Story by Ashley White of Le Stylo Rouge | Photos by Sabrina Osborn
September is a particularly tricky time of year for us Kansas Citians. Sure, the kids are back in school and we’re all adding chili recipes to our Pinterest boards – but the temperatures are usually too warm for our cozy fall closets to make their debut.
I am always ready for a seasonal style shift come September, so here’s how I achieve it without melting into a sweaty puddle in the process.
First, you want to start choosing more fall-friendly color palettes. Think ruby reds, pumpkin-adjacent oranges, mustards, forest greens, and deep teals. A jewel tone is always your friend! A deep teal is exactly the route I took here when creating this early fall look with this shirt dress.
This dress is perfect for September because it’s hitting all the right autumn notes with a longer hemline, full-length sleeves, and that gorgeous teal color. But the fabric? A breezy satin that billows instead of clings provides a maximumly cool experience.
Your shoe choice will also help determine what season your outfit invokes. An ankle boot or a ballet flat are the shoes to choose when hinting at fall; leave those sandals or anything open-toe for summer with a dress like this. My gray snakeskin boots do just the trick, while also adding some toughness to the femininity of the dress.
I added some style oomph in the form of a black leather wrap belt with gold hardware. Statement belts are currently a big trend and can be worn with everything from jeans to dresses, so this sort of accessory investment is one to seriously consider. To play up the gold in the belt, I worked in a gold pendant necklace, a handful of rings, and gold hoops. Tip: do you hate heavy earrings? (Me, too!) Choose a hollow hoop vs. a filled or solid hoop to keep them lightweight.
While we wait for fall weather to really settle in, I wish you all the best in creating some fun and fashionable early autumn outfits!
