Ask A Los Angeles Stylist: Putting Together Your Best Fall Look

With one heat wave after another, it's hard to focus your fashion sense on the fall season. But, it’s here and time to officially transition your closet over from summer to fall. Personal stylist Meg Gallagher, known for her keen chic radar, offers tips and tricks of the trade on how to pull together your look for the season.

On speed dial for many high-profile clients in the music, television and film industries, personal stylist Meg Gallagher caters to customers from Los Angeles to New York, giving her savvy style expertise to customize your wardrobe based on your fashion needs.

How to translate trends from 'Runway to Realway'
As the runways showcased, the revival of grunge is back, but with a modern twist. Gallagher’s picks for wearable catwalk creations center around the grunge trend - incorporate moto boots, leather moto jacket, pleated plaid skirts, plaid shirting, military jackets, cargo details on pants and skirts and camouflage patterns. If that’s a little too much grunge for your personal style, opt for accessories including hand-knit sweaters and scarves and knitted beanie hats.

Related: OC's Best Shops for Fall Jackets

Essential items that can be worn from season to season
Gallagher says to choose “seasonless” pieces to work around as staples in your wardrobe. Trends that pop up each fashion season include boyfriend jeans, skinny jeans, mid-brown and grey ankle boots, jean jackets, logo tees, denim shirts, dark-colored blazers and layering tees. The pencil skirt is a “forever” item and can be paired with patterns or solids as is the classic sleeveless “fit n' flare” dress. For accessories, invest in metallic from shoes to bags. Gallagher’s “seasonless” color picks include red, olive, metallics and mid-brown and her “seasonless” patterns of animal prints and camouflage

How to wear the fall ankle boot
If you are new to the whole ankle boot look, Gallagher suggests combining the booties with skinny black denim or leather, a slouchy sweatshirt, camo-print military jacket and chunky chain jewelry. You can also bring the look together with cuffed boyfriend jeans (showing ankle bone), a striped sweatshirt and cross-body bag or with a flared mini skirt, logo tee and cropped leather jacket.

Putting together an outfit from day to evening (hot days to cooler nights)
Warm SoCal fall days eventually turn into chillier nights and it’s always a bummer when you are going to a harvest cocktail party straight from work. “Add a pump or strappy heeled sandal in metallic,” says Gallahger. “Ditch the shoulder bag and tote for a jeweled clutch and throw your hair up into a loose up-do and add chandelier earrings.” Gallagher suggests keeping your boho sundresses on hand and as the sun sets, layer with a leather/suede jacket, a scarf and chunky boot. Add a finishing touch to your look with a smokey eye and bold lip color.

Hot holiday fashion trends for the season

Incorporate the season’s rich hues including burgundy, emerald or the tried-and-true black into holiday party dresses. “Lace is hot for holiday,” says Gallahger. “Wear it as a dress or pencil skirt.” And, don’t forget the opulence of gold. This metallic will show up in embroidery, beading, jacquards and brocades from now through ringing in 2014.