I have always viewed fall as a season of change. Change happens in the fall. The weather changes, the leaves change colour, we start new things, or restart old things that have been on summer hiatus. When we were kids we’d get new clothes, start new grades at school, or new schools, meet new friends. Back in the day even the new television season started in the early fall. Remember back in the eighties anxiously awaiting the new season of Dallas to find out who shot J.R.?
I thought that was why I loved fall so much. It was the season of change. And I loved change, didn’t I?
But now when nothing much changes for me in September anymore, oddly enough, I still think of September, and fall in general, as the season of change. And view it with as much anticipation as ever. I’ve been thinking of this phenomenon ever since I wrote a post about September a few weeks ago.
I mean, I no longer return to school in September as a student or as a teacher, so my daily routine does not change much from summer. We put the garden to bed, turn up the heat a bit at night, and light the fire, but surely that can’t constitute change. Or newness.
I put away my summer clothes and unpack my fall pieces. I fold into drawers or hang up in my closet my coats and blazers, cashmere sweaters, turtlenecks, jeans, and heavy socks. Shake out and brush my two treasured tweed pieces. Make that three. I just remembered another short tweed Max Mara jacket that I hope to wear this year. I also polish and place lovingly on the floor of my closet my loafers and boots. And then switch out summer accessories for fall bags and scarves and hats. As I do this, I think of all the new outfits I’ll wear. But really… are they new outfits?
Let’s be frank, most of my fall pieces have been around for several seasons. And some are downright vintage. And much as I love them, they are not new. So, can wearing them for yet another season be classified as change? Is it really change I’m embracing when I switch my closet from summer to fall?
Or is it the comfort of ritual, the fact that despite the changes that swirl around us these days, some things stay the same? And turning my closet is one of my rituals that stays the same. Maybe this action is more about greeting old friends that I’m happy to see again, with whom I’m happy to be reacquainted. Maybe I love fall not for change and the idea of newness. But for the comfort of “oldness?”
It’s definitely a thought worth considering. I’ve always been kind of obsessed with the past. Actually, fascinated might be a better word. I love old photos, and old movies, old furniture, and old things generally. I love vintage clothing, and vintage jewellry and hats in particular. When we first moved to the farm when I was a kid, I loved the idea that our old barns were still standing after almost a hundred years. I loved the old apple orchard that still bore fruit. I treasured the old bits and pieces I dug out of the barnyard or hauled up from the cellar after I’d explored the crawl-space under the kitchen with a flashlight. All this oldness symbolized stability and permanence for me. The comforting feeling that things last. That life might not be as precarious as I’d thought.
So, maybe my fascination with the past is why I love fall and fall fashion more than spring or summer. Maybe fall is not the season of change. But the season of continuity, with comforting echoes of the past.
I know that, in the early fall, Hubby and I follow the same habits that my parents followed on the farm. We store the harvest, make pickles, process herbs, and pile wood in readiness for winter fires. Okay, romanticism aside, and in the interest of honesty, I make the pesto with the basil and parsley from our garden. But Hubby does most of the harvesting, all of the wood piling. And all the pickling. The smell of Hubby’s Lady Ashburnham pickles (made with my mum’s recipe) bubbling on the stove makes me feel all cosy inside. Sigh.
And as far as fall fashion goes, the plethora of tweed, and wool, and short boots, and hats conjure up images of the past for me. Images of my mother and her stylish sisters in the 1940s. Of Lana Turner and Lauren Bacall in their jaunty berets and tightly cinched coats. Or Katharine Hepburn in her baggy pants and comfortable shoes. Fall fashion for me is more reminiscent of the past than the future. More emblematic of the comfort of continuity rather than the excitement of change.
Maybe I anticipate fall for reasons other than what I’ve always assumed. Not for the changes wrought by fall, but for the opposite.
And speaking of fall changes, I finished my closet changeover the other day. Happily performed the seasonal ritual of switching summer things for fall. I started with my jackets and sweaters a while ago. And last week I unpacked all my bags and scarves and hats. I do love my old pieces. The tweed jackets from the nineties and early aughts. The bags I’ve had for eons. My vintage brooches.
