Transition Style

As much as I love having fall fashion week in February, sometimes it gets frustrating. I get all excited about these clothes and styles that I won't be able to wear for six months. And then there's that awkward transition period between summer and fall where since it's September, you want to break out that cute new trench or chic pair of boots, but it's still 85+ degrees outside. It can be really difficult to put together outfits that are still appropriate for end of summer weather but incorporate fall trends. That's why I rounded up my favorite resort looks from the Resort and Fall 2009 collections for some transition dressing inspiration.

Rebecca Taylor, Jenni Kayne, Phillip Lim: These looks from Rebecca Taylor and Jenni Kayne have one of the easiest little transition styling tricks. Take a cute, drapey tank and a high-waisted skirt, a very summery outfit, and throw on a light cardigan or blazer with pushed up sleeves on top, and you get all the fun of a breezier look with a little extra coverage. This Phillip Lim look is a similar concept. The boho minidress gets an extra dose of warmth and fall's '80s obsession with the addition of an oversized furry vest. Tights or socks are another easy way to winterize the look.


Jenni Kayne Resort, Missoni, DSquared: This Jenni Kayne looks takes two fall trends, '80s and motorcycle/wide-collared jackets, and puts them in a practical transition outfit. The jacket adds warmth and edge to the basic tee/mini-skirt ensemble. I still love this look from Missoni. It's all knits, which have a definite fall/winter vibe, but since the knits are lightweight and in cool, easy to layer pieces. Layering is great for transitional weather, because you can easily add or subtract warmth to an outfit, and light layers like these add a lot of visual weight without bulk. This DSquared look is really easy to pull together, just a leather jacket and scarf over a mini-dress. The jacket and plaid scarf scream winter, but the short dress adds a summer element.


Proenza Schouler Resort, Preen Resort, Max Azria Resort: If you don't want to throw a jacket on top of your favorite summer mini-dress, another option is an oversized vest like at Proenza Schouler. It has a bit more of a rock and roll vibe, but it's just as wintery. Preen and Max Azria are just more examples of how throwing on a boyish blazer over a sexy mini or summery pants and a tee can totally transform an outfit. Blazers are a big thing for fall and add a good amount of warmth, but again, if the weather changes you can just take it off.


Stella McCartney Resort, Stella McCartney Resort, Moschino Cheap & Chic Resort: I really like this first piece. It's the perfect example of taking a very fall-like piece, an oversized sweater in a blown-up buffalo plaid, and styling it in a very summery warm by wearing it as a dress. You could do the same with any oversized cardigan; big sweaters scream fall, but the styling is fresh. This dress is the typical, serious holiday LBD. The sheer panel has a bit of a wintery vibe because it looks like extra coverage, even though it's not, and the asymmetrical detailing is very on-trend for fall, but the mini length makes it appropriate for that end of summer transition. And here we have one final example of the oversized cardigan over summery dress equation. I know it's repetitive, but hey, it works. How cute is that cardigan?


Image Sources:
Rebecca Taylor: style.com, Phillip Lim: style.com, Jenni Kayne: style.com, Jenni Kayne Resort: style.com, Missoni: style.com, DSquared: style.com, Proenza Schouler Resort: style.com, Preen Resort: style.com, Max Azria Resort: style.com, Stella McCartney Resort: style.com, Moschino Cheap & Chic Resort: style.com