Spring into Fall

When you think of autumn and winter colors, you’re most likely thinking about deep hues, such as maroon, navy, or burnt orange, right?  I think of them too.  But I always feel sad for my pastel and neon/bright colored clothing, because they normally don’t get any loving during the colder months.  Well not anymore!  Every fashionista today knows you can wear white after Labor Day, so why not pastels and neons? There is no rule saying you can’t wear them during autumn and winter, you just need to know how to winterize your outfits with them. Below are different outfits with one item either being a pastel, bright, or neon and how that item can be transitioned from a summer look into a new ensemble for autumn.

Pale Pink Pleated Dress
Summer: My inspiration for this look actually came from my yellow wedges which contains a mauve and pink printed ribbon tied on top of the foot.  With yellow as being my complimentary color with the pale pink, I added a yellow cardigan and belt, and a vintage mauve necklace to keep the look bright and summery.  This outfit would be a great look for work or even a summer date (which is the occasion I wore it for).

Fall/Winter: To transition this look into fall, I paired the pleated dress with one of my favorite neutrals, khaki.  Of course you can pair this dress with black, but I thought khaki would be less harsh for autumn.   In creating this outfit, I was envisioning myself at a Parisian café drinking a latte. The khaki blazer adds some sophistication to the feminine pleated dress.  The oriental scarf, orange belt, and hat add an international flair while the suede boots enrich a cozy appeal.

Pink Pleated Dress(BCBGeneration);Yellow Cardigan(Express); Yellow Belt (TJ Maxx); Necklace (Vintage); Wedges (Charlotte Russe); Blazer (Express-sale); Orange Belt (Target); Orietal Scarf(Vintage); Suede Boots (Thrift Store)   

Neon Green Jeans

Summer: A colored jean is a must have for a fashionista.  Colored jeans can be worn numerous ways just as its normal blue jean cousin.  As a summer look, I went full blown bright with starting with my floral hoop earrings as the starting point.  These earrings have multiple colors, so I decided to choose a coral V-neck tee to compliment the neon green jeans.  Then I added a neon yellow belt to add more brightness.  I toned down the finishing look by wearing white wedges to match the base color in the earrings.  With a top knot as the ultimate hairstyle to show off those colorful earrings, I was ready for a casual date at the ice cream parlor.

Fall/Winter: One way to winterize neon jeans is by pairing it with black.  I chose a black and white striped sweater.  To make the look even cozier, I decided to add my black fur vest and black cowboy boots to embody the edginess of the get-up.  If you don’t want to resort to black, neon green also works well with navy, gray, or khaki as other neutral options.

Coral Tee (Target); Green Neon Jeans (Forever 21); Floral Earrings (Thrift Store); Wedges (Kohl's); Striped Sweater (Plato's Closet); Fur Vest (BCBGeneration); Cowboy Boots (BCBGeneration - Dillards)

Cobalt Blue Wide-Leg Pants

Summer: My inspiration for this outfit came from the bright combination of hues in a candy shop.  With the cobalt blue pants as my base, I decided to pair the color with hot pink with a neon yellow belt and hot pink heels.  What a great way to brighten up your wardrobe at work!

Fall/Winter:  This fall cobalt blue is a color trend this season.  Designers have been combining this color with black, so I decided to follow their lead and choose a sheer black blouse with a floral black belt to add more femininity to the ensemble.  Patent leather stilettos further the luxe romantic theme.

Cobalt Blue Wide-Leg Pants (BCBG Max Azria); Hot Pink button up (Gordmans); Neon yellow belt (TJ Maxx); Pink Heels (Wet Seal); Black Sheer Blouse (Vintage); Black Floral Belt (Wet Seal); Black Heels (Charlotte Russe)  

Mint Sweater

Summer: This past spring and summer, mint green has been a main color trend.  Paying homage to this pale green tint, I mixed the mint mesh sweater with crisp white skinny jeans and a teal skinny belt around the waist.  The white fedora and white kitten heels finished the preppy country club vibe I was visualizing.

Fall/Winter:  Transitioning mint into fall can be simple.  Mint can be paired with black (of course), but also navy, gray, and khaki.  However, I decided to be inspired by a certain ice cream flavor: mint chocolate chip.  I created a more casual look by pairing the mint sweater with chocolate brown corduroy pants and suede boots.  For accessories, a peace pendant necklace and knit hat works well in creating an autumn bohemian look.  Wearing these heavier fabrics, positions mint into a color that could be worn year round.    

 Mint Sweater (Charlotte Russe); White skinny jeans (Kohl's Lauren Conrad Collection); Teal Belt (TJ Maxx); White Kitten Heels (Plato's Closet); White Fedora (Target); Corduroy Pants (Gap); Suede Boots and Hat (Target); Necklace (Heritage)