MOOD: Fall

F A L L.

It’s the most anticipated sartorial season of the year (for most people). Today’s post isn’t a forecast of trends or styles, but more of a personal forecast on what I’m looking forward to wearing, both in items and simple uniforms.

But first…

FALL STYLE GOALS:

1  //  To get dressed each morning with ease.

2  //  To keep a cohesive color palette in my outfits, feeling styled (not cluttered) amidst layers.

3  //  On days I feel stuck (i.e.: getting dressed seems harder than it should), remember two key fall uniforms to fall back on. (More on those down below.)

WHAT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO WEARING:

Kick Flare Jeans : – (pictured above, in olive) As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I bought a pair of these Reformation jeans, and I was thrilled to find this style in a length that works for my body type. Most often, cropped jeans are too short for me. These are just long enough that my ankles don’t have to freeze in the winter. I love the shape of jeans that are wider at the bottom because they work well to balance out my upper body (wide shoulders). Everlane also makes a crop flare (in four shades). The 26.5″ inseam was too short for me, but maybe it would be a good fit for you.

Chunky Sweaters: – (pictured L to R: ochre, cream waffle and handknit) Chunky sweaters have been popular for the last few years, and I am excited to keep wearing mine. Everlane gifted me the ochre sweater and, so far, the thick cotton knit looks good with all the jeans I’ve tried it on with. I bought the cream waffle knit sweater from Everlane last year (it’s currently on sale!) for those extra cold days. The close-knit collar works wonders at keeping me warm while I watch the kids play on the playground after school. I currently have two handknit sweaters in my collection (besides the one I made) and they are real treasures for me. There is something about a sweater that is made slowly and with the very best fibers and design that makes it feel like an heirloom. I have a wool cardigan by L’envers and a cotton cardigan by Babaà.

Suede Boots: – (pictured) I had the loveliest pair of suede fast fashion boots a few years back, and they eventually got so torn up I had to part with them. Ever since, I’ve desired to add another pair back to my closet. The textured leather is a welcome change of pace amidst a sea of sensible, smooth leather winter shoes. I’ve been stalking out the brand Aquatalia, who makes waterproof suede booties. A reader introduced me to the brand awhile back, and I was reminded about them when Lee shared about the brand in her stories. I’m still hunting for my perfect pair, and I like that this brand offers waterproof suede, and that their boots are made in Italy. For those of you who have fewer weather restrictions, ABLE has some cute (and affordable) suede boot offerings, and Everlane still has their rust option for sale.

Hoop Earings: – (pictured in gold, and in tortoise) I can’t get enough of hoop earrings lately. I know they are super trendy right now, but they are kind of classic at the same time. It makes me thankful I held on to a thin pair I bought several years ago, that I’ve recently brought out of the archives. Baleen Jewelry sent me a pair of gold hoops (pictured) last month, and I love them. I have worn them at least a dozen times or more in the last few weeks. They are perfect, ‘barely there’ in feeling, but eye-catching enough to augment a basic look. Obviously I am eyeing the tortoise pair too. Because how cute would those be with the outfit pictured?

Balloon Sleeves: – (pictured in sky blue) It looks like I’m getting sucked into all the trends lately. *Sigh* I couldn’t pass on this opportunity to make myself feel beautiful in this ultra-feminine style top. It started when I bought one from Doên, and I became addicted to how I felt in that shirt. Recently I learned of the small maker Muumuu (thanks Erin!) and fell in love with her peasant top (pictured). It’s made from thick linen and has the prettiest ties on the bottom of the sleeves. If you follow me on Instagram you probably saw that I already bought it in cream. If you’re in the market to support a very new, emerging designer, this top is on sale through the end of the month. I also like this minimalist take on a balloon sleeve top.

Leather Bags: – (pictured in cognac and black) It’s no secret I’ve been living in my vintage straw tote this summer. It simply fits the casual, (mostly) laid back vibe of summer, and makes almost all my summer clothing look better. But, I am excited to hook back up with my leather bags this fall. They felt a little too serious for summer, but I think they will be just the right amount of serious for fall. Everlane sent me their new Form Bag to test out and, honestly, it’s prettier than I expected. It looked a little technical on their website because of the non-leather strap, but it comes off differently in person. I plan to put this bag to a field test – fancy talk for use it daily – for at least seven days in a row, see how I like it, and then decide whether it earns a permanent home in my closet. Results to come. The black bag pictured above I bought in March, and I’m a huge fan of it. It’s simple, crossbody, and fits more than just my wallet. It also performs nicely in wet conditions.

Kamm Pants: – (pictured in Skintone 34) I’m looking forward to busting out my brown and navy pairs of these beloved, high-waisted, wide-leg pants. The thick fabric makes them too hot for summer time but fall is prime Kamm Pant weather. I look forward to pairing them with sweaters, both chunky, and fine, clogs and high rise tennis shoes.

Faded Black Denim: – (pictured) Ever since I laid eyes on Rachel Comey’s slim legion pants in washed black I knew this denim shade was in my future. I didn’t end up ordering that particular pair because the price point is quite high. Sometime later, I was thrilled to see washed black denim styles announced on Everlane’s coming soon page. I bought myself a pair in the Cheeky Straight, in my usual Everlane denim size (27). I’ll keep you posted!

Clog Boots: – (pictured) I bought these last fall, and they were my most worn pair of shoes over the cold months! Merging the comfort of clogs with the warmth of boots is genius. These have a lacquered base so they’re extra handy in the rain. I waited years to pull the trigger on investing in these, and they were totally worth the wait.

Vintage Denim: – (not pictured) This probably goes without saying, but I am very excited to wear my favorite vintage jeans again. They make the most basic outfit look good. Plus they are super comfy because they’ve been worn in so much over the years.

TWO ‘SAFETY NET’ UNIFORMS:

Every fall, when we transition from simple summer dressing to mixing layers and staying warm, I tend to feel overwhelmed by the possibilities. Suddenly, getting dressed seems a lot trickier. This year my plan is to keep these two simple formulas in the back of my mind, to reference on those days when pulling together an outfit just isn’t coming easily.

FORMULA 1  //  Comfy (semi-cropped) jeans, chunky sweater, and ankle boots. If I want to dress up the look I might add pumps or smart flats .

FORMULA 2  //  Same jeans, a layering sweater (like cashmere) or a cute crewneck sweatshirt, and hightop sneakers. Finished off with a ‘third-piece’ topper like this cotton canvas trench.

When shaping your fall closet in the coming months, it’s good to consider how you want to feel in your clothes. I want to feel vibrant, beautiful and unfussy. These words go a long way in shaping the purchases I make. How do you want to feel in your clothes?