What did my closet need for fall?
A few thick, high-quality t-shirts to wear to playdates with Sloane. A jersey dress that can be worn to the office or with boots to dinner. A $148 black purse that looks like a much more expensive Toteme bag. And the ALC jacket that I’ve rented several times and just decided to buck up and buy.
There will probably be a few more things that creep onto my wishlist when I deep clean my closet in two weeks, but until then, I am trying to make the most of what I have.
This got me thinking, I’ve fallen so deeply into my toddler-Mom, law firm partner bubble that I barely know what other women are shopping for this holiday season. I have a post draft going of how to wear ankle boots to work (as that was a popular request last week), but as my creative well is feeling a bit dry: Tell me, ladies, what are you hunting for as we enter the fall season?
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I like the drop waist dress trend, looking for one that’s casual. I’m also looking for an adult/grown up version of the track pant, like loose athletic pant, trend.
Oh and outfits for a girls weekend in Savannah next weekend! Our agenda includes puzzles, mahjong, cozy dinner out and a ghost tour.
I just went on a girl’s trip to Savannah last weekend! You’ll have a lovely time :-).
I am trying a couple drop waists from Abercrombie…they’re on the way so no review yet, but liked the prices and selection of prints/solids.
It is still warm where I am, thankfully, but I have been picking up some cashmere sweaters on Poshmark. I do most of my shopping that way at this point.
I just picked up this blazer on clearance from Express, though – I’ve been stalking it since May (!) and got lucky enough to spot it in time before it sold out. https://www.express.com/clothing/women/Editor-Studio-Stretch-Twill-Fitted-One-Button-Blazer/pro/06747054/color/Thornberry/ was $148, clearanced to $50. I feel like its a nice shade for autumn!
I might get a new pair of jeans though – I’ve gained some weight and the pairs I own are less comfy.
I keep seeing a lot of suede. I’m personally looking for a suede shacket/jacket to layer over jeans. Looking at one by Reformation or Boden.
Apparently, dark wash jeans are also a thing this year.
A chic raincoat- Does one exist? Why are trenchcoats not actually water resistant?
It’s a very femme style but I love my raincoat from Rainsisters and get compliments whenever I wear it. It’s soft, waterproof, and the deep hood is very helpful for extra windy days.
These are so Beautiful! Thanks for the suggestion!
I bought and love the Wesley II trench raincoat from Helly Hansen. It is double breasted, has real belt loops and a hideable hood, and zippered pockets, all while being fully waterproof: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_ca/w-welsey-ii-trench-insulated-53314?srsltid=AfmBOopEAbFwqoAT8KvVU_EMQeg9jfdm6AL6_iFLwk8v0PQF91jJ5E6A
Whoa, thanks for these great suggestions!
I have this one in navy and it’s perfection. Windproof, Waterproof and breathable. https://rain-couture.nl/products/tailored-trenchcoat-beige?variant=42251104354558
I’ve fallen hard for combat boots. I bought a pair of Thursday combat boots for women in a chocolate and a pair of Sorel laceups off ebay in a lighter tan. I am planning to wear them with my cropped casual pants that are thicker material like denim and cords. (And esp new pair of barrel jeans from Target in olive green! Wish me luck but I do think it’s a cute look ). I think they will go with a lot of things. Will basically pair with any sweater or long sleeve and my leather cross body from Madewell. (Also an Ebay purchase.)
I always want to see how I can rethink the pieces I already own. Maybe a few small on trend purchases (i.e. mary jane flats), but how can I use what I own to look like a cool mom, even if I’m not?
I need shoes! Something business casual that can go to work, a museum visit with my 2.5 year old, and I can wear to school drop off/pick up this fall. Work heels, ankle boots, and Vejas I have. This would have been a job for Tieks knockoffs in my 20s (I just turned 40).
Comfortable low heeled shoes that are leather/patent, NOT rothy’s. I have Rothy’s and like them fine but for presentation days I need real shoes. My ‘Augusta’ flats from The Fold are awesome but it pains me to pay $545 for another pair. I love the look of the Stuart Weitzman Emilia flats but they are the hardest most uncomfortable shoes I’ve tried on in ages. I’ve heard similar things about the Sarah Flint flats which otherwise fit the bill perfectly.
