TRENDY TRANSITIONS

Houston fashion expert shares must-have summer to fall essentials

The iconic Cocoon Cardigan by Jenni Kayne is a wardrobe essential to seamlessly transition into fall.

Photo by Jenni Kayne

With a little relief from the summer scorchers coming hopefully soon, there is no time like the present to start thinking about a fall wardrobe. While cozy sweaters and classic trench coats will remain tucked away for a little while longer, it's time to focus on those must-have pieces that will smoothly transition us from scorching summer to those crisp fall days.

For recommendations, we turned to Houston stylist Paulina Padilla. Known for her modern aesthetic and talent for mixing luxury brands with ready-to-wear pieces, Padilla has worked with many of Houston's best-dressed fashionistas and popular retailers across the city.

Lucky for us, the pre-fall and fall collections have just hit the stores, shining a spotlight on those irresistible pieces we'll be rocking non-stop. So, here's the lowdown on five must-have items that'll help you breeze into the new season effortlessly, all while keeping your style game on point, of course.

Essential Item: White button down

Why we love it: This is a wardrobe staple that can be worn with shorts and sandals now and transition into fall by pairing back with jeans and boots. I love supporting local brands, and Mirth is right here in Houston. The Mirth Kyoto Blouse is available at the Mirth showroom.

Houston fashion brand, Mirth has a great classic button up to transition into fall. Photo by Mirth

Essential Item: Neutral colored dress

Why we love it: This one from Christy Lynn is a great print that can be worn now with summer sandals. To make this dress more appropriate for fall, I would add combat boots and a cardigan or denim jacket – transitioning from summer to fall is all about layering. The Christy Lynn Sammi Dress in ivory magnolia is available at Christy Lynn's boutique.

Add boots and a jacket to this dress to transition it from summer to fall. Photo by Christy Lynn

Essential Item: Silver bag

Why we love it: Silver is having a moment right now, and I am here for it. This bag is great because it is not only a top-handle purse but also a detachable crossbody strap – I love the ease of this bag for day or night. The Gracie top handle bag in metallic leather is available online or at J.Crew.

Silver is one of the colors for fall. Photo by J. Crew

Essential Item: Agolde T-Shirt

Why we love it: A good tee is seasonless – you can wear it on its own or layer it with a blazer, cardigan, denim jacket, etc. This one specifically is special because it is the perfect chocolate brown. This color has been around for a few seasons and doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The Agolde Drew Tee is available at Saint Bernard in River Oaks District.

A good tee is seasonless. You can wear it on its own or layer it with a blazer, cardigan, or denim jacket.Photo by Agolde

Essential Item: Cashmere Cardigan

Why we love it: A great neutral-colored cardigan is essential for transitioning from summer to fall because it can be paired with almost everything. A perfect closet staple, it is great for layering in Houston's unpredictable weather. The Cashmere Cocoon Cardigan in oatmeal is available at Jenni Kayne in River Oaks Shopping District.

A cashmere cardigan is the perfect closet staple, it is great for layering in Houston's unpredictable weather. Photo by Jenni Kayne

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SUDDEN SHUTTERS

Saks Off 5th to close 3 Houston stores with blowout final sale

Saks OFF 5th/ Facebook

Saks Off 5th is closing its only San Antonio store.

Houston shoppers looking for the thrill of the deal might want to mark their calendar. Discount designer retailer Saks Off 5th is closing most of its U.S. stores, including three in the Houston area, as its parent company tries to wiggle its way out of bankruptcy. Liquidation sales will begin Saturday, January 31 at select locations.

The mass closures come after Saks Global — the parent company of luxury department stores Saks 5th Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, and Neiman Marcus — filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protections on January 14. The conglomerate has been buckling under the strain of $2.5 million in debt it acquired with the 2024 purchase of rival retailer Neiman Marcus.

"As we advance on Saks Global's transformation, we are taking decisive steps to realign our business to better serve our luxury customers and drive full-price selling across our core luxury businesses," said Geoffroy van Raemdonck, Chief Executive Officer of Saks Global, in a release. "With these actions, we will be well positioned to seize the greatest opportunities for long-term growth and value creation. We sincerely thank our Saks Off 5th and Last Call colleagues for the important role they have played in serving our loyal customers."

Saks will close 57 Off 5th stores and shutter the five remaining locations of Neiman Marcus’ off-brand shop Last Call. Only 12 OFF 5th units will survive the move. After the onslaught, Texas’ sole store will be at Grapevine Mills mall in Grapevine.

Many of the U.S. stores will kick off closing sales beginning January 31. An additional 23 stores will close outright on February 2. Here’s the full list of Texas shutters:

Saks Off 5TH locations holding closing sales:

Cypress, 29300 Hempstead Rd.
Sugar Land, 2745 N Town Center Blvd.
Katy, 5000 Katy Mills Cir.
San Antonio, 5819 Worth Pkwy.

Saks Off 5TH locations closing February 2:

Grand Prairie, 2950 W. I-20 #125
Dallas, 8040 Park Ln.

Last Call Locations holding closing sales:

Grapevine, 3000 Grapevine Mills Pkwy. #233
San Marcos, 3939 S. I-35 #1105

The overall primary market for luxury goods has been declining in recent years due to changing customer preferences, a perceived decline in quality in top brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton, and a growing resale market led by sites like The RealReal and Vestaire Collective.

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