Happy 5773!
Many of us at Shop It To Me will be observing the Jewish holidays. We all want to look our best for these occasions, but what to do when you can’t run out to buy something new?
We asked some trusted sources for help and they offered the following advice for transitioning summer wardrobe pieces for fall:
Tracey Lomrantz Lester, Contributing Style Editor at Glamour says the High Holidays give her an excuse to “look more ladylike than I normally have occasion to. I love the idea of dressing up a simple, solid-color sheath — especially one I’ve gotten great use out of all summer — with some very uptown accessories. Think wide-brim wool or felt hat, a few chic brooches worn near the shoulder (I love clustering three or four of them together!) or a pair of textured tights that bridge the gap between summer and fall perfectly.”
Tracey says a great way to get more mileage from your sleeveless summer dresses is to layer something underneath rather than put a cardigan on top. “You look so polished with a crisp white button-down shirt under your sleeveless dress. A black turtleneck works really well, too.”
Chloe dress | Oscar de la Renta brooch | Sonia Rykiel brooch | Christian Dior pumps | Nicole Miller tights
Style and Beauty expert Jenn Falik says her go-to piece for the High Holidays is “a pencil skirt just fitted enough to reveal a shape.” She pairs the skirt with either a jewel-toned secretary blouse or a slim-cut cashmere sweater with 3/4 length sleeves in a more somber shade.
“Your office basics can easily transition into something occasion-appropriate for the high holidays,” she says.
Theory blouse | Narciso Rodriguez skirt | Raven clutch | Rachel Roy cardigan
Marci Penn, stylist and buyer at Hirshleifers, one of the country’s most celebrated specialty stores, says her clients want to look chic and sexy, but appropriate. “We sell a lot of fitted dresses (think Victoria Beckham, Roland Mouret, DSquared2) with synagogue-suitable detailing such as cap sleeves.”
Marci agrees that a pencil skirt with a silk top and a cropped jacket or cardigan is a classic look. She suggests re-using a silk underpinning from spring/summer (in chartreuse, orange or fuschia for example) with a classic V-neck black cardigan, pencil skirt, and black boot or bootie.
“You can glam up your look with hosiery, or a classic pump with a bit of edge – like a pair of red velvet pumps.”
Yves Saint Laurent dress | DKNYC dress | Rebecca Taylor blouse | Rampage booties | DKNY cardigan | Vince Camuto skirt
Lila Delilah of MadisonAvenueSpy says weather at this time of year “can be a crapshoot. Choose items that are summer weight but can easily be paired with a sweater. Cashmere is always dressy, warm and cozy.”
“A huge part of dressing well is dressing appropriately. It might be tempting to get lured into buying an evening cocktail dress for double duty, but it usually doesn’t translate well,” she says.
Finally, like our other experts Lila says, “Accessorize, Accessorize, Accessorize! Hats, belts, necklaces, bracelets…you just can’t have enough. We especially love celebrating the new year with some new jewelry.”
Nordstrom Collection sweater | Missoni necklace | Rebecca Taylor sweater | ADAM blouse | Kate Spade necklace
So, if you’re getting ready to observe the Jewish holidays, remember these three great tips: repurpose something that’s already in your closet, mix in some great new accessories to create a fresh look … and don’t forget to shop the sales!