A Clockwork Orange: The Ultimate Transition Color

A memorable color that is often unwisely neglected when it comes to getting dressed. Orange is a shade you can wear throughout the summer, and then as you transition seamlessly into fall. A huge color as the leaves change, it’s really the best fall shade for foliage and fashion alike.

I know it’s not for everyone, but with a tan orange is so surprisingly flattering (as long as your spray-on isn’t the same color!) that it makes your skin glow. Show off your legs with Hanii Y‘s ruffled mini ($260.39 from $620); it’s so femininely short the dress amounts to just a dash of color. Or light up the night in Haute Hippie‘s confection ($475), with a voluminous slit perfect for moving and shaking. Prefer pleats to ruffles? Halston Heritage‘s strapless number ($765) might be a more refined option, if the color orange is all the playfulness you need. You can also dilute the high-impact shade with Thakoon‘s abstract print silk dress ($785). Then there’s the queen of orange sheaths: Alexander McQueen‘s belted wool-crepe mini ($1,885), with a cape-like back-slit, that’s for the bold of hue and silhouette.

Not ready for an all-over fresh-squeezed look? I wouldn’t get carried away with two bold orange pieces, so if your skin tone can’t handle it, a bag is a worthy alternative (and way more versatile than a pair of orange shoes). Like Jil Sander‘s grainy deerskin shopper tote ($945), both rugged and refreshing. So stock up while orange is in season!