You guys already know how much we complain about the lack of seasons in Houston, but even if it’s still 90 degrees, the weather’s a little drier, the light has changed, and we’re ready to start dressing for fall. The easiest way to transition your wardrobe if the temperature’s lagging a little behind is to start with your shoes. Wooden-heeled clogs, brogues and oxfords, penny loafers, and booties are all great options that you can start wearing in September with cute socks and swingy dresses, and then pair with skinny jeans, trousers and tights until spring.

The over-the-knee boot and stiletto boots are still on our lust lists for the season, but if you’re looking for fall shoes for every day — at work, running errands, going to school, dashing through the airport — look for shoes with

• solid, stacked heels
• shorter shafts (or a real shoe, like an oxford)
• wedges if you want height — less balancing required!

They’re dressier and way cooler than tennis shoes and even flats, and while you may want to scoop up every pair (we’ve got about 10 bookmarked already), you really only need one. Lighter packing, more spending money, and no more band-aids!

LOTTO $129.00

SESSITA BOOTIE $124.99

MIA NORFOLK SHOE $49.00

ARCH $47.20

Photo: Weardrobe.com

by Renae Virata

Now that fall is almost upon us, it might be hard to put away those fabulous spring and summer dresses you’d waited all winter to wear.  Make the switch easy by making them a part of your wardrobe next season!  The key is smart layering.  Wear a turtleneck or long-sleeve tee underneath along with either tights or leggings.  For chillier days, cover up with a chic cropped leather jacket.  Balance the look with platform heels or your new fall booties.

Our favorite part of fall is mixing up textures and colors.  Don’t be afraid to mix a light jersey dress with a ribbed top and scarf.  Try maroon tights underneath a navy or bright green or blue dress (like the one below!).  Try a neutral gray or camel-colored cardiwrap over your dress and add a playful element with a bright yellow or red skinny belt.  Have fun this fall and see what outfits you can make up with what you have leftover from summer!

Here are some ideas to get you going.

Click on an item to learn more: TIBI Amazon Dress; Black Fashion Tights; Isabella Oliver Long-Sleeve Tee; Crocs Sessita Bootie

Click on an item to learn more: Single Rocker Dress; Doma Leather Jacket; Naughty Monkey Boot; Fluxus Scarf

Click on an item to learn more: Alice + Olivia Strapless Dress; Isabella Oliver Turtleneck; Isabella Oliver Leggings, Report Signature Booties

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

by Renae Virata

We love that feeling when you just love, love, love a fabulous have-to-have for your wardrobe right off the bat.  That’s how we felt when we laid eyes on these flats by Dollhouse.  The chic boho feel of the colorful snakeskin texture with a border of silver pallets will make this your go-to shoe for most of your fall wardrobe.

Travelistas, this can be your favorite travel shoe, too – from the plane to site-seeing and everything in between.  Try ‘em on with minis, leggings, your new fall shorts, and your favorite skinny jeans.  And at $39.50, they’re a total bargain.

Click on the shoes to get the details.

by Renae Virata

With fall coming, it would be a shame to pack up all those summer clothes that you love so much.  But fear not!  You can make your wardrobe stretch across seasons with a few tricks.  We spotted one Travelista, Angel, who cleverly turned her summer smocked tube dress into a skirt! She balanced it with a crisp but feminine white blouse and then tied it all together with a fabulous wide belt.  The high waist keeps the skirt from looking dated.

This a great Polished but Relaxed look for:

• Business casual environments
• Lunch dates

Angel up close…and from the back. Lookin’ good…and ready for fall!

Before you banish those fabulous cowboy boots you meant to wear all winter and spring to the back of your closet, consider giving them another chance before the hot summer sets in for good. With all the events cropping up starting a season of outdoor fun, a sleek pair of Luccheses or Justins will add that funky element to any outfit and get you some good use out of your kickers. Cowboy or western boots are starting to become a staple in most women’s wardrobes.  To get the most mileage out of them from season to season and year after year, opt for a fitted, below-the-knee dusty gray, bone, or saddle brown version.

What to wear

The great thing about this season is the wide range of silhouettes, colors, and prints at our disposal.  The possibilities with even just one pair of boots are endless – just use your imagination!  Here we have a pair of slouchy boots in a warm brown shade that will easily take you from summer to fall and that would work with almost any color palette and occasion.

Click on the picture to see where to buy.

