fall fashion Archives - Darling Darleen

Best Sweater Trends

Best Sweater Trends this Season

Sweater Weather has arrived! This week we have hit the 20s, and it’s been so cold! Cozy warm sweaters have been all I’ve wanted to wear all week. I pulled out all my favorite sweaters from last year, and it’s like seeing an old friend. Chunky, cable knit and turtleneck sweaters are still a style trend favorite this year. One thing I like is that many stores carry sweaters that are reasonably priced and most of my favorite best sweater trends that I tagged are under $50. Besides the sweater dresses and long-waisted sweaters, a new trend this year are sweaters that hit at the waist. I always wear a fit t-shirt under those sweaters and that seems to do the trick. Another best sweater trend is fleece and bouclé sweaters, which are great from workout to street wear–a stylish way to stay warm while working out.

Here are the Best Sweater Trends of the Season:

Pumpkin Patch with Older Kids

Our Fall Family Tradition to the Pumpkin Patch

It’s a tradition! We have been keeping this fall family tradition alive since our babies were babies! Every autumn season, we head to the pumpkin patch for fall activities and pick that perfect pumpkin. Although some of my older children find it boring, I still think heading to the pumpkin patch with older kids can be festive and a fun-filled family activity. They might not be into the hay ride as they once were or feeding the goats, but you can still have happy memories while keeping the pumpkin patch family tradition alive.

1. Find a Corn Maze

Instead of petting zoo, we look for pumpkin patches that have a corn maze. My kids love getting lost in the corn maze and so do my husband and I. We also tell a scary but silly story before we head into the corn maze or we tell the kids to look out for certain markers in the corn maze. Corn mazes are a great activity when at the pumpkin patch with older kids

2. Find the Roundest Pumpkin

Older kids love a challenge. So we always give the challenge to our kids to try and find the roundest, perfectly shaped pumpkin. They love a good hunt and a good argument too!

3. Grab a Wagon

Grab a wagon or wheelbarrow, and make your older kids work while they are having fun at the pumpkin patch. We go around the pumpkin patch picking out our top favorite pumpkins and then at the end of our time at the patch, we put back the ones we don’t want. The kids always have a good time pulling the wagon.

4. Enjoy the Moment

Older kids can be so silly and not the photogenic children they once were. All I can hear from my kids are “no more pictures mom!”. Instead, take pictures of the moment. You know–the raw, non-perfect pictures. You’ll probably love them even more over time!

5. Enjoy the Homemade Goods

At most pumpkin patch fields, there are local homemade goods of either apple cider donuts or local raw honey or baked goods or homemade ice cream. Part of heading to the pumpkin patch is to enjoy these little small moments that are captured by all sense–one being taste! We love to pick up a box of hot apple cider donuts and a pint of apple cider juice. My kids love it and make the pumpkin patch a sweet family tradition!

Transitioning Summer Outfits to Fall

Wear your favorite Summer Outfits this Fall + $500 AMAZON GIVEAWAY!

All jewelry from Darleen Meier Jewelry

Don’t pack away your summer outfits quite yet! Transitioning summer outfits to fall outfits requires just adding a few simple accessories. The weather during the autumn months can be so unpredictable from cool morning to warm afternoons that you oftentimes find yourself wearing many of your summer outfits. There have been so many strong trends this summer like the button-down dress, wide-leg/high-waisted pants and leopard skirt to name just a few. I know that I don’t want to say good bye to them quite yet! Transitioning summer outfits to fall is so easy and really it’s just changing out a few of your accessories like shoes, throwing on a jacket, switching out your handbag. If you are looking for more fall outfit ideas, make sure to head over to my Fall Staple Pieces.

Wear your favorite Summer outfits all this Fall season. Share the best transitioning summer outfits to fall like this button-down dress. Fall outfit trend to wear || DarlingDarleen.com #falloutfits #falloutfittrend

Transitioning summer outfits to fall is easy when you have a casual linen dress. The button-down dress was a huge summer trend this past year. You may own a few of these easy-to-throw on dresses! They were so comfortable and looked perfect with sandals. Now just throw on a denim jacket and sneakers with the dress and wear it to a Saturday football game or a weekend adventure in the city.

Wear your favorite Summer outfits all this Fall season. Share the best transitioning summer outfits to fall like this button-down dress with a denim jacket. Fall outfit trend to wear || DarlingDarleen.com #falloutfits #falloutfittrend

Another favorite summer trend was the culotte pants, otherwise known as the high-waisted, wide-leg, loose-fitting pants. These are a stylish article to transition from summer to fall. Take the simple tucked in t-shirt and throw on a plaid blazer or a boyfriend blazer to dress up the pants. Switch your sandals for heels or loafers and you’ll be ready for a work day!

