Hi friends!
Scott and I snuck away for a few days last weekend to celebrate our anniversary, and while I was packing I ran into the same problem I seem to have every August.
I wanted something new to wear.
Not because I needed more clothes. I was just ready to feel different.
I've enjoyed my summer wardrobe, but by August I'm ready for richer colors, new denim and that first little hint of fall.
The problem?
I'm ready for fall clothes. Minnesota is not.
And I'm guessing a few of you are right there with me.
Our anniversary is August 8, so this seems to happen every year. I want something fresh and special for our getaway, but I'm certainly not going to spend three days sweating in a heavy sweater just because my brain has decided summer is over.
So when I packed for our anniversary trip to Red Wing, I gave myself a little challenge:
Could I build three days of outfits that felt fresh and fall-inspired but still worked for August weather?
Turns out, I could.
And it started with two pieces.
The Two Pieces I Packed Around
Instead of planning three completely separate outfits, I chose two pieces I really wanted to wear:
our new chocolate brown denim and a lightweight knit vest.
Those became what I call my keystone pieces.
A wardrobe keystone piece is simply a versatile item you can build several outfits around. Rather than starting over every morning, you have a foundation and change what's around it.
The chocolate denim gave me that richer fall color I was craving without adding warmth. The lightweight knit vest gave me texture and another hint of fall while still being perfectly wearable in August.
Once I had those two pieces, the rest of my suitcase came together pretty quickly.
And as it turned out, the Midwest gave me three very different days to test the idea.
Day One: Cider Flights and a Cool Breeze
One of our adventures took us across the river to Maiden Rock Cidery, Winery & Orchard in Wisconsin.
We enjoyed flights of hard cider, and the day was breezy and just cool enough that my outfit ended up being exactly what I needed.
The chocolate denim made the outfit feel like I was moving toward fall, while the sleeveless cream tank kept it appropriate for August. I brought along the lightweight taupe sweater, which added another soft neutral to the outfit and was there when the breeze picked up.
This is probably my favorite kind of transition outfit because nothing about it screams FALL.
It's just a change in mood.
Brown instead of lighter denim. Cream instead of a bright summer color. A lightweight sweater within reach instead of a heavy layer you have to wear all day.
The wardrobe lesson:
Change your colors before you change the weight of your clothes.
You can start wearing chocolate, camel, cream, taupe, navy and merlot long before you're ready for wool sweaters and boots.
And that sweater tossed over your shoulders?
It looks cute when you don't need it and actually does its job when you do.
Midwest practicality disguised as fashion. I'll take it.
Day Two: Stockholm, Shopping and Ice Cream
Day two was the warmest day of our trip, so this was definitely not a jeans-and-sweater day.
We tootled around the shops in Stockholm, Wisconsin, and, of course, made a stop at Nelson Creamery for ice cream.
It's always a fun place for us to visit because some of Scott's family history is tied to the area. One of the things I love about little trips like this is that they're rarely just about where we're going. There's usually a story attached somewhere.
And there should probably be ice cream attached, too.
This was where my second keystone piece did all the work.
I paired the knit vest with medium-wash denim shorts, a brown belt, sandals and my handbag.
It was cool enough for a hot August day, but the texture and warm color of the vest gave the outfit that little hint of fall I was looking for.
This is also a great example of why you don't have to put your shorts away just because you're ready for fall fashion.
The wardrobe lesson:
Mix the seasons instead of switching them.
Keep the denim shorts.
Change the top. Add a richer color, a little texture, a leather belt or a different handbag.
You're still dressing for the weather you're actually living in—you've just moved the outfit forward.
Day Three: A Visit That Meant More Than We Expected
On day three, we ventured down to Wabasha, Minnesota, to visit the National Eagle Center.
And let me tell you, the air conditioning made sure I was very happy to have a layer available!
But this stop ended up being about much more than escaping the heat.
Years ago, Scott and I led a Cub Scout pack that participated in the original founders' donation project for the National Eagle Center. Our family also donated.
As part of that project, wooden tiles were created with the names of donors.
