Here are the five wardrobe essentials every woman needs going into fall.

Whether you are dressing up or keeping it casual, suede booties will go with any outfit. Loft, $98.

Over-sized watches are a staple statement piece this season. Michael Kors, $250.

Score this pleated, mid-length skirt (cute with tights or without) at a discounted price at 6pm.com! Kensie, $88.

A bright colored bag with cute tassel detail is an updated classic that will last for years. Coach, $398.

 Chunky knit sweaters are super comfy and always cute—plus you can’t beat the price. H&M, $35.

Silk scarves are all over the runway this season and a perfect pop. Echo, $88.

This tweed jacket is a little edgier with stud embellishments on the shoulders. Tobi, $76.

Pairing this simple sheath dress with a skinny leather belt is a quick and easy look. Gap, $60.

Several movie crews have used it as a set.  You may remember it from A Beautiful Mind or The Royal Tennenbaums. When we were there, there was a film crew prepping for a shoot inside the mansion so we stuck to the gardens around the house. They were amazing so we didn’t mind!

It was broken and dirty everywhere you looked but it was absolutely stunning. The groundskeeper told us that it was quite the party spot back in its day. Can’t you imagine what it was like when these little shallow pools actually had water in them?

It was pretty easy to find beautiful spaces to shoot including this outside wall of the house. Hey look! There’s Stana!

Meanwhile, back in our van, there were clothes filling the racks and lots of jewelry trays. Stana loves fashion so she had a great time trying things on and accessorizing.

She was also a sweetheart to everyone on set. When she heard our hairstylist, Mitch Barry, was big Castle fan she gladly posed for a picture with him.

Hope you enjoyed our tour of Alder Manor. Be sure to check out our fashion feature with Stana Katic in the September issue of Ladies’ Home Journal, on newsstands now!

Photo of Stana and Mitch by Stana Katic. All other photos by Sue Erneta and Gabrielle Porcaro.

Some of our favorites:

J Crew cashmere polka dot sweater

Zara coat with applique sleeves

Gap piped academy blazer

Boden wool midi skirt

Old Navy rock star skinny jeans

Club Monaco Diane silk maxi dress

(Yes, I know. It’s not fall-ish but I’m dying over it and I know I would wear it right now like this and then all winter long with a sweater and tights. Would that look great?)

Ann Taylor leather metro crossbody bag

DV by Dolce Vita at Piperlime short suede ankle boot

Hope you feel ready for fall now! Happy shopping!

Let me know in the comments what you’re looking forward to this fall.

Looking like a clown is more of a fear for me. Although after watching the VMAs on Sunday, apparently looking like a clown is in right now (see Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj).

First rule of polka dots: less is more. Only wear one polka-dot item at a time. Your best options are a dress or a top. For dresses, choose one that hugs your body a bit and shows off your shape;  like the Yoana Baraschi dress, we shot for our September story, (shown right) or this Beyond Vintage dress that ties at your waist. Don’t choose big, loose styles. If you wear a tent-like dress don’t be surprised if someone comes up to you and asks if you know how to make balloon animals!

The easiest and safest option are dotted tops. Pair a silk tee with some skinny jeans and flats. Wear a loose blouse with flares and heels. Rock a button-down shirt with some cargoes and wedge booties. Or go retro with a black and white dot cardigan worn with a black pencil skirt. See polka dots are not just for kids!

If you want to push it a bit and have a little fun, polka dot tights can be fun and sexy! But definitely don’t pair with a polka dot dress. (See the first rule of polka dots, above.)

Two other things that need to be addressed: 1. Color. Black and white is a classic safe bet but deviating a little bit away from neutral zone is okay too. For example, this Juicy Couture navy dress with pink polka dots adds color without going overboard. 2. Dot Size. Try to stay in the small to medium range. Big polka dots will make you look like a Twister board and then you will have people shouting “right hand, yellow” at you all day. Just sayin…

You can thank global warming for making getting dressed in the morning a bit more difficult. I feel once “school starts” (I haven’t had a first day of school in 8 years but it’s still how I gauge when fall starts) it’s just wrong to wear anything that is summery. Here’s a simple checklist of what to store now and what to keep around for a bit.

Store Now: Cotton dress and skirts
It’s time to say goodbye to your strapless dresses and maxi cover ups. I know it’s sad but they’ll be there next year!

Keep Around: Silk or chiffon dresses
You can wear them with a cardigan and tights. Even a brightly colored dress (like a yellow or pink) won’t feel “wrong” for a month or two!

Store Now: Summer florals
If you would wear it to a back yard BBQ or even consider wearing it at a Luau… store it!

Keep Around: Florals with a dark background
For example: Yay to this Tucker for Target floral dress — totally cute, totally works for fall. Nay to this Liberty for Target pink floral dress. Hence the reason it’s on sale (it’s cute grab it for next spring!).

Keep Around: Summer camis and tanks
These are great layering pieces. Put a short or long sleeve tee under a tank or put a blazer or cardigan on top.

Store Now: Flip-flops
Honestly, unless you just bought them, throw them out. You probably lived in them since May and they are probably gross. Splurge for a new pair next year. Old Navy sells them for $4!