Delias.com $149.50

UrbanOutfitters.com $388

Jessica Simpson $169.19

·       Dresses – For warmer weather, opt for a shorter length dress either mid-thigh or just below the knee in a light cotton woven or knit.  Try to keep the silhouette clean and simple.  And don’t be afraid to go bright and / or bold – that is one of the great things about living in Houston all that bright sunshine we get.

·    Skirts – Pending how confident you are about baring your legs, another cute option is a short skirt.  Here we feature a light wash denim mini with a flowy white cotton blouse – think St. Thomas or St. Lucia – to keep the casual feel.  You can also go with a more tailored button-down cotton shirt or a soft knit tee.  Keep legs bare to keep the look summery and to keep you cool!

·       Jeans – Tuck them in or leave ‘em out.  If you tuck your jeans into your boots, make sure they are skinny enough to fit inside and even have a little stretch to anchor them – don’t even think about stuffing your boot- or even straight-leg jeans into your boots!  Wear them with a slouchier, belted plaid shirt; a punky striped tee; a knit tank with a belt or long necklaces; last winter’s vest, or a tailored button-down with the tails out to change up your look.

Cowboy boot do’s and don’ts

·       DO wear them with a lightweight sock.  Make sure if you wear longer ones that they don’t peek over your boots.

·       DO try to break them in if they are new.  There are a few tricks out there where you might risk ruining your boot so your best bet is to use a shoe tree, stuff the shoes with newspapers, or protect your feet during the first few wearings to prevent blisters on your heels, ankles, or toes.

·       DO try them on with everything.  From dresses to shorts, tailored to casual, these days western boots are slowly becoming as ubiquitous as its western pant counterpart, the jean.

·       DON’T wear cowboy boots with any hint of winter (shearling, furry lining, etc.).  The point is to maintain the cool look of the boots while keeping as cool as possible.  A smooth and almost light leather work well in warmer weather and don’t make people wanna reach for a popsicle.

·       DO visit vintage and second-hand stores for a great deal on boots that are already broken in for you!  Sometimes chain stores like Urban Outfitters has cool vintage finds – find one in your size and you know it’s meant to be!

Tuleh; Photo Source: BergdorfGoodman.com

by Laura Milligan

Resort is sort of the random step-sister collection that falls just before the holidays, traditionally designed for the richy rich ladies who could afford to jet to Palm Beach or the Bahamas as a pre-Christmas getaway. But now, resort collections are being blended into regular wardrobes of regular (paycheck hefting) women. In the November issue of Harper’s Bazaar, Meenal Mistry marks resort as “an army of new highly wearable, season-spanning clothes that marches into stores” just when you need a little cold-weather pick-me-up. “They’re pieces with which you form an intense emotional bond,” Net-a-Porter director Holli Rogers tells Mistry in the piece, which is why anyone today has a right to shop resort.

Where to shop

You’ll find resort — also called cruise or pre-spring — collections in every major department store and online, from store’s websites to designer’s online boutiques. Diane von Furstenberg for example, currently has pieces available for pre-order, while Bergdorf Goodman e-mail subscribers should have noticed a steady stream of new resort releases flowing into their inboxes as of late. RTW prices usually reflect the price points of other collections, and everyone from The Row to Gucci to Dolce & Gabbana to Proenza Schouler are releasing resort collections now.

What to buy

Don’t be fooled into thinking that resort is just for vacation. Designer Michael Kors also tells Mistry, “I think, don’t pay attention to the size tag. And don’t pay attention to the season as far as the name is concerned.” In fact, resort collections can give you another opportunity to find investment pieces that make you feel good. Don’t worry about the name: just buy what you like, and get a head start for spring.

How to wear resort in the fall and winter

If you don’t have the kind of self-restraint to hold your new purchases until spring, you can add more seasonable pieces and layers to make them wearable for now. Layer tights (black or bright hues) with chunky cruise sandals, black tissues tees under shift dresses, and belted, muted colored cardigans over slacks and over bateau tees.

