Fashion: FALL ISSUE : TOP Priorities
No matter how sumptuous a mohair sweater may look in the store, it isn’t likely to weather L.A.’s warmer-than-East-Coast early fall days.
But by following a careful strategy, it is possible to assemble a transition wardrobe that will work now through the holidays, look right and beat the early fall heat.
The wardrobe assembled here blends with such basics as a solid black skirt, a colorful blouse or sweater that many women already have in their closets. But it also includes at least five looks of its own.
Two key elements make a transitional wardrobe work:
* Year-round colors such as black and white, olive and red.
* Layering clothes, adjusting them as temperatures drop.
The crux of this wardrobe is a black leather jacket. Put it over a sleeveless undershirt and jeans or leggings for a casual look. Or pair it with a sleeveless cotton ruffled shirt and one of the new girdle-like hip slips as an evening piece.
For a warm day, the olive-colored cotton/Lycra turtleneck bodysuit shown here is a lightweight fall-toned top to mix with houndstooth-check city shorts in porous basket-weave wool.
A cooler alternative substitutes a short ivory and black crepe skirt for city shorts. In cool evening breezes, the leather jacket can ward off the chill and add a sporty look.
Accessories add an autumnal element without warmth or weight. A red bag will give color to black and white basics. A gold belt dresses up the shorts and olive turtleneck. A silver-tone shoulder bag with black accents adds a hint of evening elegance to the leather jacket.
Opaque tights in black or cream also add a fall feeling; so do suede shoes or leather cowboy boots.
The National Weather Service’s 90-day forecast for Southern California calls for little change in temperatures through November. Predictions also include a 55% probability of above-average precipitation.
Given the unpredictable temperatures of this summer, it makes as much sense to check the weather forecast as the fashion magazines for guidance this autumn.
