Fashion: Welcoming autumn into your wardrobe

Welcoming autumn into your wardrobe By Angela Antonello

September is when we officially say goodbye to summer and open our arms to the beautiful comforts of fall, but the autumnal equinox in Central New York doesn’t always correspond with the seasonal drop in temperatures. So here is how you can make your wardrobe shift more comfortable and fall fashionable!

We all tend to drag our feet a bit when it’s time to put away our sandals. To extend that season, be sure to choose darker colors like tan, black and brown. You can also begin pairing your outfits with heavier fall fabrics. For instance, pair a little tweed jacket over a white shirt with jeans and your favorite metallic sandals. Pull in some suede accents, transition into longer sleeves and introduce animal prints with bags and belts.

Darken up your wardrobe:

Instead of wearing your flowery summer blouse and blush accessories with a pair of white jeans, swap them out with a charcoal or oxblood colored sweater, a fawn colored bag, and nude flats, and you are ready for fall. Yes, you can wear white after Labor Day. Keep in mind that white in fall doesn’t have to be bright white. Soft white, ivory or cream make your outfit look more fall/winter like than stark white. The bottom line is, if you’re struggling to make a white item work, it’s probably because it’s a summer white. You’re better off putting it away until it gets warmer! To make the transition easy pick seasonal colors associated with fall. Think of the changing colors of leaves and the colors of fall fruits and vegetables. A mustard or rust cardigan over a floral print dress would be a good start. The Pantone Color Institute is highlighting a variety of creative colors for Fall 2020, ranging from a magenta purple to sultry reds and acidic yellow-greens. If you want to add touches of color but still keep things muted, rose tan (rose gold ) is a perfect choice. Here are some tips to have fun with your what you have as you add a new piece or two: • Top your favorite summer dress with a long, cozy boyfriend cardigan. • Transition with a pair of suede booties and wear them with bare legs to show off your tanned legs a little longer. • Add a three-quarter or long-sleeved shirt under your sleeveless summer dress. • Throw on a poncho, wrap or leather jacket over a dress or jeans and a top. Tie the look together with open-toe booties that still hint at it’s not quite full on fall yet. Also, remember clothing is only part of the story – makeup also moves with the seasons. Make simple adjustments like opting for warmer, tawnier colors and switching your sheer summer lip gloss with a creamy lipstick formula. Swap your pink, coral and French manicures for neutral beige or shimmery metallic. Try a dusting of bronzer on forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin to maintain that summer glow. I hope you FALL in love with this season of change! Autumn is like a second spring, where every leaf is a flower. SWM