Wear your favorite Summer outfits all this Fall season. Share the best transitioning summer outfits to fall like this wide-leg, high-waisted pants or culotte pants. Fall outfit trend to wear || DarlingDarleen.com #falloutfits #falloutfittrend

Last but certainly not least, is a leopard skirt paired with a graphic t-shirt, which I probably wore this outfit way too much over the summer, and I plan to keep it alive this fall! Another easy everyday out that looks great with a cargo green jacket and sneakers. Don’t pack away your straw bags yet! Keep using them as an evening bag or day time clutch.

Wear your favorite Summer outfits all this Fall season. Share the best transitioning summer outfits to fall like this leopard skirt and graphic t-shirt. Fall outfit trend to wear || DarlingDarleen.com #falloutfits #falloutfittrend

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Transitioning the button-down dress from summer to fall and other favorite summer outfit trends that you can still wear in fall || DarlingDarleen.com #darlingdarleen #summertofall

Transitioning the wide-leg, high-waisted loose fitting pants or culotte pants from summer to fall! The perfect transitional stylish article of clothing to stay on trend this season. Fall outfits trend. || DarlingDarleen.com #darleenmeier #darlingdarleen #falloutfits

Transitioning the leopard skirt + graphic tee from summer to fall! The perfect transitional stylish article of clothing to stay on trend this season. Fall outfits trend with green cargo jacket || DarlingDarleen.com #darleenmeier #darlingdarleen #falloutfits

Best Knit Sweaters

Best Knit Sweaters + Fall in Hudson River Valley

One of the best things about Fall is pulling out those warm, chunky, like-a-bear sweaters! The air is getting crisper, and bundling up on cozy sweaters in the closet is the best way to go from fall to winter. I’ve got a stack of the best knit sweaters, but adding a few to the rotation just keeps the season’s assortment chic.

To fully enjoy the fall season and wear my best knit sweaters, we have been spending the in the Hudson River Valley , which is right outside Manhattan to the north and east of Connecticut. We love it because it runs right along the Hudson River, dotted with old quaint, charming towns, historical landmarks and beautiful foliage. The towns come a live during the season. Tourists are attracted to the area because it is the home of Sleepy Hollow and many Rockefeller and Carnegie mansions. When we visit for the area, we usually go for a hike then head to an attraction spot. I usually pack a different pair of shoes and of course one of my best knit sweaters. Here are a few other sweaters I’m obsessed with:

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How to Wear Leopard Print

How to Wear Leopard Print

Leopard Print is now considered a fall neutral, when it is done right! So how do you wear leopard print? Keeping the frisky print classy is the key and also wearing it with other neutrals like white or black. The bold animal print is the perfect pattern-mixer, but still keep it simple by not going head to toe in leopard print. The easiest way to feel feminine in leopard print is by wearing it in simple form like a button-up cardigan, pencil skirt, or booties. Pair it with denim or a chambray button-up shirt or a black sweater. You can start simple by adding it in your accessories like with a simple fold-over clutch or mules. It will add a pop to your outfit! Or go bold and rock a faux fur Leopard print coat and let the animal print take centerstage.

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Shop the Post of Leopard Clothing and Accessories:

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Blazers for Fall

Blazers for Fall

The blazer is back. Yesssss! Blazers for Fall season this year are huge, and they come in just about every style–corduroy, velvet, oversized, wool, menswear. A variety of colors for those styles are big in blazers for fall. I am excited because I love blazers and I have a collection of favorites that I’ve held onto. They will be making their appearance this fall and winter season. The blazer is the item to finish off an outfit that says fall-is-finally here. If you don’t have a blazer, they are truly a classic fall item, but just happens to be going strong this season. So you really can’t go wrong with snagging a blazer this fall season. I’d say pick up a corduroy and a tweed if you have to narrow the styles. Blazers are the perfect layering item for fall.

I picked up this blazer while playing tourist in New York City this past weekend. It was the perfect fall day, which began a little chilly then warmed up in the middle of the day and then toward the end of the day there was a breeze. This fitted blazer was easy to take off, carry then put back on for a classic tailored, put-together look. So add a little preppy perfection that is easy to throw on with jeans and a t-shirt. I wore this blazer with my favorite long dog tag necklace from my shop and these Quay sunglasses. I also wore these slipper flats that I’ve had for a long time and now the slipper style has come back! Here is a similar item.

Here are a few of my favorite Blazers for Fall:

You can see more of how I styled these blazers:

New England Fall Activities

New England Fall Activities

Well we have kissed our long summer days behind. It’s been a good one, and we will miss it dearly except for the moving part . Fall is right here, except for the random 80 degree weather we’ve been having. I am holding on to those warm days but Fall is the Northeast is one of my favorite seasons. Since we’ve moved back up we have been talking about all of our old favorite fall activities that we had enjoyed during the time we lived up here before. The color of the leaves look like a painting. The smell in the air is truly that yummy cinnamon smell. It’s so festive and beautiful! I am excited to share these Fall moments with my children. So, I had to put together a New England Fall Activities list to get them excited, and to help ease the pain of this move. Yes, they are still adjusting and missing their life in the South. They don’t remember life before Georgia, even though they were all born in Connecticut!

