LE CATCH

For me, this long weekend is ushering in crazy hot temperatures (100+) and crazy good deals, like Topshop's below belted khakis on sale for $14 (no, that's not a typo!) and the $60 perfectly-cut, leg-legnthening jeans (below) I've been wearing non-stop, immediately below (I'm on the left ;). PLUS: the works-with-everything double-breasted blazer, the navy tie jacket, and the comfy camel trousers, all pictured below. Shop the mega sale here! P.S. I also want the cute oversized striped blouse, above! Happy Long Weekend!

Photos: Elysha Westcott and Topshop

While my clothes may be moving into fall, my feet remain firmly stuck in summer. Which is to say: I'm going to keep stepping out in sandals till... I can't. Europeans Tamu McPherson, above, and Monikh Dale, below, pull off this style feat--layered on top, bare below--in these recent Insta snaps. (P.S. Working from home also facilitates this comfy summer/fall combo.) It helps to have super duper sandals (Chanel, above, The Row, below), but these by Arizona Love, Vagabond, The Row and Charles and Keith (or these) will also do the trick perfectly! Particularly with spot-on fall updates like this (last pic), this, this and this! Just FYI: There was an 800-person three-month waiting list (with me on it) for Dune's Chanel knock-offs; If you live in the UK, they just restocked and you can find them here. We Americans will have to wait for this to come.

These pics make it abundantly clear what kind of jacket we'll need to transition seamlessly, stylishly from summer to fall: the shirt-like jacket, this season's go-to staple, designed to wear over anything from a t-shirt to a sweater to a dress, depending on the weather. When it gets chillier, all you do is layer it underneath a heavier coat. The beige faux leather Samsoe Samsoe, above, wins for its versatility and flattering fit. (It also comes in this rich, darker shade.). The wool version from And Other Stories, below, is also a terrific option, and I also adore this denim-forever investment by Chloe.

Back to school, back to Zoom! My new style syllabus concentrates heavily on tops, specifically utility shirts, see above, statement collar blouses (Mango, below), and knit vests (Acne Studios, last pic). I've done some preliminary research and already found excellent electives: these patch-pocket shirts from Alex Mill (similar to above), And Other Stories, and Tibi; these collared blouses by Sea and H&M; and these oversized knit vests from Uniqlo, Isabel Marant Etoile and H&M.

$59, h&m

This jacket will weave some style magic this fall.

1. Isabel Marant Etoile turtleneck sweater, $425, intermixonline.com
2. Toteme jeans, $280, netaporter.com
3. H&M woven jacket, $59, hm.com
4. Mark and Graham ripstop backpack, $49, markandgraham.com
5. Persee gold, pearl and diamond ring, $364, netaporter.com
6. Acne Studios boots, $540, shopbop.com

Keeping things simple is my current modus operandi--but, sometimes it can be harder than it looks! What makes things easier: NOT your average basics. London-based photographer Lizzy Hadfield, pictured here, is fluent in the finest fundamentals--she knows where to source the best t-shirts (Uniqlo), jeans (Levi's, Weekday), sneakers (Veja, above), and trousers (Reformation, Pixie Market, Cos)--and how to put them together, so she looks far from basic. For fall, she's updating her weekly rotation with brand new staples like these Everlane chinos, this green pinstripe Alex Mill shirt (last pic), these Vince wide-leg pants (below), these high-rise Levi's jeans (or these from Amo, without holes, which I prefer), this Weekday denim shirt jacket, these cropped H&M pants, and this made-for-layering And Other Stories tank top. Check out these pics for the comprehensive tutorial.

Photos: Lizzy Hadfield

$35, gap

This $35 tie-front top just might be the greatest steal of the season! Other stealthy scores from The Gap: these Carpenter Jeans, this denim shirt jacket, and this new-length jean skirt!

1. Gap blouse, $35, gap.com
2. Edwin jeans, $189, shopbop.com
3. Isabel Marant blazer, $1215, netaporter.com
4. Balenciaga canvas bucket bag, $875, netaporter.com
5. Jillian Dempsey Cheek Tint in Poppy, $28, goop.com
6. Tory Burch loafers, $328, shopbop.com

The last time I wore leather shorts was many moons ago (2012, to be exact), when they were all the rage. Although I felt like they were a little bit out of my style league, I was able to pull them off, toned down with elegant flats and a simple t-shirt. Now, I'm happy to report that I'm doing it again, despite Covid's slouchy-dressing dictates! I found the perfect pair in Topshop's butter-leather shorts. They're more like culottes with a knee-length hem, which makes them sophisticated yet laid-back, plus they're amazingly versatile: WFH-friendly as well as venture-proof. I teamed them with another Topshop score: a $95 do-it-all black double-breasted blazer (that will go over any dress, blouse, sweater, or even nothing!). If it sounds like I went on a Topshop bender, well, yes, I did: I also scooped up the chic duster coat (to wear over everything!), the super cute collared blouse, below, and the cozy reversible vest (ideal for transitional weather). Bring it all on, because I'm ready!

These last lazy days of August have me milking my most summery dresses, and from the look of things, I'm not the only one. Some of the standouts I've spotted recently: the Odile Jacobs print dress, immediately below (also last pic!), the striped La Ligne dress, and the Zara (second down). My dress, above, is a past-season Zimmermann (similar here and another iteration on sale here), and I also have these in the hopper from Topshop, Ulla Johnson and Rotate.