Dear Editor

Dear Editor—

Each year it seems to me that just when I can finally afford that cute sundress/short skirt/fabulous crop pant I’ve been admiring/craving/lusting after all summer—hello end-of-season sales!—it’s also time to figure out how to get the mothball smell out of my sweaters. I’m not in favor of global warming, but still I’d love to extend sundress season by a month or two. Any ideas?

Sincerely,
Loving Summer

 Dear Lovely–

I have one word for you: layers. Followed by some other words: tights, boots, long-sleeved shirts, sweaters, and scarves. Though I reside slightly south of the Mason Dixon line, I still experience that unfortunate drop in temperature known as fall followed by that wonderful dearth of degrees known as winter. I’ve found the key for switching my summer frocks into fall fashions is the judicious application of layers. I start with my favorite Banana Republic long-sleeved tee followed by my favorite color-blocked Calvin Klein sundress, and top it all with the cabled cardi I picked up at Macy’s last winter. Add some tights—a great way to add texture and pattern, especially if the rest of your outfit’s monochromatic—and boots to keep your tootsies warm, thus insuring that you can have your sartorial cake and stay toasty too. (Tights and boots work with crop pants too; I’d recommend staying monochromatic to extend the line of the leg.) I also like to add a pop of color around my face with a brightly colored scarf—cotton for the not-as-cold days and cashmere or other knit for the frostier ones.

 

 

As for jewelry, I tend to forgo necklaces if I’m rocking a scarf, but I’ve found that summer bangles look just as soigne over a close-fitting sleeve as they do on a bare arm. You may want to try out your earrings-scarf combination before heading out the door to make sure you don’t end up spending most of the time fidgeting as you try to untangle said earrings from said scarf. A special note about rings: oversized baubles can sometimes snag knits, so you may want to pop them on after you’ve arrived at your destination.

 

 

Of course, one of the dangers of layering is that you could end up looking like the little brother in A Christmas Story. (“I can’t move my arms!”) So I suggest you keep the inner layers on the thin side with a chunky sweater topper. Or check out of the many thinner-than-air versions of the down vest that are popular this time of year. And not to get all scientific, know-it-ally on you, but even if you’re not trying to stretch out your summer(wear), layers are the way to go since all that nice heat generated by your body gets trapped between ‘em making sure you can get thru the winter looking haute and feeling hot.

p.s. For more tips, check out this post from the Oligoville archives.

Sincerely,
Paulette

Dear Oligo Editor: How Do I Layer Without Looking Crazy?

Dear Oligo Editor,

Every time I try to layer my clothes I end up looking like a crack-head. I pair my hippie skirts with my work blazers or my plaid flannel under my polka-dot dress. I resemble Cheerios mixed with cream of mushroom soup—not cute. How can I pull off this layering trend without looking like a nut-job?—Cracked-Out in Colorado

Dear Cracked-Out,

Put down the pipe—and you’re footless lace tights—down, help is here!

The best thing about learning to layer is that you can click refresh on your wardrobe’s browser without spending any dough. Another fabulous benefit of becoming a layering-queen (or king) is that your clothes are no longer season specific. (Personally, I’m a layering empress!) First of all, you must understand that layering does not mean wearing two trends at the same time—that’s just unacceptable. When layering your clothes, stick to one trend, look, and concept. Also beware of a tendency to go overboard and end up looking over-clothed.

A great place to start is to take a long sleeve shirt and wear it under a tank top or t-shirt. Stick to the same color scheme, or wear complementary colors. Feel free to mix and match prints with solids. Then, throw a sweater or cardigan over your tops. Wrap a brightly colored scarf or shawl around your neck. Stick to some neutral bottoms like jeans or cords and you’re look is complete. Also, let your layers peek out a bit by pulling the long-sleeves of your shirt out under your cardigan.

I also love wearing collared or long sleeved shirts and blouses under dresses. They make a summer dress fall friendly. Create a layered look on the bottom half by wearing tights, leggings, or stockings in boots. It’s also fun to stick some skinny jeans in your boots for a euro-chic take on a layered look. Lastly, remember to never wear something baggy under something tight, a novice-layering faux pas.

Essential Items:

• Basic T-shirts and long sleeved shirts
• Blouses
• Solid color sweaters
• Cardigans
• Printed, colorful scarves
• Shawls
• Knee-length dresses
• Tights and stockings
• Knee-hitting socks
• Leggings
• Denim (jeans, skirts, shorts, jackets)
• Classic boots
• Casual flats

Once you open your mind to layering, you will open your wardrobe to infinite possibilities.

Photos courtesy of our Flickr Trendsters

Closet Remix: Summer Dresses All Fall Long

I wish the sun would always shine and the clouds would always hide. Unfortunately, that just doesn’t happen. (This is secretly a wonderful thing as we are reminded that our planet is not in irreversible peril, just in dire need of improvement … ) The falling leaves and rainy days depress not only my mood, but also my wardrobe. Do I really have to retire my adorable three-month old summer dress collection? I’m stomping my feet, shaking my head and saying no, no, NO!

Use items you already have in your closet to throw over, under, and on top of your summer wardrobe to stay warm and cozy through the winter months. Here’s what I do to make sure my strapless eyelet dress and sleeveless plaid dress are still making debuts through the holiday season:

• Wear a long sleeved tee under a dress
• Throw tights, stockings, or leggings under a dress
• Wear a dress over jeans, cords, or black pants (Skinny ones usually work best … )
• Wear knee-high boots with socks peeking out paired with a dress
• Throw your favorite new fall cardigan over your dress
• Make scarves and shawls your new BFF
• Wear a sweater over your dress and let it peek out like a skirt
• Wear some fingerless, elbow-high gloves to keep your guns warm
• Leggings are making a comeback, so I’ve heard …

Be creative, don’t spend any money, and layer, layer, layer. Also, keep an eye out in your ‘hood to see what the other trendsters are doing to stay warm. Oligoville’s favorite runway is our own streets, coffee shops, and cities.