By Emily Kopec

When the cool, crisp air and fall fashion catalogs go to your head, step away from the mall, put your debit card down (does anyone even use credit cards anymore?) and evaluate what you already own to create your most interesting fall outfits ever.

Layer lightweight tops in creative ways. Keep your favorite summer tank tops in front-row rotation by wearing them underneath lightweight sweaters and long-sleeve knit tops. Tanks look especially hot when layered with off-the-shoulder tops and v-neck tops. They offer a peek of color and still give you that summer feeling. Likewise, tee shirts can be paired up with casual, open cardigans. On those warmer fall days, you just have to lose a layer and you’re dressed just right. For a fun preppy look, layer a summery sleeveless sweater over a crisp white shirt.

Gather up your scarves and hats. Whether your scarf is wool or sheer rayon, it adds an instant fall feel. It’s a no-brainer: scarves go with practically everything ~ even short-sleeved tops ~ and they make you look hella fashionable. Hat-wise, knit berets are tops for the bohemian look (try tipping it slightly to the side), while newsboy caps are a favorite vintage-gone-modern look. This fall will see hats in brighter hues, so don’t shy away from a little color atop your head.

Hello boots, did you miss me? We’ll toast to this: the time has finally arrived to break last winter’s boots from out of storage! Knee-high boots are a classic hot look that never fails. Wear them over skinnies or with a summer dress and prepare for heads to turn. Choose ankle boots for wide-leg jeans and pants, and ~ don’t forget ~ skirts. You can also wear ankle boots with shorts and tights. Which leads us to…

Leggings and tights. Yes, leggings are still going strong. Wear long tees and tunics with leggings and slouchy boots, and don’t forget to add a sweater. Tights not only go great with any dress or skirt, but they’re also perfect with shorts, both the jeans kind and otherwise. If you’re feeling brave, try out the opaque tight trend. Ankle boots polish off the shorts/tights look with polished pizzazz.

Come up with interesting color combinations. Anything you own that’s in a fall color like burnt orange, moss green, etc gets V.I.P. status in your closet. These hues look great against neutrals like black and gray, but don’t be afraid to experiment by mixing them with bright colors. Unexpected shades like orange with fuchsia and green with royal blue look amazing!