Summer Attire Can Be Transformed For Fall, Fashion Experts Say

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Summer is over, but there is no need to put away your favorite summer clothes.

Light colors are popular this fall, which means your summer gear is in style longer this year, as CBS2's Elise Finch reported.

In this first week of fall, people have been breaking out their boots, sweaters and scarves. But they can transform their summer pieces into new autumn outfits.

"I wear a lot of my vintage cutoff jeans or shorts, and I like to pair them with a sweater or scarf," said Paige Quinlivan of Chelsea.

"Underlaying it, so you put a really tight liner underneath the dress and I think that works really great," said Sara Gay of Midtown.

When it comes to fashion rules, most of them no longer apply, according to stylist Sarah Gardner.

Gardner said wearing white after Labor Day used to be frowned upon, but now it is encouraged.

"Oh wow is it ever, and when you pair it up with a black leather bomber or black leather jacket, does it rock!" said Gardner, president of Fashion Update.

And it turns out that light colors like pink aren't just for summer. This year, such colors are considered fall favorites.

"The best thing to do actually is to layer," said Roxy Hauldren, owner of Shop with Rox NYC. "You want to take those favorite summer pieces maybe add a tight, a leather jacket, a boot a hat kind of mix the fall staples with your summer staples."

CBS2 caught up with Hauldren at the Amy Matto Studios in the Garment District, where she showed off how cherished summer items become fall favorites.

"Make sure it's a darker layer," Hauldren said. "You don't want to walk out in a white blazer or white sweater. You have to mix and match -- dark and heavy with light and flirty."

Stylists say accessories like hats and handbags can also help transform summer outfits – as long as they are in fall colors such as black, brown, camel, and gray.

Stylists said the most versatile and fashion-forward item you can buy to make a summer outfit into a fall one is a leather jacket. The cheapest one is a scarf.