I have a few new pieces. The Levis 501, relaxed fit jeans, above, that I bought in Fredericton in August. My friend Debbie and I shopped a bit before lunch one day, visiting a couple of favourite independent shops in downtown Fredericton. Talk about continuity. I joked with the salesperson that Debbie and I first shopped for jeans together fifty years ago, when we were fifteen. The salesgirl seemed dumbstruck. I mean, she was pretty young. She was probably contemplating how it must feel to be fifty years past fifteen. Ha. Actually, to be accurate I should have said fifty-one years ago, when we were fifteen.
As usual, this fall I’ve been saving ideas to my Fall 2022 Pinterest board to give me inspiration as to how I want to wear my old pieces. Because that’s the change for me, in this season of change. The “newness” of fall is not actually new new outfits. But finding new outfits using old pieces. Or combining the old pieces with the newer pieces.
The other day I tried styling my new Levis with my newish Veja sneakers, blue striped socks from Simons, a black, slim-fitting turtleneck from Vince that has become a heavy-hitter in my wardrobe, and a black belt. For one outfit I threw my navy and cream striped sweater from COS around my shoulders. In the photos, I’m carrying the sweater. For the other outfit I pulled on my Paige jean jacket. My denim jacket is classic, and I’ve had it for ten years. I also wore a vintage brooch that I picked up for five bucks last year on a day out with my friend Liz in Merrickville.
In both outfits I’m wearing an old “messenger” bag, bought back in the nineties at Holt Renfrew. I love this bag, and it has cycled into and out of my closet rotation for years. It is most definitely in current rotation this fall. From what I’ve been seeing online, “squashy” bags are trending. I think there’s nothing more satisfying, fashion-wise, than participating in a trend with an old piece I unearthed from my closet and which I’ve had for years. I tried to find something similar online. On this page on Etsy you can find some serious deals on cross-body, “messenger-style” bags.
So, yeah, fall is the season of change. Of newness, in some ways. And in other ways it’s the season of un-change. Of oldness, kind of. Old familiar rituals, time-worn habits that mark the change of season, and reaffirm continuity, and permanence. And I’m beginning to think that the reason I love fall is because of the oldness, and not the newness.
I love change. I do. But I still need continuity, and some sense of permanence or immutability. Even though I know it may be a lost cause. Because of course all things change eventually. I think that’s why in times of stressful change I retreat to what I call “gentle reads.” Particularly those written a few generations ago. I find them soothing. But even while I am indulging in that solace, I know it can’t last. Of course it can’t. But it still helps.
Today Hubby and I attended a memorial service, followed by a reception, for Hubby’s cousin who died a few months ago. The reception was at the home of Hubby’s cousin, now his son’s home, an old house in an old neighbourhood of Ottawa. I knew the son when I was a teacher and he was fourteen. I haven’t seen him in years. What a treat to see him again and meet his girlfriend. They have lovingly renovated the old house, doing all the work themselves, keeping the kitchy, forties nature of the small rooms and filling them with mid-century furniture that they found on Facebook Marketplace and in junk shops. Painting old wainscotting, and hanging the son’s artwork and the art of their friends on the walls. I haven’t been in a home that I found as inviting as this one for years. Maybe never.
What a testament to change and immutability that house is now. How sad we were to mark the passing of Hubby’s cousin who was a wonderful man. And yet how happy we were to reacquaint ourselves with his son and meet his son’s girlfriend. She is lovely. “I have to say,” I told Hubby, when we were driving home, “I think we might have to adopt that girl.”
And, you know, as I’ve been writing my post since we came home, I’ve been thinking how our day today was a perfect metaphor for fall. All about endings and beginnings, about change and continuity, about looking to the future but with a reverence and respect for the past. That’s what I love about fall. Not just the change. But the unchangeness.
And not to spoil the moment by getting all shallow… but, here I go… that’s what I love about fall fashion too. Or at least my version of it.
Anyway, that’s it for me tonight folks. I started this post late. I’ve been whittering on for hours, and now it’s very late. Hubby has long been in bed. I’m going to make a cup of herbal tea and snuggle up with my book for an hour. I’m reading the latest in the Thursday Murder Club series. And loving it. I knew I would. There are some things in life, and some authors, you can totally count on.
How about you my friends? What deep thoughts are you contemplating this week? Or undeep thoughts? Go ahead, whitter away. We’re listening.
