As much as we love the warm weather, we want to wear our new fall clothes now. We don’t want to wait until October. At the same time, we don’t want to wish away the balmy weather. What’s a girl to do? With a few style tricks, you can start wearing your fall clothes without looking ridiculous — including sweaters.
Fashion is all about balance and it’s key to incorporating sweaters into a trans-seasonal look without overheating. While the temperature still remains summery, it’s best to stick with lightweight, open-weave, breathable and/or cropped versions for optimal coolness. Heavier sweaters can still be worn, but it’s essential to contrast them with breezy pieces, otherwise you run the risk of looking like you’re dressing for the wrong season or you end up sweating buckets. Neither option is ideal.
In terms of styling, balance the long sleeves and cozy nature of sweaters with lightweight fabrics and cropped shapes. Consider leg-baring denim shorts, trendy miniskirts and lightweight trousers. If a piece offers extra ventilation through details like cut-outs or grommets, work it into the look. Even something as simple as an open shoe can make a difference in regulating body temperature.
Read on to see inspiration from the streets on how to master trans-seasonal dressing and show off those fall sweaters.
Images: Imaxtree
How to Wear Your New Fall Sweaters Now Without Overheating
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Perfect Pastels
Pastels certainly make us think of warm weather. So amp up a textured sweater with light-colored pants and slingback heels.
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Pleats, Please
Style a three-quarter sleeve sweater with a colorful pleated skirt. Cap off the look with white pumps so it really reads summer.
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Show Some Skin
A fuzzy cropped sweater complements a patterned pair of pants beautifully. Secure the pants with a belt and round out the outfit with white ankle boots.
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Skip the Sleeves
Sweater vests were made for summer AND fall. Pair yours with a pair of shorts and cool platforms. Drape a blazer over your shoulders when things get chilly.
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Cardi Party
Top off a silky maxi skirt with a light cardi. Stark flip flops enhance the late summer vibes.
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Lighten Up
Balance a cable knit sweater with lighter colors and fabrics. See this mint sweater paired with a breezy white skirt. Some may think fuzzy footwear would veer too far into cool weather territory, but not when it comes to hot pink slippers. The textured slides are a surprising trans-seasonal piece that has style points.
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Stripes, Slides and Sandals
Want to wear a dark sweater? Choose a formfitting style in a lighter knit. If it has a pop of color in the design, even better. Make it clear you know exactly what season it is by balancing the dark sweater with lightweight trousers and accessories. Open-toe slides, a vibrant clutch and sunglasses project the right end-of-summer mood.
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Sunny Yellow
A vibrant open-weave sweater automatically reads summery. Combined with a white miniskirt, it will see you through the unpredictable weather and into fall. Tweak your footwear and add or subtract tights depending on the weather.
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The Short of It
A brightly colored embellished sweater can look appropriate year round with the right finishing touches. When the weather is still fair, try the statement knit with denim shorts and a pastel clutch. Heels will make legs look extra long, keep body temperature regulated and help the look transition into evening.
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Cute Knit
Can't wait to bust out the cable knit? A leg-baring mini and platform sandals will offset the winter connotations. Experiment with contrasting colors and patterns to add some visual interest to the ensemble. Then try scrunching the sleeves to keep you cool and change the proportions of the outfit.
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Pop of Color
Have the mantra "keep it light" when working sweaters into end-of-summer wardrobes. This white striped sweater already has a trans-seasonal vibe. Flowing bubble gum pink trousers and cheerful yellow slingbacks tip the scale toward a summery look.
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Peekaboo Shoulder
Even a black oversized sweater can work right now. Break it out of its expected winter vibe by layering it over a tank dress. If the knit has a wide neckline, arrange it so it falls off one shoulder to expose a bit of skin.
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White Stuff
Whether or not you believe white can be worn after Labor Day (it can), you will probably agree that the light shade has a warm weather feeling. Play into that by bringing out the white in a fuzzy knit with a white midi skirt. Any kind of yellow — Gen Z or otherwise — will invigorate the look. Consider adding the sunny hue via a bag.
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Underneath It All
When we think of sweaters, it usually involves layering them on top of something. Try a different approach by styling a sweater underneath a dress. A dark sweater doesn't appear somber when worn underneath a white belted dress teamed with equally fresh footwear.
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New Classics
Cropped pants and white sneakers have become year-round staples for many fashion girls. Pair them with a jewel-toned lightweight sweater. You'll look cool but remain comfortable.
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White Accents
Lightweight, fine-knit sweaters can be in rotation all year long. To master tricky summer-to-fall dressing, experiment with the shrunken proportions of patterned cropped pants. White accessories add a fresh finish to any look. See the trendy chunky white sunglasses and ankle boots.
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Denim Days
The jean miniskirt works with almost every piece and for every occasion. Denim may be a heavier fabric, but the shrunken proportions balance a dark printed sweater and keep the wearer cool. Coordinating ankle boots and sunglasses are great trans-seasonal pieces to work into a look at every opportunity.
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Proportion Play
Prevent overheating by choosing sweaters with open necklines. On the bottom, try cropped pants and sneakers. They match the "weight" of the sweater and provide an effortless finish.
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Wear Everywhere
Master trans-seasonal style and day-to-evening dressing all in one look. Showcase a metallic sweater with coordinating heeled sandals and a trusty denim mini. The combination is chic enough for evening, but not too dressed up for day. The bare legs and open toes will stop you from sweating buckets.
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Brighten Up
A high hemline plus a sweater strikes the right balance for between seasons dressing. Reject the dark colors of cold weather completely with a bright patent mini and a rainbow striped sweater. Continue the bold theme with accessories.
