When do you break out the Fall footwear? - YouLookFab Forum

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When do you break out the Fall footwear?

Runs With Scissors

Veteran

I live in a warm, humid climate, and typically wait until early October to get out my true Fall wardrobe. By then, it is only just beginning to cool down -- not that it's really cool, mind you, just no longer *hot*. But this year ... maybe because we had an usually cool week (highs only in the upper 80s!) or maybe (ok probably) because I have new booties I am impatient to wear, I am re-thinking this self-imposed rule.

So, what is your approach to transitioning to Fall? Do you wait for the Autumn Equinox? For the cool weather to actually arrive? Or do you wear your Fall stuff when the spirit moves you? And ... with my booties in mind, I am especially interested in this question as it pertains to footwear.

Dressing

45 replies

Latest reply was from Barbara Diane

Karie

(website)

Veteran

Here in upstate NY, fall arrives in early September. When the leaves start to change and the weather cools down, I break out my fall stuff.

I do think you could get away with wearing booties even when the weather is a bit warmer. I see lots of people wearing them even during the hot summer months.

Cerinda

Veteran

Booties whenever its not blisteringly hot; palette shift Labor Day; the wools don't come out until it's actually cold (sometimes as late as Thanksgiving).

Tammyb

I am in NJ and have a personal rule about boots and booties: October through April. I don't judge others who follow a different schedule, this is just the way I do it.

shiny

Veteran

I was just in South Florida for a couple of weeks and noted numerous people wearing booties. Which seemed insane to me -- I am from Boston so I wilt in such humidity -- but then I saw some sense in it, after going in and out of frigid AC.

Here in Boston I switch to my booties as soon as it is feasible, i.e., my feet won't be drenched in sweat and I'm craving socks and covered toes because my feet are otherwise cold. There's usually a month or so where my uniform is booties with a dress and bare legs. Weirdly that's comfortable and just right for the temps. Temps creep down, and then it's dress with tall boots for a bit...

Oh -- and the type of socks make a difference! Early fall, it's thin cotton socks. Late fall, it's thin SmartWool. Winter, I'm in cashmere blend... sometimes with fleece tights underneath for an extra layer.

Runs With Scissors

Veteran

Karie -- I think you are right. I'm not seeing them so much here (except for cowboy boots, but that's Texas ...) but who cares, right? Somebody has to be first.

Cerinda -- makes sense, though ironically I wear my cashmere and merino hoodies all Summer long due to the chilly AC!

Tammyb -- this has been my thinking up 'til now as well!

shiny -- I am a native Floridian (North, not South, though) and yeah, Florida has a sort of backwards climate. And agreed about the socks -- I discovered wool socks last year and they are fantastic!

DonnaF

Veteran

Our windows were open so it was in the mid-60s inside. I wore a lyocell (is that rayon?) jumper/pinafore with the long sleeve T below, bootcut jeans, clogs because I was too cold to wear sandals, and finally had to add the gray cardigan. Last week I wore shootie type booties because I was out at night.

I dress for temperature and am starting to realize I rarely reach for cheerful S/S colors. But it's been foggy in the mornings and blue sky is obscured by smoke from distant fires. I usually only think of color if it is bright and sunny from the get-go.

My feet get Reynaud's attacks if it is any cooler than the high 70s or maybe low 70s if I wear very covered up sandals. I'm sad that I have a couple pairs of sandals that I haven't worn this summer, but I don't want to risk frostbite and amputation. Last summer I spent most days inland where it is 20 degrees warmer/hotter so my sandals got a workout and I didn't wear my usual black and gray.

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JAileen

Veteran

I wait until it cools off. It was 97 or 98 today so sandals for awhile.

catgirl

Veteran

For better or worse, most of us here never leave it! I see knee high boots all over the place all summer. It's the environment and climate... Sorry I can't impart more wisdom but where I live it's a footwear free-for-all!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

As soon as I can stand it!
With summer weather that can start as early as March, by August I am chomping at the bit to wear something different. I am already wanting to wear my closed shoes and booties, but it will have to be with shorts or dresses because it's still so hot.

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Well, I wore a pair of black Chelsea boots out tonight. I'm in SoCal and it isn't unusual to see boots year round here.

Andrea H

I could, climate-wise, theoretically wear boots in September, but in practice I usually don't until early to mid-October. Mainly because I know I'll be wearing them until late April--"spring" here is generally cold and wet with a few nice days interspersed to confuse one--and the sooner I start wearing them, the sicker I'll be of them by March.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I never put mine away.

Staysfit

Veteran

I wait for it to get cold. I'm an hour drive or so west of Karie, so it's sometime in September.

