The sartorial transition from summer to fall is always a hard one, and especially this year.  With color palettes shifting from neons and pastels to rich burgundys and regal purples, wardrobes will be doing a complete 180.

Thankfully, in Los Angeles we can ease into the new fall trends—and into school—by exchanging our summer sundresses for lightweight chiffon skirts, in autumnal colors of course!  American Apparel carries chiffon maxi-skirts in all the colors of the rainbow and more, perfect for the imminent transition.  Forever 21 and H&M are always good bets for those who are fashion-savvy on a budget.

The color of colors for this fall is any variation on burgundy—oxblood, merlot, and eggplant, to name a few. No matter what you choose to call it, wear it.  Whether it’s the main attraction in your ensemble or a touch here and there, this color is luxurious, classy, and edgy all in one.

Pair this color with cream or white for a classic, preppy look, or with navy or black for a more unconventional approach.

This fall is all about breaking the rules—the ones that won’t get you a citation.  Wearing white after Labor Day has never been more socially acceptable than it will be this September. Monochromatic looks as white as winter snow (or for us Angelenos, as white as the waves crashing at Zuma beach) were featured at several runway shows: Proenza Schouler, Alexander Wang, and The Row, to name a few.

And last but not least: patterns—lots of them.  This fall, mixing and matching is going to a whole new level.  Creating the perfect mix-and-match is much harder than it sounds, so if you’re just testing the waters, stick to the first guideline—start with patterns in the same color family.  Once you’ve mastered that, go crazy!

Now’s the time to begin transitioning your wardrobe from summer to fall, so shop away.  After all, back-to-school is the perfect excuse for a little retail therapy.