This weekend, we threw a little dinner party to say goodbye to those summer outfits we will miss the most. As you can see, we also sipped a little whiskey cocktail to soothe our downtrodden hearts.

I must admit, here in the South we say goodbye to summer half-heartedly. When September 4 is usually in the mid-90s, it’s hard to get too enthusiastic about saying goodbye to our lightweight seersucker skirts and unlined blazers. However, I will be the first to remind you that rules are rules for a reason. By not wearing white linen after Labor Day, you are really showing the world that your mama raised you right! You are showing respect for the seasonal dress codes that come with good breeding. And, perhaps more than anything, you are hoping to will Autumn into being. When it is 95° on September 28, let me just remind you that were it not for the fact that you are wearing smart red chinos with a few layers on top, people may not even know it is Fall! Changing over your closet on Labor Day is really just a Belle’s civic duty. You are reminding people to stay strong; Autumn will come eventually. Mother Nature has promised us cooler temperatures and, with that in mind, I suggest you turn on a box fan, pour yourself a sweet tea, and go clean out your closet. Solidarity, sisters!

What about you? What item will you miss the most from your summer closet?
For me, it will be my madras skirt.