A collection of the best Summer to Fall wardrobe items for 2024.

Summer to Fall Wardrobe Transition Tips

The wardrobe transition from summer to fall can be bewildering – some days are hot, other days are not, and some start cool and end up hot. How do we dress for this? Layering is the easiest way to transition summer clothes – add a turtleneck and tights to a dress or throw on a blazer and scarf over a shirt. Think classic wardrobe pieces like knits, button-ups, and timeless tees, all of which can be worn separately or together.

Here are some tips for transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall:

Layering:

Dress like an onion! Incorporate lightweight layers like cardigans, denim jackets, or blazers over summer tops. Layering a scarf over a dress can add warmth when the temps dip. Some ideas include:

  • Denim Jacket: This one from Cleobella has a swingy fit and a trench coat style that elevates a denim jacket into an all-purpose layer.
  • Favorite Daughter Blazer: Throw this classic must-have blazer over a sundress, t-shirt, or blouse for an instant transition to fall.
  • Cashmere Cardigan: This ribbed cardigan can be added to any outfit for a layer of warmth, or thrown over your shoulders.
  • Cashmere Throw: Keep this handy to wrap up in case the temperature drops!

Color Palette:

Shift to fall colors.  Now’s the time to pull those warmer colors like burgundy, olive, mustard, and deep blues out of your closet! Incorporate earthy tones like camel, gray, and brown.

Fabrics and Textures:

Swap out lightweight fabrics like cotton and linen for warmer materials like wool, cashmere, and corduroy. Combine textures, like pairing a wool sweater or white blouse with a denim skirt or leather boots with a cotton dress. (See our white blouse FabList here for more ideas.)

Footwear:

Begin wearing closed-toe shoes like ankle boots, loafers, or low-heeled pumps. Layer footwear with stylish socks or tights to add warmth and fall flair. Ideas include:

Transitional Dresses:

Opt for dresses with three-quarter or long sleeves, or layer with a long sleeve t-shirt. Layer with tights or leggings. Pair summer dresses with cardigans or blazers to be ready for cooler weather. See the Layering section above for cardigans/blazers and some good dress options include:

  • This jean shift from Gap is ideal with a jacket or cashmere throw if it gets cold.
  • To transition a short sleeve dress to fall, simply layer a thin, long sleeved t-shirt underneath for a great (and warmer) layered look.  This one from Cos in purple under the Gap denim dress above would be fab! Throw on tights and boots and you’re ready!
  • This Ralph Lauren shirt dress in khaki ticks lots of boxes – longer sleeved, longer length, and in an earthy color.

Outerwear:

We love fall outerwear! Barn jackets, puffers, and trench coats all work and are critical wardrobe pieces!

Accessories:

Get out those fall accessories like beanies, hats, and gloves. Quince is our favorite for their cashmere pieces like baseball caps, beanies, and gloves!

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Chrissie and Joanne love discovering, curating and creating. They developed FabList as a place to share their favorite finds with you.

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