WASHINGTON — It’s time to swap your strappy leather sandals for rugged leather boots. Yes, fall weather has officially arrived in Washington, and chilly mornings and crisp nights are ahead.
If you’re wondering what fashions are best for the season, Sarah Gargagliano Phillips and Michelle Marcinowski, co-founders of the fashion and lifestyle blog 52 Thursdays, have some advice — starting with some staples you may already have in your closet.
Chambray and denim shirts made a splash last fall, and it looks like they are here to stick it out another season.
“We both love a denim shirt and feel like it’s always in season and the perfect transitional piece,” says Marcinowski. “Pair it with leather for a polished look or layer it with a blazer or a sweater for when it gets chillier.”
Marcinowski says you can also continue to wear many of your summer skirts and dresses through fall and even winter — just pair them with tights or leggings and boots to complete the look, she says.
If you don’t have a budget for a new fall wardrobe, Gargagliano Phillips says a few essential pieces can update your closet and carry you through the season without breaking the bank. Here are her picks:
- A plaid shirt: “They look great with leather pants, jeans, you can even dress [a plaid shirt] up over a dress,” she says. “Plaid is something you should definitely add to your wardrobe if you don’t already have it.”
- Leather: Leather is a must-have this season. “Any kind of leather bottoms, we’re seeing a lot for fall — leather leggings, leather pants, even a coated-denim has that leather feel,” she says.
Gargagliano Phillips advises to wear a leather pant or legging, just as you would wear skinny jeans. Pair the pants with a plaid shirt, T-shirt or blazer. Not into real leather? There are plenty of vegan options that look great and often cost less.
- An over-sized sweater: Comfy, over-sized sweaters are a fall favorite, and they are always in style. Plus, they serve as a great layering piece for the transitioning temperatures. “You can put [the sweater] over a T-shirt or even your plaid shirt,” Gargagliano Phillips says. “You can also wear it over a fitted dress with knee-high boots to give it an updated look, that way you don’t look so grandma-like.”
- Over-sized coats: “We’re really seeing coats make a big statement, so don’t be afraid to get a little wild with your outerwear this year,” says Gargagliano Phillips, who says wrap-jackets, capes and ponchos are all on trend this season.
- Booties: If Gargagliano Phillips could pick only one shoe to carry her through the colder months, it would be the bootie. “They can really go with anything; they can go with your jeans, with your leather pants, with skirts, with dresses.”
Looking for more of this season’s trends? Marcinowski says western accessories are very hot right now.
“During New York Fashion Week, we saw so many people wearing wide, felt-rimmed hats along with fringe cross-bodies and even clutches that you can take into the evening. It’s not even a day-casual thing; you can bring it into the night too,” she says.
Military-chic pieces,
