Heading back to the classroom can be bittersweet. While the excitement of reuniting with friends and embarking on a fresh start is surely something to embrace, the end of free-spirited summer days can also signify the pressure that comes with the school week. As that first day creeps up, so do thoughts of buying books, gathering supplies … and figuring out what to wear.
To help take some of the edge off, we worked with South Florida stylist Nat Rosenfeld, who’s here to share her expert tips for building a capsule wardrobe and styling trendy – dare we say, “grade A” – back-to-school looks.
Nat’s childhood obsession with magazines and fashion blossomed into a now 13-year career in luxury fashion. She describes her style personality as laid back, classic and chic – and believes in “using everyday basics to elevate your wardrobe.” This is a class you’ll want to sit in on – so take notes:
Tips for Building A Capsule Wardrobe
Capsule wardrobes are all about finding a selection of pieces that can be interchanged to create a plethora of distinct looks. Building a wardrobe like this maximizes your closet potential to ensure that you almost never have outfits on repeat.
When building this kind of wardrobe, Nat’s advice is to start with the classics and play with accessories. The capsule wardrobe that she created can be seen on display in the videos above and below. Her inspiration for this dynamic set of pieces were social media trends and French summer style. Since this is a back-to-school wardrobe, Nat wanted to also focus on showing how athleisure can be dressed up for a more elevated look.
As Nat mentioned, it is important to build a capsule wardrobe’s foundation with classic
staple pieces. Here are her six must-haves to get started:
For those struggling to style themselves, Nat advises to focus on how the piece fits, choose classics over trends, and get playful when accessorizing.
“Style is a personal focus on you… find what you are confident in and what fits you,” she says.
Gearing Up for Back-to-School
A new school year often brings uncharted territory and new beginnings. However, when it comes to fashion trends, you can expect to see much of the same. Nat expects to see slip dresses, futuristic-style sunglasses and platform shoes continue to trend. The TikTok-born “Coastal Grandmother” trend will continue to be strong, as well (read more about the trend here.)
Additional pieces you can expect to see include bike shorts, oversized crewnecks, and baggy, 90s style pants.
The return to class also marks the arrival of a new season. Fall is associated with cooler temperatures, cozy shades and pumpkin-flavored drinks – but let’s be real: in South Florida, pumpkin flavors are the only seasonal change to expect. Although it may not feel too much like fall in Florida, you can still enjoy dressing for the season.
“It can be daunting to dress seasonally in Miami, but I like to focus more on accessories to help ease the transition into fall,” says Nat.
To ease into autumn, she suggests pairing a summer dress with a pair of western booties, which are said to be making a comeback, rather than a pair of wedges. Nat goes on to recommend 90s style denim – “it will be huge this fall” – and pairing it with a leather bustier top and blazer instead of a linen or tank top.
Before heading back to the classroom, bring the following lessons with you:
It’s never too early to start working towards that “Best Dressed” superlative – so come on over
and shop elevated back-to-campus looks at Aventura Mall.
For information on our retailers, visit AventuraMall.com/Shops or call 305-935-1110.
