Wearing Booties Before The Leaves Fall

Summer is long gone as far as retailers are concerned, but the forecast tells a different story. If you scooped up some new arrivals or have some favorite fall pieces from last year that are burning a whole in your closet, it's hard to wait on the changing season. One item you can start wearing sooner rather than later is a neutral pair of booties. Below are three ways to get some early wears out of this cool-weather staple.

Left: A swing, A-line, or fit and flare dress works great with an ankle boot and will take you right into fall when topped with a denim jacket. Middle: Grab the cutoffs you've been wearing all summer and top them with a fall-friendly floral blouse. Booties are a nice neutral foundation for the casual/dressy, distress/feminine combo up top. Right: Don't put away those white jeans after Labor Day! Booties and a detailed tank keep them in the rotation as soon as the dog days of summer have passed. Tips For Picking the Best Booties If you're in the market for a new pair of booties or the ones you own have just never quite felt right - here are some suggestions to help you land a pair you love. Shaft Height - Unless you're a leggy gal, I'd suggest keep the shaft height on ankle booties as low as possible. Generally the higher it goes above your ankle bone, the wider your calf will be where the top of the booties cuts your leg line, making legs look wider and shorter. Dips or cutouts on the sides that expose the ankle bone can also extend the leg line. Color - In particular, if you plan to wear booties with skirts, dresses or any bottoms that expose your leg, consider finding a pair that matches your skin tone as closely as possible. Just like a nude pump, selecting a pair of booties that matches your skin tone will create a longer leg line and eliminate a harsh line that stops at the ankle. It also provides a neutral foundation for any outfit. Affordable, Highly-Rated Options

Top L to R: Autumn Braided Cut Out Fashion Boots $35 (5 stars from 200+ reviews) // Dylan MicroSuede Perforation Zipper Bootie $35 // Indie Heeled Booties $35 Bottom L to R: dv Jameson Double Zip Booties $38 (4.5 stars from 400+ reviews) // Milliana Heeled Sling Back Cut Out Fashion Boots $33 // Nora V-Cut Ankle Booties $25 All of the options above offer a low-cut shaft or cut out details to elongate the leg line and are offered in a range of taupe, tan, cognac, and cocoa that will work well with most skin tones. If you're on the hunt for a pair now, I'd give any of these a try. Other retailers with booties at a higher price point will likely be discounting them way before the end of bootie-weather so keep an eye on sales and markdowns to get a great deal. Thrifted booties will also offer a bargain option. What is your favorite way to wear booties before sweater weather? #transitionalstyle #summerstyle #styling #howto #onepiecethreeways