Late summer in Vermont is a strange little window in the year.
The days can still be hot enough for shorts and a T-shirt, but the mornings have started to feel different. There's a little less humidity in the air. The sun disappears a little earlier. If you're outside early enough, you might find yourself wishing you'd grabbed a light layer before heading out the door.
It's one of our favorite times of year to get dressed.
At 4T2D, we're spending these last weeks of summer in the kinds of clothes that make sense for Vermont. Comfortable T-shirts, easy layers, well-fitting denim and pieces that can handle a day that starts cool and ends warm. Nothing too complicated. Just clothes that work.
The T-Shirt Is Still Doing the Heavy Lifting
We're not ready to give up our T-shirts yet.
A good tee is still the easiest thing to throw on for a morning coffee, a day around Burlington or an afternoon by the lake. Our current collection includes everything from simple everyday styles to Vermont-inspired graphic tees, including the Men's Church St. Interlock Tee, Men's VT Sail Interlock Pocket Tee and several graphic styles.
The VT Sail tee has been particularly fitting for this time of year. The light blue color and Vermont sailing graphic feel right at home around Lake Champlain, while the cotton-modal fabric keeps it comfortable when the temperature climbs.
For women, the Solid RFL Tee is the kind of simple staple that can go just about anywhere. We like pieces like this because they don't require much thought. Throw one on with denim, shorts or a light layer and you're ready to go.
A Light Layer Is Never a Bad Idea
If you've lived in Vermont for a while, you know better than to trust the forecast completely.
A morning that starts at 55 degrees can turn into an 80-degree afternoon, followed by another cool evening. That's where lightweight layers earn their place.
A cardigan, overshirt or vest can stay in the car, get thrown over a T-shirt in the morning, or come along for an evening outside without taking up much room.
Our Women's Wool RPL Cardigan is one example of the kind of layer we're thinking about as the season starts to change. We also have reversible vests in several materials and styles, giving you an easy extra layer without committing to a full jacket.
These are the pieces that tend to become useful long after summer is officially over.
Denim Is Starting to Make Its Way Back
There's a point every August when wearing shorts every single day starts to lose some of its appeal.
That's usually when we start reaching for jeans again.
A good pair of denim works particularly well during this part of the year because it doesn't feel overly warm during a cool morning, but it still works when you're spending the evening outside.
We're also excited to have Just Black Denim in the 4T2D Boutique. Their jeans fit naturally into the kind of wardrobe we're building here: easy pieces that can be worn often and mixed with the rest of what you already own.
That's really what we look for when we're choosing brands for the store. We want products that become part of someone's regular wardrobe rather than something that only works for one particular outfit.
And Then There's the Beanie
We know. It's still August.
But if you've spent enough fall mornings in Vermont, you know how quickly things can change.
One week you're walking around Burlington in sandals and a T-shirt. A few weeks later, you're looking for a sweatshirt before heading out for coffee. Then suddenly you're standing at the door wondering where you put your beanie last winter.
We like to get ahead of that transition.
Our beanies are made right here in Burlington, Vermont, and we carry a range of styles, from classic cuffed beanies to skully, pom and jacquard knit designs.
The Vermont Cuffed Beanie is an easy everyday option, while the VT Topo Cuffed Beanie brings a little more of Vermont into the design with a jacquard knit inspired by the state's mountain topography.
You may not need one for your morning walk this week. But as September gets closer, temperatures can drop quickly, especially early in the morning and after the sun goes down.
It's not a bad time to start thinking about what you'll want to have on hand.
The Best Part of Late Summer Is the Flexibility
There's something nice about this stretch of the year because you don't have to commit to one season yet.
You can wear a T-shirt and jeans one day, shorts and a tank the next, then add a cardigan or vest when the temperature drops. A beanie might spend most of the week in your bag before suddenly becoming the most useful thing you brought with you.
That flexibility is a big part of what we like about dressing for Vermont.
The clothes have to work with the weather, but they also have to work with real life. A day might include a morning walk, work, a stop downtown, dinner outside and a drive home after dark. The best pieces are the ones that can handle all of it without requiring much thought.
What We're Looking Forward To
Late summer also means fall is getting closer, whether we're ready for it or not.
We're looking forward to cooler mornings, changing leaves, football games, hiking days and the first real excuse to pull out the sweaters and beanies.
For now, though, we're enjoying the last stretch of summer.
We're wearing our favorite T-shirts, keeping a light layer nearby and making the most of long evenings in Burlington. And we're starting to put a few warmer pieces within reach, because anyone who has spent a fall in Vermont knows that the change can happen quickly.
If you're in Burlington, stop by our Church Street boutique at 101 Church Street and see what we're wearing right now. You can also browse the 4T2D collection and our curated USA-made brands online.
Summer isn't over yet. But we're ready for what's next.