live life fully

by: Gabriela R. Proietti

As September rolls around and Italians begin wrapping up their summer holidays, the “chiuso per ferie” signs come down, shops reopen, and life slowly slips back into its comfortable rhythm as day-to-day life resumes. In Italy, il rientro (the return), is much more than coming home after a long summer vacation. It’s a soulful return to the rhythm of everyday life; a reset that rejuvenates body, mind, and mood. We fall back into beloved routines, embrace fresh beginnings, and step into autumn wrapped in the warm memories of summer.

If there’s one thing we can take away from Italian fashion, it’s that Italians dress for the seasons. 

While it may not technically be fall yet, and soaring summer temperatures willfully follow us long into September, Italians welcome subtle wardrobe swaps to match the energy and reality of “il rientro.” Brightly colored summer pieces begin to make way for fall-adjacent colors and playful textures, while incorporating a few staples that hint at the season ahead. It’s definitely not quite time for jackets or heavy-knit cardigans just yet, but there are subtle ways to embrace the upcoming season while not relying entirely on your summer wardrobe. 

Trade Your Sandals for Closed-Toe Staples

One of the easiest ways to make an outfit feel “ready for fall” is to say goodbye to open-toe sandals, flip-flops, and slides. Summer staples like lightweight fabrics and breathable pieces are very much welcome (more on those later), but a simple swap in shoes can instantly make an outfit feel and look more intentional for this time of year. 

Italians love a flat shoe, whether it be a suede loafer, a simple leather ballet flat, a patent Mary Jane, or, for something especially on brand, try a pair of friulane – a soft velvet slipper with origins in Friuli Venezia Giulia that trickled its way to Venice and beyond. Effortless to wear and built for daily life, they inject a pop of playfulness that keeps summer’s easy energy alive year-round.

The outfit swap:

Summer: White cotton t-shirt, white cotton trousers, and leather sandals

Rientro:  white cotton t-shirt, army-green cotton trousers, and cherry-red colored friulane

Keep the lightweight basics (for now) 

Our go-to lightweight basics don’t suddenly disappear once the calendar strikes September 1st. Cotton t-shirts, tank tops, poplin shirts, and lightweight dresses or trousers are still very much in rotation well into the il rientro period and deserve their coveted closet space. 

Incorporate these much-loved summer staples with pieces that feel a bit more fall. For example, a darker trouser, a structured skirt, or even a cotton button down in place of your summer linen ones. Draped over your shoulders or tied at the waist, a thin sweater adds instant dimension. As the temperatures drop, swap it for a lightweight jacket to carry you through cool evenings.

The outfit swap:

Summer: cotton poplin shirt, white cotton trousers, leather sandals

Rientro: cotton poplin shirt, eggplant cotton trousers, a thin cardigan around the shoulders, leather ballet flats

Layer in Autumnal Textures & Tones

Instead of reaching for heavier fabrics, play around with both colors and textures. The bright and lively pastel and vibrant colors that shine bright in summer and compliment a tan like no other don’t necessarily scream autumn. Lean into shades of olive, rich chocolate, camel, and navy. These tones make a powerful statement with minimal effort — even if it’s as simple as swapping your go-to white tank for a deep brown one.

The same goes for texture. Trade linen for crisp cotton poplin, a chiffon shirt for a light-weight ribbed knit, or your favorite raffia bag for one in leather or suede. A canvas sneaker can easily become a suede ballet flat, while a lightweight cotton skirt in a richer fabric or texture can instantly feel a little more seasonal even when the forecast still says 80 degrees. 

The outfit swap:

Summer: White tank, printed pastel pants, and a raffia shoulder bag 

Rientro: Chocolate brown tank, a structured cotton olive green pleated skirt, and a suede crossbody bag

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