DIY Fashion Trend #4: Full Sweaters + Full Skirts

Despite an excessive amount of '90s slip dresses, the New York Fashion Week shows featured plenty of wonderfully full skirts. While a few designers paired their mega-skirts with crop tops (like Alice + Olivia), there were much cozier pairings going on at Proenza Schouler, Zac Posen, and Oscar de la Renta; each designer paired their full, flower-like skirts with covered-up volume on top. It was sweaters and shine for Proenza:

milkmaid lace at Oscar:

and a nipped waist with flowing sleeves at Zac Posen:

Although the above looks were all from Spring 2014 collections, am I wrong in thinking that this is the coziest outfit idea ever for fall? Crisp weather is finally, finally here (the first thing I did this morning was pull on a pair of thick cozy socks; pumpkin spice latte, you're next!), so in the spirit of hay rides and back-to-school, I decided to raid my closet for swingy skirts and bulky sweaters and see if I could pull together a sort of Proenza 2.0, wearable right now.

I dug out my trusty pink H&M skirt that I've worn all summer and paired it with a vintage '80s sweater, some socks from the men's section, and the greatest hat I own.

The look was so comfortable and cozy/breezy that I didn't want to take it off, but I had to try another version — opting this time for head to toe vintage (a cashmere golfing sweater, I know, I know, and a $0.25 floral skirt from Goodwill that goes with everything and yet somehow goes with nothing):

Ladies, I'm not taking this last outfit off. Ever. It's so cute and autumnal and girly (but freeing--you could work a Stairmaster in these skirts). Yes, I have a feeling I'll be spending the entire fall in voluminous skirts and extra-cozy sweaters, warm drink in one hand, and perhaps a little yellow eyeliner just to remind me that summer was once here.