Adding layers makes sundresses autumn appropriate

You love your summer dresses and aren’t ready to put them away until next spring. Don’t worry. Here are a few easy tips from Sheffield MacIntyre, owner of Back-in-Style.com, a vintage & designer clothing & accessories website that supplies unique items to celebrities, magazines, movies, and couture fashion houses, to transition those dresses into autumnal attire. The key is adding layers. You can incorporate any one of these tip, or all of them at once. Bonus: You can probably even do it with things you already have in your closet.

Wrap a scarf around your neck
Not only is it trendy, it is also functional. Covering up your neck creates the illusion of heavier clothing (even though you may not be adding that much), and reminds people of colder weather. While it is still warm add a thin silk scarf. As the weather changes, you can wear heavier ones. Wrap it around, and around, close to your neck. (Don’t wear it loosely draped tied in a knot like a flight attendant) This is also a great way to add some color to your outfit, or a create an interesting look with a contrasting pattern.

Add a blazer or jacket
A blazer in earth tones like brown, olive green, & mustard yellow, or heavier fabrics like corduroy and velvet, will easily make your dress fall appropriate, (and it will keep the chill away as the days get cooler). If your dress is loose and flowing like a tunic dress or a smock dress, add a structured jacket like a menswear-y blazer with stretch fabric so you don’t loose your shape. If you dress is more fitted, try a boxy or a trapeze jacket.

Wear a long sleeve blouse underneath
There are so many options here depending on the dress. It is a very current look since jumpers are so strong this season. If you are wearing a more structured dress, a silk blouse with long full sleeves and a tie neck, or ruffle is a way to give it the feminine touch. A button down, or oxford style shirt will make it more serious and sophisticated. Sometimes a contrasting neckline can be very interesting. If your dress has a scoop, or square neckline, add a shirt that has a ballerina neckline. Make sure the sleeves of your blouse are longer than those of your dress. If your dress is tank style, you can wear any length sleeves you want. Mutton, or big puffy sleeves are a fun way to modernize a tank style dress. A cashmere sweater also works to make it more cold weather appropriate.

Swap your sandals for boots or booties
Boots instantly make a dress more rugged and thus, autumnal. Wear them with out tights until the weather gets cold, allowing some skin to show between the top of the boot and the hem of your dress. 80s style booties are also a trendy choice, but are a bit funkier and more challenging to wear. For a more classic look go for equestrian style boots. They work with just about anything.

Just in case you do have to buy something new to winterize that sundress, Back-in-Style.com has lots to offer at an affordable price.

Five Faves For Fall

1. Snake Skin

Snake skin is emerging everywhere, on all kinds of fashion pieces, and in natural and bold colors. Exotic and luxurious, it will boost your confidence as soon as you put it on.

2. Brocade

Bright, whimsical and fun, brocade pieces are helping to lighten the mood for spring, adding sparkle and excitement to any outfit. Not so sure about brocade? Try adding a jacket over a simple shift dress. Feeling bold, go head to toe in different brocades as seen on the Dolce & Gabbana runway.

3. Statement earrings

Whether they are the1950s style large round buttons, or bold dangling earrings, statement earrings are an easy and affordable way to update your look.
dable way to update your look.

4. Ruffles

We all need a little whimsy in our outfits to brighten our mood. Ruffles are an easy way to add energy and movement to your look. And they are popping up everywhere, on busts, the hems, and sleeves. Strategically placed ruffles can help enhance your shape. Ruffles on the hem help balance wide hips, and ruffles on the bust help enhance a small chest.

5. One shoulder dresses & tops

As the awards season comes to a close, the prevalent trend was one shoulder dresses. This is spilling over into tops as well. Flatting on just about everyone, and very easy to wear, it is sexy yet practical.

Five Fall Fashion Fads

Quilted bags- Insulating and warm, quilted items are always popular for fall as the weather gets cooler. Unfortunately, quilting also means taking the risk of looking larger and heavier than you really are. This is why a quilted handbag is so great. You can pull off the same autumn look, with out adding the bulk.
Another reason we like quilted bags? A quilted purse is also a classic. Made timeless by Chanel, but constantly being re-invented by cutting edge designers like Marc Jacobs. Because of this, a quilted bag will never be out of style.

