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The Fall Equinox. The Summer Solstice. On paper, these terms have a well-defined and clear-cut meaning. On a specific date, the seasons change. From summer to fall. From spring to summer. But in real life, we know this is rarely the way the seasons work – from one extreme to the other, one day to the next. The transition can last several weeks, even a month or more, from the heat and humidity of summer to the cool crispness of fall. These transition periods–summer to fall (sall? fummer?), winter to spring (wring? sprinter?)–are when you get to wear some of your favorite pieces from two seasons at the same time.

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You can head outdoors again, after escaping to air conditioning for the last part of the summer. You can still wear your favorite summer dresses, just now add a lightweight topper to your outfit.

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You’ve seen this dress a million times over the past two years, I know. Last year I put it away as soon as I felt the air start to change. “It’s a summer dress.” But this year I have the perfect thin duster length cardigan to wear over it as we head into cooler weather. So it can stay in my wardrobe and continue to be enjoyed until it’s too cold for bare legs.

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This particular day was one of those days that started out cool in the morning and ended up quite warm in the afternoon. I was glad for two (two!) outfits in one.

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I prefer easing into a new season this way. Taking the best of one season and just adding it to favorites from another. Booties with a sundress. A lightweight scarf with a tee shirt. A cardigan in an autumn color over a summer pastel.
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Thinking this way you may find that many items can stay in your wardrobe from one season to the next. I find I have a core “all year round capsule” of clothing pieces that are always in my closet, no matter the season. Maybe you just need to “round out” your seasonal wardrobe with a few new key pieces.

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I remember when I was young and my mother would take (or, later, send me with her credit card!) me clothes shopping at the start of each new season (well, hot season and cold season) and I pretty much got an entire new wardrobe. Out with the old, in with the new. Like getting new notebooks and pencils in September, those habits die hard. But we don’t need to replace everything every year.

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Transitional dressing is just one way of extending the wardrobe. Of keeping favorite pieces around longer. And of easing into the new season and weather. Both literally and sartorially.

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What is your favorite fummer (that is so never gonna stick, is it?) outfit?
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What I wore:

  • Junarose feather print dress. No longer available. But these have sort of the same vibe – plus size, straight size.
  • Palomino (their color name, not mine) Old Navy duster cardigan, size 2x. This color no longer available, but it still comes in olive, light heather grey, camel and black (I have the black one and wear it All. The. Time.)
  • Bracelet, reproduction vintage. Comparable here and here.

Photographs by Robert Mitchell Photography and She Who Shall Remain Nameless.
 
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