Finally Embracing Fall: Inspo + Vibes for the season ahead
not trends, just thoughts on what feels fresh and current rn
I officially feel it in the air — it’s chilly. Consistently, every morning. It’s dark when I wake up. (SOB!) I’m thinking about making time to plant a few last plants (fall is an ideal time to plan hydrangeas BTW!) before we get any frosts and in time to take advantage of rain. But the sun is still strong, and in the middle of the day there is no feeling like the one of stepping outside and letting the late-September sun warm your face. Of pulling on a thick knit sweater at the end of the day, while you’re still wearing sandals. Of being able to eat all your meals outside without anyone complaining about the heat or humidity.
Fall is here! My favorite season, and, in my opinion, the best season to get dressed. The feeling of reaching for pieces you haven’t worn in months, of getting ready to do a closet transition and the joy of re-discovering and unpacking pieces that will soon be on regular rotation again is just SO FRESH. Add in the fact that it’s knits, jackets, jeans and heavier-weight pants, longer sleeves AND that so many staples from summer are still weather appropriate (I’m not putting away my linen or sandals just yet!). Perfection. And, of course, the fall fashion and new arrivals are top notch.
It’s also the best time of year to seek inspiration via style and fashion - NYFW, fall catalogues, styling in the windows of brick and mortar stores, collection drops are coming on a regular basis (Donni Fall 3 is BEYOND - these pieces feel more wearable to me than the prior fall collections because I could see myself wearing them for work and life. I LOVE these sweater pants.) …it’s all just so fun to look at and see, and it’s everywhere. My screenshot folder is chock full of outfits I dying to recreate with what I already have, my wishlist is growing, my instagram saves are rapidly rising, and let’s not even discuss the open tabs…
Even though I’m not really an analytic fashion gal (I live my day job in business cases, strategic planning, analyses, impact assessments, and scenario planning — I need a break from it!, and clothes and fashion bring the break both in subject matter, and in the domain of thinking!) — the season change is a time to do a 360 (groan!) review of what is happening (and what I have) before I make any significant purchases, and to fill my “outfit ideas” bucket.
Observing — whether it’s catalogues, social media, or Substacks (I’m sharing some of my favorite recent reads about fall fashion at the end of this piece), and noticing (this is a code word for analyzing because I just said I don’t like to analyze clothes, but the reality is that it’s analytics-adjacent 🫠) what I like, what feels interesting, what I could see myself wearing in my actual life, what I might love the look of that I don’t really have in my closet — helps me feel refreshed, ready and organized for the season ahead.
Pinterest is, IMO, still the best place to gather all this inspiration (
knows) — it takes so little time, you can aggregate from multiple sources, the algorithm doesn’t infuriate me, and as far as doom-scrolling goes, it’s pretty benign. It also feels more creative-process than research and analysis exercise to curate a lot of images that appeal to you for one reason or another over a long-ish period of time and then come back and edit.
What I love about all these outfits is that they feel utterly wearable. You could create at least several of them from pieces you already have. You could wear them to an office, to work from home, to run errands, to do school drop off, on the weekends. A key theme that I see is a very earthy, grounded color story (which ties back to wearability) — not talking about wearing just a single color or a capsule wardrobe, but colors that add depth and interest and can be worn together in lots of different ways - bringing cohesion. The tailoring is relaxed (read: comfortable!). And there is a ton of texture and layers - variety in texture is probably the easiest way to think about taking an outfit from good to great — great outfits have a variety of texture, and imo fall is one of the most fun times to pull multiple sources of texture into your outfits — pull together Suede, Denim, Leather, cotton, silk, wool + cashmere, play with different weights of fabric, or mix materials with visual depth (corduroy, tweed). Layering includes shirts under sweaters, blazers over knits, scarves and coats and jackets.
Looking for pieces that will help create this look at home? Let’s dive in…
Denim
Personally I don’t wear a ton of denim in the summer unless it’s denim shorts. Something about jeans in the heat gives me the ick! But fall rolls around and I’m excited to lean into all things denim. And, I LOVE all the sophisticated denim jackets that I’m seeing.
A more polished cut, longer shape, with a little more of a dressy feel (either through a darker wash or a more clean-line cut) — this is not the jean jacket of my high school years. I personally have this one, which I got last fall. But there are many I love.
I’m hunting for a denim button down - not chambray, and not a jacket/big shirt situation, but something that I could tuck into trousers or jeans. On my radar is this and this (25% off at time of publishing)
On the pant front, I’m excited to wear a darker, wide-leg wash (the levi rib-cage is holy grail IMO!), and a medium-to-dark straight-leg (this pair looks almost like it has a tiny kick to it, which I love!)
Lightweight Outerwear
There are so many great jackets right now, my goodness!! I love when fall rolls around and you can wear favorite coats (and you’re excited to wear them — so much so that I wrote about a favorite barn jacket I have in this piece by
.)Obviously, a big suede jacket moment happening — I’m very intrigued (I’m actually lost in an Etsy rabbit hole of vintage western suede jackets - like this one), but haven’t committed.
I also love this! I tried this on at the Buck Mason store and I love it.
