Transitional Outfit Guide: Local Summer at The Jersey Shore

POV: It’s the day after Labor Day and you’re a New Jersey local scrolling on Instagram. You’re swiping through people’s stories and posts, and you quite literally cannot escape the phrase “local summer.” Local summer is here! Local summer starts now! We have our beaches back! We love local summer!

What is a foreign concept to most is an annual occurrence for someone like myself, who lives in a beach town 365 days a year. While most bid adieu to summer after August or Labor Day weekend, we are just getting started around here at the Central Jersey Shore. To us, “local summer” is a joyous month-and-a-half-long period in September and early October where we reclaim the places that bring people to our home in the summertime: the beaches, the small businesses, the bars, etc. There’s less traffic, the weather is perfect, and it’s just us–those who have grown up here, brave the winters here, and keep it up and running when flocks of people travel to see what we’re all about come May. It’s like a mini celebration, a pat on the back for all of us, for making it through another busy season together.

But what is there to do during this so-called second wave of summer? Trust me, as a seasoned local born and raised here, there’s a lot. It’s the perfect mix of fall and and its predecessor, when cozy moments (and clothes) coexist perfectly with the beach (and bikinis). I know it’s not the norm for everyone, so instead of telling you, I thought I’d show you. So let’s skip the chit-chat and jump right into what I’ve done (and the early fall outfits I’ve worn) as a Jersey Shore resident during this fabulous time of year:

Late summer into early fall transition outfits mean the perfect combination of cozy and breezy. No one does that sentiment better than free-est, whose viral sweater sets have been cemented as transition-season essentials. For a beachfront dinner while the sun goes down, the Hailee Sweater Set was a no-brainer pick. Paired with a shore staple, Rainbow flip-flops, nothing screams local summer like this look.

Yes, you read that right. Every September, after a busy summer season, this social hub of a shore town transforms to host some of the biggest names in music…and you better believe the locals are showing out. From hot afternoons to cool late nights, these outfits have to do it all (as do any festival looks). Long sleeves, maxi skirts, camis, shorts–it’s summer-meets-fall mayhem. While keeping this in mind, I also try to dress based on the headliner. I’m definitely delivering two different vibes here (seashore fairy to punk-rock sailor), which accurately portrays this crazy weekend quite well. The beach towns aren’t sleepy yet!

The best part of it all: the beach that people come from far and wide to enjoy is still there, waiting for those who live in proximity to enjoy it in complete, local peace. The crowds have diminished, the weather is still fantastic, and autumn seems miles and miles away…until 4 pm, when sweatshirts become more necessary than in, say, July. Enter: fall layering, Jersey Shore style. That means your favorite one-piece swimsuit + a go-to pullover + maybe a hat or something extra to keep you toasty when the sun goes behind a cloud…I opted for next season’s best accessory, the balabonnet, in a sweet crochet for that breezy, between-season feel.

I had to end this one on an extra-special note. My hometown boardwalk–which I wouldn’t dare go near in the summer months–becomes a nostalgic safe haven of childhood memories. Where I once begged my Mom to take me to the arcades, I can now go for peaceful evening walks to clear my adult head. Man, time flies and things change…but what stays the same? Stopping for a sweet treat. While the reality is everything on the boardwalk is closed and deserted, the local ice cream shop is still open to 11. A win is a win in the off-season!