P.S. Here are some links from items in this post: Vince “Essential” long-sleeve turtleneck, Similar turtleneck from COS (I’m contemplating ordering one in purple), Veja sneakers, COC striped sweater, and two similar COS striped sweaters here and here, Levis 501 jeans, Paige denim jacket. Similar cross-body “messenger” bags here.
P.P.S. The above links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on my link, I will make a commision which helps to pay for the blog.
50 thoughts on “Season of Change?”
A thoughtful and thought-provoking post, Sue!
Much of what you say about change and constancy (or recurrence) really resonates with me, but for me there’s been considerable disruption these last few years with my Fall traditions. Leaving our island home the year after I cleared out the shelves of my office at the university meant letting go of some annual landmarks that these last two pandemic years disrupted even more.
Gradually, I’m creating new ones, though, and they’re built on the old, reinforcing what you’ve written here. So I don’t have the big garden I used to, nor easy access to the blackberry patches I used to make my jam from — but we have the three small apple trees in pots on the terrace and last weekend we had the family over for dinner which culminated in dessert of pies made from our own apples. And I made kimchi this week. Not blackberry jam, but still . . . harvest and preserves. . .
And travel, which I couldn’t do before during the teaching year. . . whether local road trips or a visit to our ex-pats in Rome. . .
And the grandkids are in school now, which has a completely different effect on our lifestyle than my work used to, but still means the start of the school year turns a big crank after the laid-back days of summer. . .
I really like those Levis on you — I can’t manage the bigger bags anymore, but yours looks very fresh and current, and you’ve made the double denim look yours — very classic, especially with those white sneakers. Well done!
I am really enjoying the baggier jeans. And delighted with the baggy dress pants and the leather ones I bought a year or so ago and which I didn’t wear for a long time because they felt weird. Now my skinny jeans just look kind of wrong to me. Weird how that happens… the eye changing and seeing things quite differently than before. I am hoping against hope that Stu has not given up on the idea of travel altogether. He seems quite against it still. Part of that is the fact that we won’t be able to travel in the same way we always have. Renting cars when one is over 75 is problematic. And driving in new and unknown countries with wonky roads takes a good deal more courage than we feel at the moment. Although I never had the courage to do anything but navigate anyway. :/
Talk to us please about laundry. About the giant pile of things that have been worn a few (or more) times over the summer and need hand washing. Or the pile of linen and cotton that, although it can be machine washed, still requires a good ironing before it can be put to bed before fall/winter or at least before it can be worn again next spring. If all I had to do was move stuff around…. But it seems an insurmountable task that I never really finish as neatly as your telling leads me to aspire to. How do you handle that piece?
I love “listening” to your inner thoughts about all this (and books too). Thank you!!
Good point, Kristin. Although I don’t ever have the giant pile of which you speak. I do have a small pile of handwashing. And it stays in a pile waiting for a sunny warm day so things can dry on the deck. I do my fall sweaters that need washing at the same time. Pretty hard to find a dry towel at our house for a day or so. Ha. I don’t iron before I pack things away though. But I must confess that I do love to iron. I plug my audiobook in and retreat to the basement where the ironing board lives and happily iron a whole mess of things. Then I feel all self-satisfied when I look at the freshly ironed shirts hanging in my closet. That’s one good thing about fall and winter for those who hate ironing… less cotton and no linen. P.S. Just popped back to add that since it’s sunny and fifteen today, I’d better get washing. 🙂
Thank you, as always. I think climate is part of it (I live in Texas) but I guess I’d rather iron a bunch of linen and cotton outside in our 70 degree (f) winter (hah) than deal with a bunch of sweaters that will take days to dry in our humidity. It’s all a matter of perspective!
You have the knack of putting into words the way I feel about things . In this case not necessarily chasing the new but appreciating the old too . I think I’d like that house you visited recently. A house that reflected the owners personality . IKEA ran a big campaign here years ago all about ‘ chuck out your chintz ‘ , the old is finished , dump it & buy afresh ( poor planet ! ) The trouble is I forget who’s home I’m in these days as they’re all alike & sometimes it’s like sitting in a dentists waiting room . No personal clutter allowed . Yes , a lot of old stuff is rubbish but there’s plenty of new rubbish too . I feel the same about many things – clothes , jewelry , garden plants , cars , christmas tree decorations – even husbands 😁 Why move on to the new if you still like what you have ? I’ve been told my home is eclectic. Not sure whether that’s a compliment or a kind insult but children seem to love wandering round . Perhaps it’s like a museum to them 😁
Great outfit & I really like the cut of those Levi’s on you .
