It's either this or South America

With fall fashions still wilting in the heat, it's time for Houston women toembrace leotards

Mandy Moore's cutaway black dress from Preen's Spring/Summer 2008 collection isappropriate year-round.
Photo by Charley Gallay/WireImage
Mac (Rob McElhenney) from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" keeps cool andlooks hot with cut-off sleeves.
Olivia Palermo in a tiered lace dress
Lady Gaga at the 2010 Grammy Awards: She doesn't wear pants and you don't haveto either.
Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images for NARAS
The 3.1 Phillip Lim Embroidered Hairpin Lace Skirt has a vintage vibe.
Although it's hard for Katy Perry to look bad in anything, her sheer dress atthe 2010 MTV VMA's was more like a figure skater costume than fashion-forward.
Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Although it’s nearly the end of October and full-fledged fall in cooler cities, our swamp stays steamy. Temperatures are in the high 80s this afternoon and it's expected to reach 91 Wednesday with plenty of humidity.

How should you dress when the sun won’t let up? Earlier this fall, I wrote an article about the fashion failures that a warm autumn brings. Topping the list were bra tops, neon and winter boots— an offense I deem “premature booting.”

CultureMap contributor Annina Stefanelli offered some more serious insights on dressing for Houston’s warm fall and winter after she attended Fashion Week. Some high points? Remember the basics and recycle your season-neutral classics from summer and spring.

Want more new ideas? Dress up. Trade shorts and sundresses for tailored trousers, elegant blouses and lace. (This isn’t Florida, after all.) Reach for darker colors, especially gray and navy.

Although it's too balmy to sport trendy over-the-knee boots or fur coats, three other trends prove especially fitting for Houston’s fall.

Lace - This season’s lace is more about the vintage, antique-y look rather than the all-over stretchy lace of previous years. Lace isn’t just a detail or trim on a piece of clothing, either.

Expect all-lace skirts and dresses. Besides, you can’t get more breathable than lace. If you want to winterize a frock, throw on a lace cardigan for the look of cooler weather without the insulation.

Sheer - Like lace, sheer fabric is ventilated. Katy Perry wore a sheer number to the MTV VMAs. But it's not all about clingy, see-through tops that resemble figure skater costumes. For a more conservative feel, pair a sheer blouse with a black or nude camisole or look for skirts and dresses with delicate, feminine draping.

Cutaway - Please don’t confuse cutaway clothes with ripped garments, which are on the way out (thank God). Cutaways made an appearance in 2008 and are still showing up on the runway. However, like sheer fabric, cutaway clothes sometimes require a camisole underneath, especially if worn during the daytime. An outfit can become revealing if too much is “cut away.” Try a long-sleeve blouse with just the sleeves partially cut-out or a dress with a cut-out neckline.

What else can you do if you’re stuck in fashion limbo? Here are alternative plans of action:

1. Become an avant-garde performer and wear only leotards. Leotards are breathable and come in a variety of fun colors. Think twice about wigs or complicated hats as headwear traps body heat. Hey, Lady Gaga hasn't worn pants in years and is considered cutting edge.

2. Move somewhere cold like Minnesota and you’ll never complain about the lack of opportunities to wear your wool turtleneck from Saks. Or better yet, move to South America and recycle last season’s finds since the countries on the other side of the equator are just beginning spring.

3. Cut off all the sleeves from your sweaters and long-sleeve shirts like Mac from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, who likes to show off his guns.

unspecified

SERENE STAYCATION

Slow down and recharge with wellness specials at these 7 Houston hotels

Courtesy of Thompson Houston

Houston hotels are celebrating National Wellness Month with spa escapes, sleep-focused suites, rooftop wellness events, and relaxing staycations.

It is time to trade the packed weekend itinerary for a plush hotel robe and slippers during National Wellness Month. Houston hotels are putting a wellness spin on their offerings with sleep-focused suites, spa escapes, rooftop sound baths, and even astrology-inspired happy hours. These local getaways will make self-care feel like a mini vacation without ever leaving the city.

Hotel Granduca
Spa enthusiasts enjoying a staycation immersed in Hotel Granduca's Italian charm can add a touch of France to their stay with a treatment at Biologique Recherche, the hotel's preferred spa partner. Customers will receive complimentary transportation to the River Oaks District spa and a 30-minute extension on their services, which can be booked at the hotel's front desk.

Hotel Saint Augustine
Steps away from the Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel, at Hotel Saint Augustine, Perseid is putting a cosmic spin on happy hour through August 24. During nightly Wishing Hours from 8-11:11 pm, the restaurant serves astrology-inspired cocktails inspired by the Perseids meteor shower, which peaks in mid-August and lights up the sky with 50 to 100 meteors an hour. Guests can also write down a hope, dream, or wish on a handmade card before calling it a night. It's equal parts cocktail hour and manifestation session.

InterContinental Houston
Need to hit the reset button? The newest Pure Wellness Rooms at this hotel near NRG Stadium and Texas Medical Center are a spa day disguised as a hotel stay. The rooms include medical-grade air purification that captures 99.9 percent of airborne particles, hypoallergenic luxury bedding, and a vitamin-infused shower. Hotel guests can also score extra perks, including late checkout, in-room yoga mats, sleep eye masks, and two freshly blended smoothies each day.

Marriott Marquis Houston
This downtown hotspot might be known for its Texas-shaped pool, but in August, it offers a host of mind-and-body experiences. Pure Spa, the hotel's onsite spa, is offering its newest treatment, red light therapy, designed to support relaxation, circulation, and skin vitality. Guests can also enjoy a one-hour guided sound bath, complete with an aroma journey and wellness tea at the hotel's rooftop infinity pool.

Omni Houston Hotel
Sometimes setting the phone to Do Not Disturb is the best self-care, and Mokara Spa at the Omni Houston Hotel makes it easy with the 100-minute Tech-Free Tranquility package. The experience includes the spa's signature massage and facial, along with time to unwind in the dry sauna or plunge jacuzzi. The package also includes valet parking plus access to the hotel's fitness center and pools.

Post Oak Hotel
The Post Oak Hotel is going all in on wellness this month with experiences designed to help guests recharge in a customized way. The hotel's Fitness Reset upgrade turns an overnight stay into a full-body reboot with in-room Technogym equipment, a 90-minute spa treatment, recovery therapies, and a $200 dining credit. For those who prefer to catch up on sleep, the Sleep Reset package includes a dedicated Sleep Concierge, calming spa treatments, personalized sleep amenities, and wellness takeaways to bring home.

If a staycation isn't in the cards, book a poolside cabana stocked with VOYA skincare products, wellness sprays, and champagne, or treat yourself to the spa's Body, Mind & Unwind massage, which starts with guided meditation. On August 20, wellness lovers can also check out the hotel's VOYA Skincare Wellness Event, featuring LED face mask sessions, a skincare masterclass, wellness mocktails, light bites, and a gift bag to take home.

Thompson Houston
At the Thompson Houston, guests can trade the usual Sunday Brunch for Sunday Social: Flow, Plunge & Chill, led by Jas of Vibes by Jas. The event starts with an all-levels yoga flow class, then eases into a guided sound bath, assisted stretching, and an optional cold plunge. The feel-good morning wraps up with a complimentary drink, wellness bites, a live DJ, a goodie bag, and rooftop pool access. It is an excellent way to keep the Sunday scaries at bay.

national wellness month houston spas houston wellness hotels luxury houston hotels houston staycation houston hotels hotels