Great tips, Angie! Thank you! We are looking at 28C today where I live, so fall clothes are out of the picture. But I like these subtle ways of conveying the fall season. I’ve muted my colors a little, but once it cools down for tights, I will be back with brights with a vengance.

It’s one of my favorite seasons because I love dark rich colors, also because the wheather is still hot and we don’t need any heavy fabric, I like thin fabrics.. the only thing I don’t like is that it lasts only a month.. November is already chilly.

I love autumn as well. Just yesterday I decided that it was time to switch out my bright bag for a black one. I also LOVE the idea of pairing a scarf with sleeveless clothing. You have listed some great tips here.

Also, love your alliteration of “bubblegum brights.” Cute.

It was 90-degrees here yesterday, so too hot for lovely boots and trenches BUT I have switched my nail polish to a lovely dark hue. Baby steps.

Angie, do you wear patterned hose with your scrunch boots and frocks?
This is not a look I will explore because I have swron myself to hemlines at the knee and not above. I was just wondering how you do the look, bare leg or tights?
There is something about autumn that makes me very sentimental and sad, yet excited about the change. I think I will change my white purse for a darker one today.
Thanks for the interesting post.

As someone who lives in a warm climate, I think I have done all these things except short shorts and skirts. (Learned from YLF.) Strangely, we are having an unseasonably cool Sept. (60’s and 70’s yesterday and today) and I even broke out the riding boots with clams yesterday paired with tank and waistcoat. I’m not complaining! I am finding that my fall wardrobe is shaping up to be rather neutral– black, white, cream, grey– so I’m sticking with bright bags. This is still a change as I was using black bags for late summer to change it up over a long summer.

I just switched to a dark purple nail polish, bought some lightweight but darker colored tops and a cotton scarf. I have also been avoiding my shell jewelery. Yes, I think this is a great list, and exactly the types of things that I naturally do. Unfortunately, it’s still too hot for many of them (we’re expecting 103 later this week). As the weather cools, it’s what I will be doing, though. I can’t wait to wear boots and dresses, layers and scarves!

Perfect timing for this post! It’s officially fall and this week has been hotter than it was all summer! I’ve been thinking every morning how to dress for warm weather without looking like it’s still summer. Thank you for these great tips!!

Perfect, perfect timing. It’s still 80 here in MN, and I’m dying to autumnize my look!

It’s an oddly hot 28C day here too, so I’m wearing a Summer frock in bright-ish colours, but it has an Autumn green in the pattern. I usually match this frock with a little citron cardigan, but I’ve paired it with a little black textured cardigan and black patent skinny belt instead. It feels more “Autumn” that way. (I’m wearing a cardigan because it’s cool in the morning).

Patience and Danja, I also wear my bright and neutral bags all year round because I swap them out frequently. Can’t have all that much fun with shoes, but I can have fun with bags

San, I do both. Sometimes I wear fishnets with the frocks and slouch boots combo. I do not feel the heat quickly so fishnets are fine. Patterned hose would be too warm. Also, remember that my skirts aren’t that short either. Short is relative. Instead of being on the knee or just below the knee, I’ve raised the hemline to a little above the knee. Hardly any thigh! You can do that too.

Our weather has been so crazy lately on the east coast – 80 one day, 60 something the next. I feel like I am alternating between summer and fall! I actually just brought down my fall clothes out of storage and have been adding a cardi or denim jacket to some of my summer weight outfits to get by. I am eager to try the bare legs plus boots look but am afraid that by the time I am ready for boots, I will also need tights.

Another thing I can think of is adjusting makeup a little – deeper blushes/lipsticks/eyeshadows (for those who wear them) that coordinate better with the darker, richer hues of the fall color palette. I love fall lipstick colors as they work better for my skin tone in general so I always use the fall/winter season to stock up on new ones.

So glad you wrote this post.It is still very summer-like here in the south,despite yesterday being the “start of autumn.” I have been trying to swing seasons here already–switched out the white handbag for my brown suede one, wearing my tweed shoes today
But it is tough when it is 86 degrees outside!
Thanks for the tips Angie!

Great suggestions! It’s still hot here this week.

