It seems that this year the fall season quickly snuck up on us, giving just a small grace period to adjust to the colder and rainier weather. 

Fall is a season where you can get creative with what you wear by combining your summer and winter wardrobes, but with the weather this year changing so quickly, the opportunity to get the final wear out of your summer clothes has essentially disappeared.

With that being said, many people on campus have failed to realize this and are continuing to sport looks that are not only incompatible with the weather, but also incompatible with current trends.

Here are some of the items you should retire from your fall wardrobe, and some quick suggestions of what you can replace them with:

1. Open-Toe Shoes

The first item that should remain in your closet from here until spring are open-toed shoes. 

Don’t get me wrong, the weather was extremely warm at the beginning of fall, but in the past few weeks we have seen lots of scattered showers and cold fronts. 

Sandals and other open-toed shoes are not only unconventional for the weather we’re having, they absolutely should not be paired with your flannel shirt and skinny jean outfits. 

These items do not work together as an ensemble because the combination of the heavier fabrics of fall clothing with warm weather shoes creates a clash.

Quick Fix: Trade in your opened-toe shoes for a pair of combat boots, kitten heel boots or heeled booties. 

If you want to try something a bit more unique while continuing to wear things like open-toe heels, pair them with decorative or stocking socks. 

If you want to take your look a step further, you could even wear a stylish pair of backless clogs to keep a bit of summer in your look.

2. Denim Shorts

I felt retiring one’s shorts was a no-brainer once the cold weather started to roll in, but I’ve seen several people continuing to wear them despite the change in climate. 

This item is highly unconventional for cold weather and limits the choices you have for the rest of your outfit. 

Wearing shorts this late in the fall makes you susceptible to very strange looks from others wondering why you’re wearing shorts in such not permitting weather. 

Denim shorts, in my opinion, are strictly to be worn in warmer climate and wearing them outside of those conditions would be ridiculous. 

Retire the shorts for now. They’ll still be there when spring returns.

Quick Fix: If you want to show some leg, wear a skirt, but you do still run the risk of catching a cold. 

With that being said, wear heavier material skirts like wool, corduroy or tweed. 

You also can wear stockings under your skirt or, if you want to keep a bare leg, you can pair your skirt with knee or thigh high boots. 

If you’re going to wear a shorter skirt, I recommend layering your top with outerwear that is appropriate for the current weather such as a trench or pea coat, a puff jacket or maybe even a cardigan. 

3. Fur

While this article of clothing is conventional for fall as far as warmth, the production of fur has very problematic roots. 

Billions of animals are killed every year to produce fur for the fashion industry. 

I do understand that fur isn’t worn by everyone, but I have seen a few fur products making appearances this season. 

This suggestion is more along the lines of morals. I don’t think innocent animals should be killed for the sake of looking fashionable or cool, especially when other alternatives are offered. 

Quick Tip: Speaking of other alternatives, faux fur is a great choice because it gives you the real look of fur without compromising your morals and harming animals. 

September Vogue featured several faux fur looks, so not only would you be saving animals by sporting this alternative, you would be perfectly on trend. 

Another trendy alternative to fur would be opting to wear a teddy jacket.

Try to remember these tips are opinion-based and you should wear what makes you feel your most confident. 

The coolest thing by far to wear around campus this fall is a smile: it’s something you can wear everyday, it goes with every outfit, and it makes yourself and others feel good.

Editor’s note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of The Daily Egyptian, its staff or its associates. 

Staff reporter Tamar Mosby can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @mosbytamar.

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