By Mackenzie Branstad 

As students strut the University of Arkansas campus this fall, they are dressed in various clothes dictated by the constantly changing weather. The chilly 60 degree mornings and sweltering 80 degree evenings make dressing for an entire day difficult for active students.  

Looking in most closets, there are two sections. The section of the closet for summer is filled with shorts, skirts, T-shirts and tank tops. Looking to the other side for fall and winter, there are jackets, coats, pants, sweatshirts and jeans, but what do students wear for the season in between? 

Malia Ande, U of A student and fashion designer, said, “Once the temperature hits 65-70 degrees, I am putting on a sweater or a jacket.”

Clothing is now worn 36% fewer times than 15 years ago. Social media trends come and go so quickly it can be hard to keep up. Just because the seasons and trends are constantly changing doesn’t mean your entire closet has to change with it. It is about what is in your closet and not what is on your for-you page.

Olivia Council, another U of A student said, “I think social media has played a role in expediting fashion trends to unachievable speeds.”

The question is how to put the two separate sides of the closet together for the weather’s varying days. The main way to survive these types of days is by layering. According to Vogue Magazine, the best way to layer is by building your outfit around one key piece. A sweater over the shoulder or over head is a perfect key piece to start your outfit. 

The sweater over the shoulder trend can be a perfect outfit for changing weather. Wearing a T-shirt or tank top and a pair of blue jeans with an over-the-shoulder sweater is a flawless outfit for class. During the chilly mornings, the sweater is a perfect addition that can easily be taken on and off as weather permits. 

Ally Denby, an Apparel Merchandising and Product Development, said that her favorite fall staple is a light sweater.  

“In the mornings I start to get a bit chillier so I will bring a jacket with me but once it hits 70 degrees I feel like I don’t need it anymore,” Denby said. 

Another easy way to transition a closet from summer to fall is by adding a pop of red. Red is one of those colors that so effortlessly elevates an outfit and makes it feel like fall. Arkansas students aren’t afraid to include the color red, especially on game days. The addition of a red accessory can give the outfit that fall aesthetic without trying. No need to put away summer outfits; add a little red cardigan, handbag or headband and watch as summer fades to fall. A linen white skirt would be styled perfectly with a red top or cardigan for fall. 

“I love wearing red, I think it is such a nice color that can add such a nice pop to any outfit,” Council said. 

Fashion forecasters are predicting to see chic white tops this fall, carefully styled with a trendy scarf. A scarf is an accessory that has been taking the U of A campus by storm. Scarves are being tied to purses for class, in ponytails in hair and around waists as a belt. A scarf can serve as a perfect addition to any fall wardrobe. Adding a fall colored scarf to an outfit is an ideal transition accessory that allows you to feel the fall aesthetic while enjoying the southern heat. 

“This fall I expect to see a lot of the color brown,” Ande predicted. 

Maybe all the ideal outfits for fall are already in your closet. The key to the best fall wardrobe is not about buying all new clothes, but it’s about learning how to style what is already there. So, add that brown scarf to your bag and wear that sweater over your shoulders. Your favorite summer top doesn’t need to go in the back of the closet; it just needs a seasonal rebrand.