One of the very few things I missed when we lived in Hawaii was the season of fall.  I missed wearing layers, crisp fall weather, leaves changing colors, and allllll the cute fall clothing.  I thoroughly enjoyed the 6 years that I spent living in Hawaii between 2009 and 2020, but I had to get a little creative so that I could embrace “fall” even if there wasn’t much of a difference from any other time of the year.  It can be tough to mark the passage of time when the weather is a perfect 80 degrees most days, so if you’re in the same boat and live in a warmer climate then here are a few ways to help you savor the season regardless of the weather outside!

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How to Embrace Fall in a Warm Climate

1.  Dress in Earthy Fall Tones

My go-to colors in the fall are mustard, olive green, burnt orange, camel, dusty pinks and any other earthy neutral tone that catches my eye.  In a warm climate you can’t really layer or wear scarves and sweaters, but you can get creative and still embrace these colors!  Just look for them in things like tank tops, vests, hair accessories, cardigans and dresses.  Do the same for you kids and find lightweight dresses, shorts, rompers and bows in these colors.

I also like adding in warm metallics, like the rose gold Birkenstocks in the top photo.  (They’re labeled as “Copper” but look more like rose gold to me.)

Another way to embrace some moodier colors is to swap out your sunglasses to a darker color or edgier look.  For example, all summer I wore my Mohala Eyewear (a local Hawaii small business that is woman-owned) Keana in Lychee Soda sunglasses that have a lighter look, but now that the weather is getting cooler I plan on wearing my Lana in Amber Tortoise sunglasses more often!  Use code katiev to save 10% on your order.  Also, a great thing to note about Mohala Eyewear is that every pair of sunglasses purchased sends a girl to school through the non-profit Room to Read.

2.  Wear Cool Weather Patterns

When I think of fall patterns and fabrics I think of leopard print, plaid, and houndstooth.  I loved wearing a pair of leopard print pajamas when we lived in Hawaii, especially in the fall.  These leopard print pajamas are still available and so cute and cozy!  They’re non-maternity and I sized up to make them work with a bump.  You can find shoes, bags, cardigans and pretty much anything in these prints!

3.  Embrace Seasonal Home Decor

I shared our Hawaiian Halloween decorations in this blog post from last year, but to recap, don’t be afraid to decorate for the season even if the weather isn’t feeling particularly fall-like.  I added some pumpkins in an unconventional color palette, taped some bats on the wall and it all worked just fine right next to palms in a vase!

4.  Cook an Autumnal Meal

My very favorite fall meal is this recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Risotto with Sweet Italian Sausage, Apples and Gruyere.  I discovered it back in 2013 and even blogged about making it for a date night in this throwback post too!  Anyway, this meal is fall embodied, and it’s savory, warm, sweet and so delicious.  I always loved cooking it when we lived in Hawaii because it was such a nice taste of fall that I almost felt like we were back on the mainland.

For kid-friendly activities, you can make easy halloween pizzas or halloween candy bark, which I shared in this blog post last year.  Yesterday my kids and I made pumpkin bread from scratch (using a real pie pumpkin) and we used this recipe that was delicious!  Not the healthiest one around but that’s ok 🙂

5.  Seek out Texture for Wardrobe and Home

Fall is a season rich in texture, and I’m always drawn to corduroy, velvet, chunky knits and suede (as seen above on my sandals!).  This cute tan corduroy headband from Sea Marie Designs is a current favorite of mine and it’s a way to wear some nice fall texture without adding layers.  This affordable set of velvet topknot headbands on Amazon looks like a great option too.

You can also add some texture to your home by swapping out lighter colored pillows with darker ones with some good texture to them.  This chunky cable knit throw pillow would look great in any home!

6.  Go on a Fall Adventure

These days you can find fall adventures even if you’re living in a warm climate.  Throw on your fall colored clothing and head to the pumpkin patch!

7.  Fall Scents

We really do tie scents to different seasons, so a great way to embrace fall is to light a fall candle, diffuse some earthy essential oils blend, or even simmer some cinnamon sticks, cloves and orange peels on the stove.  Better yet, bake some homemade pumpkin bread and fill the house with that incredible aroma!

8.  Wear Darker Nail Polish

A manicure and pedicure in a dark moody hue is an easy way to dress for fall, even when you’re wearing sandals!  I always liked wearing dark maroon or burgundy nail polish in the fall when we lived in Hawaii.

If you live in a warm place, what traditions do you have the help you embrace the season?

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