How To Dress for Fall When it Feels Like Summer

It's the first week of October, and yet it's 90 degrees. Summer is sticking around like that hyper house guest who was great fun for the week she crashed on your couch and dragged you to 3am raves, but is now languishing in indecision and taking up all your bandwidth watching torrents of MadMen.

It's a feverish planet whose immune system is indicating danger, and we need to heed that. Walk or bike if you can. Recycle. Turn off lights. 

But what are you going to wear?

Your Spring florals in bursting pinks are in storage, and seem inappropriate in October anyway. Your summer teals and corals have seen enough daylight. But all those sweaters, leather jackets and the jeans you were gladly about to replace for your crotch-riding shorts are still waiting for more autumnal weather. It's painful for nature and awkward for you. You need immediate answers. Here are some ideas for shifting into fall while staying comfortable:

1. Mix styles/cuts

Let's say you are still digging the shorts, or the weather isn't giving you much of an option otherwise. First, consider which areas of your body get hottest fastest. 

Do you need free breathing legs? Do the shorts, and pair them with a more seasonally appropriate top like a long-sleeved shirt or light sweater. (See fabrics    discussion below). 

Are your shoulders/back dripping but you could stand warmer legs? Choose your briefest tank then pair it with summer-weight jeans or leggings. 

Is your everywhere hot? Tshirt, shorts, then socks and ankle boots. Boom.

Most Awkward Model Poses.com

2. Match color to season, if not cut

Another easy option is to ditch the flower and flamingo pinks and Cabo blues in favor of more season-appropriate colors like mauve/burgundy/purple, browns, rusty oranges/golds and of course black (see fabrics discussion, or consider a briefer cut). This way you can wear any cut you want to be max comfy but you still look aware of what month it is.

3. Leggings, long loose tank and ballet flats or wedges.

This works spring through fall and is always cute, especially if you're choosing fall colors.

4. Choose lighter fabrics

Let us embrace all the recession fabrics we've seen in the last few years. All those maddeningly gauzy polyester tops, many of which are long-sleeved, can finally serve a purpose beyond belt-tightening. All those threadbare long-sleeved buys can continue to be put to good use as your seasonable style/summery fabric option. You can balance it all out with sturdy boots, bag or heavy jewelry so you don't look completely ready to float away.

5. Accessorize to Season

NOPE

Consider Paris. Those babes are on a different fashion plateau than our boxy, denim-skirted bro-chicks over here. It's all in your personal philosophy of fashion of course, but consider the gender roles of the culture: French women have to deal with the infamously lecherous Frenchmen, so they have the greater challenge of commanding respect where it may not be offered. When you leave your home, you are in the world, and at least for Frenchwomen that means you must be dressed. (Yes, University Fashion 101 class, that means NO PAJAMA PANTS. Cute at home, not out.)

We may not need gloves quite yet, but scarves are always an option, and one that will allow you to feel more dressed, balancing the almost-underwear look of summer. Scarves are always in season, whether its your heavy cable-knit in winter, your flowy, spring cold-preventer, your wispy motion-creator in summer, or your infinity in fall. The Parisians know it, and moreover they know how to tie them, offering even more options for various levels of warmth. Get hip to it, ladies.

Dear Paris: STOPPIT.

Noticing a pattern here? It's all about balance. Wear a tank with your hair down, or an open jacket with a high bun. Wear summer cuts in fall colors. Layer light fabrics. 

Nothing is impossible. Think of this weird extended summer as an opportunity to get creative with your wardrobe. 

Happy October-summer!