Oh Wendy, I chuckled at your description of your eclectic home….several years ago we sold off a family beach cottage, and I brought several pieces of furniture home and incorporated them into our family room. When my eldest daughter moved back to our city she plopped down on one of the “new” sofas and vowed “I love the den, it reminds me of the Weasley’s house in Harry Potter now!”. I don’t think quite as cluttered, but our home is comfortable and we have some quirky pieces and I love it.
I remember a book I read a while ago had a character in it whose daughter had a job as a set-stylist; she was in charge of finding interesting things to feature in fashion photo shoots. It sounded like the perfect job to me, especially the the part where she trawled junk shops for old ornaments, photos, and odds and ends to make the studio set look “real.”
I think you’d like their house too, Wendy. I’ve been reading lately about the cookie-cutter homes that are featured on social media and in magazines. I will say that Vogue has always featured eclectic homes, at least the ones I remember. Lots in the UK and Europe. I love a good pile of books and a shabby rug or two in a room. I’m quite happy in a museum-ish house. 🙂
I love this comment so much! I was just commenting the other day (have been looking at real estate) how everyone’s home looks the same. Mine is clean but always eclectic…a small space but so many things on the walls and so much colour, like a Victorian living room. I always wonder who lives in the houses I see online..there’s no life to them, apart from the trendy words written on walls theme (e.g., Live Love Laugh, or maybe that’s a North American trend). I like my texture and vintage flavour, the patina. 🙂 Feel the same way about clothes, jewellery, etc…Great comment.
I loved this post so much, Sue. The tasks of seasonal change bring a comfort to me as well, especially in the tumultuous times we have been through lately. I so appreciate your blog, as you encourage and exemplify a slow fashion approach to our closets. I am really rethinking my clothing purchases lately, and striving to have a more concise, curated selection. As to Pinterest, gosh I have tried several times to create a board, but all the visuals just overwhelm me. Does anyone else have this issue?
Judy, I don’t have that issue, but maybe it’s the way I approach my Pinterest boards. I created several boards at the get-go of topics I was interested in, but (and this is the key) I didn’t then go seeking out images, either on Pinterest or on the web. If I came across something I liked, whether it was a recipe or an outfit, I would pin it to the appropriate board and move on. I don’t generally search within Pinterest – they ruined the interface (IMHO) a few years ago with *so much advertising*. I would click that I wasn’t interested in something, but it wouldn’t stop, and it made browsing no fun for me. And I prefer to have fun. 🙂
Oh that makes perfect sense, thank you! I know I used it a few years back, and did not struggle so as I do now. Change is not always a good thing!
Thanks, Judy. I have been using Pinterest for a while now. Like Carol I found that I was often deluged with images that I found boring and/or didn’t want to see. I realized my problem was clicking on them so I could see them better, and then go “Oh my god!!” I tried giving feedback that I didn’t want to see this type of image but that didn’t really work. So I just scrolled by and eventually they didn’t appear anymore. Not sure if that is what you mean. But I now find that I’m enjoying my Pinterest experience a lot more. I also do what Carol does and save images from other parts of the web onto my Pinterest boards.
I am all for seasonal rhythms but not for hanging onto stuff/ideas/views long after they have served their purpose. Perhaps because I have emptied too many houses for old people, wading (literally) through things that were broken or forgotten about, chucking out clothes, heaving (literally) piles of bedding down stairs, all to go to charity shops or dumps or just the bin. I am just about to sort some things no longer worn but still fine, ready to go to the Salvation Army. And I will light the candles tonight because it is that time of year.
Hi Annie
I’ve had to clear up after elderly relatives too . I guess we must have shared the same genes though . No mass hoarding or constantly buying new stuff . It wasn’t difficult to clear up after them as they were mainly country people living quite simple lives . They were far from shops & the internet was not part of their lives , so that may have had a bearing on it . I still have a few of their bits & pieces that they treasured for many years – Part of my museum 😁
I hear you, Annie. There’s a whole industry apparently that clears houses for people who don’t have people (family) to do this.
