Earlier this week I posted about extending our Summer frock wearing days into cooler weather by layering items underneath them. Some readers thought it was a great idea and I do too. I love wearing dresses, but loathe feeling cold, which makes it a welcome solution.

Here I layered the same black pussycat bow blouse underneath two sleeveless sheath dresses. The outfit on the left creates high contrast between the blouse and the dress, while the one on the right is almost monochromatic. I don’t favour one over the other, but they do have different vibes — the higher contrast outfit is definitely more dramatic. If you don’t like the “school girl” effect, keep the contrast low. Personally I’m fine with it and will happily layer a white shirt under a dark dress.

In both ensembles I knotted the neck tie of the blouse instead of creating a bow. That way I can sport my little bee brooch or drape a chunky necklace over the tie. I finished off the look with patterned hose and low heeled biker booties, but you can leave off the hose and substitute pumps, oxfords or boots. When the temperatures get colder I’ll add another layer: a cheeky cropped jacket, a boyfriend blazer, a trench coat or a wool coat.

These outfits are creative business casual. You might not be as dressy as I am on a day to day basis, so by all means swap out the components for more casual items. There is no end to the creative possibilities of layering!

Often we look for basic Autumn tops that function as backdrops for necklaces and scarves but are a little dressier than long sleeved T-shirts. Ann Taylor Loft’s “V-neck Sweater with Button Detail” fits the bill perfectly. It can be worn casually with denim, or dressed up for business casual with slacks and a jacket. Get creative with the piece and wear it any way you wish.

The photos below don’t do this great little piece justice. Trust me, it’s a fantastic basic that might close some of those wardrobe gaps right away. It’s lightweight which makes it great for layering. It’s non-itchy, non-clingy and drapes well. Its longer than how it appears in these pictures and the V-neck isn’t too low either. Although I haven’t tried wearing this style back to front, it’s a distinct possibility. I love the retro buttoning detail on the cuffs.

I stumbled across this fab find while shopping with a client who was starved for basic Autumn tops in an assortment of colours. There was a flurry of excitement in the store after she popped on the first colour. Things looked even better as she tried a few more and matched them up with fun scarves along the way. Sizing up is a good idea because it adds length to the top and fits a little better all over.

My client eventually came home with four colours and two scarves. She was even more delighted to find out that the lot was on sale at 25% off. What a fab shopping hour at the Loft!

Style books and fashion experts often suggest avoiding scarves when you have a shorter neck. Well guess what! I believe that all neck lengths look great in scarves. The secret lies in HOW the scarf is tied and knotted.

To elongate the neckline, make sure that there is space between the knot of the scarf and the base of the neck. So pull down the scarf knot (or the section that’s usually right up against the neck) so that its repositioned further down the front of the chest. In other words, tie the scarf a lot more loosely around the neck.

The pictures above illustrate my point quite well. The knots or “wrap around” part of the scarves are not tight. This technique works particularly well with infinity scarves (like the red on the right) because that style ties loosely by default. Feel free to use all sorts of scarf tying techniques like the Angie Knot or Euro Knot and re-position the knot further down the front of the body.

Lasses with regular or long necks can also tie their scarves this way, since loose scarf  knotting techniques tend to be quite flop proof. Of course, throw this neck lengthening strategy out the window when it’s freezing because you have to tie your scarf in tight circles around the neck for warmth and insulation. But you can re-tie the scarf loosely when you peel off the layers indoors.

When the temperature drops into the 50’s and 60’s (between 12 and 16 degrees Celsius) the style of urban Seattle comes into its own. Ladies haul out their boots, scarves, lightweight trenches and blazers and the overall effect is chic, put together and interesting. More casual and grungy than the East Coast cities we’re familiar with, but fabulous nonetheless.

Tucking leggings and leans into boots is an extremely popular look around here because it’s practical for wet weather. All sorts of boots with dresses and skirts sans hose is another one. I’m also thrilled to see fashion forward over-the-knee boots and booties matched with just about everything, from short shorts to skinnies and frocks. Love the look of Seattle street style at this time of year!

What does Autumn street style look like in your neck of the woods?