Best Foot Forward (… Literally, these booties are the best.)

Do you ever get too excited to start that seasonal wardrobe shift? Around, say, mid- to late-August?

… And then, like, all of a sudden you’re out the door for no more than 10 seconds, sweating your ass off and simultaneously wishing you’d worn a tank top or something. Right?

Same.

It’s hard to believe that we leap into September at the end of this week. I’m still not ready to put on pants or anything crazy like that, though, so my wardrobe has been very slowly creeping into cooler territories.

Emphasis on slowly.

Late August — that awkward in-between season — is a tricky time of year to get dressed.

There’s an easy way to make the seasonal shift that’s comfortable, practical and stylish, though: Start from the ground up.

… I mean that literally: Your shoes!

One of the easiest ways to start movin’ your wardrobe up and onward is via footwear — or more specifically in my case, the versatile Lucky Brand booties I’m wearing today. They’re insanely comfortable and the bow-back details are a nice little feminine touch.

I don’t have a car in Chicago — I haven’t had a car in years, actually — so wearable footwear has always been a priority. It’s not super easy to find fashionable kicks that are also functional, and wedge booties are a perfect meet-in-the-middle of sorts.

(I actually brought these lace-up-the-front flats to change into after I was done shooting with my photographer/before I had to run around town a bit, but I didn’t end up changing. Win!)

Since you can still get away with your pretty dresses and skirts, so pick up a skin-matching pair of boots to lengthen and show off your tanned legs a little longer this season… You’ll be able to wear them for many months to come. Promise!

(And while we’re at it: Zappos has the most fashion-forward of Lucky Brand’s fall collection available on the site; and with their no-hassle returns and free shipping policies, it’s kind of a no-brainer. Does anyone actually remember the last time they stepped foot in a mall?)

*In this post:

Clothing

Sweater: Topshop Mixed Stripe Layer Top (it’s one piece!)
Leather skirt: Anyi Zarre (faux leather style here for less)
Leopard clutch: Clare V fold-over clutch (love this leather version, too)
Wedge boots: Lucky Brand ‘Yamina’ c/o Zappos
Lace-up flats: Lucky Brand ‘Aviee’ c/o Zappos
Rings: Katie Dean jewelry (I love her stuff!)

Click to shop:

Beauty

Foundation: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue in ‘Desert’
Lip color: NARS satin lip pencil in ‘Rikugien‘
Nail polish: Shellac ‘Cream Puff’ (the best white!)
Mascara: bareMinerals

Click to shop:

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Iron & Honey Photography

Thanks to Zappos for partnering on this post.