Autumn is my favorite season! Unfortunately where I live, we don’t have consistent fall-like weather until November. By the beginning of September, I find myself doing most of the things on this list as I get tired of my summer items. My toes are sporting darker polish, my bag has changed, and I just can’t seem to make myself wear sandals any more. I’ve switched to flats instead, because it makes it feel more like fall. I love the idea of a sleeveless top with a scarf, but I have a mental block in this area. My husband consistently pokes fun at people who do this. His opinion is if it’s warm enough for no sleeves, why would you wear a scarf? I personally love the look and just need to do it so his eye can adjust! )

Perfect timing! It’s still warm here in Boston, at least during the day, but I feel a bit silly running around in summer dresses and sandals. Thanks for the tips.

Love fall, too. It’s by far our best weather of the year. I was actually excited to see that next week will be in the mid-60s. Your last suggestion of slouchy boots and dresses is one I’m planning to wear a lot this fall — thanks!

I have never been confused about what to wear in fall at any temperature. It’s spring and summer that gets me confused. After several threads exploring the subject on the forum, I still don’t have any idea what to wear when it’s hot and rainy.

The thing I hate most about this time of year are all the people who insist on wearing their flipflops right up until the end, even with a heavy coat or jacket. Looks ridiculous. I hope that demographic finds this blog post.

Thank you so much for this post, Angie. My falls are usually very warm and I struggle with how to incorporate fall pieces with the heat. My goal is to add a few warm weather items in fall colors so I can switch from my summer wardrobe that I’m getting tired of wearing. Question for you…since it’s still so warm, is it alright to pair fall color tops with white bottoms? I’ve been doing that and I think you’ve endorsed that look in the past but just wanted to double check.

Thank you for a wonderful and useful article Angie! It is right on time with Boston weather indeed.

So you think us short-legged gals could attempt the last look you describe – shorter dresses with slouchy mid-calf boots or is that better avoided for the leg shortening effects?

Great Post Angie…..I have to wait to use all your great tips….lots of usefull info…. but it is 100 degrees today:(

Fall is actually one of my favorite seasons to dress for..thanks for the insight and great tips!!!

Great post! It is still too hot here to think of layering–even items made of thin fabrics, so my fall clothes are not going to be making an appearance anytime soon. But I like the suggestion of sticking to darker colored summer clothes and accessories. By now I am extremely tired of everything I have been wearing over the summer and really want a change.

I had to laugh when I saw Maya’s post about the flip flop + coat wearers. That happens a lot around here too, especially around the college campuses.

Great post! This has been a real challenge here in Seattle this year. I’m itching to wear some of my new fall outfits, but it has been way too warm.

I’ll pull out the ballet flats again!

Such fun and useful ideas! It’s been alternating cool and hot, which is typical for this time of year. I’ve put away my white denim but have been giving cream pants and walking shorts more wear time than they’ve seen all year. It’s still too warm for boots for a big chunk of the day here, but that could change by next week.
I think the scarves for warm fall weather that work best are cotton or other fabric that doesn’t add much warmth and on the skinny side, tied low.

Great post, and great tips! We’re not at true fall weather yet, so I have been trying to incorporate many of these ideas for a while now. My ballet flats have been getting tons of use, and I’m loving the scarf and short-sleeved dress/shirt combo.

Time for my pedicure in a yummy port wine color…

Thank you, thank you, thank you Angie! Your lists always get me excited. Thanks to YLFabbers and you I am hopefully going to have a fashionable fall We’re still hitting 90F avg highs

Tanya, that’s a great question. There are ways of elongating the leg line with the frock and mid-calf slouch boot look:

1. Opt for slouch boots with a bit of heel
2. Wear your hemline a little shorter
3. Add a waist- cinching belt
4. Wear an empire cut

Both #3 and #4 raise the eye level of the waistline thereby visually elongating the leg line. Hope that makes sense.

Super ideas, very timely and very practical. I’ve been a bit at a loss lately, spending too much time in my closet trying to come up with outfits that start signal an entry into fall, while working for the wonderfully warm weather we’re enjoying right now. I’ll try some of these.

I can’t stand it any more. Angie, your blog is SO GOOD, so very in tune with the clothing-related issues that I like to ponder…. I just had to join!!! And believe me, I do NOT join blogs and make comments. Not usually.

You’re special.

So… long time lurker, first time poster. May I say you’re absolutely bang on for autumn, you’re thinking the same way I am but you have boundless style and vision and I’m all inspired now. I KNEW those slouchy boots would get another guernsey this winter.

What do you think of the wispy leopard print scarves in unusual colours I’m seeing everywhere here in London? Are they big in the States this autumn?

Thanks, aussie in London. I’m glad you posted your first comment and joined our forum! I’m quite touched. I also love the sound of those scarves. By all means sport them