A Seasonal Shift: Red + Tan
A tip for shifting from Summer to Fall, no matter what temperature it really is.
There is no more abrupt wardrobe shift than the one between August 31 and September 1. Overnight, we are hit with the desire to wear cozy sweaters, barn jackets, and corduroy. The market has contrived that phenomenon, but we lean into it. New York Fashion Week kicks off "Fall Fashion Month" (officially starting September 6). The start of school is associated with the start of a new season, even if we are not in school or dropping anyone off there. But September is still hot. For most of the month, it's not even fall (which technically starts on September 22), and the temperatures certainly don't abruptly drop with the change of calendar months. We envision our fall wardrobes but must still dress for summer temperatures.
I feel it, too. I wore boots with shorts the first day it dipped below 80 degrees. This past week, the last week of August, I felt myself reaching for browns and tans rather than bright colors and whites. I am a summer devotee, but I still get excited about the shift into the new season. We're excited for a change! But with the high temperatures for the foreseeable future, realistically, this makes sense only by incorporating fall-suited color combinations. That brings me to one of my favorites: red and tan.
I love red. As a primary color enthusiast, it's my favorite accent color. Burberry knew what it was doing when it created its iconic plaid pattern.
And you know I love a scarf.
It instantly screams, "British autumn—just add trench coat!"
We are moving from summer whites to something more seasonal: Tan and red warm your outfit, a nod to fallen maple tree leaves and Honeycrisp apples.
For Summer Now and Fall Later
I bravely walked down Fifth Avenue last weekend on an incredibly hot day (a high of 86 degrees). While this outfit doesn't scream "fall," the pieces in this outfit are ones I will carry with me through the fall season. The skirt is the bottom half of a button-down shirt with a waistband (pictured later in this post styled as such), and the top will be a great layering item under sweaters. So, when it's actually fall, I'll add a pair of tan pants and a sweater, with the "skirt" sticking out from the sweater's hem over the pants.
If you're going to shop right now, shop for items you can transition into cooler weather and colors you can see yourself wearing into fall.
This khaki trench dress has taken me from spring through fall. Early on in the summer, when dressing for the season was more thrilling, I wore it with strappy sandals. Because I really love the warmth of red as an accent color, I wore these mesh ballerinas (still suited for summer but not screaming summer). When it's cooler out, I'll layer a red turtleneck or cardigan under it and swap the flats for tall boots or socks with loafers.
Summer and Fall in the Same Day
There are also days in September when temperatures start in the low 60s, peak in the mid-70s midday, and then drop back down. I wore this 1980s Betsey Johnson dress in my post about wearing all your clothes. Even during the hottest part of the day, styled with tan, the outfit gives a little kiss to fall. I can also style the dress with layers when the temperature drops around 5 PM.
I jumped to wear a new pair of boots I got the second it was in the 70s. They work well with shorts, so I wasn't overheated. The best part is that when worn on a day when the temperature drops into the 60s, the boots are very appropriate. I've often carried a pair of leggings rolled up in my bag for this temperature shift. I swapped the shorts for leggings and the short-sleeved cardigan for a long-sleeved one.
And Just Because I Love the Color Combo…
Here are some additional red + tan outfits in the three Silhouettes from the Silhouette System™.
Palm
Did you know the Palm can have covered legs? Dressing as a Palm means a silhouette with slim legs and extra bulk up top. A boxy tan vest, jacket, or blazer paired with bright red leggings does the trick.
Cypress
Cypresses work well with color and texture differentiation—these help make the outfit interesting. They will thrive now that we can almost start layering again. Light layers in tan and red paired with neutral bottoms will hint at fall. For footwear, I liked contrasting this "boyish" tan set and boxy blazer with a dainty heel.
Evergreen
One of my favorite fall items—in peak Evergreen fashion—is the khaki midi skirt. I love using the Contradistinction Technique here, contrasting the formalness of a long skirt with casual, sporty tops. I’ve been into the polo/cardigan pairing idea and patiently wait for the temperature to allow such layers.
I hope to see a lot of Burberry palettes running around this week!
xo
Eliz