Summer Fashions — For Fall
In the past, if women wore summer clothes after Labor Day, it meant they hadn't had time to empty out their closets and switch to their fall wardrobes.
But now, say the editors of InStyle magazine (www.instyle.com), it's OK, even a trend, to borrow from your summer wardrobe and make a few changes to create a winning look for fall.
InStyle's national correspondent, Katrina Szish, brought some great summer-to-fall outfits to The Early Show Friday.
She shared ideas on converting summer clothes to fall features.
Szish suggested taking some of your lighter, warmer-weather clothes into the cooler weather by pairing them with the right things to make them current and fresh; it's all about mixing different textures and layering them appropriately for autumn.
It is, she says, a great way to bridge that transitional period from the warm summer days to cooler fall ones.
Szish showed four summer items that can be easily converted to outfits perfect for fall.
She displayed summer "before" outfits, then the fall "after" versions. Szish explained how the using the right accessories and pairing them with cooler weather items can help women get another use out of their summer clothes.
LOOK 1: VEST/PANTS
We started to see vest and pants pairings on celebrities this summer.
Summer "Before":
Blouse: Express $50
Vest: Express $69.50
Pants: Express $79.50
Bag: Smythson of Bond Street $1,080
Shoes: Sam Edelman $98
Bracelets: AV Max
Fall "After":
The same vest and pants are used, but paired with a blouse, sweater, and some chic fall shoes, and a bag.
Blouse: Liz Claiborne $59
Sweater: Chilli Pepper $150
Bag: Lulu Guinness $295
Shoes: Betsey Johnson $230
Pin: Lulu Frost $200
LOOK 2: SKIRT AND BLOUSE
Many women wore skirts and blouses like these this summer.
Summer "Before":
Blouse: Liz Claiborne $79
Skirt: J Crew $165
Bag: MZ Wallace $225
Shoes: French Sole $120
Pearls: Kenneth Jay Lane $50
Fall "After":
For fall, the same skirt and blouse, but the top is layered with a vest and sweater, and opaque tights are added, making the look appropriate for cooler weather.
Vest: Magaschoni $262
Sweater: Vera Wang Lavender $545
Bag: Orla Kiely $493
Shoes: Escada $590
Tights
LOOK 3: KHAKIS AND BLOUSE
Khakis and blouses were a staple this spring and summer, a chic way to run summer errands or meet for a casual brunch with friends.
Summer "Before":
Blouse: Tory Burch $225
Khakis: J Crew $75
Bag: J Crew $45
Shoes: J Crew $48
Earrings: AV Max
Bangles: AV Max
Fall "After":
Szish took the same blouse and khakis and added a sweater — sweaters are huge this season — as well as a knit jacket, and shoes from Theory.
Sweater: Inhabit $250
Knit Jacket: Bebe $69
Shoes: Theory $325
Necklace: Pono $175
Bracelets: Pono $475 each
LOOK 4: DRESS
What's easier to wear than a dress? This summer, women wore dresses for both work and play, with fun summer, strappy shoes.
Summer "Before":
Dress: Cynthia Steffe $395
Bag: Escada $1,190
Shoes: Sigerson Morrison $395
Bangles: AV Max
Earrings: AV Max
Fall "After":
Szish took the same dress and added a sweater, belt, and some very trendy accessories in jewelry — the charm bracelet and bangles. It's all about big, bold accessories.
Dress: Same as above, Cynthia Steffe $395
Sweater: Tory Burch $225
Belt: Dockers $25
Bag: Alexis Hudson $480
Shoes: Lulu Guinness $295
Charm Bracelet: Anthropologie $88
Bangle: AV Max