Wardrobe workhorses: Summer to fall

Since fall is right around the corner, I thought I would summarize the items in my closet that get the most wear during this transition period between summer and fall.

The first items to get wear during this period (besides my jeans) are my light jackets. I tend to need a jacket before any other "transitional" item due to the chillier mornings. My Madewell army green jacket and Ellen Tracy trench coat (both purchased last year) have proven to be true wardrobe workhorses; I wear them more than any other outerwear because they both go with basically any outfit. I guess that means I could stand to add another lighter jacket to mix things up a bit... I may or may not have purchased a leather jacket recently to help with that. ;)

When the temperatures drop more and regular tees and tops just aren't cutting it, I start wearing heavier tops such as sweatshirts and light sweaters. A couple of my go-to sweatshirts include my J.Crew Factory short-sleeved sweatshirt and J.Crew Factory elbow-patch sweatshirt. (I didn't even realize they were from the same brand until writing this!) While I used to think short-sleeved sweatshirts were inherently incongruous, I've learned to love mine for the in-between days. My elbow-patch sweatshirt is one I reach for on lazy late summer/early fall days and evenings when I still want to look like I put in some effort.

As far as footwear goes, I basically switch to entirely closed-toe shoes when the temps drop below 70 degrees. I tend to alternate between my ballet flats, sneakers, and ankle boots, but I absolutely love my ankle boots (as we all know from this post). The pairs that I wear most often are my Madewell 'Billie' boots and Sam Edelman 'Petty' boots simply because they are both neutrals. I love wearing my boots with every outfit because they can make a summery dress instantly feel more fall-appropriate. I actually also added a new pair of ankle boots to my collection, and I can't wait to feature them here!

What pieces do you wear most often during this transitional time?

{light jackets}
original army green jacket post / original trench coat post
SHOP: similar army green jacket / similar trench coat

{sweatshirts}
original short-sleeved sweatshirt post / original elbow-patch sweatshirt post
SHOP: similar short-sleeved sweatshirt / similar elbow-patch sweatshirt

{ankle boots}
original 'Billie' boot post / original 'Petty' boot post
SHOP: the updated 'Billie' boot / the 'Petty' boot