Mornings and evenings are greeting us with chills, but balmy Florida afternoons aren't going anywhere - and neither are our tank tops and shirt dresses.
Keep your breezy, warm weather wardrobe in action by adding simple cover-ups that are easy to slip on over dresses and shorts and easy to slip into schoolbags. Oversized shirts, snug cardigans and vests, and pashmina scarves are perfect solutions for the cool mornings leading to winter.
The "boyfriend" look is in this season, so throw on your boyfriend's comfy oxfords over tanks and shorts or dresses and tie them with a knot or a belt for a fitted look. Don't have a boyfriend? Don't fret - a brother, taller friend or bigger sizes do the trick. Look for a neutral color like white, shades of blue or a muted plaid palette to accessorize a greater variety of outfits.
Cardigans are small enough to keep in your schoolbag without taking up too much space and can provide the right amount of warm comfort in the morning. The bus is still blasting air conditioning like in August, so these little sweaters are great for commuting or for days when you leave the house without checking the weather. Blacks, browns, grays and dark shades of navy blue go with almost every outfit and can stay in your bag for days without getting dirty.
Sweaters or button-down vests can act as dresses or cover-ups over plain or graphic T-shirts. For a cover-up solution, opt for a long, open vest that won't cover your printed top or can be belted around a form-fitted dress. Wearing a sweater-vest as a dress is best done by taking the boyfriend-look approach--selecting vests one or two sizes larger than normal. American Apparel offers unisex vests that work well both as dresses and cover-ups for $5 to $40.
Keep your neck warm and in style with a silk or cotton scarf. Choose a longer pashmina scarf to use as a shoulder cover on cold mornings or in chilly classrooms. When the temperature rises, the scarf can come off and become an effortless accessory by tying it to the straps of your schoolbag.
The gradual shift toward winter does not mean covering prints and texture. Keep your breezy summer flare for as long as possible by adding the right pieces to your autumn wardrobe.
