Fall Vibes - Part 4 - Putting it all together
Navigating the "sushi conveyor belt" of trends & maximizing your fall wardrobe
If you don’t understand the sub header, you need to watch this TikTok. I saw this shared by an internet friend of mine and I’m obsessed (Heather also writes a fab substack
- check it out! So well articulated — I think trends are fun and interesting to observe and look at, but, as you know if you’ve read Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, they are not all for me. Nor should they be - if we all just only wore the trends every season, it would be weird. Unsustainable, terrible for our wallets, likely to sit unused/unworn in your closet, and also, you totally lose the “personal” in personal style. When you think about fashion and style, and even what your own personal style is, it’s important to know that you can really like something, but also recognize it’s not your personal style because you wouldn’t wear it. It’s actually key to know this because it’s a major bummer to buy something that then sits in your closet because you’re never going to wear it! Similarly, you can also totally reject a particular style or trend (for literally any reason) and still have fantastic personal style.I have a lot of plans to get more into personal style, and how you can think about finding/defining your own personal style (and also, how I might be able to help you, if you are looking for help!) I hope to get to it before I go back to work in a little over a month (the clock is ticking!), but I’m also soaking up as much time with my baby, and my older kids as much as I possibly can. I’ll find time to write in the future, but I won’t have as much flexibility to do a random fun activity with my daughter on a Tuesday morning once I’m back at work full-time!
I wanted to share a lot of inspiration about how to style and “put together” a few really cool new pieces with things you already have in your closet, to provide a lot of inspiration of what to wear this fall. Sometimes, seeing how other people are styling different pieces really helps me figure out whether or not something is right for me - whether or not it’s a trend I want to “take off the conveyor belt.”
If you are on Instagram and follow anyone who focuses on fashion, style, or really products of any kind, you have to know that there is so much pressure out there to buy, buy, buy. Trust me, I see it, I’ve been swept up in it, and I know that, to a certain extent, I am part of it. But really I am trying to carve out a little place for myself that is focused yes, on buying, but also, on giving you tons of ideas for how to wear the new piece(s), so that you get a ton of use out of the things that you add to your closet, and don’t just constantly feel like you need to buy again. Your closet can (and should!) be full of things that you love and reach for regularly.
And there might be some things in there that you only wear once in awhile, which is okay too. I don’t want to be constricted by a capsule wardrobe, or really have any rules for what to buy or add to my closet. There is nothing wrong with having 10 (or more!) pairs of jeans in your closet. But it really sucks when all those jeans just sit on a rack and you keep shopping for a new pair, and feel like you have nothing to wear. It sucks even more when you spend more money than you want to or should (or can afford!) on the many, many jeans. Might as well have a couple pairs you love and reach for all the time.
Clothes are meant to be worn! Wear the outfit! Put on something that makes you feel like yourself and see how it impacts your day. I say to my daughter, (who is newly obsessed with what she wears every day), “ you look like you could do anything in that outfit.” That comment is not just for kids, it’s for everyone! I want us all to feel that way when we put on clothes.
Adding just one or two pieces to your closet can make a huge impact! So, as you are shopping this season (and every season), keep this in mind. Sometimes all you need are fresh ideas on how to get more runway out of the things that you already have! Kelly McCoyd is another creator who provides so much of this inspiration. I have been following her for years - she provides so many styling tips, ways to wear pieces, and is clearly a really conscious consumer - her reels are FULL of information on the pieces she adds to her closet, detailed fit analyses, why she selected them and the many ways she wears them.
I’m not going to get into every single trend today, but I picked a few of my favorites, and am showing how I would create outfits around them, in so many different ways - both with other pieces that feel “in style” this season, as well as pieces you likely already have at home. If there are other trends you are looking for ideas on how to style, don’t hesitate to join the chat, or reach out on instagram!
Let’s dive into it, starting with Wide Leg Jeans. As you can see, I’m highlighting dark wash jeans here - this feels like the most seasonally-appropriate way to dip into this trend. You could easily swap in a pair of black jeans, or even a baggier cuffed jeans (recently finding myself considering giving these a try!)
Wide Leg Jeans at every price point: $ (I took a tall in these for full-length - can wear with flats; I am 5’6” and the ankle length was too short) / $ / $$ / $$$ (pictured), in stock here
The first thing you are going to notice here is that I included a lot of different shoes - I didn’t do this because I think you need all these shoes, I did it to show how you can wear Wide Leg Jeans with SO MANY different shoes (basically, any shoe or boot!) That makes them incredibly versatile!