Keep Around: Heeled sandals
You can wear an open toe (depending on the style) with black tights or with jeans. But do put them away once the temperature really drops. Snow + open toe = frost bitten toes = unfashionable/dangerous.

Keep Around: Shorts that you would put over tights but store if you know you won’t rock that trend.

One last tip: Make sure you wash the clothing and pack it away nicely for next year. Then on the first warm day in March or April after a very long and cold winter you can grab your favorite items and be ready to go!

Like most people, I’m feeling extremely cautious about shopping these days. Actually, cheap is probably a better word. I’m basically avoiding stores entirely and trying to get creative with the contents of my closet.  (Hey, I may be purchasing a home in the next month!) I’m so determined that even a 20 percent off coupon isn’t enough to lure me into the stores.

Yet, when I heard that Talbots is doing exactly that, plus giving away an exclusive lipstick from Three Custom Color Specialists, I felt a little less frugal. After all, I really love this indie beauty brand. Their formulas are amazing and if your favorite makeup shade is ever discontinued or you want to a lip gloss to match your iPod, Three Custom can whip it up for you. (They also have awesome cream blushes. Our associate beauty editor Mandy Hendrix got me hooked on the Rebecca’s Favorite Blush shade.) The gift-with-purchase lipstick at Talbots is a flattering, ladylike shade of red, aptly named Charmed. It’s so charming that I kinda, sorta have to have it.

My shopping resistance already weakened, I figured I’d better ask my favorite style gurus, our very own LHJ fashion editors Sue and Gab, whether Talbots was worth a trip and possibly a calculated splurge. To quote Sue, “Um…yes! We love Talbots.” (For more elaboration on the subject, check out this chic dress from our September issue and Sue’s recent review). Sue also suggested a few items to update my fall wardrobe: a leopard pencil skirt, a leather handbag or a pair of lace-up booties. Hmmm, so that’s a discount, a fabulous free lipstick and personal shopping advice…now I’m finally sold.

So tell me, what will it take to get you shopping this fall?

1. Stuff I already have. After lots of time spent figuring out how I’ll afford a new wardrobe while I save for bigger purchases (like a house), I’ve decided that I’m quite happy with a bunch of the pieces I got for last fall. I’ll still be wearing black sweaters and mini skirts with tights. Jeans will range from skinny dark to baggy faded with not much in between (but don’t forget my new “must-have” jeans!). I’ll still be clomping around in chunky black boots and jewelry will still be on the big (read: sightly obnoxious) side. But there are a few new things I just can’t live without.

2. Something leopard. I’ve decided to go for the ladylike look with these sky-high platform pumps from Tory Burch. I’m generally not a pump person – I tend to trade in my open-toe sandals and switch straight to boots – but I’m smitten with these. Meow!

3. A camel coat. I said I wanted one last year but it never seemed to come to fruition. I think that was meant to be since I am OBSESSED with this gorgeous slouchy one that Talbots is offering this fall. (Yes, Talbots has gotten this cool. Don’t forget – You heard it here first. I mean, seriously? Can you believe Linda Evangelista in the ad! Ah-mazing!)

4. A lady bag. After seeing all the fall collections, I became obsessed with having a small structured bag with a short handle. How divine is this Gucci? And this Prada? Or I’d take this Chloe. Any one of them would do but remember that house I’m saving for? It’s not going to happen! So, I dug in my own personal archives and found this Fendi that I scored at a sample sale more than a decade ago. It’s navy snake with red seed beads and it’s terribly tiny but I’ll have to suffer for style, right?

So, tell me…what are you buying for fall?

Catherine I am with you! I had a tantrum in front of my closet yesterday. I began to whine and throw things. When I was done acting like a 6-year-old and turned back into a “mature” 29-year old, I came up with a plan for how I can embrace the few more weeks that I am forced to wear my summer clothes. Here are my ideas.

Replace classic summer items that you have totally worn out. (Chances are they’ll be on sale by now.) That pair of tan wedges you’ve had for 3 years and wore everywhere from a baby shower to a BBQ. That black cotton dress that you’ve worn to work and as a beach cover up. Buy replacements now and get a few wears in them. I figured out I desperately needed to update my basic cotton tanks. I went to Gap and picked up their favorite cami, in a few colors. Today I paired the beige one with a black Banana Republic skirt (similar to this paper bag style) that I lived in all summer and it feels fresh. Sometimes it take one piece, even a simple top, to update the mix.

Hit up some of the end of season sales and buy items that will continue into the next season. My J. Crew obsessed boss, got this sequined henley yesterday for 30 percent off. Will she be wearing this next week with a skirt and heels? Yes. Will she be wearing it at the end of October with a blazer and jeans? Absolutely.

Since fall items are already in stores, if you’re going to shop, stick with transitional pieces you can start wearing now. A stylish co-worker bought these green skinny pants from American Eagle and has already been rocking them—and will continue to do so throughout the fall.

Make a list of the items you need for fall (check our our September fashion story for some ideas). You can certainly start purchasing them now. Why not grab a ladylike bag or leopard flats (both huge for fall) and get a head start on the season?

Hopefully this helps keep your closet experiences in the next few weeks tantrum-free!