The California Edit – Autumn Accessories Edition

In today’s edit – the current scarf craze, fall totes, flat shoes and 10 outfit formulas for September.

As we gear up for our next migration to southern California, I find myself trying to plan for dressing for fall in two different climates. For the next couple of months, summer will continue in San Diego. In fact, the months of September and October often have some of the best weather of the year, colloquially known as “locals summer”.

But when we come back to the Bay Area later in the fall, an entirely different weather scenario awaits. The weather in September and October is gorgeous in NorCal too but the average daily temps can begin to drop off dramatically and the nights and mornings can be quite chilly. It will definitely not be shorts season anymore!

This forces me to look at my fall wardrobe through two points of view, one for each end of the state. I’m a Bay Area native, and fall is one of my favorite times of the year for several reasons, the new fashion collections being one of them. But what to do when I’m in the mood for fall but I’m headed to the land of perpetually sunny days?

Transitioning Through Accessories

That’s where accessorizing comes into play. Even if the weather says “it’s still summer” I can still acknowledge that fact that autumn is almost upon us simply by adding some cozy touches to an outfit, either through a silk scarf in fall tones tied to the handle of my bag, or by swapping in my basket bag for one made of suede, nylon or leather. Shoes, too, can be an easy way to transition outfits from summer to autumn. Simply switching from sandals to flats makes an outfit look more fall-appropriate. These are all things we can all do now, no matter where you live – or how stubbornly hot it still is!

Scarves Everywhere

I finally took the plunge on a silk scarf and bought this beauty (below left) from the French company Sézane. It came all the way from Paris and was beautifully packaged – I should have taken a picture of it before I unwrapped it. Mince! (Darn!)

The gold, cream and black colors are going to go well with so many things I already have in my closet. I’m planning on tying it on a black tote as a nod to fall. I also found this pretty oversized scarf (on right) at Target that has similar colors and geometric motifs. It would be a great bargain alternative.

Many Ways to Wear Them

Besides using it to dress up a bag, there are lots of other ways to wear a scarf, such as using it to belt a trench or wrapped around a chunky necklace. I’m not really one to tie a scarf around my neck, but I love the idea of using it to dress up a necklace!

One of the biggest trends this year is scarves worn around the waist as belts. Tied casually on one side, they can add a fun pop of color to otherwise subdued outfits.

If tying a scarf around your waist seems a little too trendy for you, you can thread a scarf through your belt loops to take the place of a traditional belt. This also looks great and adds an interesting on-trend detail to your outfit.

Designer Scarves

Louis Vuitton

LV has incorporated silk scarves into some of their ready-to-wear collections. I love how the attached scarves on the casual gray and white tops below add a fancy touch to what would otherwise be a casual everyday look. You could easily copy this idea using tees and hoodies that you already own.

Hermes

Someday I will treat myself to an Hermes silk scarf. I am particularly drawn to ones that have equestrian motifs. The three below were found on the Real Real website. If you have been thinking about splurging on a nice scarf, now is the perfect time of year to take the plunge.

Totally Fall

Trendy Totes

Large bags are super popular this fall, which makes tote bags a perfect alternative to traditional hand bags. Tote bags are the workhorses of the bag world, but they can be practical and stylish too. We’ve come a long way since the days of LL Bean totes (although their totes remain a perpetual classic.)

Alex Mill totes fit the bill perfectly, seamlessly blending function and style. Made from rugged garment-washed canvas and adorned with silver studs, they come in a variety of sizes and colors. You can even have them personalized with your initials.

I love this golden khaki color for fall. Bonus points for the blue and white monogram!

More Trendy Totes

The Madewell Handwoven Leather tote on the left is also hugely popular this season, especially in this rich chocolate brown color. It adds texture to an outfit and is an excellent replacement for a summery straw tote. The COACH Brooklyn bag pictured right is still going strong for another year. It’s a classic that will never go out of style. For an on-trend big-bag look, opt for the larger Brooklyn 34 or 39.

Designer Totes

Currently Stalking on The Real Real

These designer totes all caught my eye. You can’t go wrong with a Chanel bag. Goyard totes are also super chic and timeless, as are ones by Louis Vuitton. There are tons of them to be found on second-hand sites like The Real Real so if your budget allows, you can shop your heart out.

Other Totes

Tory Burch also has some fun tote designs this fall. In fact, I just added this Ella Nylon Drawstring tote to my everyday rotation in place of my roomy summer straw tote. It will be perfect for running around town and for traveling. I also love this Tory Burch Racer Tote in blue with brown trim, a color combo that straddles the line between summer and fall.

Bargain Alternatives

You can find great bargain alternatives for totes too. In fact all of these fun totes are from Target! The yellow-gold tote on the left is a nice alternative to one from Alex Mill, and the woven olive tote in the middle is a good dupe for the Madewell woven tote. The brown woven tote on the right bears some similarity to the Gucci Jackie bag with its shape and front clasp hardware.

Going flat-out for flats

Flats are HUGE this season. And as a tall woman, I am excited. Being comfortable AND stylish at the same time? Sign me up!

One of the things to look for this season when choosing the perfect fall flats is a style that is preferably made of leather (or a realistic leather-like material) that hugs the foot like a glove. High vamps (the top part of the shoe) are also big this year. Blacks, olives, browns and deep reds are the colors that dominate right now.

Mary Jane Flats

I love Mary Jane flats because they don’t slip off of your feet. All of the ones below are from Target! The red pair is a great dupe of the trendy Flabelous flats for a lot less.

When I saw these I knew I had found my go-to fall shoe. The Tory Burch Romy Mary Jane is that perfect cross of athletic shoe and flat. They are so comfortable. Plus, they come in extended sizes, including half sizes. I’m a 10.5 -11 depending on the shoe. The 11’s were huge on me so I went with the 10.5’s. They also come in white and olive green.

Ballet Flats

The ballet flats selection this year is pretty amazing. I’m particularly drawn to the more literal interpretation of the style that has a squared-off toe box. The Gucci Horsebit Suede Ballet Flat comes in a gorgeous suede version that also has a strap, so I guess it’s a hybrid ballet/Mary Jane? For more budget-friendly ballet flats, check out Madewell .They’ve come through big time with their flats this season. Their Freja Two Piece Ballet Flats comes in several colors and and it ticks all the boxes for price, style and fit.

Cap toe ballet flats are also a classic. Chanel cap toe flats are the holy grail of cap toe flats in my book. However, a more realistic take on this style can be found in the Tory Burch Cap Toe Flat in perfect black.

10 Outfit Formulas for September

Need more inspiration for transitioning your wardrobe to fall? Here’s a great video by Trends Spotted Fashion that shows easy ways to elegantly update your outfits. Even the California casual style needs to look polished once in a while!