Autumn is here, and you’ve just realized that after adding up the costs of textbooks for the fall, football season passes and your plane ride home for Thanksgiving, your fall wardrobe budget is extremely low this year. Whether your dream internship was unpaid or you spent all of your summer lifeguard money on Jay Z/Justin Timberlake concert tickets, it’s the end of the summer, and back-to-school shopping is just not happening.

Don’t worry ladies; as long as you have some basic fall staples in your wardrobe, you won’t have to look very far for the cutest fall outfits, because they’re already in your closet! Keep reading to see what Campus Circle recommends to transition your wardrobe from summer to fall on a budget.

Getting the Fall Essentials
Before you start planning your outfits for fall, you should make sure you have the essential fall basics to mix and match into your summer wardrobe.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, layering is key when it comes to styling a fall look. However, it is important that when layering, you don’t go overboard. Too much layering creates bulkiness, and the last thing you want is to end up looking like little Ralphie from A Christmas Story.

Integrating darker colors into your wardrobe is also crucial. Too many bright colors will blind people in the fall weather. Make sure that you have some browns, crimsons and blacks in your closet before you start dressing for the fall. The leaves are getting darker, and so should your color scheme.

Unfortunately, the end of summer means that you have to leave your flip-flops at the beach. However, as the saying goes, when one door closes, another one opens. Putting away your summer sandals might be tough, but it also means that you get to take out your cute ankle booties, which almost makes up for the fact that you’re not at the beach right now. Stock up on the best fall footwear, including flats, oxfords and boots, to kick your outfits into high gear.

Now that the basics are covered, it’s time to add in the summer elements to the fall wardrobe. Here is a guideline on how to style certain pieces for a variety of trends. If you follow this guide, no matter what your style is, you will be able to rock your summer favorites all the way through fall.

Summer-to-Fall Clothing Guideline
Universal Cutoffs: Cutoff jeans are the nucleus of a summer wardrobe; everybody owns a pair. Nothing screams “fun in the sun” quite like a pair of daisy dukes does. So how on earth do you take these to fall? Turns out, it’s not as hard as you thought. Put on your denim shorts over tights or leggings, and pair with black boots, a structured jacket and a lightweight scarf. Who wears short shorts in the fall? You do, that’s who.

Preppy Skirts: Let Blair Waldorf be your guide to taking skirts from summer to fall. Add knee high socks or tights and flats or riding boots to keep your legs warm, and a fitted blazer on top to balance out your look and make you perfectly preppy for the fall season.

Bohemian Maxi Dresses: These dresses are too cute to not wear year round, but you have to be careful to not look too summery in a maxi. Add a trendy sweater or a belted cardigan to keep you warm on top, but look for darker solid colors to neutralize a colorful dress print. You’ll have that chic beach vibe long after vacation is over.

Rocker-Fitted Tee and Jeans: The all-American look doesn’t have to be abandoned after the 4th of July. Wear a plaid button up over your tee, and switch out your sandals for lace-up combat boots to catapult this look straight into fall.

Super Girly White Sundresses: When the leaves start to change, there’s no need to put your sundresses in storage. Trade in your sandals for flats or boots, and add leggings or tights plus a scarf when the weather gets chillier. For sleeveless dresses, try on a structured jacket and a belted cardigan to complete your look.

Quirky Shorts: For the girls who follow their own fashion rules, you’ll be happy to know that you can still wear shorts this fall. Throw on a chunky knitted sweater on top, and rock long socks and boots on your feet to stay warm. Also add a fun accessory such as a beanie for spunk.

These tips will help give you the smoothest and most stylish transition into fall weather, and you are sure to be the best-dressed girl on campus this season. Happy fall!