the sneakers, but are not quite as polished as the over-the-knee boots. They are also super comfy, but can be a bit warm for the beginning of fall- I’d recommend taking them out in a week or two.

With such a casual outfit, there is no need for jewelry. If you want to accessorize a bit more, try adding a plain black scarf. As for makeup, keep it simple- one or two coats of mascara and a glowy cheek should suffice. If you love matching your nail polish to your clothes like I do, try a pink that is a couple shades lighter than the pink in the shirt. I’m wearing ‘I Pink I Can’ by Sally Hansen. ‘True Love’ by Essie or ‘Laced Up’ by China Glaze would be great alternatives.

I hope this post gave you some ideas for transitioning from summer to fall and how to change up the vibe of your outfit based on shoes and accessories! Like and reblog if you want me to make another post like this one.

I got a few ‘yes’-es when I asked if I should do some summer-to-fall transition posts, so here is the first one! Like and reblog if you enjoy so I’ll know to do another.

In this outfit, I’m wearing a casual dress by SoSik that I got at Loehmann’s. The pop of orange near the neckline makes it a great transition piece, since orange is a very autumny color but can be somewhat overpowering, especially on a pale person like me. Also, I love the intricate pattern on the skirt. It definitely heads more towards tribal, which is great for autumn/winter as you lean away from summery florals. The tan part at the top gives it the appearance of a strapless top layered over a tee (a trend that I do in fact use often!) but it’s actually connected. This gives it some fun detail, but makes it a bit more casual.

Over the dress, I’m wearing a generic brown cardigan that I shrunk in the wash. Rather than fear shrinkage, embrace it! Cardigans are always great transition pieces because they give some warmth, but don’t make you get overheated and are easy to take off and stick in your bag. A shrunken one gives off a little more of a sophisticated air rather than cozy like the oversize ones I reach for in winter, making the former preferable for autumn.

On the bottom, I’m wearing some generic brown tights- another important marker of a autumn/winter outfit. Just a few days ago, I could have gotten away with bare legs, but today it was important to get the extra warmth. For shoes, I have on my Steve Madden brown leather boots. At this time of the year, I stay away from Uggs and over-the-knee boots, sticking to suede or leather ones that reach a couple inches below the knee or lower.

I already took off my jewelry, but I was wearing a gold beaded bangle. I would advise against pairing necklaces with shirts/dresses like this because the button detailing combined with a scoop neck makes it difficult to find a good match. I don’t have my ears pierced, but if you do, some simple studs would be nice, or use some dangly earrings to spice up the outfit and make it a bit more formal.

For nail color, I would definitely recommend an orange to match the detailing on the dress, such as ‘Brights Power’ by OPI or ‘Pure Torture’ by China Glaze. Orange is not a particularly trendy color for this season, but it is always cool to match your nail polish to a detail in your clothes to really make both of them pop. A great alternative would be either copper or bronze, which would work nicely with the brown of the outfit, and both of which are very trendy for fall this year.

Finally, since there isn’t too much going on in the outfit (focused on neutral colors, only one pattern, no bold textures), it’s a great opportunity to experiment with an interesting makeup look. Today I went a little heavier on the eyeliner, and added a swipe of forest green on the outer half of my top lash line (try navy for blue eyes or purple for hazel or brown- all three are great autumn colors). With the darker colors of winter comes an opportunity to use more dramatic makeup and try out new looks to highlight your natural beauty. This look really brings out my green eyes and is a subtle way of adding another facet to the outfit.