Thoughtful,beautiful post, Sue!
My thoughts are quite undeep
I like the way we have proper 4 seasons and change is wellcome (although, living somewhere with temperatures always around 25°C seems tempting),but I lack the transition from summer to autumn this year. Today is a wonderful,sunny Sunday,around 22 °C ,I miss more days like this…..jeans/trousers with t-shirt and sweater/blazer/leather jacket-my favourite combinations and I wear them so little during last couple of years
Levis looks great,perfect width and colour! Do you find Vejas comfortable? I’m looking for navy patent sneakers for autumn (didn’t find anything I like)
Dottoressa
Thanks, Dottoressa. I must tell you that when we went to Stu’s cousin’s memorial I wore a dress and opaque tights. Stu didn’t comment on the dress. Just looked at me and said, “Tights!” And then asked me if you’d commented on the blog lately. I am afraid that you will forever be associated with tights for him. Ha. I do find my Vejas very comfortable. They are much more supportive than my Stan Smiths.
Noooo….poor me! Lol!
Thank you for Veja review-I want to find navy or black trainers , patent leather would be best (and I was thinking about Adidas Gazelle,but I like Vejas,too)- because,you know,autumn dresses and tights …;)
Kind regards to Stu!
D.
Love your old-new style enthusiasm. I too like getting to wear old favorites as the seasons change. Love your style and comfortable but chic fashion choices. I always look forward to reading your posts.
Thanks so much, BJ. 🙂
Love the new jeans – they look fabulous on you! Like you, I’m digging out fall clothes, as with language classes having started, I have someplace to wear them on the regular.
Your post really struck a chord with me, as I’m a fellow lover of old. I have a lot of vintage jewelry that I enjoy immensely and wear accordingly, and a whole collection of vintage art pottery that made the journey here, because I couldn’t leave my friends behind.
And then today I stumbled across an brilliant exhibit of old photos of Cascais from the 40s – 60s, and boy was it fun. Got to see what the house I live in, and the surrounding neighborhood, looked like before the monstrosity of an apartment building went up next door (spoiler: better), and how the town and grown and developed over the years, while still keeping so much of its history intact. The photographer had an interesting history as well, having gone from studio photographer to photographing the Spanish Civil War for the Republican side, to emerging as Portugal’s pre-eminent scenic photographer in the 40s, taking pictures all over the country to promote tourism, but somehow capturing more than that.
Thanks, Carol. Too bad you couldn’t purchase reprints of some of those photos. Wouldn’t they be a wonderful memento of your time in Cascais.
I love your writing style and can definitely hear your voice while writing. Yes, retired teacher here but the littles. I would love to read a book you wrote! I can imagine your literary wandering making a great story.
Ah, thanks, Debbie. That’s so kind of you to say. 🙂
It was not the focus of this particular post, more of an afterthought, but what would I do without you to help manage my list of holds and “for later” at the library? I didn’t realize that Richard Osman had published a third book in his series and have now, with great delight, put a hold on it.
More to the point of this blog post, you have me thinking about why I have always loved fall so much. This September has been bittersweet for me in that I have stepped back, at least temporarily, from doing the supply-teaching that I love. (No protective measures left in our schools does not combine well with my frequent visits to my elderly mother in a congregate setting.) But I still feel renewed … and perhaps, as you said, that’s the comfort of oldness.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts!
I just finished that book this morning with my third cup of tea. I’m still smiling!
Another great post about fall. I think that you’ve captured the essence of change/newness and tradition/familiarity that are the magic of fall. What would fall be without the harvest? Preserving the fruits of our labor, storing up for the winter, making old family recipes. Yet, the transition from summer to fall offers the hope of new things. Maybe it is because it was the time when we went back to school and that offered new opportunities (new clothes, new friends, new studies)? The energy from fall’s cool weather always feels alive and new.
I need to do more work to put my garden to bed, but the kale and the chard are still going strong, so it isn’t finished yet. I’m gradually trimming shrubs, pulling up dead stems, etc.
I’m freezing corn, because I cannot get enough of it and I like to enjoy it year round. The basil turned into pesto long ago and it is in the freezer. I’m using kale in everything (as I warned my readers on the blog) and I’ll be sharing kale recipes for a bit.
