I love transitional fashion because aside from a love of fall clothes, I enjoy layering, and layering during the transitional months is critical. Nobody knows what the temperature will be from one day to the next. In the morning, a jacket might be appropriate, but by mid-afternoon, that jacket that kept the morning chill away becomes the cumbersome thing you have to drag around because it’s too warm. You need to be able to add and peel away layers when the weather is crisp and cool. Even indoors it can get tricky because the temperatures inside aren’t as regulated. In fact, it was sitting in my apartment working last week that inspired this post. I live in an old pre-war Brooklyn apartment where, pro, we don’t pay for heat or hot water, but, con, we also don’t control our thermostat. New York had a short-lived cold snap and the building didn’t turn on the heat yet I relied on layers to keep me warm. It got me thinking about when we rely on layers during transitional months and what happens to our looks when we remove them throughout the day, particularly at work.

If you build your look around your layer but find you don’t need it as the temps warm up, the potential is that everything cool about your outfit falls away leaving you with something sort of boring. On the flip side, if you build your outfit layer-less and then think of the topper piece as the afterthought you throw on because you’re chilly, you risk potentially ruining your outfit with something out of place. What I realized about layered transitional work looks is how key it is that they look good layered or unlayered.

LAYERED AND UNLAYERED: KEEPING YOUR LAYERED WORK LOOKS STYLISH WITHOUT THE LAYERS

In today’s post, I have put together some outfits that look good layered or unlayered with tips on how I did it. You will see that I purposefully pushed the layered pieces off to the side so you can see that the outfits can stand alone without the added layer while also showing that the layer works harmoniously with the outfit.

OUTFIT #1

layered

In this look, the pants and novelty shoes create interest when the look is unlayered. Fall is an excellent time to try out fun shoes because once it gets too cold it becomes all boots all the time, at least in cold climates. I styled this pair of plaid pants from FRAME with a white button-up shirt from Frank & Eileen and finished the look with a cognac belt from Cole Haan, a link necklace from SHYMI, and cool spectator oxford sneakers from Cole Haan. For the layer, I added this olive cashmere ribbed cardigan from Jenni Kayne. If the price point is out of your budget range, Quince makes a similar style.

OUTFIT #2

layered

Another way to make sure an outfit can stand alone when you take the layer away is the top. It doesn’t necessarily need to be very novelty. A top like a novelty basic can work just fine. Novelty basics are pieces that look like novelty items but function as basics in the wardrobe, like hybrid pieces (like if a basic married a novelty and they produced a child) that have both the function of a basic but the interest of a novelty.  These are great pieces to own because you get the best of both worlds, you look updated and trendy while getting a lot of mileage, value, and use from them.

I styled this white novelty blouse from J.Crew that stands well on its own but also work well as a layered piece with black jeans from Everlane, a suede belt from J.Crew Factory, and black suede loafers from M.Gemi. For the layer, I used this grey donegal blazer from J.Crew.

OUTFIT #3

Color is another way to bring interest to an unlayered look, especially if you like to wear basics. In this outfit, the blazer from L’Agence is such a statement piece that you would think when taken away the outfit would lose something. For sure, it could, but in this case, I created a base of rich colors. I paired a camel with grey using this sweater from Naadam and pants from Marella. To add more richness, I added burgundy booties from Aerosoles. Lastly, to bring interest to this look when not layered, I added this statement necklace from Kenneth Jay Lane, which is another way to add a pop of interest to an unlayered look.

OUTFIT #4

In this last outfit, the standalone outfit is made more interesting a few ways. First, by simplypairing tan with black. Instead of using black boots and a black belt with these black pants from Open Edit, I added these tan booties from Boden and a tan belt from Rag & Bone. Next, the super cute feline blouse from Rails that fun and work appropriate add a little something to the look. The outfit doesn’t need a lot of accessorizing so I just added these simple chunky doorknocker earrings. This camel layering piece can be added to the look but without it the outfit stands well enough on its own.

BUILD YOUR LOOKS FOR LAYERING AND UNLAYERING

During this transitional time, think layered and unlayered when putting your looks together for work so that when you need to peel away or add one to your outfits, you will outfit will remain stylish.