If you’re a broke college kid (or, like me, a jobless college grad), you cringe at the end of each season. It’s bad enough that the sun is about to take it’s final bow — it’s even worse that an onslaught of new fashion trends seems poised to render your summer wardrobe completely useless. A bit dramatic? Probably. But it is something to consider when you’ve spent all your serving tips on just a few outfits that are suddenly so last season.

Luckily for you Lovelies, I’ve played dress-up with a few of this summer’s hottest trends and attempted to make them cold-weather appropriate. A few hours and one backyard photo shoot later, this is what I’ve come up with.

1.  Swing shorts

You know those shorts you’ve been living in since June because they feel like pajamas? I’ve got a few pairs, and they’re too good to stash away just yet. I took this pair and ditched the sleeveless blouses I’d been wearing them with. Instead, I layered an over-sized cardigan over my denim button down, climbed into a pair of sweater tights, et voila! I think the faded summery colors of the outfit can work well into fall while still keeping me nice and warm.

 

2.  Patterned summer dresses

Palm trees and tropical flowers might look out of place under falling leaves, but I figured stripes were a safe bet come September. To turn this summer staple into a fall necessity, I added a striped, over-sized cardigan. I made sure the two patterns didn’t clash too much by keeping the colors and the size of the stripes different. Tights underneath kept my legs warm, as did a basic trench coat.

 

3. Peplum

This inexpensive peplum top has experienced not a few crazy summer nights, and maybe that nostalgia is what gives it a permanent place in my wardrobe. Just because it lacks sleeves doesn’t mean it’s not fall (and work!) appropriate. The shirt is just dressy enough to pair with office slacks and a blazer, or even a skirt and cardigan, but can also be paired with jeans and a leather jacket for after-work drinks. In fact, this might just be my most versatile top, and one that easily transitions between seasons.

 

 

Hopefully these examples can inspire a trend of wardrobe recycling and remixing, where one season’s trends are another’s basics. At the very least, I hope this demonstration can take some of the stress off of my fellow penny-pinchers!

 

What summer pieces will you carry into fall?

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