Suede In the Direction of Autumn

For those of us who live in and around New York, this is a very important week for fashion. And no, I'm not talking about Fashion Week (which, let's face it, is less about wearable style and more about giving high-maintenance, obscenely wealthy people a place to walk around and stare at other high-maintenance, obscenely wealthy people). Rather, I'm talking about the magical five-to-seven-day span in which the weather is crisp and autumnal enough to bring out the suede and leather, but not so chilly that we can't walk around with our legs, toes, and forearms hanging out.

For me, this is the one time of year when I can get away with wearing one of my most favorite but least practical tops: a cowl-neck, lightweight cap-sleeve sweater in a sumptuous shade of mossy green. Something about the neckline and silhouette makes me think of 1960s secretaries, and oooooh, idea, next time I think I'll pair it with pumps and a pencil skirt. But since it's still warm enough during the day to wear a peep toe shoe, I also yanked my purple suede ankle boots out of the closet (man, did I miss these guys during the summer!) and put together this jewel-toned look.

This will probably be the last short-skirted hurrah for my legs before I put them away for the winter, or at least bring my hemlines down to knee-length. And since it'll start getting cold once the sun goes down—and since I don't have the cropped leather moto jacket that would have totally made this look‚I picked a burnt-orange jacket that offsets the cool palette of the outfit, but still creates some continuity since it's the same material as my shoes. Come at me, autumn. I'm ready for ya.

Head to toe: Jacket, Wet Seal; top and booties, Target; skirt, UO.

Have you brought out your suede for fall? Or are you still clinging to your warm-weather wardrobe?

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