One of the patterns I love to wear in the fall is leopard! Leopard is surprising easy to pair with color and denim. And it a great way to bring fall into your daily outfit. Leopard print is still a strong pattern for fall, so if you don’t have any leopard introduce it into your wardrobe with accessories like shoes or hand bag or pants. I like to wear a little bit of leopard paired with something else. Don’t do a leopard over kill! Wear one leopard print then pair it with a solid.

I may be wearing my leopard when I hit up our New England Fall Activities List. I am excited to make new memories with them and remind them of all the activities they used to enjoy.

New England Fall Activities List

Apple picking up at Lyman Orchard Farm
Make homemade applesauce and apple pies with our picked apples
Visit the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (so much history in one spot and the cemetery is beautiful to explore in the fall)
Go see the Great Jack o’ Lantern Blaze
Learn to make apple cider doughnuts (or pick them up at the local farmer!)
Harvest pumpkins at Jones Family Farm (they are still on the vine and in the field)
Head to Vermont to see Fall Foliage and pick up fresh maple syrup from the maple tree farms
Go whale watching in Cape Cod–October is the best time to see the humpback whales
Go hiking in Mount Washington and take the Cog Railway down the mountain
Get lost in a corn maze
Take a class at Stone Barns Center

Here is our list of Fall Activities that we did last year. It was so much fun! I’m pretty sure we did most of the activities but not all. I always set the bar high but never quite am able to complete it all. What are some of your favorite fall activities?

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DMJ earrings

Ruffle Sleeves

Ruffle Sleeves

Give me all the ruffle sleeves this season! I am obsessed. Pair it with jeans or a pencil skirt.

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Here are a few of my favorites. And many of the ruffle sleeve tops are under $50! Ruffle Sleeves

Fall Favorite Trends

Fall Favorite Trends

I think this was the first weekend that I have worn anything Fall-ish. The temperature has been in the high 80s, but this weekend it finally dropped to the 60s this weekend, and I was excited to pull out boots and a jacket. We spent part of the weekend at Serenbe, which is located just outside Atlanta. I love when we get any chance to spend time in Serenbe. It’s such a charming urban living community, and the perfect place to snap pictures! We took the kids to see Serene Playhouse’s “The Sleepy Hollow Experience”, and it was a huge success. The kids loved it and weren’t
“too” scared. Prior to the play we explored the stable and walking trails and ate at one of Serenbe’s farm-to-table restaurants. Exploring the neighborhoods was so much fun. Many of the homes had all their Halloween decorations up, and the smell of Fall was definitely in the air. With Autumn finally here, I love to see that many of Fall favorite trends are similar to ones from last year and are on repeat. Here are a few of my Fall favorite trends that you will see in style this season.

Love these sunglasses that are a designer dupe from the ones below!

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Fall Favorite Trends:

Mixing of patterns and textures–make sure you don’t look like you mixed in the dark. Here are some general rules though–Keep the patterns in the same color family, mix prints in similar family, where neutral colors to make it an easy transition.
Wear buffalo plaid or plaid check–thought to originally be an outdoorsy pattern, plaid is becoming an effortless classic style that is more polished and sophisticated. I love mixing a plaid with a good stripe. Or plaid with leopard.
Leopard pattern– another great pattern, the leopard print is found this season in not only skirts and cardigan, but now loafers, heels, mules and even sneakers.
Denim–Not only found in jeans, but denim is taking center stage in jumpsuits and jackets. You can even find it with purses.
Silver Streak–more over gold, silver is here! I love that metallic is still strong but this season silver will have it debut!
Jewel tones— jewel tones return with plums, sapphire, yellows. If you mix two jewel tone colors, remember to stick with one main color and then add a secondary color in the shoes, jacket or purse. I’m happy to see jewel tones make a comeback this season.

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Mixing Patterns and Textures

Wear Buffalo Plaid or Plaid check

Leopard Pattern

Denim

Silver Streak

Jewel Tones

Embroidered Dress

Embroidered Dress

Last weekend’s date night outfit was a black embroidered dress. I fancied up for the night because it was my birthday weekend and my husband took me out to a fancy seafood restaurant. Yummy food and good conversations makes for a great evening. There was nothing too exciting this year, just grateful for a loving family and friends. My kids all made me the sweetest birthday cards. Those are the little things that I love and hold dear to my heart.

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Earrings: Tassel Necklace: Dog Tag Bag:

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Best Sweater Trends

Best Sweater Trends this Season

Pumpkin Patch with Older Kids

Our Fall Family Tradition to the Pumpkin Patch

1. Find a Corn Maze

2. Find the Roundest Pumpkin

3. Grab a Wagon

4. Enjoy the Moment

5. Enjoy the Homemade Goods

Transitioning Summer Outfits to Fall

Wear your favorite Summer Outfits this Fall + $500 AMAZON GIVEAWAY!

Best Knit Sweaters

How to Wear Leopard Print

Blazers for Fall

New England Fall Activities

SHOP THE POST

Ruffle Sleeves

Fall Favorite Trends

Embroidered Dress

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