Cooler Weather Wardrobe Tips

The rules for what is and isn’t acceptable to wear after Labor Day have changed over the years. No longer is it necessary to pack all of your whites, linens and patent leather shoes and accessories away the minute this “official” end-of-summer date hits the calendar. It’s also not uncommon to see sandals, bare legs and sleeveless looks being worn into October.

So how do you mix and match what is currently in your wardrobe in a way that is appropriate for the fall season? Read on! Here are ten handy tips for successfully transitioning a New England wardrobe for cooler weather:

1. Store Your Summer Wardrobe
   After you wear your linen and other summer clothes that are dry cleanable for the last time this season, drop them into your Anton’s bag for drop off. If you don’t have an Anton’s dry cleaning bag, stop by any one of Anton’s 43 locations and pick one up an application and we will send you one free of charge. Set a goal to have all your summer clothes completely out of your main closet by October 1st. If space is an issue, Anton’s will store all your summer clothes for the cost of the cleaning for you. Best part: You’ll feel like you have a brand new summer wardrobe when you pick your things up next spring! More information and locations visit antons.com
2. Create a Get-Away Tub
   You’ve heard us refer to this concept before and now is an ideal time to adopt this handy wardrobe organizational tool for yourself. As part of your fall closet check-up, launder all of your strictly summer tee shirts and other machine washable summer clothes and fold them into a plastic tub for storage. Even if clothes appear clean, invisible stains (especially on light-colored clothes) can turn into permanent spots by the time you take them out for the next season. Added Bonus: If a winter trip to a warm climate presents itself, you’ll have a head start packing for your trip!
3. Whites & Linens
   It is still best to pack white linens away after Labor Day (Ditto for white shoes and white sandals). Of course, white sneakers can be worn year-round. Darker sneakers can be more hip when you are wearing them as street wear as opposed to exercise gear. White denim can be worn well into fall and many white cotton tees, camisoles and shirts are year-round staples. Men and women, having white shirts professionally cleaned is a great way to look crisp and fresh year-round. Darker linens such as black, chocolate brown and hunter green are fine to wear through September and even into October when it stays warm here in New England. Extra Style Tip: If you do choose to continue to wear white jeans, pair them with black tops and shoes and silver jewelry for an easy, transitional style option.
4. What about Pastels?
   Follow the same guidelines for white when determining when to pack pastel and other light-colored cotton, linen and tropical-weight clothes and accessories away. Pastel-colored wool tops, particularly in cashmere, can be handy wardrobe transition pieces now and in the spring when paired with such things as jeans, leather and light-weight wool. Be sure to properly care for all your fine wools by having them dry cleaned in between the seasons when you wear them so that you get years of good use from these classic, wardrobe staples. A Word on Organizing Seasonal Jewelry: While we are on the topic of light colored items, storing strictly summer jewelry (i.e. sea glass-inspired designs and the like) in its own storage compartments away from non-seasonal jewelry makes good sense as well.
5. Fall Bags & Totes
   Straw bags, totes and hats should go into hibernation for the winter right after Labor Day. An oversized leather tote is a great fall staple for any women on the go. Consider adding one in a deep shade of red to add a rich, warm element to brown, gray, navy, khaki and black clothing and accessories as you head into fall. Deep red footwear can give you the same seasonally-appropriate punch of color when strategically incorporated into your wardrobe.
6. Fall Footwear & Hosiery
   “City sandals” (i.e. a little chunkier in the heel with more coverage across the foot) are a better transitional sandal choice than “strappier” styles and flip fops that automatically scream summer. Regardless of the style of shoe you choose to wear in the fall (in addition to sandals, ballet flats, peep-toe pumps and loafers are all standard fall shoe choices), black and brown are the easiest shoe colors to incorporate into a fall wardrobe. Boots can make their way back into the closet after October 1st. Ditto for opaque hosiery. Bare legs are fine as long as it stays warm. Nude nylons always work when you need extra coverage.
7. Contemporary Guidelines for Patent Leather
   Contrary to what you may have been told, patent leather footwear is acceptable year-round as long as it coordinates well with the rest of your outfit. For instance, a pair of patent leather sling-back pumps typically looks well with lighter weight fabrics even in the winter. Think evening wear and pretty, feminine suiting for the office when coordinating patent leather footwear in cooler months. The same shoe will most likely look out of place with heavy woolens.
8. Layering Works Wonders
   Women looking to feel more pulled together as the weather gets cooler are wise to add layering options to give transitional dresses, skirts, pants and jeans more versatility and flair. Leather and jean jackets in a variety of cuts and colors along with shawl wraps and light-weight blazers and sweaters are the way to give sleeveless basics more longevity as you move through fall. Extra Tip for Men: You guessed it, a navy blue blazer (or other sports coat in a color that works for you) is all many of you need to layer effectively in the fall. They work as well with a shirt and tie as they do with polos and khaki’s.
9. The Best Fall Coat
   Unlined trench coats in a variety of lengths make good sense on rainy days as well as cooler days when you want warmth and style in one handy garment. Make sure an updated trench is one of the best items you own. Colorful rayon and silk scarves in warm-rich hues that connect to the colors you are wearing underneath are a great way for women to add style to their outerwear. Additional Scarf Tip: Save your wool scarves for your wool coats which start to come out of the closet in early November.
10. Dress for Success
    Finally, if you work outside the home, be sure to review your company’s dress policy. The list of what is and isn’t acceptable often changes after Labor Day. Bare legs and arms can be risky in many professional situations, even when a company’s dress policy states that hosiery and sleeves are not mandatory in the warmer months. It’s really about boundaries, respect, appropriateness, and, of course, good taste. These things never go out of style – especially in a business environment!