no. 46: fall style sessions
no. 46: fall style sessions
the outfit formulas I'm using to shop my own closet, how i'm bringing my fashion inspo to life this fall, and a groundbreaking new tool for secondhand shopping.
Disclaimer, Apple TV. Based on a book of the same name, this limited series show follows Cate Blanchett as Catherine Rosencroft, a documentarian who receives a mysterious novel with the disclaimer at the front that “any resemblance to persons living or dead is not a coincidence”. She quickly realizes the main character in the novel is her, chronicling a secret from 20 years ago; as the book is distributed to the people in her life, chaos ensues. I immediately put the book on hold and cannot wait to read!
Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo & Conditioner. My hair is extremely particular (thick but fine, wavy but only under the exact right conditions, dry and also, somehow with oily roots,etc. etc., etc. ). I typically end up rotating through the same 2-3 specific shampoo and conditioners over the course of a year as my hair adjusts to and then stops responding to each (just me?). While I typically opt for whatever’s in the Target isle, I’ve recently dabbled in some of the fancier brands over the past few years while I navigated postpartum hair loss and regrowth. I recently picked up the Nécessaire Rosemary Shampoo & Conditioner meant to strengthen hair and scalp to prevent breaking, I’m really liking it so far (plus the scent is really really lovely).
Whoever You Are, Honey, by Olivia Gatwood. This brilliant novel tackles the blurry, uneasy boundary between reality and perception, weaving together themes about identity, femininity, performance, desire, companionship and self-assessment. The protagonist, a stagnant 20-something living with an elderly roommate after a traumatic experience caused her to flee her hometown as a teenager, becomes fixated on the perfect girlfriend of a tech entrepreneur (who is also grappling with her own assessment of perfection). I won’t say more, except to say that I loved it.
I moved this summer, a surefire trigger for reexamining the quantities and quality of things I own. In packing up and moving, I found myself repeatedly overwhelmed by how much stuff had accumulated over the years since my last move, and by the fact that despite the *clutter* and efforts to streamline I still felt like I had nothing to wear.
While I know some of this has to do with the timewarp of COVID-19 (coming up on, uh, five years ago now??!) combined with and pregnancy and postpartum giving me a little bit of body change whiplash, it doesn’t change the fact that I repeatedly find myself feeling pulled to buy new things despite the piles of stuff in my closet.
I’ve been thinking a lot about personal style this year, and while this started as an exercise in identity, it’s expanded quite a bit to also consider the relationship between personal style and consumption. How I think has been majorly influenced by some excellent fashion writing I have loved this year, from
not buying any new clothes for and ENTIRE YEAR, to Where Fashion Meets Food from , Buying Clothes Won’t Make You Fashionable from , and How our cheap clothing perpetuates capitalism from on Gen Dred, and pretty much any writing from Jess Kirby and Amanda Mull.Last winter I tracked everything I wore for most of the first six months of 2024, and did a six week no-buy experiment. I’m really happy I did because I came away with some really interesting learnings and insights about my own personal style and what I wear the most often. With the data from the clothing tracking experiment it really solidified my longstanding conviction about price per wear and the durability of things in my closet. If I love something, I’m going to wear the shit out of it, and if I buy something on a whim based on a trend it’s just going to take up space.
And in thinking about fall fashion content, it became extraordinarily clear that I do not need to shop for fall or winter. After living in Boston for 4 years, and Seattle for 6, I have plenty of sweaters and jackets that fit me, and those just don’t change much year after year. I quite literally have wool sweaters from 2012 that I pull out year after year that outshine anything on the shelves in 2024.
But I’ll be honest: this feels like an uncomfortable commitment. I truly love and enjoy fashion as a form of self expression. I am also constantly bombarded with shopping hauls and ads on various social media platforms. I regularly look into my closet and feel like maybe the next purchase will be the thing that solves any difficulty getting dressed in the morning, or whatever unspecific uneasy feeling I have based on the news on any given day. (I was literally just talking to a friend about the vague, uneasy “shoppy” feeling that can feel overwhelming and the partially formed hope that a complete new wardrobe will solve all my problems, and the luxe pair of sweatpants that have been following me around the internet. Relatable?)
It’s exhausting, y’all, and my self control and budget can’t take it anymore.
So I am once again back at the personal style challenge game for the rest of the fall and winter!! I’m taking inspiration from the success of last winter’s no-buy experiments, but this time, instead of tracking specific outfits and the number of wears (I bailed on my outfit tracker when we moved in mid-june, and I forgot to pick it back up until it was too late) I’ve pulled together a set of formulas to enable me to “shop” my own closet and mix and match my way into new outfits without analysis paralysis.