Look 1: Wear with a light-weight knit in a blue to dip your toes into a tonal look! Pair with ankle/mid-calf kitten-heel boots to make the look a little dressier (I love this style boot because the heel height is ultra wearable.) I could see this for work (if you’re in a casual office), out to dinner or drinks, or to any kind of meeting you might have.
Look 2: This is your casual weekend look, to run errands, grab brunch, a coffee, whatever!
Look 3: As the weather starts to cool, pair with an oversized sweater (brown shown here to embrace the chocolate tones that are so in this season) and loafers. Change the look by adding a belt and tuck in your sweater.
Look 4: Wear this for date night, or even work to dinner/drinks. A friend recently recommended Buck Mason basics to me, and I’m deeply intrigued. A black tank is a great canvas for your favorite necklaces, add your lady jacket for a layer (or a blazer, or cardigan), a simple belt, and a ballet flat! Change it up with an ankle boot, a point-toe heel or loafers!
Next up, the Maxi Slip Skirt- which you might think you’re only going to wear for special occasions, but I actually think can be dressed up and down! I picked a creme colored skirt for the collage, but I love in black, navy, chocolate brown, gold…
Silky Slip Skirt at every price point: $ / $$ / $$ / $$$
Look 1: We’re starting fancy. Wear this to all your holiday events. Add a black blazer if you need an additional layer! If you have a knee-high boot, they would work great!
Look 2: Lunch or brunch with friends, or into the office. Pair with any color t-shirt or tank, or any flat shoe!
Look 3: Slightly elevated weekend look, out to dinner, a school event, or even a cozy holiday party. I love the little western nod with this belt, but you could add in any belt (or remove it altogether and wear the sweater untucked, or just tucked into your bra.
Look 4: Another easy look - wearing a slip skirt with sneakers immediately makes the whole look more casual, and makes the skirt that much more wearable. If it’s warm you could wear a simple tee instead of a sweater, but I love the tonal look!
Lady Jackets have been on trend for a few seasons, and there a few different styles you might pick - a more cardigan-style (softer, more like a sweater) or a more blazer style (more structured). The pictured jacket is more blazer-like, but I think this styling would work for either kind. I like that a jacket like this adds immediate elegance & femininity to your look, but can also be added to a really casual outfit as well.
Lady Jacket at any price point: $ / $$ / $$$
Look 1: Any jeans you have in your closet (this pair is my latest obsession) + lady jacket and boots can be your uniform all fall and into winter. You could pretty much wear this to any occasion!
Look 2: Take the jacket into the office with a pair of wide-leg trousers and loafers. Want to be a little more dressed up? Slip in a kitten-heel pump or boot.
Look 3: Brunch? Breakfast plans? Work from home? I like the juxtaposition of the barrel-leg jeans which feel a little more masculine to me with the feminine jacket. I’m still on the fence about the barrel-leg look, but this full outfit is something I could see myself wearing!
Look 4: Switch out your standard blazer and add a lady jacket over a simple black slip skirt and wear to any event you have coming up this season.
Blazers are really always in style - you can’t go wrong, they are a wardrobe staple and workhorse, but they are back in a bag way this season with a few details that make them distinctive - the first is wearing them more as a jacket and less as just a blazer (in other words, can be worn so many ways and for so many occasions!), and the second is an oversized style but not your dad’s oversized, ill-fitting blazer, but an oversized look with a clearly defined waist, so it still looks nicely tailored.
Oversized Blazer at any price point: $$ / $$ / $$ / $$ / $$$ / $$$
Look 1: A weekend look - try something different with your standard jeans and tee.
Look 2: Lunch or brunch with friends, a casual dinner out or dinner party at home, maybe even a casual workwear option.
Look 3: Headed to the ballet this holiday season? Here you go!
Looks 4 & 5: Two true office-friendly looks depending on your preferences and style!
Okay, that’s it for today! As a reminder, you can browse all my favorite finds for fall here and all the things that are catching my eye while browsing online here (this is a work in progress, but I’m working hard to get this more updated!) If you want to follow me on @ct_shopguide I’d love it! Thank you for taking the time to read this post, I am so glad you are here. If you like what you’re reading, please consider sharing this newsletter. All products highlighted are chosen by me, and some may be affiliate links. Your support is appreciated!