Fall Through the Cracks

These are difficult days for the Style Spy.

Oh, I don't mean the increasingly fraught situation in the Middle East, or global warming, or the health care crisis, or the awful events going on in Myanmar, although all of these things (and more) trouble me greatly.

No, it's just that it's fall in central Texas.

Why is that bad? Let me show you.


This is an actual photo of my actual thermometer on my actual back porch on Tuesday, October 2 at about 2:00 p.m.

90º!!!!
(That's about 32ºC, for my non-American friends who are playing at home.)

Not exactly sweater weather, eh?

And yet? And yet, it's October. It feels a little ridiculous to be running around in a strappy little sundress. But my friends, I broke a sweat loading the groceries into the back of my car today -- it doesn't exactly make sense to be busting out the suede boots.

So, this is my difficult time of the year. While all my Northern friends are unpacking their cashmere and rediscovering their corduroys and airing out their leather jackets, my Southern sisters & I are trying not to sweat through our clothes on Columbus Day.

Therefore once again, I am surfing the internets and sifting through the retail establishments in an effort to seek out some sort of compromise clothing. Some garments that acknowledge the lateness of the season without bringing about a heat stroke. Long sleeves are still pushing it. Turtlenecks? Sweater dresses? Are you kidding? Merino wool? Oh, now you're just being mean. Kids, I have a brand new crimson velvet Alexander McQueen blazer that is positively weeping to be worn, but until that needle swings about 20º back, it's staying tucked into the big canvas winter clothes bag with all of my other (probably ill-advised) velvet & wool jackets. And these bad boys:

Stuart Weitzman Goliath

Bought these on sale a while ago. As yet unworn. I swear to you, every time I go into the closet where they live, they make kissy noises and wolf whistles and growl "Hey, chica, hey, mamasita, check me out!!" at me like a bunch of ill-mannered construction workers. (It's oddly endearing, though.)


Here's a few things I've found. The pickings are slim, because I'm looking for things that I can hopefully move into actual cooler weather by layering them or changing up accessories. (As usual, click for links.)

I actually kind of love this blouse and it may find its way into my closet. It's a poly/spandex knit, and I like that it's long enough to be tucked in without my having to constantly mess with it. It goes without saying that I love the Pucci-ness (Pucciosity?) of the pattern. Also, it has short sleeves that are actually sleeves, as opposed to little eggcup-shaped shoulder ornaments that if I can actually get them over my ginormous, too-many-years-in-the-service-industry guns squeeeeeeeeeeze my arms in an exceedingly unflattering and uncomfortable way. When did short sleeved come to mean cap sleeved, I wonder?

Pretty dress, no? It's silk and it's lined, so it might still be too warm, but the print is really beautiful and would be nice for fall. Plus, if the color is true to the photo, that would be really gorgeous under my as-yet-unexposed McQueen blazer, with some black tights and black suede boots. If one were feeling particularly chilly & layer-y, one could even put a nice lightweight turtleneck underneath it. I would replace the faux leather belt included with a nicer one of my own.

As we know, I do like a good jersey dress, and the color of this is beautiful. Jersey is pretty seasonless, you can warm it up with boots & a cardi, or wear it as-is. The shape of this is awfully flattering to lots of different figures, and the price is unbeatable. It's a bit long if you're a petite person, but the dress is such a bargain that having it hemmed wouldn't seem unreasonable.

I actually picked up a couple of these -- $8 t-shirts at Target! And believe me, I've already gotten my money's worth from them. Great layering pieces, and without a doubt the nicest $8 garment I've ever owned. Be warned, these are junior sizes and they run quite small (I bought a large), but the fit is nice & trim and again, long enough so that if they get tucked in, they stay tucked in. The colors aren't showing up quite true on the website -- they're a little darker IRL.

That's all I've got so far. I'll keep scouting, and if anyone stumbles across anything wonderful. please let me know!

Photos: Style Spy, Macys.com, Nordstrom.com, Target.com