September in Louisiana: A Guide to Fake Fall
- Jennifer DeWitt
- Sep 3
- 6 min read
It might be 90 degrees outside, but Instagram says it’s time for burgundy sweaters and tall boots!
The Southern Fall Paradox
September in Louisiana (and many southern states) is unlike anything the fashion magazines would have you believe. While they’re serving us chunky knits and burgundy everything, we’re still reaching for sundresses and questioning whether owning 9 pairs of knee-high boots was a wise investment.
However, 21 years of design work has taught me this: good style isn’t about following rules blindly—it’s about adapting them to your reality. And our reality? It’s 90 degrees with 90% humidity, but we still want to look like we understand that autumn exists somewhere in the world.
So let’s talk about how to embrace September’s sophisticated color story while staying cool, comfortable, and true to both the calendar and our climate. Because you shouldn’t have to choose between looking current and not melting into your car seat.
When You’re a True Spring in Burgundy Season
Ever since I had my color analysis done in April (which revealed that I’m a True Spring), people have been asking me, “These colors are great now, but what are you going to do in fall? What can you wear??” Here’s the thing about being a True Spring trying to embrace fall’s burgundy moment: it’s like being asked to whisper when you’re built for Broadway belting! That doesn’t mean I can’t make it work, I just need to be strategic about it.
As a True Spring, my natural coloring thrives on warm, bright, clear colors with golden undertones. I’m talking coral, peach, bright yellow, spring green—colors that say “I definitely get enough vitamin D” and “my skin has never seen a gray day.” Burgundy, while gorgeous, can make True Springs look like we need a vacation and some iron supplements.
I direct your attention to the headshot above, where I am wearing an olive green dress. Love the dress, love this pic, but is it my best green? No. I thought for a long time that it was because my eyes are green, but in fact, this particular shade is too drab for my coloring. So how do we make fall’s color palette work if we ourselves are not Autumns?
My secret weapon: face-forward color theory. Instead of fighting the trends or abandoning them entirely, I keep my spring colors where they matter most: near my face where they’ll make me glow, and I save the trending burgundy and deeper tones for bottoms, shoes, and accessories. It’s how to be smart with our wardrobe and make the most use of great pieces year-round.
This strategy works because anything touching my face has the most impact on how healthy and radiant I look. A coral top will make my eyes sparkle and my skin look luminous, even if I’m wearing burgundy pants (which, sadly, isn’t in my palette. Not even close! And I love burgundy and all of its iterations: cranberry, maroon, etc.) Spring energy near my face brightens everything else in the look.
The Louisiana September Dress Code
Let’s be honest about what September in Louisiana (and most of the South) actually requires:
Breathable fabrics that won’t turn you into a walking humidity detector. Cotton, linen, lightweight silks—anything that lets air move. And because you’ll experience both Arctic indoor temps and tropical outdoor conditions in the same hour, you need items that can be layered easily.
Four Ways to Fake Fall in Louisiana (and the rest of the South)
Date Night: The Sophisticated September
The hero piece here is a leafy green midi dress. It’s my true spring-friendly take on fall’s green moment. Leafy green is sophisticated enough for September’s mood but bright enough to honor my True Spring coloring, and still feel appropriate for higher temperatures.. The fit-and-flare silhouette works in Louisiana heat, and the midi length feels appropriately autumnal without requiring actual pants. Later in the season, it would be adorable paired with boots and a pullover sweater.
I’m layering with a cream blazer (removable the moment I step outside) and adding burgundy through accessories: a suede hobo bag, platform clogs. Gold jewelry keeps everything in my warm-toned wheelhouse, and tortoiseshell sunglasses work both indoors and out.
The magic is in the balance: brighter colors where they matter, trending colors where they don’t compete with my natural radiance or the climate you’re in. This outfit says “I understand seasonal dressing” while still being practical for someone who lives where seasons are more theoretical than actual.
Key pieces: leafy green dress, cream double-breasted blazer, burgundy accessories, gold jewelry
Game Day: The Elevated Casual
This is about elevated comfort that still reads as “I didn’t just throw this on.” A camel sweater is pure autumn territory: warm, golden, and gorgeous. Throwing it over your shoulders will elevate any casual look and keep you from melting.
High-waisted wide-leg jeans are my compromise with actual fall weather. They look seasonally appropriate but breathe better than skinny jeans in humidity. A printed top is a fun way to represent your team without donning an actual jersey.
Tan mules with fringe detailing add texture and interest while being infinitely more practical than boots when it’s still 80+ degrees. The burgundy bag ties the whole story together, and gold accessories keep everything in the warm-toned family.
This outfit works whether I’m at an actual game, running weekend errands, or meeting friends for lunch. It’s the kind of put-together casual that makes your alma mater proud, even when you’re mostly just hoping your deodorant holds up.
Key pieces: Camel knit, wide-leg jeans, printed shirt, tan mules
Client Meeting: The Power Play
Burgundy wide-leg pants are both modern and professional, while a matching sweater creates a monochromatic moment that feels intentional and expensive.
The cape trench is my investment piece. Substantial enough to justify the Louisiana air conditioning bills and gorgeous enough to declare, “I understand luxury.” It’s the kind of piece that makes everything else you’re wearing look more expensive.
Olive green accessories add just enough contrast to keep things interesting without disrupting the sophisticated color story. The structured bag says “I have important documents in here,” and burgundy block heel shoes are comfortable enough for actual work while still looking serious.
A monochromatic moment always reads as intentional and expensive. Olive green accessories add just enough contrast to keep things interesting without disrupting the sophisticated color story. This is a power look that says, “I know what I'm worth.”
Key pieces: Burgundy matching set, cape trench coat, olive accessories, block heeled shoes
Ladies’ Brunch: The Golden Hour
This golden yellow dress is pure joy—it’s the color equivalent of good lighting and makes everything else in this look feel intentional.
Mark my words: the statement piece for this fall will be the Lady Jacket. It adds structure but still feels feminine. Draped casually over the shoulders, it'll take you from indoor a/c to outdoor heatwave with minimal fuss.
Low-heeled cognac brown boots don’t compete with the dress’s sunny energy. Brown and yellow together feels rich and intentional. The structured brown bag pulls everything together, and gold jewelry keeps the whole look in my warm-toned family. An outfit like this works for actual brunch, shopping, client meetings that feel more casual, or any time I want to look like I’m having the best day ever.
Key pieces: Golden yellow dress, lady jacket, cognac boots, gold accessories
The September Philosophy
Here’s what I’ve learned after two decades of making spaces beautiful and four decades of getting dressed: the best style comes from understanding what works for you and then adapting trends to fit that reality, not the other way around.
September in Louisiana requires a specific kind of fashion intelligence—the ability to look seasonally appropriate while staying physically comfortable, to embrace trends while honoring your natural coloring, and to create outfits that work in both 72-degree restaurants and 87-degree parking lots.
These four outfits work because they understand that good style is about intention, not perfection. They honor the reality of the climate I live in, while still letting me participate in fall’s sophisticated color story.
Most importantly, they make me feel like best the version of myself in every season. (Even when you happen to live somewhere where “fall” is more of a concept than a season.) I’ve curated even more looks over on my ShopMy, or you can scroll the full September edit below!
Shop these looks and more September favorites at the links above, and be sure to follow along on Instagram (@rclinteriors) for home and fashion style inspiration that actually makes sense for real life.