When the temperature hasn’t gotten the fall memo but your brain has, it’s time for your transitional wardrobe pieces to shine. What are transitional pieces, you ask? They’re items that perfectly blend attire across two seasons, like a mini skirt in a rich texture or a sleeveless top in a moody hue. Sure, you could spend this in-between time leaning fully into fall with on-trend boots or timeless tailored pieces, but why not have a little fun with your outfits while it’s still mild outside? After all, it might just be the only time of year you can get away with wearing a leather dress with bare legs and no coat.
Cardigan Jacket
Part cardigan, part jacket, this little number is the ideal finishing piece when you need a light outer layer. The tweed texture lends an autumnal touch, but the creamy ivory color helps bring a lightness to brighten up darker fall hues.
Suede Mini Skirt
Chocolate brown suede is set to be the biggest trend for fall if the sheer amount of bags, boots, and outerwear saturating the market is any indication. A less obvious choice is a suede mini skirt. Go bare-legged with sneakers now and wear with tights and boots later.
Sleeveless Turtleneck Top
A wool tank might seem impractical for either summer or fall, but you’d be surprised at how versatile it can be. Treat it like a t-shirt while the weather is still warm, and then use it as a layering piece (with the detachable matching scarf) once the temperature cools. No sleeves means no annoying bulk to contend with under your jacket.
Barn Jacket
An oversized canvas barn jacket is to fall 2024 what the oversized leather bomber jacket was to fall 2023. It’s the easy grab-and-go outer layer to top all your outfits this season.
Suede Flats
If you prefer your chocolate brown suede on accessories, go for a pair of flats you can wear with dresses and skirts now and jeans and trousers later.
Cashmere Sweater
Between the lightweight design, relaxed fit, and versatile camel color, this cashmere sweater is one of the most timeless wardrobe staples you can own. The styling possibilities are endless: Throw it over a summer dress, wear it with jeans, or layer it under a coat.
Leather Shift Dress
Simple in concept yet dramatic in execution, this leather shift dress is the pièce de résistance of any fall wardrobe. It’s the perfect little date night dress on its own, but can also be a playful layering piece in colder weather. For instance, layer it over a thin fitted sweater, or take notes from Ulla Johnson’s runway show and wear it belted as a tunic top over matching wide-leg trousers.
Denim Overshirt
The western trend continues into fall with denim overshirts. This one features a relaxed drape and vintage-inspired wash to create that effortless, lived-in look. Wear yours unbuttoned with jeans in a similar wash, and just add a trench coat on top when needed.
Cropped Trench Coat
Speaking of trench coats, now is the perfect time to pull out your cropped version. This one is made from a thick cotton to add some structure to your look (great for complementing those tailored pieces), but the shorter length helps bring an airiness to the outfit that’s harder to achieve with longer fall coats.
Clutch
If your outfits are still firmly in summer territory but you want to introduce a hint of fall, try a leather clutch in the season’s “It” color.
Polo Shirt
Too warm for a sweater but too chilly for bare arms? Enter: A lightweight cotton polo. Bonus points for a punchy tomato red color that looks great with all the browns, grays, and camels of fall.
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