Brittany and Megan take summer-inspired pieces and step into fall during Taste of North Park

My weekends have become a series of food-driven escapades. As such, I spent a recent October Saturday with friends indulging in local cuisine during Taste of North Park. While sampling at one of the stops on the map, I sparked up a conversation with a pair of roommates visiting from Carlsbad. Both ladies stood out in summer-inspired fashion that, with just the right touches, transitioned perfectly to the start of fall.

Megan, 25, wore a long-sleeve black floral romper with ruffle hem she found on sale at Target for around $20. When asked to identify her style, she answered, “Floral, beachy, casual look — and stylish.”

Handmade leather clogs from Etsy and "knock-off Birkenstocks"

Megan accessorized her outfit with what she called “knock-off Birkenstock” sandals, a beige cross-body bag (Marshalls, $10) and oversized tortoiseshell sunglasses (Forever 21, $5). “Boho-chic… hippie. Modern-day hippie,” laughed Brittany, 32, as she described her style. She paired an off-the-shoulder crop top with a jean-overall dress she bought for around $45. “I got it on sale at the Lucky Brand outlet store.”

She completed her look by adding a straw panama hat (Amazon, $15) and orange leather clogs with laser-cut detail (around $30 online). “These are actually handmade, they’re from Etsy. There’s a woman who makes leather clogs and slip-ons. I’m pretty sure they’re from Poland.”

I asked the girls if they had any savvy shopping tips to share. Brittany told me she likes to visit the outlets, and also suggested, “Go to the sale rack in the back, all the time. Check there first.”

“It’s tough when you’re looking for one thing,” Megan mused. “When you go just to browse, you’ll end up with a lot of things.”

Before heading to the next sample stop, she added a final piece of advice, “Go in with a vision, and know what you want to spend!”