Post By Barbizon USA Instructor Miss Summer
As the weather changes and gets cooler, it seems like clearing out your closet of strappy summer dresses and making room for bulky winter clothes would be the smart move – wrong. This fall and winter, it’s all about transforming summer outfits and accessories into chilly weather-friendly fashions. With only a couple added extras and maybe some DIY projects, your wardrobe will be just as cool-weather friendly and (maybe even MORE) fashionable than your summer threads.
First transformation – that adorable go-to summer dress that made appearances at the county fair, family get-togethers, and movie nights. Pair the dress with a long casual sweater in a neutral color. Try the AE Cable Knit Toggle Cardigan (pictured below) in gray. At only $69.95 it’s an investment piece that you’ll get a lot of wear out of this season.
(photo from ae.com)
Grab some flat riding boots with a classy buckle on the leg to really make your look take you into the cooler months. Again, find some in a neutral brown or black and make your purchase worth it.
To finish off your summer dress transformation – find a summer scarf and use it to accessorize. This is going to be the pop of color that the look needs and what people will notice the most. Find one that really fits your style and shows off your personality. With so many different scarves to choose from at such affordable prices, it’ll be the easiest part! For a great scarf selection try www.gap.com, or www.oldnavy.com to find colors and patterns that you didn’t know existed in the scarf world.
Another big trend that we’re seeing this fall is leggings. After seeing them all over the runways and streets of last fall, we thought that would be the end of them, but to our surprise, they’ve made a huge comeback and are better (and easier to wear!) than ever. Forget the boring basic leggings that only come in black and grey. Use them as a bright accessory and find colors and patterns to take your outfit to the next level. With patterns, lengths, colors, and even textures (shiny, leather, sweater-y!) – they are definitely a must-have for this season. Pair them with sweater dresses, boots, and some bulky accessories to make people notice you’re fabulous outfit!
Just be careful not to overdo it. If your dress is loud with lots of colors, stick to a more neutral legging or maybe just a black lace. Only have one (two at the very most) “notice-me” pieces on at a time. You don’t want to overwhelm your audience! Almost all stores have a huge variety of leggings so keep an eye out for some that really scream your name. You’ll be a fall fashion icon in no time!
About the Author
Miss Summer has been a Barbizon Instructor in Tampa, FL for over a year. Launching her modeling career while she was just a teenager, Summer got her start when she competed in the IMTA competition. Putting her modeling career on hold, Summer found her niche as a Barbizon Instructor, Barbizon Director of Education and as a college student studying magazine journalism. A true fashionista, she's inspired by Michael Kors.