And if you’re not able to spend on resortwear now but want to get into the spirit, bring back some of your spring makeup: a pink lipstick with a smoky eye, bright nail polish or bright blush with a clean face.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

by Laura Milligan

Why is layering one of the best parts of fall and winter for fashionable girls? Because it’s one of the few dressing “techniques” that allows us to show off our natural styling prowess and experiment with new looks. Whether you live in Miami or Chicago, there’s a way to layer — with shorts and boots or with cashmere sweaters and scarves — and you should remember that layering offers you the opportunity to personalize every piece of clothing you wear. It’s not easy mixing and matching patterns and textures, but that’s what makes it fun, as long as you keep everything in moderation and don’t leave the house looking like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

So if you’re staring at your closet trying to figure out which items can go together and which are best worn indepenently, remember:

• Your top layer should be fitted and worn close to the body, in the form of cropped leather jackets or belted blazers and cardigans.
• If you’re nervous about layering, first try belting a top or sweater, which inadvertently adds another layer of interest, texture and color to your outfit but doesn’t bulk you up.
• Try a scarf: Scarves are another layering accessory that you can play with throughout the day: try it as a shawl, wrapped tightly around your neck, as a belt, or over your head.
• Layer lightly underneath, heavier in the middle, and tighter at the top: A long-sleeve tissue tee peeking out of a short-sleeve tee or pushed up cardigan, all under a fitted blazer, looks more natural and will keep your body at a comfortable temperature.
• Remember the legwear: Tights, thigh highs and even cute socks  = smart layering.
• Play with patterns and colors, but don’t go overboard: Stick to a similar color palette as you layer, and your patterns should be small and discreet (you shouldn’t even be able to tell they’re flowers until you’re up close, for instance).
• Leave one part of your body out for show: If you wear a long tee, a hoodie and a leather jacket, dress your bottoms in a fitted miniskirt, tights and booties to balance out the proportions and show off your figure.
• Go easy on jewelry and other accessories: Keep everything else, including makeup, light, so you don’t feel or look like you’ve overdone everything.
• Stand up straight: Layering turns into bag lady territory if you’re hunched over under all that weight.

Great layering pieces include tissue tees, blazers, hoodies, leather jackets, cardigans, short-sleeve tees, vests, tights, thigh highs, leggings, booties, tall boots, and hats, scarves and belts — just not all at once!

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Russian style editor and It girl Miroslava Duma, a goddess of smart, chic layering

It’s time to break out the cozy sweaters and cords!  Nothing says fall better than a crisp drive through the country’s best display of autumn splendor – New England.

If you are lucky enough to make it to this region of the US in September and October, you can take any one of dozens of recommended fall foliage tours in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont that can range anywhere between 30 to 200+ miles.Warm, moist air from the south and cold, dry air to the north make the weather there a little unpredictable this time of year, so layers are ideal instead of packing hard cold-weather items like a parka or long johns.   Style-wise, while trends are appreciated here as in any other part of the country, New Englanders seem to always maintain that sense of classic simplicity with a twist of individuality here and there, so that special key fall piece like your furry vest, tailored hat, or funky scarf are a go.

Color choices tend to be richer and deeper.  Neutrals like mushroom gray, tan, beige, and black are also great options layered together or with brighter colors.

Make sure you have layers that can withstand any extreme changes as you peel each one off.  Simply wearing a thin layer, like a tank or tee, under a super-thick jacket might not get you through a rise or drop in temperature between 45 and 80 degrees (yes, this can actually happen!).

________Vermont foliage.

Instead, opt for a three-layer plan: A thin layer of a slim tee, tank, or dress; a second layer of a light cardigan, knit vest, fleece, hoodie, or light knit sweater; then a water-repellant jacket, leather jacket, or cropped trench to pull it all together.  Leggings, a skirt or fall shorts with tights in a fabulous color, jeans, or other casual pairs of pants like velveteen or corduroy have you covered on the bottom.   Don’t forget your knit cap, tailored hat, or thin knit scarf for cooler days or nights.

Hopefully you will be doing some walking to truly enjoy the foliage and fresh air.  Street-ready sneakers, low-heeled or flat boots (LOVE the plethora of slouchy suede styles out there!), or a comfortable pair of flats will let you cover miles (or, ok, YARDS) of enjoyment.

And after a long day of driving through the autumn wonderland, why not relax in your cozy room at a quaint bed and breakfast? SO New England!

Although October tends to be generally clear, our rule is: You just never know! And this year’s Farmer’s Almanac seems to predict an unusually rainy forecast in October.  Prepare for a random rainstorm with a water-repellant jacket (places like REI and LL Bean carry investment pieces in more tailored-looking styles), a classic rain slicker, or a great trench, which can all act as your top layer.  And, if you planned it just right, wellingtons to suit your style will complete your fall rain look.