Yes to low heeled comfy shoes that are not boots.
Co-sign!
I hate to admit it, but Ferragamo Vara (low heel) and Varina (flat) are very comfy for me. I’m a teacher and I stand all day. I usually get them off Postmark because I can’t afford multiple pairs of $895 shoes.
Had success with Vionic, Naturalizer, and Aerosoles. Looked at both their websites and Nordstrom. You can also find them on Amazon as well. I’ve found Naturalizer to be particularly long-lasting, and Vionic to be particularily comfortable!
A lanyard! I need one that can be worn around my neck and hold credit-card size info. You would think this would be easy to find, but you would be wrong! I want something durable, professional, neutral, classic. I am apparently a unicorn hunter.
I have this one and really like it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PKLL672/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
My colleague has this one and I’m a little jealous of how chic it is in person: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CTF3V72K?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1
I love this company: https://boojeebeads.com/collections/lanyards
+1 on lanyard ideas
Hi! Thanks as always for these great posts! Outfits for winters that are 40s/50s (Bay Area) and allows me to be comfortable *and* look put together while taking my elementary-aged kids to weekend sports activities and spending time with friends. Jeans seem to be too stiff and constricting for me, though I love how neat and polished they can present! (M-F lawyer office wear is always great too.)
Classic brown knee high leather boots! Not a lot of stuff or hardware. I had a pair for years that bit the dust around when they went out of style, and I’m SO glad they’re back.
A nice shirt or sweater to wear with jeans for outdoor family pictures in October (or outfit ideas that might work with shirts/sweaters I have). The flowy dresses a lot of people wear isn’t my style, and I already have a lot of black and neutral sweaters, but I want to look current.
More “middle aged mom goes to meetings” options like in the reader question a few weeks ago.
Outfits that I can wear with a bun without looking like a schoolmarm (I usually don’t realize until it’s too late that my hair needs to be washed and the only way to hide it is in a bun, which for some reason then makes me pick only schoolmarm outfits 🫠)
I may also be getting promoted to manager and have direct reports for the first time at the end of October, so suggestions in the $20 range I could give as end-of-year gifts to a team of women and men of with unknown alcohol/food preferences.
Congrats on your promotion! For the $20 range, I have two suggestions: 1) gift card to the local coffee spot. Even for non-coffee drinkers (I’m one!), there are usually other beverage and food options. 2) find out their favorite pens and gift those. Maybe it’s the school supply nerd in me, but it’s thoughtful and there’s nothing like a good pen. 🙂
How to wear my wardrobe with unexpected / fresh color pairings!
I second this. Between the perpetual fear of layoffs, the increased cost-of-living, and the rise of fascism, I’m mostly trying to replace worn-out basics (often secondhand because tariffs) and make the best use I can of what I’ve already got.
Not sure that fascism part was necessary.
I’m looking for cute and casual outfit ideas. For example, an outfit for a date night to alocal brewery or casual restaurant, not trendy hotspot, or something to wear at a friends backyard bbq that lets me chase kids around but look put together.
Oooh. This.
Mary Jane shoes that I can walk a mile (or more), and that are supportive enough to stand around in. But not chunky ones like Birks or Taos. And like another reader, a waterproof raincoat that is at least somewhat chic.
I got a pair of Vionic Mary janes which have been incredible. They came with 2 different soles. One didnt work at all for my flat feet but the other had the arch further back and was perfect. I wore them, without break in, in London, walked a million miles and had no blisters or pain.
https://www.zappos.com/p/womens-vionic-alameda-mary-janes-black-leather/product/9932567/color/72
Re: “waterproof raincoat that doesnt look like Im going running or hiking”?
Try LandsEnd Squall Packable Waterproof Raincoat
I got the one in olive and have been so pleased with the quality. LandsEnd is not my usual store but this jacket is great. No big logos, soft hand in the fabric, waterproof without the serious “swish” sound, covers the bum…I could go on.
Some things I’m looking for/ trying to style – clothes for family photo shoots, black jeans, an impractical purse in a fun color for when I’m out with friends (to balance out the diaper bag I carry the rest of the time).
