I can't believe that the last time I did an installment of the Jane's Closet outfit series was in February! These photos have actually been sitting in a folder for over a year so it seemed like time to talk about them. Plus, this is a great example of an summer to fall transitional outfit.

This mix is perfect for September, when the weather is still warm even if we all think that it is already time for the leaves to change, When you pull out a layering piece, such as a cardigan or blazer, try pairing it with a bright shell as a nod to the balmy weather. The first pieces you should swap when moving to your fall wardrobe are your accessories. For example, use a leather bag instead of a brightly colored fabric one and add your suede shoes into the rotation. These changes will give your look a seasonal lift without the heavy fabrics.

It's been awhile since I've done a Jane's Closet post! These photos have been in a folder for several months, but I think this skirt is a great piece for the transition into spring. Although the fabric is a light cotton, the color palette is season-less. While the weather is still a bit chilly, this skirt could easily be paired with black tights.

With such a bold pattern, I wanted to play up the contrasting colors so I kept the theme of black, red, and white throughout the outfits. However, that is not the only way to style the skirt. For a pop of color that is not in the pattern, try coral.

A pleated, a-line skirt like this has a lot of width on the lower half of the body. It is important to define the smallness of the waist when there is lots of fabric on the bottom. This can be achieved with either a belt (as shown in the outfits on the right) or with the ribbon detail on the blazer (as shown on the left). Don't be afraid to have some fun with your belt. The belt shown in the upper-right photo is a black and white animal print. Although the patterns are quite different, the color palette unites the two pieces.

Having a patterned skirt like this one is a great addition to any wardrobe. It can be paired with more traditional pieces for an office look or worn with a white tee and riding boots for a more casual outfit. 

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.

The great thing about this pattern is that it is subtle and classic. Dots are pretty much always in style and the neutral color palette makes it easy to mix and match with. Although these were marketed as a summer pant, they are ivory as opposed to a bright white which helps them to transition between seasons much more easily since winter white is always a hot color during the colder months. An ankle pant also is appropriate most of the year because the length is often interpreted as a style choice, rather than a seasonal choice. With a simple change of footwear you can rock an ankle pant from early March through Thanksgiving.

Of course, some of your pieces will work better in some seasons than others, so don't be afraid to embrace your current weather. On the left, the watercolor print silk shell and grey ruffle front cardigan give the ankle pants an unmistakable spring feel. Although all of those items can be worn year round, the combination of light colors, soft edges and minimal accessorizing is very evocative of a fresh April day. Pair this with a metallic ballet flat or a nudish-pink peeptoe heel to finish off your ensemble

On the right I played up the bright bold colors of summer with coral and added a twist (literally!) by knotting the ends of the camp shirt to mimic one of this season's big trends. Although there are plenty of button-down shirts for sale this season that are specifically designed to be knotted, it is more practical to simply unbutton the bottom two buttons and double knot the extra fabric. This allows you to continue to get use out of your camp shirts once the weather forces this summertime trend to the back of the closet. Slip into a pair of comfortable sandals and you'll be set to spend an afternoon on an outdoor patio with a glass of wine in hand.

A light colored ankle pant is a great transition piece for those September days when you are not quite sure if fall has arrived yet.