To hold myself to this, I’m also giving myself a secondary goal to prioritize wearing the things I already have, limiting new purchases and, if I absolutely must, prioritizing second hand purchases. I’ve also been slowly but surely working to sort though and sell clothes I no longer wear via resale sites and local consignment stores, or to bring high quality donations to the thrift for donation.
In this issue you’ll find:
The five outfit formulas I’m relying on this fall to make getting dressed a cinch
My go-to tips make outfit magic
My ultimate secondhand shopping resources (including one that will change your life).
Okay, let’s get into it!
Xx,
Athleisure but make it chic:
I am currently living the temporary stay at home toddler mom life. We’re less sticky than we used to be, but there are definitely days where fashion is on the backburner. Despite that, I’m actually trying hard to avoid the slouch into leggings I experienced during mat leave, so when I need the comfort of athleisure without sacrificing personal style, I always try to start with this formula:
Bright, functional sneakers. We all have them at this point!
Chic-er bottoms: Think sleek leggings, tailored joggers, or a pair of trousers in a technical fabric that bridges style and comfort.
Cool but comfy top: Here I'm reaching for oversized hoodies, a cropped sweatshirt, or a perfect white t (always monogrammed, of course).
Unexpected layer: Toss on a longline (eg knees or below) coat or vest, an oversize denim jacket, or a barn jacket (pro-trip: the vintage selection here is popping) for something that doesn’t scream *yard work*.
Accessories: Accessories make the look; I recently learned about seven point styling (thanks, tiktok!) and have been trying to incorporate it into my daily dressing, especially for more casual outfits.. I’ll add a bolder pair of earrings or an extra necklace, throw on a chic neutral baseball cap or pair of statement sunglasses, and a cross body bag to add visual interest and polish.
This is perfect for: errands, coffee-catch ups and the preschool run. Effortless and stylish, but functional enough to get down on the floor to play with a toddler, deal with something sticky, or walk the dog in Seattle rain. Win, win.
currently working on some styling recs for paid subscribers. looking for specific styling inspiration? let me know and I can try to add it in to the list!
I’m not a regular mom, I’m a cool mom:
I take a little bit of a hybrid approach to my newfound time at home: I’m really enjoying planning out my days with Little Bear, getting in a mix of activities and life responsibilities together. In practice that means that I am regularly going from kid-centric to adult-centric activities in an extremely short period of time; think going from Target to the library, having a meeting during nap time and then straight to a parent’s meeting for the co-op in the evening. I want to feel put together enough to make a good impression, but comfortable enough to sit cross-legged on the floor at story time. You know?
Nice sneakers: I love a crisp white sneaker, or a slightly funkier pair with pops of color to add personality (these are great).
Wide leg pants: I love wide leg pants – they are comfy and versatile, and can be dressed up or down depending on your schedule. (I’m fairly loyal to this pair in black and white, or this pair for denim.
Layered sweaters: Whether it’s a cashmere cardigan over a crisp t-shirt or a cozy pullover draped across your shoulders in a button down, fall is sweater weather and you cannot be without them. I always lean towards sweaters with just a touch of pizazz – statement sleeves, interesting detailing, a rollneck, or unique colors.
Statement jacket: I always finish off these outfits with a unique jacket – a longer trench, a quilted jacket (I love this reversible one, or an option like this more technical one!), or a bright and colorful wool coat to tie everything together (I have a pink wool coat I picked up on a trip to Japan in 2017 that continues to be one of my favorite winter items!).
This is my go-to uniform for work or home, with a mix and max functionality that enables about a zillion different outfits with different pieces.
We should do brunch:
Since I’m not currently working in a professional context, I have found that I’m using date nights and other actual outings (girls nights, personal outings, etc) as a much bigger opportunity to get dressed up than I have in the past – using what I learned during my winter style challenge last year and knowing how quickly I get sick of the jeans / leggings / sneakers combo, I’m opting for more out there options (for me) and having a lot of fun with it to pull off a relaxed but elevated, dare I even say fashion-forward look.
Funky pants, Midi skirt or dress: whatever it is, we’re choosing something flowy, chic (and with an elastic waist!) like a satin skirt, an oversized maxi, or silk pants.
Layers for days: I’ll opt for a chunky cardigan, oversized sweater or vest (sweater weather, duh), and/or a trench coat to tie it together.
Fancy footwork: a pointed mule, loafers, a slight heel in cap-toe flats, or a stylish ankle boot to elevate the look
Accessories, obviously: Sunglasses and a colorful crossbody bag, at minimum (I use my fancy option often if not more than my casual option, and I consider that balance).
