Women’s Dresses That Will Take You from Summer to Fall

Kids are going back to school, the humidity is dropping and Halloween candy is probably out in your local grocery store. What does this mean? Fall is arriving and it’s coming quick! There are many, many fun things to do during the fall months (pumpkin picking, football games, leaf peeping, and more), but, if you’re not quite ready to say goodbye to your go-to summer outfits, you’re in luck. You probably have many dresses in your summer wardrobe that are great transition pieces for the fall season. Here are the best women’s dresses to take you from summer to fall.

A Shirt Dress

Shirt dresses are a favorite for many women. Shirt dresses often come in a not-too-heavy but not-too-light fabric that is perfect for the in-between time of summer to fall, and they’re versatile enough to dress up with a hip-length women’s cardigan sweater and a pair of leather boots (talk about a perfect fall outfit!), yet exciting enough to wear on their own with whatever shoes you choose to wear.

You can wear your short-sleeved shirt dresses on those warmer fall days and go for a long-sleeved shirt dress on a chilly fall day. Either way, shirt dresses lend themselves to many options for your summer-to-fall wardrobe.

A Maxi Dress

Maxi dresses are many people’s go-to transitional outfits for fall. Why? Their length keeps legs warm, and they’re easy to wear with any one of the fall jackets that are just waiting for the season to begin. And recently, maxi dresses' reputation for being a perfect fall item has been noticed by magazines like Cosmopolitan, which stated maxi dresses “bring the drama, flair, ease, and extra oomph into dressing for cooler weather. Fall maxi dresses are the perf transitioning piece and a one-and-done outfit! Dressing up doesn’t get easier than that.”

When planning out your fall wardrobe, think about which of your maxi dresses for women are best for fall. It may not make sense to wear a gauzy, tropical-print maxi dress, but that black maxi dress or simple striped one would be perfect for any fall activity—from sipping a pumpkin beer on your back deck to attending an apple-picking adventure with your friends. If you feel yourself getting a little chilly, simply layer a denim jacket over your maxi dress for an instant-fall outfit.

A Fit and Flare Dress

Those sleeveless fit and flare dresses may seem like a summer-only outfit, but they’re actually just as versatile as your favorite summer maxi dress. You can slip on a pair of nude tights, a pair of slip-on mules and a cotton sweater for a fall outfit that you can wear to parent-teacher night or an after-work happy hour with your partner. If you want something a little more bundled up, wear your fit-and-flare dress with a pair of knee-high leather boots and a long, chunky-knit cardigan. No matter which outfit you pick, though, you’ll be all set to keep that fit and flare dress in your outfit rotation whether it’s August or October.

A Classic Black Dress

Whether knee-length, midi-length, or maxi-dress-length, your classic black dresses are great all-year-round, including in the fall months. As the weather drops, you can wear your black dress with tights to keep your legs warm and to add something distinctly fall to your outfit. (Black tights make for a great monochrome look, while autumnal-colored tights in burgundy or rust are fun for a day out with the girls.)

You can round out your fall outfit with a black leather (or pleather) jacket—which is perfect for the cold evenings of fall—or a bright-colored cotton cardigan for a burst of color on a cloudy (and not too cold) fall day.

Overall, Wear Your Summer Dresses With Fall Accessories To Make Them Perfect for the Season

In early fall, most of your summer dresses will continue to be a great option for whatever activity you have going on. All you need are some simple fall accessories — blanket scarves in autumnal colors like burgundy and mustard, a good barn coat or a denim jacket — to transition the items from summer to fall. Just remember to choose your summer dress colors wisely—you won’t want to wear a lemon-printed dress with a pair of leather boots and barn coat. Muted colors and classic patterns like stripes and polka dots work best for the summer to fall transition.