Dear Glam Gals,
Our reader Wanda on a recent cruise in her sundress.
I wonder if you have any ideas about how to stretch the wear for this dress into autumn/winter? I have a short black sweater, but am not sure what to do about shoes and hose. What else I could wear besides the little black sweater? I also wonder about wearing a chunky necklace, perhaps?
I’m open to any and all suggestions!
Thanks, Wanda Jolleymore
Hi Wanda,
Always great to hear from you! Yes, there are a few ideas that you can try with this pretty sundress. Instead of using a black cardigan, why not try a pullover sweater. This will instantly transform your dress into a skirt! Now, that you have some weight at the top of your outfit you will want to balance out the bottom half, by adding a simple leather boot.
TIP: Make sure that the dress you start off with should be a thin stretchy fabric and not have to much fullness or pleating.
Here is how to transform your summer dress into a new fall outfit:
- Start with a long pullover sweater or turtleneck. You would want the fabric to be on the thin side and a little oversized so that it’s not too tight.
- Keep all the fabrics smooth, don’t try to mix in a textured sweater, it just won’t look right.
- Once you pull this over your head, your dress is now a skirt!
- Then add some opaque tights.
- Throw on a pair of tall, leather boots.
- Add a scarf or a chunky necklace …
- A loose jacket will finish off your look and you will now have a “new” fall outfit!
This summer dress from Clover Canyon is easily updated with a few layers for fall
1) Black 3/4 sleeve scoop neck top, that I put UNDER the dress
When summer winds down and it starts to cool down, just pair it with some legging !
Style Expert Deborah Boland specializes in helping mature women to Tweak their Chic®!
Hi Anne, The lady at the bottom we agree would look better with a boot or even pump. This is a perfect example of how balancing an outfit with the right shoe is so important. Thanks for pointing out this. We chose this photo because we liked the way she mixed up the prints.
Love your tips Bridget. The idea of pairing this dress with plums and chocolate instead of black is spot on! Will make it much softer and more interesting of an outfit for sure!
Bridget’s color advice is excellent! Look at the great opportunities for color blocking.
Just a thought that might or might not resonate … cardigans have the potential to make dresses look a little matronly. Since there are so many shapes and styles of cardigans these days, use your best instincts.
I really like a leather or faux-leather jacket with little dresses, with the suggested tights and boots or booties. I’m not in love with denim jackets, but a light weight twill cropped blazer might be comfortable and cute for indoor wear or warm days.
I like your ideas on the video but the woman in the striped top and floral
bottom looks a mess. Her shoes are too flimsy for fall also. I like
mixing prints but this is too much.
Wanda wold also look great topping her dress with a longer fine gauge cardigan in a swing or waterfall shape, adding a thin belt right on top of the dress’s waistline or at her natural waist line. Tights and boots in a rich neutral or black, plus a scarf wrapped cowl style around her neck would finish out the outfit. With deep plum try olive, cognac and chocolate browns, heathered charcoal, and add some saturated color with the scarf – marigold yellow, violet, cobalt, mossy green all would work well.