How to Wear Your Summer Favourites Into Fall & Beyond
Summer may be moving along, but that doesn’t mean your favourite summer pieces have to be packed away anytime soon!
As we move toward August and the weeks that follow, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about new ways to wear the summer pieces you already love. The secret is in the styling! Use these five simple tips to extend the life of your summer favourites.
1. Surround Summer Colours with Richer Neutrals
One of the easiest ways to transition a summer wardrobe is to adjust the colours you wear with your favourite seasonal shades. Bright and lighter colours don’t suddenly become off-limits when summer begins to wind down. Pairing them with richer neutrals can completely change the mood of an outfit and give those colours a fresh sense of season. If you’re not sure where to start, use this handy colour guide!
2. Change What You Pair With Your Linen
Linen is one of summer’s most-loved fabrics, but its usefulness doesn’t have to end with the height of the season. The key is to change the pieces you wear alongside it.
#1 Pair your favourite linen pants with a lightweight knit instead of a sleeveless top.
#2 Wear a linen shirt open over a simple tee and add denim or a lightweight jacket.
#3 Layer a cardigan over a linen dress or pair a linen blouse with darker denim.
#4 Adjust your colour combinations: natural linen, white, and lighter neutrals take on a new look when paired with olive, navy, chocolate, camel, or deeper denim.
3. Introduce Texture Before Weight
When the season begins to change, it can be tempting to immediately start thinking about heavier fabrics and warmer clothing, but the easiest way to transition is to utilize texture:
#1 Fine-gauge knits
#2 Textured jackets
#3 Lightweight cardigans
#4 Subtle woven fabrics
#5 Denim
#6 Soft twill
Texture adds depth and interest to an outfit without making you feel dressed for a season that hasn’t arrived yet. Try pairing a lightweight summer blouse with a textured cardigan, add a denim jacket to a flowing dress, or wear your favourite summer pants with a fine-gauge knit. These small changes make an outfit feel more grounded and seasonal while still keeping it comfortable and wearable.
4. Add One Transitional Layer
You don’t need to rebuild an entire outfit to move it forward, sometimes, one thoughtfully chosen layer is enough to change the direction of pieces you’ve been wearing all summer:
#1 Lightweight jacket
#2 Cardigan
#3 Fine-gauge sweater
#4 Vest
Layer a jacket over a sleeveless blouse, add a cardigan to a summer dress, wear an open shirt or lightweight overshirt over a tee or tank. The goal is to choose layers that work with several pieces already in your wardrobe.
5. Utilize Shoes and Accessories to Shift the Season
Sometimes the clothing doesn’t need to change at all. Shoes and accessories can have a surprising influence on how seasonal an outfit looks. A summer outfit paired with sandals and a woven bag takes on an entirely different look when styled with loafers or ankle boots and a structured handbag.
Make the most of the
wardrobe you already own!
As transitional collections begin to arrive, look for additions that connect the seasons – pieces that work with what you own today while giving you even more ways to wear your wardrobe in the months ahead.
