A crisp fall breeze is arguably fashion’s favorite weather pattern. Its ability to slightly lift the hem of your airy maxi skirt to reveal a wedge boot, push your hair back as if you’re on a rooftop in Chicago, and give your cheeks that desirable natural blush is comparable to a Mario Testino shoot. In Miami, fall breezes are far from crisp. They’re either humidly hot or a hurricane-level whiplash. Instead of looking fall fresh, here in Miami, our clothes and hair tend to stick to us and our cheeks get red and peel. But one cannot merely dress for a single season. So, how do we incorporate fall styles without edgy leather jackets with silver zips and contrasting sleeves? Torture.
Simple wardrobe changes are key. Essentially, the goal here is to add fall into our wardrobes in accents. For example, you don’t have to toss the maxi skirt all together, it just means you can’t wear knit socks and leather boots with the skirt.
Let’s start with scarves. Instead of wrapping one tightly around your neck to block out any cold air from entering your pores and chilling your bones, try wearing a backless top with a silk scarf. Or, tie a pretty patterned scarf as an accent on your favorite fall handbag. Speaking of fall bags, they’re the seasons most coveted item and the only one we don’t have to sacrifice because of the deadly sun. The latest fall bags from New York Fashion Week include fur bucket bags, printed backpacks and structured box bags.
Over the knee boots are a hard trend to pull off in Miami, as they have to be contrasted with micro-mini skirts and shorts. The less risky alternative is to wear ankle or below-the-knee boots with socks that show just slightly above the boot for a similar effect. Some boot options also come with an open toe in a gladiator-style, which allows for breathing room. If you choose to go for an above-the-knee boot, make sure to keep your micro-mini bottoms a dark fall color like army green or deep purple. If you’re looking to take the look one step further, plaid shirts that normally function as an extra layer can be wrapped around our waists for a cool alternative to a belt.
Lastly, don’t think you have to part with your favorite leather and denim jackets. Transform them into a vest to transform your mini-dress and bring you from Miami summer to Miami fall – same thing just a different outfit.
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