The result: a polished outfit with minimal effort.
Please hire me:
Your girl is on the job hunt and actively interviewing so I occasionally need to go from toddler mom to She-e-o and back in the span of about two hours. I’m keeping my workwear simple, chic and formulaic so I can focus on acing the interview, not worrying about what I’m wearing both online and in person. I want to feel professional, stylish and approachable and always stick to this lineup:
Tailored trousers – I have both a full length, flowy pair or a more crisp ankle length pair – both are comfortable but professional and match just about anything.
Simple base: I have 3-4 simple but polished worktops (button down, short sleeve, long sleeve and sleeveless) that can be endlessly combined to make the perfect outfit no matter the vibe (you can see an example of how I mixed and matched them for a recent work trip on this post!)
Classic Layers: Depending on the formality of the interview, I’ll reach for either a high quality cashmere sweater (more casual: recruiter calls, early stage online interviews) like this one that’s been in my closet since 2015, or a classic navy blazer (more formal: in person or later stage calls) like this one that I purchased as part of a suit for a major work event last year .
Elegant Accessories: I keep things minimal with day to day stud earrings, a watch, a belt and loafers or flats with a small block heel. I always carry a slightly nicer work bag (have had this one since 2018 and she’s held up like a star) with copies of my resume, a notebook and pen, and my laptop with a charger.
If I Only Get One Real Date Night Each Month, Let’s Make it COUNT:
I won’t lie to y’all, it’s hard out here in the toddler trenches, and babysitters can be hard to reliably come by. When a date night finally rolls around I am making the absolute most of it with extra glam and wearing as many of my nicer clothes as possible:
Killer shoes: We’re talking heels, we’re talking knee high boots (shout out the the pair of Frye boots I worked hours of overtime to afford in 2011 so I could fit in with the cool girls at college, you’ve been re-soled and we’re so back), we’re talking the heeled boots that I rarely (never) wear to take the toddler to the playground but absolutely love. Doesn’t matter where we’re going, I’m wearing them all.
“The” dress: I can’t be the only one who has bought dresses they are absolutely obsessed with only for it to hang in the closet because no occasion felt “special” enough. After having my son in 2022 I became committed to just wearing them. Have been most recently wearing the heck out of this beautiful green silk option that has been my 2024 special event go-to.
Statement Coat: Turn those heads y’all. Leather motorcycle jacket, tailored trench, or colorful wool coat all keep you cozy and elevate the look.
Polish it off: Trade in the XXL tote you lug around for errands for a smaller clutch or structured handbag. Throw in a touch of bold glam on your makeup with a colorful lip or swoop of a smokey eye, and that “nice” jewelry that you never wear. Now is the time!
would love to hear from you: what are your go-to formulas for shopping your own closet or avoiding the urge to splurge?
HOW I’M BRINGING THIS TO LIFE IN PRACTICE:
Decided the easiest thing would be to start sharing what I *actually* wore in a given week (rather than attempting to make anymore fancy graphics). Without further ado: A WEEK IN OUTFITS!
plus the tips and tricks I’m using to make getting dressed a breeze:
Work it out on the remix: Listen y’all: fall fashion has BEEN DONE. Sweaters, boots and jeans, chunky fabrics, autumnal colors. You already have outfits you know and love that can be slightly remixed (rather than completely revamped). Try starting with a combination you loved last year and adding to it (see: seven point styling), or swapping out an element to make something that feels completely different.
Example: Take a simple jeans, sneakers, oversized button down outfit (a go to!) to the next level by adding a cardigan over the shoulders, a baseball hat, and a different hairstyle.
When in doubt, make it monochrome: I have been obsessed with monochrome styling for years and have only recently started to feel brave enough to do it. Especially if you’re a shopper who leans towards a few specific colors (ahem, hello, it’s me!) It’s an interesting way to utilize items you already own in a new way. This works from athleisure to workwear, and it’s been a lot of fun to try out this season.
Example: I’ve been opting to layer colors (even and especially if they aren’t the exact same color) and am currently loving monochrome outfits with different shades of green or navy, as well as creams, whites and tans. This especially works to elevate more casual outfits in the athleisure realm!
Steal like an artist: (reference, if you’re unfamiliar). Sometimes you simply just run out of ideas and the itch to shop is more about novelty than it is about needing something new. I love to pull up pinterest or another fashion influencer I like and save outfits to see if I can recreate the ~vibe~ of them with items I already own. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match, but no one said you can’t study, transform and remix the homework on this assignment ;)
WHERE I’M SHOPPING SECONDHAND:
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