How to Transition Your Wardrobe From Summer to Fall

There is always that funny stretch of time when summer isn’t quite over, but fall is definitely on its way. You leave the house in the morning wishing you had grabbed a jacket, regret wearing it by mid-afternoon, and then want it back again as soon as the sun goes down. Welcome to September in Alberta!

From a fashion perspective, though, we love this time of year. You get to pull out some of those fall favourites you haven’t seen in months without saying goodbye to your summer wardrobe just yet.

In fact, we don’t really believe in putting clothing into strict seasonal categories. If you love a piece, there is usually a way to reinvent it. Creating summer to fall outfits is really about mixing the best of both seasons and having a little fun with your clothes along the way.

Don't Pack Up Your Summer Wardrobe Just Yet

Before you tuck away everything summery, take another look through your closet. There are probably quite a few pieces that can stay in rotation well into fall.

Tanks are perfect under cardigans and blazers. A button-up can be worn open over a tank, tucked into denim or layered underneath a sweater. Lightweight pants work beautifully with knits and jackets. Even shorts can have a little extra life in them on those warm September afternoons.

This is something we talk about all the time at Voila. We love clothing that can be reinvented and worn in multiple ways. It makes getting dressed easier, gives you more options without needing more clothes, and lets you keep wearing the pieces that already make you feel good.

Layer, Layer, Layer

If there is one word we use constantly when talking about both apparel and home decor, it’s layers. And fall is when layering really gets fun.

Start light. Throw a cardigan over a tank or T-shirt. Add a blazer to your favourite denim. Wear a button-up open as a light jacket. Drape a sweater over your shoulders so it’s there when you need it later.

As the season gets cooler, you can keep adding. A fitted long sleeve under a vest or dress adds warmth without hiding the piece you actually wanted to wear. A jacket over a knit gives you another layer that can easily come off when the afternoon warms up.

It’s practical, of course, but layering also makes an outfit more interesting. Different lengths, fabrics and shapes give you room to play around until the combination feels like you.

Yes, You Can Wear a Summer Dress in Fall

Don’t pack away a dress you love just because August is over! Figuring out how to wear a summer dress in fall is mostly about changing what surrounds it.

Take a simple summer dress you’ve been wearing with sandals. Add a cardigan and a boot and suddenly it feels completely different. Try it with a blazer and ballet flat for something a little more polished. A denim jacket gives it a casual feel, while a fitted long sleeve underneath can completely change the look of a sleeveless dress.

And this is where you can have some fun with combinations you may not have considered during summer. You might be surprised by how many new outfits are hiding in a piece you’ve already worn dozens of times.

Change the Shoes

Never underestimate the power of a shoe! One of the easiest ways to make your summer wardrobe feel ready for fall is to start changing your footwear. The exact same outfit can take on a completely different personality depending on what you put on your feet.

Trade a sandal for a loafer. Wear sneakers with a dress. Bring your boots back into rotation with skirts, dresses and denim. Add a ballet flat to an outfit you normally wear very casually.

We especially love a shoe that can move between different parts of your wardrobe. If it looks equally good with denim, trousers and a dress, even better. Those are the pieces that make getting dressed easy because you don’t have to think too hard about making everything work together.

Play With Fall Textures

Texture is a great way to start changing the mood of an outfit before it’s actually cold enough for heavier clothing. Denim, knits, suede, corduroy and other richer fabrics bring some of that fall feeling while still mixing easily with your lighter summer pieces.

Try a knit with a silky or satin skirt. Denim with a soft sweater. A summer dress with suede footwear. Mixing textures keeps an outfit interesting and makes pieces from different seasons feel like they belong together.

And you don’t have to stop wearing light colours either. Cream, white and soft neutrals can be gorgeous in fall. Pair them with richer textures or deeper colours and keep them going!

Add the Finishing Touches

Sometimes you put on an outfit and it’s fine, but it needs something. This is where accessories earn their keep.

A belt can completely change the shape of a dress or oversized shirt. A scarf brings in colour, pattern and texture. Jewellery can make a T-shirt and jeans feel finished. Even changing your bag can shift an outfit in a different direction.

Accessories are also an easy place to try something slightly unexpected. Maybe it’s a scarf in a colour you don’t normally wear or jewellery with a little more personality than your everyday pieces. You don’t have to change your whole wardrobe. Sometimes stepping just a tiny bit outside your usual choices is enough to make getting dressed feel fun again.

Mix the Seasons Instead of Switching Them

We think this is the real secret to transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall: don’t rush it. There doesn’t need to be one weekend when all the summer clothes disappear and the fall clothes come out. Let them mingle for a while!

Wear the summer dress with the fall jacket. Put a cozy knit over your lightweight pants. Keep wearing the tank you love, but add a cardigan. Bring out your boots while some of your lighter pieces are still in rotation.

This is also a great time to rediscover your closet. Pulling out clothes you haven’t seen since last fall almost feels like shopping again, especially when you start combining them with pieces you picked up over the summer. You may find combinations you’ve never worn before, which is half the fun.

Come Explore Fall Fashion at Voila!

Fall arrivals are one of our favourite things at Voila, and we love seeing how new pieces can work with the clothes you already have.

Pop into our Wainwright boutique and come explore! We can help you find a new layer for a favourite summer dress, try a shoe that changes the whole feel of an outfit, or show you a few different ways to wear something you’ve had your eye on.