I haven’t done the seasonal clothing shift yet. Since I still work full time, weekends are choices between yard work, indoor work or other tasks and clothing switch hasn’t risen to the top yet. I cooked a feast for friends last night and that was the focus of this weekend – a wonderful choice indeed. It will be a little longer before my summer clothes are dealt with.
Love the new jeans. I really like the jean jacket and jean combination. I will be trying that. The saddle bag is wonderful and I agree that it feels so good to indulge in a trend using an older piece. I have an old Coach saddle bag or two and they may make an appearance.
I need to find a pair of loafers that don’t hurt. I am a wimp when it comes to my feet and most shoes need to be broken in. I no longer want anything to do with breaking in shoes. If you or any of your readers know of a loafer that is comfortable right away, I’d love to hear about it.
I’m hoping to hit the local used book store today and I will be looking for Wolf Hall and the first Thursday Murder Club book. Have a great week!
I remember when I was still working, I’d have time to do one big (non-work-related) thing on the weekend. Like your feast. Marking most nights after dinner and prepping the week on Sunday afternoons meant that Saturday was the day for doing something fun… or cooking a feast. 🙂
Hi Sue, I love double, even triple denim, too. I have three denim jackets and all are worn frequently. The common theme on my inspiration board is a denim shirt, jeans and then a contrasting blazer such as tweed, black, burgundy etc. I’m cool toned aka “winter” so I stay with cool and rich tones. My work uniform for this time of the years is black Aritzia pants, various tops, sweaters, jean jacket, trainers or Bass mules. This even works for going out to dinner.
I haven’t worn my denim jacket much over the past three or four years except with a summer dress. This season, I’m changing that.
I love the jeans. Before I shop, would you please comment on the difference between these women’s 501s and the men’s 514s you bought earlier? Thanks for your help.
The men’s jeans I bought last year are Levis 511s. They are narrower through the leg and at the bottom than the 501s. But they are still slouchy. I find I have to push them down onto my hips a bit to get the exact look I want. I’m still considering cutting down the size of the larger pockets. Because they are built for men they don’t fit as nicely around the crotch area. But I wore them yesterday with a fall blazer and sneakers and still love them
The new 501’s are wider in the leg, all the way down. They fit better in the waist and hips, I imagine because they are designed for a woman’s body. They are a couple of inches wider at the hem. I looked on the pants and could NOT find anywhere that says the name of the style. So I scoured Levis sites the other day looking for my exact jean, and I’m pretty sure they are the dad’s jean. Relaxed fit, wide straight leg.
Hope this helps.
I love this post. I follow a few blogs but yours is by far my favourite. Autumn is the best season of the year for me, I can’t wait for there to be a chill in the air, for the leaves to start to turn. My wardrobe is sorted, pretty much, and a couple of new sweaters are on their way. Love old things, especially vintage jewellery and handbags. I did a little shopping from my newly organised closet this morning and decided that a couple of purchases that I thought were a mistake can be made to work after all. Having plenty of time but not a lot of spare cash can be a good thing ! I really like those denim combos, wide pants and a denim jacket are a favourite look.
Thanks, Maisie. You know, I have found that too, about supposed “mistakes.” This year a couple of pieces that I worried had been a mistake have fallen perfectly into a niche in my wardrobe.
Hi Sue, I’m sure the majority of your followers will agree, (from their comments) I can see that no matter what the season, it seems you always write about what we are going through, as if you read our minds! 😊
This post touched on so many things that I can totally relate to, the excitement of Fall, connecting with family, the love of old things, reinventing new outfits with treasured pieces.(which you are amazing at) …Your writing skills puts it all in such a beautiful way!
In regards to wardrobing, this Fall season is great, for the simple reason that the trends reflect the looks we can relate to and have held onto in our wardrobe…knowing your wardrobe well Sue, I know you will have lots of fun creating new looks and look forward to seeing them!
And like so many mentioned, you look amazing in those jeans!
Liz
Thanks, my friend. I wish I had bought the jeans in the next longer size, but they didn’t have it in the store and these ones looked so good with the sandals I had on at the time.
P.S. To my doctor’s appointment yesterday I wore a jacket that predates even our long shopping relationship. I like to think that if a piece is pre-Liz it must be vintage. Ha.
