Tuesday Outfit: A Breezy Pre-Fall Outfit

Late August to early October is a difficult time to get dressed. The weather is hot in the afternoons, chilly in the mornings, the humidity is up and down, and the forecast can change on a dime. This outfit looks like summer and wears like early fall, so you’ll be fine outdoors or indoors.

This inspo photo from Pinterest had a lot of things to love — the breeziness, the simple ease, the pops of color — but it didn’t feel exactly right. It was a bit too summery for me, and there was a little more whimsy than I like (some is good, too much feels like a costume on me). So I adjusted the whimsy, turned down the volume on the summertime vibes and came up with something more me. Sometimes you don’t have to copy an outfit exactly to capture its essence.

The Skirt. The absolute star of this show is a pleated two-tone skirt from Reiss. It’s a bit long for me, so a bit of hemming will be needed, but the color palette, sublime. Wear this now with a short sleeve knit or tee, wear it in two months with a navy sweater or blazer. It’s the rare four season piece that is interesting enough to jazz up any outfit.

Prefer something summery? Tuckernuck has a striped skirt that is more sophisticated than the inspo photo. I also like this multi-colored stripe skirt from Gap. No stripe needed? Boden has this navy skirt.

The Sweater. A t-shirt sweater is a great piece for adding interest to a simple look. Reiss has the inspo style, but this one from Ann Taylor has a lower price point with the same lighter, open knit to breeze through the end of summer. I also own this Varley sweater with a very open knit — which, with a light linen tank, is great for warm weather.

Quince has a chunkier one with a longer sleeve — it’s a bit more modern, where the Ann Taylor choice is preppy. Spanx has a similar option in plus size. If you don’t want knit, just a thicker tee in smooth material, Spanx also has that.

The Accessories. Let’s start with the necklace. A pop of color would have been nice here, but for me, the cleaner, monochromatic work felt better. So I chose this clear and white stone necklace from Baublebar. But you could easily choose a chartreuse necklace to match the bag.

The inspo photo has a lot of jewelry, I’m just not doing that right now. However, I do like the fish necklace, which you can find a similar piece here. And that large knife edge silver bangle is worth a look for any wardrobe. It’s a piece you can toss on to spruce up any outfit.

Speaking of the bag, Maison de Sabre makes an incredible bag for a mid-range price; so if you haven’t tried the brand yet, I recommend giving its buttery leather options a look. This zippered bucket tote is a fantastic bag for work or weekend. The color is sublime, such a great four season pop. Want something more neutral? Cuyana makes a wonderful bag in denim blue.

As for the shoes, I chose these simple ballet flats because they are the ultimate summer-to-fall shoe. Go with anything. Covered toes, but still feel appropriate for warm weather. This pair from Tuckernuck has a sharp vamp with a classic style. Quince has a similar style for less.

Finish off the look with these cool sunglasses from Quince. The stronger shape is a fun wear with simple styles to up the fashion factor. I would also recommend a neutral makeup palette for this look, but with strong contouring. This Milani eye and blush palette is a fantastic drugstore price option. Need an affordable contour palette? e.l.f has you covered.

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