In Season: Transitional Layers

Leandra said it best in a recent entry of The Cereal Aisle, it’s the best time of year to get dressed. I love summer, however, I don’t do summer fashion very well. But early fall? This is my time to shine.

If summer is for skin, fall is for clothes. Nothing is off limits and everything is on the table. A skirt and wool sweater? Great. A skimpy dress with a trench coat? Fabulous. Throwing together a handful of separate pieces to make a cohesive, cool outfit that also keeps you comfortable seems easy enough. And yet the question still looms like the dark skies of October: how do you get dressed for this seasonal shift?

It's not quite time to put away beloved summer pieces—afternoons can still be warm and there are always those fortuitous sunny days through early fall. It is your moment, however, to get your mid-weight jackets, sweaters, and boots ready for their annual debut.

The formula is simple, 45% summer, 45% winter, with 10% wiggle room to consider the forecast. Here are four 'fit ideas to get you started in this transition.

Pair a sheer dress with a singlet and a vibrant oversized sweater, like this one from Cordera. Wear it with a simple pair of Mary Janes and accessories of your choice to complete the look. If you love the style but don’t want to purchase multiple pieces, a dress like this one from Sea NY is all you need.

Wearing cardigans as a shirt is one of my favorite styling choices for fall. For example, this wrap cardi from Kowtow in the season's hottest color pairs well with damn near anything, but I like it with a pleated midi skirt. Style with socks and a slingback, or tone it down with something more casual—I’d choose these Salomon sneakers. If you’re looking for the best sock in the world, I swear by this three-pack from RoToTo.

Pants and a tank top...it’s so simple you almost forget that it’s still an option. I’m a sucker for all things Amomento, but I especially love these brown, straight-fit pants. Pair them with a racerback tank, ballet flats, and a bag big enough to hold an extra cardigan.