We had never actually seen ours in place.
Until this trip.
There they were—our family name and the Cub Scout pack Scott and we led.
This was the first time we'd seen the tiles in place, and it was pretty special.
Leading that pack and being part of the original project is something we're still very proud of. Finding those names all these years later brought back a lot of memories and turned an already fun stop into one of the highlights of our weekend.
It wasn't something we planned our anniversary trip around.
It was one of those little moments you stumble into that ends up being part of what you remember most.
And oddly enough, I think there's a wardrobe lesson hiding in there too.
The wardrobe lesson:
Your clothes need to work for your actual life.
Cider flights. Shopping. Ice cream. Family history. A very enthusiastically air-conditioned Eagle Center.
We need clothes that can come along for all of it.
What This Weekend Reminded Me About Getting Dressed
I spend a lot of time at Her Happy Place helping women put outfits together, and it's easy to start thinking we need more clothes to have more options.
Usually, we don't.
We need more connection between the clothes we already have.
That's where keystone pieces become so useful.
The brown denim didn't need to be worn every day.
The knit vest didn't need to be worn every day.
They simply gave me a starting point.
Everything else I packed could relate back to them through color, texture or accessories.
That meant fewer random pieces in my suitcase and fewer decisions when it was time to get dressed.
And honestly, fewer decisions while you're on vacation is always a win.
5 Easy Summer-to-Fall Outfit Formulas
You can use the same idea at home without buying an entirely new fall wardrobe.
1. Colored denim + sleeveless top + optional lightweight sweater
Chocolate denim instantly feels like fall. Keep everything else light enough for the weather.
2. Denim shorts + textured knit vest + leather accessories
You're still completely dressed for summer, but the color and texture start shifting the outfit toward fall.
3. Blue denim + lightweight blouse + gold jewelry
One of the easiest combinations you'll wear now and continue wearing well into fall.
4. Summer dress + richer accessories
Keep wearing the dress. Change the belt, jewelry, handbag or shoes. Add a denim jacket when the temperature finally drops.
5. Wide-leg pants + tank + lightweight layer
Wear the layer over your shoulders or carry it now. Actually put it on later.
That's summer-to-fall transition dressing in the Midwest.
Don't dress for October. Just start borrowing from it.
How to Find Your Own Keystone Pieces
When you're looking at something new for late summer or early fall, ask yourself two questions:
Can I wear this with at least three things I already own?
And:
Can I wear it now and imagine another way I'll wear it later?
If the answer to both is yes, you've probably found a pretty hardworking addition to your wardrobe.
Great-fitting denim, lightweight knits, vests, button-down shirts, neutral pants, versatile blouses and accessories can all become keystone pieces.
They don't necessarily have to be the most exciting pieces in your closet.
A great keystone piece makes the other things in your closet easier to wear.
It's Okay to Be Done With Summer Clothes Before Summer Is Done
Maybe that's really the point of all of this.
If you're opening your closet in August and thinking, I am so tired of these clothes, you probably don't need to pack summer away or buy an entirely new wardrobe.
You may just need something fresh.
Bring in a richer color. Try new denim. Add texture. Change your accessories. Find one piece that makes three things you already own feel different.
My anniversary suitcase started with a pair of chocolate brown denim and a lightweight knit vest.
They took me across Minnesota and Wisconsin for cider flights, little-town shopping, ice cream, family stories, the National Eagle Center and one very meaningful discovery on a wall in Wabasha.
Not bad for two keystone pieces.
And I'm going to keep wearing both of them long after August is over.
Bring Us Something From Your Closet
Here's my challenge for you:
Bring us something you already own.
Bring the summer top you're getting tired of. Bring the pants you never know what to put with. Or snap a photo of something hanging in your closet and bring your phone.
We'll help you find one or two pieces that can make it feel fresh now—and carry it into fall.
At Her Happy Place in downtown St. Peter, Minnesota, that's what we love doing: helping women create outfits that work for their real bodies, real lives and real wardrobes.
Because your clothes shouldn't just look good hanging in the closet.
They should be ready to go have a life with you.