I needed your post to remind me of some of the things that I love about fall! Hubby and I have been stuck at home with Covid for the past week and I admit that I’ve been wallowing in self-pity having had to cancel a weekend with kids and grandkids as well as a planned celebration of our 46th wedding anniversary. My closet is in a state of mid transition and I need to get up off my backside and get back to it!
Oh no, Elaine! I’m so sorry to hear that. Look after yourself, my friend. Hope you feel better soon.
You really got to me with this post. I have always been a fan of vintage and it comes out in my appreciation of fall. The paragraph you wrote about liking things that lasted, e.g., the barn on your family property made me catch my breath, as I had the same experience at age thirteen. I moved to a farm my grandparents had purchased after my grandfather’s retirement. The reason for moving was sad (a parent’s terminal illness), but I loved that farm and that barn so much. My favourite place was maybe the outhouse, which had pages from old Eaton’s mail order catalogues stuck to the walls – boots and coats that someone wanted to order, probably, back in 1910. The continuity with my family’s farming past, etc., was always so moving to me.
I also want to comment that I love the fit of those jeans and the turtleneck on you. I’m wearing the exact same shapes right now – have put aside the skinnies and am wearing my Everlane slouch jeans that have a very similar fit to those Levi’s. I always wore men’s 501s when I was in university – bought in second hand shops on Queen St W in Toronto, which was the Mecca for vintage during the 1980s, with 1950s cardigans and 1940s jackets, and then slouchy wool cardigans over crisp white tees or tanks. Ah…vintage. I had given up on Levi’s lately as I disliked the women’s styles I tried on – all that skinniness and lycra – and bought another pair of men’s Levi’s a few years ago, but of course the men’s fit is not perfect either. I may look out for these ones.
The only thing we differ on is that I put my sneakers away in the fall. I know that there’s a comfort motive that makes sense with the sneakers, but I prefer the boots and loafers in this season. I pulled out a pair of leather boots I bought in Florence the day (!) many years ago that I met my now partner. I had been having a fabulous shopping day and was carrying the boots in a bag – from a sadly now-closed shop – when I met up with him and we had coffee. Anyway, memory lane. Great post!
I am holding off wearing my boots since I will wear them exclusively for so many months, and my Vejas are new so… like that fifteen year old I still am… I want to wear them now.
You know, it’s funny but people have said to me that my love of vintage must be connected to the fact that I was a teenager in the seventies. But I don’t think so. I think it’s all to do with those barns, and all the other old things I found on the farm and loved. There’s just something so comforting to me about old things when ones present is a bit perilous.
P.S. I love that you met your partner in Florence. Have you read Still Life by Sarah Winman? It’s set mostly in Florence over many decades.
I did read Still Life! I liked it. I probably know Florence too well (have spent many years there in total over my lifetime), so it didn’t capture the “real” Florence to me (many reasons for this, but was still clearly a foreigner’s view of Florence, which is understandable), but I did find it pleasurable. I especially loved Evelyn and the recreation of the underpinnings of A Room with a View (a book I read when I was maybe thirteen and that in fact was probably one of the reasons I first made my way to Florence many years before I met my partner while on an art course there). It was a delicious, guilty pleasure, like eating ice cream right before bed (which I do more often than I ought). I love looking at the old Alinari photos of the piazzas in Florence, with all of those figures flitting through, now long gone. That part of the book reminded me of those photos.
Yeah, me too. Loved those Room With a View references.
Well, you inspired me. I must get some of those wide leg jeans. I’m sure my post covid jeans will not fit me. I’m scared to try them on. But now I’m up for the double denim and wide leg jeans. Thanks for the inspiration!
I am really liking wider-leg jeans now, Sandra. And I didn’t think I would.
Once again, a beautifully written post that captures the feeling of fall and new beginnings. Much more so than the January 1st shenanagins (sp?). Fall has always meant a new start … a fresh new notebook, a new outfit that could be worn on the first day of school – then back to the uniform. This is why I find your log so wonderful and look forward to your posts.
Thank you for all you do for your readers.
Barbara
Thanks for the kind words, Barbara.
I don’t know if it is just me or the wave of sadness comes with fall every year. You get sad with no specific reason and your mood swing triggers.
Fall triggers mood swings for sure, Fanny.