Holiday photoshoots are around the corner and I loose sleep trying to find coordinating outfits for the family (me, husband, two little girls). I would LOVE some advice – color palettes, how to handle patterns, suggested clothes for me that look good in photos.
Same but for 2 little boys and 2 dogs! I have such a hard time coordinating outfits without buying completely new for everyone. Would love discussion of color palettes and patterns….I’m leaning browns, dark greens, navy/denim, and bordeaux/purple this year but patterns absolutely terrify me, and I feel like it’s a missed opportunity to add visual interest/depth.
Sweaters! I desperately need a black cardigan, but am on the hunt for a few v-neck (cotton or cotton/wool blend) sweaters that can pull double duty at work and on weekends. I’m plus size with a larger chest, so it’s a process.
Echoing the “middle aged mom at a meeting” request – I don’t have kids, but that’s my style at the moment!
For the black cardigan, I bought the 100% Cotton Crewneck Cardigan from Gap in black (I think I might’ve seen it here?) and really like it. I haven’t washed it yet as a caveat, but it’s a good weight and the buttons give it a polished look.
I desperately need a current “throw on top of anything” jacket. Something that will go with a sweater or a tshirt, jeans or joggers.
Is it time to suck it up and spend $$$ for leather? Plunge back into the green anorak of yore? Or is that what barn jackets are for, despite seeming so casual?
I wear my Barbour Beadnell with literally everything up to and including dresses if it’s cold/rainy/windy. It’s super common in the UK to see men and women wearing them over suits into the office so it really is a ‘wear over anything’ type of coat (aside from like, galas or weddings!).
I love jackets and probably have too many of them, but with that caveat, here are a few I’ve bought recently.
Banana Republic Factory Knit Twill Cropped Jacket — I have it in green, but there’s also a taupe if you want a more classic neutral
I also bought a white bomber jacket from J Crew that I don’t see on the website anymore but do see on Poshmark. And I also got a great oversized navy jacket from the weekend section of the Ann Taylor website.
Hope one of those helps or at least gives you ideas!
I’m probably in the minority here, but I work from home part time and I’m trying to spend less right now so anything small that could make outfits I have seem more current is great, or things like styling advice for kid drop off/creative meetings with clients would be amazing!
I like this idea! Kind of like the couple posts Abra has done about taking a look from 2010 and making it modern with all new pieces, but something more recent (like the last 3 years?) and 1-2 changes to jewelry or styling.
What to put on my feet in winter, when I’m wearing dressy wide-leg pants?
+1 to the request for color pairings – it’s easy to grab the same neutral shirt/blouse and pants/skirt combo. (See my last 2 work outfits…)
Skirts I can wear to the office that fit an apple shape. Everything I’ve seen this fall in work wear is pencil city (not flattering), or if it’s a-line it’s too casual in fabric, trim, print, etc.
I’m coming into the daily chaotic mid-life shuffle between mom duties and a no-dress code office job where I want to look pulled together. I committed to a seasonal color palette – so for fall, almost everything is shades of brown, rust orange, olive, navy, and a little red here and there. Tan or brown leather bag, shoes, and belt. Tortoiseshell. Everything outside of the color palette gets stored away for another season. It made life so much easier by reducing visual clutter and giving me something akin to the adult version of garanimals.
I went shopping for a few specific things: comfy closed toed shoes that accommodate an orthotic (Taos and Cole Haan won the day); great everyday pants that are comfy but professional (found them at Everlane and Spanx); sweaters (Quince, Pendleton, Uniqlo) and tees (Quince). All I need now is a versatile fall jacket that can lean professional!
I love Barbour’s line of cropped waxed cotton jackets this season. I’m considering a splurging / investing in one.
I struggle with casual wear. I want to feel stylish and a bit elevated running errands or at a casual family dinner but don’t want to feel overdressed.
How do we dress for fall when it’s still 80 degrees outside without overheating!? Applicable for this DC gal but was the same when I used to live in Southern California! Looking for casual weekend wear /apple picking/ farmers market fits.
