Sweater Weather: Style Tips for Fall Layering

Above: Amazing sweater by Farm Rio

Here in our neck of the woods, the trees have gone fully technicolor, with so many leaves on the ground you hear nothing but crunching when you walk outside. Temperatures have dropped, too, and though I’m not a fan of the cold I am, ironically, a huge fan of sweaters. Give me a shaggy sleeve, a complicated fisherman’s cable knit, or a brightly colored yarn any day.

I also still insist on going full jewelry in the colder, months and have found that with a slight strategy shift, you can keep wearing jewelry along with those extra layers. Here are my top tips for transitioning into fall:

1.

Wear sweaters with necklaces that have extender chains — thicker knits tend to make necklaces sit higher than normal, so wear your necklaces on their longest settings to make up for it. Most of my necklaces have extenders already, but you can also purchase extenders that can be attached to any necklace.

Wear this Halcott Necklace with…

…over this Sezane sweater.

2.

Show off an intricately patterned sweater with clean, all metal earrings — a necklace would get in the way of that great pattern, while earrings will compliment it.

Pair this gloriously 80s-style Farm Rio sweater…

…with these brass Halo Hoops.

3.

Pair larger scale necklaces with really chunky, solid-colored sweaters. The chunkiness and texture already make a statement, and need jewelry that can keep up.

Wear this Cosmos Necklace…

…with this Line & Dot cable knit sweater.

4.

Slip a cuff or bangle over your sweater sleeve, with the sleeve helping keep it in place.

Get cozy in this Madewell sweater…

…and this silver Asp Bangle.

5.

Try your rings on different fingers — lower temps mean rings will fit a little more loosely, so move them around to find a better fit.

Some wider rings, like this Hathor Ring, will fit differently if you switch their direction on your finger, too.

A wide, chunky Hathor Ring.

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Happy layering!

Your guide to birthstones

Birthstone Star Necklaces featuring amethyst for February and turquoise for December.

Humans have always been enchanted by gemstones — Biblical legend says that the Devil tried tempting Eve by turning flowers in the Garden of Eden into jewels. We’ve been so hypnotized by them that we’ve ascribed specific powers to different stones, wearing them as protective talismans. The same is true for birthstones, stones associated with specific months and said to become even more powerful when worn during your birth month.

To channel a birthstone’s power, or even just wear a little piece of sparkling magic, check out this handy chart:

I love a good chart.

Looking for options? Here’s the full list with some alternatives, too:

• January: Garnet

• February: Amethyst

• March: Aquamarine, bloodstone, jade

• April: Diamond, crystal quartz

• May: Emerald

• June: Pearl, moonstone, alexandrite

• July: Ruby

• August: Peridot, spinel, sardonyx

• September: Sapphire

• October: Opal, tourmaline

• November: Citrine, topaz

• December: Turquoise, blue zircon or topaz, tanzanite

Wear your favorite, or wear someone else’s (like your children or your spouse’s) as a way to keep them close even when they’re far away.

Style Hacks for Last-Minute Plans

Sometimes life throws a change of plans at you, like impromptu drinks with friends after work, or a surprise dinner-date with your in-laws. You don’t have time for a full outfit change, but a few quick updates can totally change your look. Here are my favorite hacks for dressing an outfit up or down in an instant:

1

A white tee and jeans feel casual, but pair them with heels and long, sparkling earrings (like the Ridgeline Drops in crystal) to dress them up.

Images, clockwise from top left: James Perse tee; Ridgeline Drops; Isabel Marant heeled sandals; vintage Levi’s

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2

Wearing a dress automatically feels like more of an occasion, but make it more casual with modern, all-metal accessories (like these Nova Earrings or Undercurrent Bracelet) and sneakers.

Images, clockwise from top left: Nova Clip-On Earrings; Michelle Mason wrap dress; Undercurrent Bracelet; Golden Goose sneakers

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3

A button down and pencil skirt are great for the office, but throw on a slouchy sweatshirt and oversized metal hoops (like these Halo Hoops) for after-work drinks.

Images, left to right: Madewell sweatshirt; Black Halo skirt; Halo Hoops

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Give these a shot and let me know how it goes! Have other quick tricks that have worked for you before? Share the love and leave them in the comments below!