Cardigan sweaters-whether they are embellished, as seen on the Balenciaga runway, or oversized, as seen on celebrities, a cardigan sweater is both functional and fashionable this fall. Choose from a variety of embellished and oversized cardigans at back-in-style.com. Add a patent leather belt and pencil skirt to an oversized cardigan for the office. Or wear it slouchy style with skinny jeans for the weekend. Embellished cardigans are a great way to stay warm during a cocktail or holiday party, but can also be worn during the day. Just be sure to tone down the rest of your outfit when wearing sequins during the day.

Sequined vests & tanks- great for layering. For day, wear over a serious oxford, or feminine silk blouse. You can even add a jacket to make it work appropriate. Make sure to anchor the look with flats or boots, minimal jewelry, and soft make up, so you don’t look like you never made it home last night. For an easy evening transition, remove the undershirt, add smoky eyes, and heels.

Pencil Skirts- with the 1940s silhouette being back in style, the pencil skirt and silk blouse are a great combination this fall. It is an outfit that works for all occasions. Wear under a blazer or long belted cardigan for work. Add a sequined vest for an evening out. Go monotone and add fabulous jewelry for a special occasion. Sexy but demure, it is a great way to show off your figure in the cooler months.

Gray… anything & everything gray. Drab seems to be the color palate for fall. Is it the 1940s influence, or perhaps a general reflection of the economy? Who knows. The good news is you can liven it up with bold patent leather accessories and statement jewelry. Wear one piece of gray or go head to toe with gray on gray, no matter what you choose, you will be in style. Different shades of gray all mixed together creates a very sophisticated look, while, one piece of gray over a bright backdrop (like a gray vest over a shift dress) helps to ground an otherwise whimsical look. Either way, adding a bit of gray is an easy and quick way to update your fall wardrobe.

How to wear your summer dresses into the Fall

You love your summer dresses and aren’t ready to put them away until next spring. Don’t worry. Here are a few easy ways to transition those dresses into autumnal attire.

Add a jacket
A blazer in earth tones like brown, olive green, & mustard yellow, will easily make your dress fall appropriate, (and it will keep the chill away as the days get cooler). If your dress is loose and flowing like a tunic dress or a smock dress, add a structured jacket like a menswear-y blazer with stretch fabric so you don’t loose your shape. If you dress is more fitted, try a boxy or a trapeze jacket.

Wear a long sleeve blouse underneath
There are so many options here depending on the dress. If you are wearing a more structured dress, a silk blouse with long full sleeves and a tie neck, or ruffle is a way to give it the feminine touch. A button down, or oxford style shirt will make it more serious and sophisticated. Sometimes a contrasting neckline can be very interesting. If your dress has a scoop, or square neckline, add a shirt that has a ballerina neckline. Make sure the sleeves of your blouse are longer than those of your dress. If your dress is tank style, you can wear any length sleeves you want. Mutton, or big puffy sleeves are a fun way to modernize a tank style dress. A cashmere sweater also works to make it more cold weather appropriate.

Swap your sandals for boots or booties
Boots instantly make a dress more rugged and thus, autumnal. Wear them with out tights until the weather gets cold, allowing some skin to show between the top of the boot and the hem of your dress. 80s style booties are also a trendy choice, but are a bit funkier and more challenging to wear. For a more classic look go for equestrian style boots. They work with just about anything.

Add tights or leggings
Start with semi-sheer tights and gradually shift to opaque as the season moves along and it gets chillier outside. Opaque tights will seem too wintery now, unless they have a cut out pattern and allow a bit of skin to peek through.
Leggings on the other hand, that stop at the ankle or above, and show some skin, should be opaque or else you will look like you are wearing dancers tights. The trick to leggings this time of year, it to be sure to wear them with shoes that allow the top of you feet to show. This keeps them a little lighter, and less serious.
Keep both tights and leggings dark or earth toned.
You can slowly incorporate each of these wardrobe transition as the weather gets colder, and eventually add them all at the same time.