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How to Make Summer Dresses Fall Ready

With autumn just around the corner, you may be tempted to buy some new pieces for the upcoming season. And while you may need functional upgrades to your existing wardrobe for the months ahead, chances are you can still wear your favorite summertime dresses through September and into October with a few styling tricks. The easiest way to transition breezy frocks from summer to fall is with the three Bs. That’s belts, boots, and blazers.

First up, belts! Nothing makes a dress look pulled together and polished for fall like a waist-cinching belt. Strap an elasticized belt around your favorite floral maxi after Labor Day and that flowy frock can pull double duty on casual Fridays at work, or Sundays at church. Go with an obi belt for handkerchief or high-low hemmed dresses for additional structure and create an architectural silhouette, which is on trend this fall. You can also take your standard leather buckled-belt to create an hourglass shape over your boho shift for all of your Fall Friendly activities.

Next up, boots! No matter your dress and belt combo, boots of all shapes and (most) shades are essential to fall style. Of course, black knee-high heeled boots and a solid colored knee-length dresses are an obvious pairing, especially for work. Or, consider a rich, jewel-toned wedged ankle boot with a midi-dress for date night or dinner with friends. You can also try a brown or gray flat Chelsea-style boot with your go-to summertime chambray shirtdress for a casual workplace or parent-teacher night.

If you’re feeling adventurous, try out this season’s high-fashion trends like snake print, combat, or off-white boots for any night-on-the-town plans you may have coming up this fall. Of course, you can’t beat a good old-fashioned cowboy boot with your favorite summertime dress for a charming country style wherever your day takes you. Feel free to play around with various tights, socks, or no-show socks with your boot choice. For warmer days, less coverage is preferable, but please do not go entirely sockless. Smelly, sweaty feet in boots with no ventilation is not a good look.

Next, top off your dress, belt, and boot ensembles with one of fall’s must-have pieces — a blazer! I’m a huge fan of blazers for all seasons, especially in autumn when they add polish to your look, and also serve as a seasonally appropriate cover-up on those slightly cooler September mornings. For floral dresses in any length, a blazer in a color that picks up a shade in the pattern is a win-win. Or, get on the chambray train and pair up your gingham picnic dress with an on-trend denim blazer. On the flip side, that chambray shift you paired with boots above will look fall time fresh under a tweedy or plaid blazer. Play with patterns by pairing a polka-dot dress with a striped blazer or vice versa. Just make sure the dots and stripes are in the same color, like a white dot on navy and blue stripes on white.

For your final touches, swap out your delicate pendants with a heavier chain-link necklace and switch warm weather canvas totes for heftier leather handbags. And for your little white dress, bring it into fall with all black accessories: Black belt, boots, blazer, and bag!

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