So September is finally here, and the weather will soon be turning a little chillier in most places. That means that it’s time to start thinking about making the transition from your spring summer wardrobe to your autumn winter one. Read on to find out how to make this transition as seamless as possible.
Gradual
Firstly it is not necessary to pack away every last summer dress and bikini top as soon as we hit autumn. Unless you live in an area with clearly demarked seasons, then you are likely to get some warm days mixed in with the chillier ones.
The main issue with this is that it can mean running two wardrobes side by side, while you are waiting for the temperature to change. It can get pretty chaotic doing this and make keeping up with the laundry near impossible.
It’s a good idea to pick items from each season wardrobe that would be suitable for cooler, but not freezing weather. There is no point getting out you winter puffa jackets and ski wear if it’s still 26 degrees outside.
So go through your current clothes and see what you can make sure of. Jeans and tank tops are a good bet, as you can put wraps or jumpers over the top if it’s a colder, day.
A leather jacket is a classic piece too that will easily fit over the top of a retro summer dress and protect you from the falling temperatures.
Capsule
Another easy way to move your SS look into AW is to use capsule wardrobe. A capsule wardrobe is a selection of a few key pieces that make up the core of your outfits. Then you can choose to embellish and accessorize them as you see fit.
A capsule wardrobe works well for that difficult time in between seasons. This is because it uses the idea of multi-purpose pieces that can be added together to create a look. That means it’s very easy to adjust what you are wearing to the weather conditions outside.
A classic capsule can be built up of as little as nine essential items. These will include three bottoms, three tops and three jackets, jumpers & cardigans. An AW capsule will also include a few on-trend dresses and a heavy winter coat for when the weather turns.
If attempting to put an AW capsule wardrobe together for yourself, you will also need to consider your accessories. You will need a neutral colored umbrella, gloves, and a scarf.
Shoes are also essential. They not only have to match as many looks as possible within the capsule, but they also have to be practical for the type of weather that you can expect in AW.
Ankles boots work well with dresses, as they give you that rock chic look while keeping your feet dry in the wet weather. It may also be worth investing in some snow boots if you are likely to experience extreme weather on a regular basis.
Layers
One of they keys to transitioning from SS into AW is to master the technique of layering. Layering is using different items of clothing to build up an outfit that looks attractive and is suitable for the weather of your climate.
When buying layering items, you need to think carefully about their utility. Some items can only really be used outside, when the weather is really bad, like heavy woolen overcoats. If you walk to work, then this will be an essential for you throughout the AW season. However, if you drive to work, a heavy winter coat can be an expensive purchase that spends most of its time, hung up in your wardrobe.
You also need to consider the temperature of the place you spend the most time in the day. Do you work in an office where you have no control over the heating and cooling systems? If this is the case and your colleagues prefer a warmer environment you may need to put together outfits that are lightweight and cool for the day. But layer a thick jumper or jacket over the top for when you need to step outside.
The great thing about layering is that the more layers you have, the more you can take off. So you have a much better control of your temperature throughout the day.
Colours
Of course, moving from a SS to an AW wardrobe is not all about the type of clothes you pick. It’s also a chance to change up the color scheme in your closet and wear some different shade.
This season’s AW colors trends includes a focus on mainly neutral tones like rust, olive, copper and indigo blue. There are also some brighter hues in their like baby blue and bright red.
Of course, as much as we’d all like to able to wear any color that we liked, our skin tone dictates the shades that will look best on us.
That means it’s vital, before you sprint to the mall, to know what your skin tone is, and which colors will compliment it.
Luckily there is lots of detailed information on the internet. But the basics look like this. If you have a pinkish tone with blue veins on the underside of your arm, then your skin is a cool tone. If you have a more golden tone and your veins appear greenish, then you have a warm skin tone.
For the warmer skin tone types, the natural colors such as olives and coppers will work wonderfully. For cooler skin tone try to stick to anything that has a hue of blue in it. So the indigo blue and baby blue for 2016 will work well for you.
Cooler skin tones need be careful of red through. This is because there are so many different shades of red. Some start with a blue base, while others work on an orange base. If you have a cooler tone, you can wear the reds with the blue base but not the orange ones.
