It’s officially fall, and that means it’s time to stow the t-shirts and shorts and break out the jeans, long-sleeve tops, and sweaters.
But, given fall is mostly a transition season between summer and winter, it’s only natural that every day is a little microcosm of that, getting colder and colder as the day and season progresses.
So, how can you pick clothes that will keep you from being too cold in the morning, not boiling by the afternoon, and comfortable in the early evening?
Answer: layers.
First and foremost, always check the weather to see what the temperature is when you’re leaving, and what it will be when you’re finally heading back to your room/home at the end of a long day. As college students, we may have breaks during the day that could afford a short trip home to change before heading out. For that scenario, check the temperature at the beginning and start of each “out” period—when you won’t have a chance to do a complete outfit change.
Now that you know what the temperature will be, dress for the hottest temperature, even if it’s hours later, and then add enough layers to be comfortable at the coldest temperature. Don’t forget to factor in your own body’s temperature. For example, one of my relatives is always warm, while another is always cold. Me, I know I can be either super cold or super hot, so I accommodate for that in addition to the actual weather. If I know I’m going to a cold or hot place, I also factor that in. And, bring a bag or another way to discard your outer layers as the temperature moves on.
So, how do I transition from summer to fall?
For example, whenever there’s going to be temperature in the high 70’s or up, I wear a t-shirt unless I know I’ll only be in cold rooms. If it’s colder than 70 when I’m heading out, I wear jeans with that t-shirt. And if at any point, it’s supposed to dip below high 50’s, I wear a long-sleeve, and bring a sweater.
Here’s what a normal day looks like for me:
I wear my trusty boots, jeans, my favorite cold-shoulder sweaters (stay warm, while also allowing me to not be boiling in my top), and a light sweater (unless it’s supposed to be colder, in which case I go for a heavier sweater). Most of it is black, because I believe that once the sun won’t burn you alive in black, any season is okay for black. Sometimes, I add a “splash” of color in my top (blue, maroon, etc) or sweater (purple, is my other go-to). And if I’m going out, I sometimes wear my favorite teal (faux) leather jacket to make a real statement.
So, how do you transition from summer to fall while staying fashionable—and more importantly, comfortable?