I’m really struggling with workwear…I am a pharmaceutical sales rep and the fashion post-covid has REALLY changed…while the young Gen Zs dress *really* casually (leggings, lululemon, scrubs), the “olds” (aka my age) look dated and matronly in their 2000s era Ann Taylor polyester office wear. A suit is no longer required or expected but I also don’t feel comfortable in the casual wear of the youth. I want to look professional but not like I am trying too hard (or too old). There has to be a comfortable middle ground, right?!
I know Abra has turned to the wide leg pant, but I really am still stuck in 2012 with my skinny jeans, so any kind of slim slim pant would be great.
I also have the like Work From Home, occasional Committee meeting life. I really don’t like cardigans for them, because they read a bit frumpy. But I’ll never need a blazer.
And because time has happened to us all, shoes that don’t bother my tendons.
I’m looking for a small, lightweight purse that can be dressed up or down, especially when traveling without my kids and I want necessities (phone, wallet, Kindle, couple makeup items) on my person without needing to be waterproof or fit a bunch of snacks! Zip or other secure, easy top closure is important, and must wear well over time.
“Tell me, ladies, what are you hunting for as we enter the fall season?”
A well-paying, full-time job.
Casual tops with sleeves and pattern (or something interesting). I’ve fallen into solid basics and I need help out!
Shoes that can be worn to a wedding with an outdoor component. I’ve entered a stage of life where the weddings I’m being invited to are from the next generation of the family (cousin’s kids, but nieces and nephews aren’t far behind), so I want to look the cool, young-ish auntie that I am! When I was going to weddings every other weekend, I had a pair of sky-high wedges that I wore for things like this, but I feel like I can do better!
Looking for an outfit idea for a Nov wedding at an urban venue that will look nice but also not too stuffy and ideally with some sort of jacket pairing suggestion. I like the current higher/boatneck fitted midi dresses my algorithm keeps sending me but no clue which of the many online brands is actually reliable in terms of sizing and quality.
In need of non-suit work pants that come in petites, as well as suits that come in petites. My weight has been fluctuating so I don’t want to buy investment pieces, but I work at a law firm and need to look put together. Given the existing pile of dusty clothes in a pile that need alterations, I know myself well enough to know I will not be taking things to a tailor to get hemmed.
Recommendations for how to create a stack necklace. Love the look, don’t have the bandwidth or innate sense of style to figure out which necklaces to purchase. Bonus points for incorporating some sort of piece of jewelry that incorporates my children’s initials in.
Shoes!! I have so many sneakers that i still love but sometimes I want something more pulled together. Yet, forget heels, or at least stilettos. I need something warmer than that. Boots, loafers…you get the idea.
After 3 years as a general surgery resident living primarily in scrubs, I am now working in an office fulltime doing research. My closet is in sad shape and I despirately need to stock up on basics like trousers, blouses, and knit tops to wear to work. In addition, specific items on my shopping list include black wool coat, brown houndstooth or plaid or tweed blazer, brown booties, and black loafers.
I have been looking for dark brown, cool-toned, pointed toe flats. No suede, as I live in the Pacific Northwest and that dramatically limits their use. Aeyde makes a lovely pair, but the sizing was so off when I ordered them that by the time I had exchanged twice and still not found the right fit, they were out of the smaller size.
I have found waterproof Blondo boots of all materials to hold up really well in all weather (speaking as an urban daily commuter by bike and public transport, so pretty hard on my footwear)
(Correction – comment above is for both boots and non-boot shoes)
Can you do a post on weekend mom outfits? Why does everyone look chic at the playground except me!
I am searching for low-profile suede sneakers in a cool olive or forest green. I have narrow feet, so they need to be built on a women’s last (not unisex).
1. Outfits for going to the park etc with toddlers/running errands. All my legging outfits look dated.
2. Work outfits that are business casual. My work place has been very casual but people are starting to wear work clothes again.
3. So many of my go to brands have terrible quality these days. Who is making solid clothes that can survive being washed a couple of times.
Any chance you will do a deep-dive into how you deep clean your closet? I always find it so overwhelming and feel wasteful.
This please. And not the usual platitudes but concrete things that works as your style, body and work needs change.
Two things I’m pondering on:
1) are satin pants actually work appropriate for normal offices or just fashion offices? How do you wear them to not look like you’re being too cutting edge trendy.
2) I want a bracelet stack that is cute but doesn’t include Cartier/Van Cleef.