Remember that although dark colors do feel seasonal, you are not limited black and grey. Blue, burgundy, and teal all add brightness to an outfit while still feeling appropriate for the cooler temperatures.

For the cooler weather of fall, cardigans really are the superstar of your closet. They are polished enough for work, easily dressed down with a pair of jeans and a tee, and a lifesaver when you are shivering in a cold restaurant in your cute little black dress. If you are not convinced and only want to try out one, my suggestion for maximum versatility would be the Banana Republic black and grey colorblock cardi.

I mostly wear my tweed jackets when I am trying to add polish to my denim for an elevated casual look, but they are also great layered over sheath dresses for work or mixed with your existing solid suiting options.

A tweed skirt is also a key cold weather piece, but it doesn't necessarily need to match your tweed jacket. I have an over abundance of tweed in my closet so although I do own a matching tweed skirt suit, it is rare that I wear it as such. Paired back to a crisp oxford and a solid blazer or cardigan, a tweed skirt is a great office wear piece, but I also like to wear it with dark tights, a cozy sweater, and riding boots for a weekend look.

If you do decide to wear a matching tweed skirt suit (or for the very brave, a tweed pant suit), try adding a lighter colored top underneath the blazer to visually lighten the weight of the fabric. To avoid creating a dated look, skip the pearls and heavy gold jewelry and instead choose colorful, light, and modern accessories.

To avoid boring work looks, take inspiration from menswear styling and pair colored oxfords under contrasting pullover sweaters. To add a feminine detail in place of a tie, layer a statement necklace under the collar but over the sweater. I love a chunky piece like the J. Crew necklace pictured because it doesn't get lost in the layers, but can also be worn as a wow factor with a dress for evening.

I love that the cut of the skirt gives it movement without feeling heavy (although this polka dot print is also available as a pencil skirt if you prefer a straighter fit) and the small size of the dots keep it work appropriate. If you have a closet full of dark clothes, this is a great piece to help break up the monotony. Pair with a black sweater, tights and riding boots for an outfit that kicks it up a notch without taking you out of your comfort zone. For a conservative office, tuck in a white oxford and layer on your favorite black blazer to create a classic three piece look.

What fall clothes are you excited to be able to wear once the weather cools down? Let me know in the comments! I hope that everyone has a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend!

Before you head out to the your favorite store (or start filling up your online shopping cart) take a close look at your own closet. Bring your fall pieces front and center in your closet, check for accent and layering pieces in the fall color trends, and if your fall palette is looking bland, then decide what colors would fit in most easily with your existing selection. Then when you hit the sales you will be prepared to make quick decisions about what pieces are must-haves for your fall wardrobe.

When you are wearing a skirt with volume on the bottom, it is important to pair it with a top that creates an hourglass silhouette. It may be tempting to leave your blouse untucked or pair back to a chunky sweater, but that will only add unwanted width. Even if your waist is not as small as you would like it to be, it is smaller than the bottom of the skirt so you need to accentuate that difference. My preferred method is by simply tucking in my blouse and adding a belt to draw the eye in. If you create a strong shoulder with a ruffle detail or even just add a scarf, you will help balance the volume on your bottom and make your waist look even smaller.

Of course we all know that is can be difficult to find nice blouses that actually have sleeves so it is often necessary to add an extra layer. Although you should still tuck in your bottom layer, the cardigan can be left out as long as the waist is still accented. Either add a belt on the outside of the cardigan or get the same effect by buttoning only one or two buttons right at the smallest part of your torso.

Don't wear skirts? If you are a fan of wide leg pants, these same rules apply to you!

Your closet is probably full of what I refer to as "secondary neutrals." Your primary neutrals are those basic colors that go with everything: black, grey, navy, brown, taupe, white and ivory. Secondary neutrals are colors that coordinate most of the time. Lots of dark blues and teals fit into this category because of their proximity on the color spectrum to both navy and teal, but warmer colors such as burgundy and plum also lend themselves quite nicely as neutral foundation pieces. The beauty of secondary neutrals is that they allow you layer color without being overwhelming.

When looking through your closet to identify the secondary neutrals, it is important to remember that, just like your primary neutrals, that any pattern or texture should be minimal since these items are meant as base pieces to be built upon. Although there are colors that are more versatile than others, your secondary neutral colors will be unique to you because they are determined by how well they work with the majority of your wardrobe. If your closet has lots of warm, bright patterns in it, then coral and red might be secondary neutrals for you to try. However, if you gravitate more towards heathered jewel tones, olive and teal greens might be a better fit.