In each life, there are transitions; high school to college, intern to resident, single to married and EVP to CEO. But one of my favorite transitions is the one that takes us from the summer to the fall. We are very privileged to be in New England, where we can enjoy the multisensory experience of walking down Commonwealth Avenue breathing in the crisp, cool air and seeing the bright foliage illuminate our path. If you haven't yet indulged in the beauty of a New England fall (as I had not when my first year at Brandeis came), I highly recommend it.Along with the aesthetic beauty of nature, we have great opportunity to be layered in and surrounded by wonderful fall fabrics, lines and colors. For me, the transition from flip-flops to driving moccasins and from board shorts to cords is one of the most enjoyable. Perhaps it's because it brings back memories of high school football games, caramel apple cider from Starbucks and all my favorite pieces of the fall: glasses, sweaters, shirts, ties, blazers, jeans, khakis and scarves.

Fall also offers us more creativity, simply because we wear more clothing and more layers. It's a fun opportunity to mix colors (green shirt with navy blazer) or fabrics (cashmere cardigan over a silk button-up). It's just a fun time because the more we wear, the more we can express our individuality.

My advice for the fall is simple. Since we're already on the topics of aesthetics, I'm going to use the principles of art to describe some basic fall thoughts.

Balance: Bright colors are not over, but they must add to the overall balance of your ensemble. Using bold color combinations like turquoise with purple or red are timeless classics. Perfectly appropriate for the fall, they represent a sense of fun and creativity amid a sea of blacks, browns and grays. Use them in moderation, but be cautious. Don't let one bright color dominate the entire outfit. Wearing a bright color under something more conservative makes the outfit balanced and beautiful.

Emphasis: You can create a sense of emphasis in what you wear by choosing timely or classic season-appropriate accessories. For women, this could mean a pair of snakeskin Stuart Weitzman shoes or a Nancy Gonzales croc tote. For men, it could be an exceptionally-crafted leather watchband or a pair of colorful cufflinks from Thomas Pink. Accessories are a chance to say something about yourself, so take advantage and invest in something unique and personal.

Variety: It's actually very easy to create variety, even if you have a couple of the same staples you want to wear a lot: a really great silk A-line skirt or a tuxedo blouse (both available from Alice & Olivia). You can use these staples in such a way that they look different each time you wear them. Picture two ways of wearing the trench: buttoned up and tied with pants, or open with a ruffled blouse, pearls and a skirt. Now you have completely different looks, completely different outfits. You could even wear them to two events where you might see the same people-shocking, I know.

Unity (or Harmony): I know that even the most fashion-unconscious of you can tell when someone looks "put together" or not. You never want to be that person who just can't dress himself or herself in the morning, do you? I believe that unity is quite easy to create; you simply need to pay attention to a few geometric principles. Make purposeful decisions about fit; it shows. Wearing a flowing blouse with skinny jeans or tights can be attractive, as long as it doesn't look like a mistake. In general, follow curves and lines from top to bottom, and match colors. It's not rocket science, but it does require taking an extra four seconds to look in a mirror before you start your day.

Movement: This applies to everyone, but especially if you are on the shorter side. Wear solid colors (or variations on a theme) to produce the effect of height. All of fashion could be defined as a sleight of hand in which you create an illusion by guiding the eyes, thus creating movement. Also, wearing blazers (unbuttoned) creates a thin rectangle, which in turn frames your face. While others focus on your face and the vertical quality of that rectangle, they will again be distracted from your height.

In short, fall is a wonderful time to showcase your talents, creativity and maturity. It's not a time to slop together an outfit or roll into class wearing pajamas. Just remember these simple rules, and use the jackets, sweaters, coats and other fall gear to your advantage. That said, don't overdo it because, judging by our geography, I think it's only going get colder.