Gail

Veteran

I try to wait until it is consistently lower temps. Here in PA it is usually Octoberish . I dislike switching back and forth. I go straight to booties from sandals.

kkards

Veteran

i'm not the one to ask, as my feet are the only part of me that run hot, footwear is the last thing i transition....i wear open toe booties into Sept, than pumps and flats without socks well into Oct....yup, i'm one of those seasonally confused people that YLF seems generally dislike. so i'd say, if your feet can handle, breakout those booties.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You can boots YEAR ROUND.

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

I think this would vary greatly depending on your climate and personal taste. Usually I don't do my entire shoe switch out until October, as September here is typically still pretty warm. But I keep a couple pair of booties out year round. I've worn open toe booties in the past week, although I would not have done that in June or July. Mornings are getting a bit brisk but afternoons still in the 80's so it's kind of that two seasons in one day thing that Colorado does so well.

Liz

Veteran

I vote wear your booties as soon as it cools off enough for you to feel comfortable in them. If that's this week ... then go for it!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

For me it is strictly weather related. I try to hold off on booties for as long as I can simply because I live in a cold climate where boots and booties are a fact of existence for 7 months a year and I can't wear anything else. I enjoy my 5 months of footwear variety and try to extend it as long as possible! But I say, wear what is comfortable and gives you joy!

Minnie

I'm in Colorado as well and this time of year you see it all.
People who wear their fall clothing and boots next to people who are dressed as if they are going to the beach.
A few weeks ago at "girls night out" some of us wore strappy, barely-there sandals and breezy summer dresses (it was the height of summer after all) and others wore long-sleeved tops, jeans and booties (Colorado Mountain town, it can get cool during the evening)
So, I vote wear boots and booties whenever the spirit moves you.

rachylou

Veteran

Halloween really. October is a hot sunny month here for the most part - and then turns on a dime. I suppose it's difficult because the leaves *are* turning but it's just so hot.

Chris987

Veteran

I'm like Suz, I wear sandals as long as possible because the closed toe shoe months last longer than the open toed ones. I don't know exactly when it happens but whenever my feet start to feel too cold in sandals I switch. September sometime, and might wear sandals during the day longer into the fall than at night. I feel that I need to have my skin uncovered to "soak up" as much summer warmth as possible, to survive the cold winters. It's a little silly, I know, more psychological than anything else.

Gigi

Veteran

I wear booties and boots when I think my feet won't sweat too much in them. I had an outfit I wanted to wear with booties the other day, but I thought about how my feet would feel in them, and I passed (it was really hot and humid).

I did see in the mall the other day a woman wearing OTK boots, and she looked well put together, so I don't know that there is any magical acceptable time to start wearing them. I just make sure that if I wear them before others are wearing them that my outfit looks really fab and that the booties work seamlessly with the outfit so that I look like I know what I'm doing.

Runs With Scissors

Veteran

Its very interesting to hear others' point of view on this. Seems like we have a lot variety in the thought processes driving when its time for boots/booties! Climate is the biggest factor, but also local culture.

I run cold, and hardly even wear sandals. (I go straight from flip flops to closed toe shoes.) And most days I spend my time almost entirely in climate-controlled environments. I wear merino all Summer, and shorts around the house all Winter, so maybe it's silly to be hung up about when to wear boots! I think I'll start pulling them out next week.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I try to wait as long as possible because the real must-wear-boots season is so long. (Like seven months long).

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I wait for cool weather. The calendar is great, but it's not relevant in that my feet don't care what month it is, only how warm they are. So when cool weather moves in, fall footwear goes into rotation. In my book, boots with bare legs are a no-no. If it's cool enough for boots, it's too cold for bare legs.

Ginger

Veteran

RWS, I'm somewhat north of you, but I know exactly where you're coming from. Waiting for cool weather to wear boots is an exercise in frustration! Like many people, I have a higher tolerance for warmer footwear than for actual fall clothes. Booties in particular are much easier to wear year-round. I would feel funny in tall, non-cowboy boots, but I feel the heat more there.

Other fall clothing is more difficult. I love my leggings and skinnies and long-sleeve knits, but I can't stand them until the high temp is no more than 75. And that can take until late October or November. So I've starting gathering a capsule of autumnal-feeling colors and looks, but in lightweight, short sleeve garments. Footwear is particularly helpful.

El Cee

Veteran

I personally run warm, so I do not bring my boots and booties out until the temps drop into the fifties... which is usually mid-October or early November. And they usually get put away again by mid-April. I tend to wear pumps, loafers, oxfords, ballet flats and other my other closed toed shoes (all without socks) in the transitional months between my sandal and boot seasons. I also own two pairs of peep toe booties that I wear in the transition months.

shedev

Veteran

I never put them away. I wore booties yesterday.

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