Feeling the Fall Heat — How to Dress in the Season’s Latest Styles Despite Texas’ Furnace-Like Weather

We’ve long given up on the relevancy of not wearing white after Labor Day (it’s not a thing) but as the calendar points to fall and the temperature firmly still says summer, embracing the autumn vibe isn’t always a cool breeze. Tapping into these trends edges you ever closer to feeling fall fabulous, no matter the weather in Texas.

Welcome to the Jungle

Animal print is always classic and a neutral, but right now it’s roaring into fall in a big way. Leopard, snake, zebra — it’s all on the agenda and an easy way to move toward the new season. Lindsay Mousoudakis owner of Muse Boutique, now operates a Muse Mobile  boutique on-the-go, after closing her brick-and-mortar shop last year. Her clientele are shoppers, but they’re short on time, so she delivers apparel and accessories to them. Animal print is at the core of her customer’s fall edit.

“You want all the animal print for fall. Boots, bags, belts, it’s huge,” Mousoudakis tells PaperCity. “Most people will break it up with a black or pink T-shirt and pair it with animal print joggers, but you can be gusty and wear it all at once too.”

Zimmerman embraced the full-on look with its flouncy Espionage Jumpsuit while Versace mixed prints, proving that unlike the circle of life, fashion predator and prey can stylishly co-exist.

Style Hunting

On the heels of the ever-present love for animal print, comes safari chic. Olive, camel and rich brown hues immediately conjure up the fall feels, but it’s the safari details that speak volumes. Oversized pockets, slouchy pants and versatile belts add a fresh feel and can be found in fabrics that ideal for the desert, or Texas’ late summer.

You can, of course, run with the animal print/safari theme, but should you?

“These trends don’t go away, so have fun, take chances and be bold. You sport it and mix it up,” Mousoudakis says.

Femme Trend

Considered stashing your beloved puffy sleeve? Take heart, the sweet look continues into fall, elevating a basic T-shirt or adding some extra drama to a new style. White puffy sleeve tops are an easy go-to, but the design is also readily available in dresses and jackets in traditional autumn colors.

Accessories Watch

If the mere thought of donning anything beyond a sundress is still too daunting, add some accessories for a slow transition to fall. The ever versatile headband continues to reign supreme among the sartorial set, but embellished barrettes, multiple clips and scrunchies are also making a strong play for MVP status.

Prada’s plush satin headbands and Lele Sadoughi’s pearl-encrusted turban takes are the gold standard for many an ornamented head, proving that it doesn’t take a lot to get into the fall spirit. If clips, pins barrettes and bows are more to your liking, layer them up with wild abandon.

“Everybody can wear a headband. A leopard headband jazzes up a T-shirt and jeans, plus it’s a great way to deal with Houston’s humidity,” Mousoudakis notes.

Go ahead and give your summer staples a new look with the addition of belts too. Wide belts, double belts, grommet belts and patterns like animal print create new shapes over dresses, blazers and tops.

Just think. . . there’s only two more months of summer to go.