The Best Rented Styles for a Hot Southern Fall
Time for Hot Girl Fall in Florida…It’s a Thing.
This AMUR dress from Rent the Runway is the perfect fall color, but light weight and breezy enough to ensure you don’t pass out in the patch in the southeast.
What to Wear When the Pumpkin Patches are Popping Up but So Are the Temps…
It’s basically Halloween so we should (or feel like we should) be snuggled up in sweaters and booties, but here in Florida, it’s still hotter than asphalt at noon in the dead of summer. Don’t try to convince me I should wear turtlenecks, boots, and scarves. I don’t want to die of a heat stroke. Our fake fall will roll around late in the year, but for now, it’s time to own up to the fact that fall fashion isn’t our forte in Florida.
We have to be more creative. We have to think outside the patch.
How to Nail Fall Style without the Sweat
Listen, I’d love to tell you it makes all the sense in the world to run your little booty out to a big-box retailer and stock up on trench coats, OTK boots, and all things velvet, but this is not the life we live. We live in the South where it’s hotter than h*ll and half of Georgia 80% of the year. Our style-savvy comes from our ability to transition summer styles right into our fake fall.
Below I’m highlighting some of my favorite recent rentals from Rent the Runway and Armoire Style and giving you my top tips for dressing in our awkward climate.
Fall Colors, Not Fall Fabrics
This time of year is tough. I wake up thinking about how to look like an autumnal dream but realize it’s too damn hot for a penguin to just be walking around. (Ok, not exactly the point, but any Adam Sandler reference works for me.) Summer styles are still acceptable, just start to work in deeper hues and quintessential fall colorways. Think yellow, burgundy, olives, pumpkins, navy, and brown. Two of my favorite recent rentals from Rent the Runway are both darker shades perfectly suitable for this time of year but in styles and fabrics that still work in the southern climate.
Cooler Weather Accessories, Not Cool Weather Layers
I love to layer, but layering when it is still 85 outside is tough no matter how you layer them. Enter fall-friendly accessories. Keep the same color principle in mind, but swap out your open-toe sandals for a fun bootie. Toss the straw bag back in the summer closet and tag in your suede bags. Exchange your brightly colored belt for a more neutral, warm shade.
Dress Up, Not Dress Down
Dresses. The ultimate lazy way to look put together! But in fall, it’s time to step it up. Even though it’s still warm grab a denim jacket, flannel top, or moto jacket to toss over your shoulders. Every now and again we get lucky and there is a slight breeze at night so we can pretend to actually be cold and not just carry these suckers for looks. This time of year is my favorite time to push the style boundary also. Toss on a t-shirt under a fun slip dress. Pair a crisp button-down under a sheath dress at work. It’s still layering, but not death wish layering…ya know?
Show Off Your Booty(ies)
Fall in Florida is a great time to bust out all your mini boots. I like to call them mini boots because I just do, but technically they are booties. Anything not knee-high or over the knee are still viable options to wear with shorts. dresses, trousers, leggings, and whatever other bottoms you use to cover your booty this time of year.
Bottom Line
Dress how you feel comfortable, but don’t dress basic for the sake of being on-trend for fall. Below I’m linking my favorite hot girl fall items from Rent the Runway. (In the south, every season is hot girl season, for the record.)
Shop the Hot Girl Fall Looks on Rent the Runway
The images below are linked for your renting pleasure. I encourage you to try the Unlimited subscription from Rent the Runway as it is absolutely the best way to get the most bang for your buck this time of year.
Happy Hot Girl Fall, Y’all!
**All photography in this post shot by Kat Bynum of Salty Kat Creative in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
XOXO,
Steph