Baby Blue
I’m realizing now that my screenshot of my board only shows one or two tiny pops of baby blue, but there are more in the full board, and MANY items on my wishlist. There is just something really lovely about the combo of blues and browns in any shade, and especially an icy, baby blue with a chocolate brown. Yum. (Also a lighter blue shoe paired with a darker wash jean - chefs kiss!)
I am obsessed with these loafers, these flats and this sweater.
Okay and this cardigan too.
Another fun way to channel this color is via a perfectly crisp blue button down — like this one or this one!
Green
I love green. A lot. Over the past few years I’ve added lots of green into my closet as it’s a great way (for me, at least) to add color while feeling neutral-adjacent, and cohesive because it can be worn with so many colors. There are so many green pieces available this season - in basically every shade and style, and for a green-lover like me, it’s a dream come true!
I just got these (In the green print) and they are just SO FUN, with a great cut - I already want the black! A green trouser would be great for the office. Love these if you’re looking for something more casual. These too.
This is a fab coat. I already have this sweater in several colorways, including olive green, but it if I didn’t, it would be on my list!
If you have an event coming up, can I suggest considering this (objectively a perfect dress!)?
Great long sleeve shirt!
Suede Sneakers
I always get questions about what sneakers or walking shoes to wear, especially from people who want to branch away from their sambas. This year, if I was forced to suggest a brand to investigate it would be autry. And if there was a style, it would be a sleek, stylish suede sneaker.
Green lovers should check out these or these (yes, more green). I’m not familiar with this brand, but I love the look of these.
Chocolate brown is divine, and I love the sportier look of these
Love every color-way of these.
If you want a pair no one else is going to have - it’s these (a great european brand!)
Silk triangle scarves
I am not an expert secondhand shopper, but I am working on it, and I KNOW that you should consider shopping secondhand for an amazing silk scarf (or two!). Tie it in a french knot, in a front knot, a classic drape, or add it as an accessory to your bag.
This vintage mulberry is fun for a horse lover, this vintage Hermes is beautiful, I love the color on this one.
Big (Suede) (Bucket) Bags
I love big bags! I don’t like to have to contort and jam pack an everyday bag that I’m carrying around. And, my reality is that I am often shlepping a lot of stuff. So, seeing so many larger bags, with a practical shape (a bucket) is very inspiring to me.
It should be no surprise that this one in particular caught my eye (I LOVE the shape of this bag - Row Park-adjacent with a slightly more tolerable price tag).
And then, this bag, I wrote about extensively in my last newsletter.
Coach reminds me of the bags my babysitter carried when I was younger, that I Yearned for. So happy to see them back!
Blue suede bucket? Say less.
Shoes that show your ankles
Boot season will be here soon enough, so now is the time to embrace shoes that don’t require socks (or calf coverage!). Show a little ankle baby!!
Practical first, because they are also cute - that means penny loafers, potentially the perfect loafer, and this pair I’m deeply into.
Ballet flats (love this new style from Margaux!) are a love language of mine. Can’t get enough of these.
These are the perfect black suede flats.
Maybe even a low slingback? I have these and have been wearing on repeat!
It seems fitting that as I write this we’re gearing up for an unseasonably hot last weekend of September. I will NEVER turn my nose up at a weekend like this — outside all day long, quick hose off, watching football with friends and neighbors in our backyard. Heaven. AND, I am excited for fall! Thank you so much for reading and being here. I can’t wait to share more pieces, images that are inspiring me, outfit ideas and inspiration, what’s hitting my wishlist and what I end up buying! If you are looking for anything specific, or trying to figure out how to wear something or what to wear to something you have on your calendar, drop a comment in the chat + I will respond!
A few things I just can’t get enough of at the moment:
I was just in Italy for work for a whirlwind of a week, and I loved having my bluetooth eye mask — helped me relax and drift off every night even though my body was confused about what time it was the entire time I was good. Also, one of these everynight (current melatonin of choice!) helped! If you’re curious, I documented everything I wore/packed for a work trip to Europe on instagram!
I carried on for the week, so the beauty selection was carefully curated - I was gifted this serum, and I really love it. Kept my skin looking hydrated and fresh through long days, late nights, and a much busier social schedule that I am used to at home! Especially like that you can buy refills.
Every time I am on a plane, I watch Crazy Rich Asians. I posted about it on my instagram, and it appears that MANY of us feel the same way? Do we agree? What are your other plan movie favorites???
I’m currently listening to "These Summer Storms” and basically cannot stop!
My current Friday night vice is one gin and tonic with friends with an obscene amount of wine, and then a Cann drink — my husband and I LOVE the Spritz. Perfect to relax, feel a little buzz, but no hangover, and a great night of sleep. Can’t recommend enough.
PS: you can shop all the pieces pictured + linked in this piece here
ICYMI:
How to Make Getting Dressed Easier: Cracking the Transitional Season Code
How to Make Sure You’re Going to (Actually) Wear Your Clothes)
From the Archives: Never Skip Getting Dressed
From the Archives: A seasonal shopping approach for people who hate the term "shop strategically"
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I loved so much of this! I didn’t realize I need a Bluetooth eye mask until now. Love the AYR button down and Alex Mill coat!!! You curated so many awesome pieces, Christina!!!
Yes to Crazy Rich Asians being a plane must watch! Also when Harry met sally :)