Remember that the more inland or west you go, the cooler the temps will be while the coast tends to be warmer due to the heating of the Gulf stream just offshore (the Atlantic tends to be warmer than the Pacific because of this). Check out My Stylist for weather conditions and to help you plan your wardrobe!

Jessica Alba

Modified equestrian is always a good fall look.

Ashley Tisdale

•    The Village Shoppes at Salzburg Square | An collection of boutique stores housed in tudor-style Bavarian architecture that you’d swear you were in a German forest; visit Roxie’s Fashions for fabulous finds; Amherst, NH.  And don’t forget – tax-free shopping in New Hampshire!

•    Galapagos Boutique | An a-DOR-able old South County farmhouse filled with everything from Spanx to Hudson jeans and Alice + Olivia; Charlestown, Rhode Island.

•    Brass Mill Center and Commons |125+ mall stores, including H&M; Waterbury, Connecticut.

•    Clinton Crossing Premium Outlets | 70+ outlet shops, includes Barneys New York, Banana Republic, Michael Kors, and Kenneth Cole; Clinton, Connecticut.

•    Ralph Lauren | Classic American style that keeps evolving.

•    Downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire | Hundreds of well-known and local boutique stores; visit Puttin’ on the Glitz for some awesome and affordable pieces that are vintage or from around the world; Portsmouth, NH.

•    Vermont Fall Foliage Tours | The official state website’s comprehensive guide to recommended tours.

•    Maine Fall Foliage Tours | The official state website’s comprehensive guide to recommended tours.

•    Massachusetts Fall Foliage Tours | Mass.’s Office of Travel and Tourism website with recommended tours.

•    Connecticut Fall Foliage Tours | Official Visit Connecticut site featuring recommended tours.

•    New Hampshire Fall Foliage Tours | The New England Times guide to recommended tours.

•    Visit New Enland | The best online tourism guide to the New England experience.

•    Farmer’s Almanac | Chillier and rainier weather this fall, but don’t let that stop you from visiting during peak fall foliage.

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!

Whether you’re sad to see the lazy days of summer pass you by or psyched for fall’s marathon of holidays and back-to-school shopping trips, the wardrobe transition from summer to fall is a challenge unto itself. End-of-summer sales trap you into adding to your warm-weather wardrobe while tricky weather patterns make it impossible to dress comfortably until fall officially settles in.

The secret lies in figuring out the balance between saving a couple of your favorite summer pieces — like tank tops, shorts or sundresses — as you experiment with fall accessories and newer basics that will come to dominate your look for the next couple of months.

“Keep out your favorite summer dresses and pair them with a jacket and boots,” recommends writer Alex Seifert, a Texas native who recently moved to Ithaca, NY. “Or throw on some tights and flats under dresses, and you’re good to go.”

Depending on where you live, you’re going to have different challenges for outsmarting the changing seasons, but keep in mind these general tips:

•    Accessories are your new best friend. This is the optimum time to play with tights, socks, knee highs and leggings before you settle into a “look” for fall and winter. Try bolder colors to mimic the lighter, sunshine-y mood of Indian summer and complement your summer brights.

•    Scarves. Keep an array of scarves handy – including lightweight cotton and heavier, wooly scarves – to pile on over tank tops and cardigans as the weather shifts from balmy to blustery.

•    Boots or booties: September might still be too hot in your part of the country for over-the-knee boots, but you can be strategic about transitioning to fall footwear. Trade out your gladiator sandals for booties, which will anchor miniskirts and cocktail dresses without making your legs sweat.

•    Keep your basics light and cool, and carry heavier layers for later. If you hate freezing in the morning and burning up all afternoon, stick to tank tops and lightweight trousers that you can add chunky cardigans or pashminas to in order to stay comfortable.

•    Fall handbag. You’ll need a new fall handbag with plenty of pockets and storage space as you tote your umbrella, cardigans and scarves around with you. Try experimenting with bright colors like deep orange, olive, or plum instead of traditional brown or black.

Rachel Bilson: An expert at staying comfy and stylish during LA's spotty seasonal transition. Photo credit: ShopStyle

Michelle Williams' transitioning smoothly with her boots. Photo credit: Camp Comfort

Hey, Travelistas! Wanna know what to wear for the weather? Just click on My Stylist and type in your location, date, and an occasion and let My Stylist do the rest. Join us on Facebook and Twitter for everything fashion and travel from WeareverTheWeather.com!