How many times have you walked out of the house only to realize that you weren’t prepared for the elements you were about to face outside?

During the fall months in Tidewater I’m faced with this problem on a daily basis. The weather here never knows what it wants to do and the weatherman is usually never right. From September to around the end of November, I find myself struggling to get dressed in the morning out of the fear of under or overdressing. But this year, I plan to be prepared with a few staples that I’ll just call transitional wear.

The first of these pieces is the boyfriend blazer; a perfect item to go from day to night. It’s the new but old take on the 80’s boxy silhouette look. Envision Crokett and Tubbs (Miami Vice), but more feminine. And since it’s meant to be worn fairly loose, it’s perfect for those days when you need a little more layering.

My next staple is the chunky sweater. Think granny sweater. This season there are many different variations of the chunky sweater–cardigan, wrapped, and draped, for example. Chunky sweaters are perfect for the girl who really doesn’t want to commit to a jacket or coat until she really has to.

And of course, how can I forget the leather? Leather never goes out of style–and you have so many styles to choose from. Personally I’m loving the leather vest right now. You can’t go wrong with it. When I say you can wear it with ANYTHING, I mean it! And if leather isn’t your thing, go for a faux leather look. It won’t break your wallet, and you can save a cow while you’re at it.

I can go on and on for days with outerwear, but everyone knows your accessories are what make the outfit. I don’t know about everyone else, but when I think about dressing for the fall, I immediately think about boots, so this year I’m going to shop out of the box. Time after time I’ve told myself I’d never wear thigh-high boots–I mean really, who wants to look like a street walker? But I realized it can be done in a very appropriate and fashionable way. Just make sure the heel isn’t too raunchy–and when I say raunchy I mean stripper-esque. Keep the heel height to a minimum and NO PATENT LEATHER! Personally I think they’ll look great with tailored shorts (of course with tights underneath), or flirty dresses.

Now, I know you’re wondering how you’re going to protect your neck, so instead of wearing the typical sweater scarf, I’m going for the tube scarf. Basically it’s like a never-ending scarf; it can be folded many times around the neck, and adds extra warmth. It’s versatile and you can wear it as an actual necklace or to keep warm, kind of like killing two birds with one stone. Tube scarves come in a variety of styles–cable knit, shredded, fur-lined, and embellished.

So, when you find yourself standing in front of your closet staring aimlessly, wishing and hoping that the 757 weather would just pick a season, think about transitional dress. You’ll look fashion-forward, and everyone will think you know something the local weatherman doesn’t.