fall moodboard
my year of growth and not wearing black
As much want to live in the peter pan syndrome of summer lasting forever, there’s this inevitability as we circle labor day weekend of soon returning to reality. But while I bemoan the ending of unfettered hedonism and sunshine, I very much love transitional dressing and fall activities.
After last week’s piece, someone asked for a post dedicated to fall — I’ve been going back and forth on how I wanted to structure it. I think the natural inclination is to talk about fall trends that I’m excited about, but I feel like this also perpetuates this cycle of hyper-consumption and impulsive spending. There’s something about posting outfit videos and writing about fashion that makes me really crave novelty over rationality, but I’m trying to be more mindful with what and how I consume things this year.
So I’m coming to you with three fit kits (i.e. outfit mood boards) containing a mix of vintage and hopefully staple pieces, with an eye towards timelessness and utility.
I always love hearing requests, so as always feel free to leave a comment or dm me!
✦✧✦
fit kit 001: the ny tube
A fun fact for you is that I grew up not watching cable television — so it wasn’t until I was sitting on a transatlantic flight earlier this year that I watched sex and the city for the first time. I know it’s so ohio-core of me but I can’t help identify with the scenes of carrie typing on her laptop in her chaotic 30-something manhattan apartment whenever I’m pulling together moodboards and reference pictures for this blog.
I found two things really striking about the show: 1/ how so much of what the characters of SATC grapple with in a show written 25 years are still spot on today (i.e. inane drama involving commitment-phobes, sceney parties, and if successful women are doomed in finding a partner) and 2/ the effortless magic of the tube top!
I got my first tube top (in nearly a decade) this summer courtesy of everlane, and it’s so effortlessly flattering. For the summer months, I’ve been wearing it with boxer shorts or lightweight linen pants, but I’m definitely planning on stretching their use into the early fall months. There’s something so cool and polished about a tube top with a crisp pair of trousers and little sling back heels — think ‘90s Calvin Klein runway.
The perfect tube top for me is a stretchy jersey material, but I think the more structured linen ones are great if you want something a bit more dressed up. I love this one from toteme, styled with a slouchy leather clutch and it’s on sale from the RealReal!
✦✧✦
fit kit 002: new age prep
One of my favorite outfit formulas is mixing contrasting silhouettes — think “big pants, little shirt” tiktok sound. For the summer time, I’ve been loving “big shirt, little pants”, but as we’re rolling into fall I come to you with a new iteration of the formula — big shirt, little skirt and big boots — i.e. a big little big sandwich.
I’ve seen a lot of buzz around moto boots lately (miu miu ones come to mind), but last weekend I was at a music festival in the vineyard where it rained the whole weekend. My friends dashed out to buy rain boots, and it made me realize there’s something great about a pair of tall utilitarian rubber soled boots. I have a pair from the row sample sale (which I waited 5 hours for) with a lug sole that I’ve been dutifully wearing to get that cost-per-wear down.
You can replace tall boots with long leg warmers and little ballet flats as styled in sandy liang’s fall collection and get the same effect. I know “prep” is having a moment now, but as avery trufleman’s latest season of articles of interest examined — there is so much longevity in classic “ivy” looks.
✦✧✦
fit kit 003: the year of color
Last year when I read ottessa moshfegh’s “my year of rest and relaxation” I immediately declared 2022 my year of post-investment-banking rest and rejuvenation. In comparison, 2021 was my year of hedonism (least we forget hot vax summer). And for those that are new here, 2023, is my year of growth and discomfort.
I think my wardrobe has somewhat mirrored that path — 2021 was my year of revolve 2-day shipping and panicked event dressing. Everything I bought was live for the night, hyper-trendy and semi-disposable — ie a lot of overpriced corsets and meshy dresses for the never ending boat parties with carlita.
I got a new job in 2022, and the return to normalcy ushered into my year of minimalist classics. Everything was «cool, french-girl, carolyn basset, elevated basics». And while I do think upgrading your everyday staple wardrobe is a rite of passage in your 20s — I feel like I over-corrected into only black, white or neutral blazers, trousers and button ups.
I want 2023 to be my year of thoughtful experimentation. Of pushing myself beyond the black, grey and browns that I always gravitate towards and stepping into weirder, more colorful palettes.
The tough part for me about introducing color or more funk pieces is that I oftentimes struggle to make them versatile just because there are fewer permutations of “matching outfits”. I read this fascinating piece earlier from LP about the rise of Christopher John Rogers, where he talks about how for so long there has been “just one idea of what “chicness is” — and it’s the scandi/parisian palette of neutral colors and pared down silhouettes.
Luckily, fall is a great time to start to experiment with colors because fall palettes are typically more muted and approachable. This mossy green cardigan calls to me, and I can see it being a timeless and seasonless piece — a layering piece for fall/winter and draped over the shoulder for a neutral summer outfit.
✦✧✦
p.s. a wishlist!
As for things on my wishlist, I really need to up my accessories game! I didn’t own a baseball cap until this month and only have a few pieces of jewelry that I’ve collected over the years, and really want to have more mix and match pieces for layering. Other items!
Hope this post satiates your curiosity for some things I have my eye on this fall and for those of you that read this blog for the insufferable navel-gazing thot pieces, don’t worry more of those to come soon <3