It’s finally, fully fall around here, my friends. Sunny bright days that aren’t too hot, and cool breezy nights great for sleeping with the window wide open, snuggled under a duvet. And I’m finally in the mood to survey my bountiful fall closet. As Allison Bornstein says: “It’s not necessarily time to shop. It’s time to style.”
I should explain that while the weather this weekend is perfect camping weather, we are not camping. More’s the pity. Hubby and I made the decision to jettison our plans earlier in the week. I just wasn’t feeling well enough. And I’m okay with that.
So while Hubby was off golfing on Friday, I made myself a pot of tea and set about exploring my fall closet. Trying some new combinations that incorporated my Mary Jane shoes from Stuart Weitzman, and using my “Fall 2024 Inspiration” board on Pinterest as, well, inspiration. You can check that out here, if you’re interested. Pinterest for me serves as a reminder of what I might want to wear, and what combinations I might want to try. I generally choose to pin photos that include pieces I already own. So it’s a styling tool. Not a shopping tool.
On Friday, I thought to try my Levi’s dad jeans with my new shoes. And I loved the look of them together. These jeans have been a problem for me since I bought them in Fredericton a couple of years ago. They are simply too short. It wasn’t until last spring that I hit upon a way to wear them. I hiked them up, embraced their shortness, and wore them with a fitted blazer, my loafers, and a pair of plaid socks. You can see that outfit here.
That’s what I did yesterday. I accepted the jeans for what they are. Short. Not really cropped, not short enough to be ankle jeans, just awkwardly short. I hiked up the jeans to my natural waist, tucked in my white shirt, dug out an old black belt with gold hardware to match the gold buckle on the shoes, and pulled on my old tweed Max Mara jacket. I like this look very much. Kind of fall-ish with the tweed blazer and kind of summery with the mesh shoes and the white and gold hoop earrings. The jeans look great with my new shoes. This outfit is a combination of very old pieces (blazer and belt), an oldish shirt from 2016, a newish pair of two-year-old jeans, and a new pair of shoes.
Pairing old pieces with newer ones has been my practice for years. I’m sure long-time readers have grown tired of my chortling as I haul yet another old piece out of my storage closet. I used to think of it as a way to beat the system. Keeping old things until they came back in style was simply good wardrobe management. Now I am pleased that I can say I practice slow fashion. I’m aware, though, that my methods are not necessarily laudatory. Not exactly. Since it’s something I have always done, I can’t say I was motivated by aims to save the planet. Still, the effect is the same. Buying less is always better for the planet.
Here’s the second outfit I tried yesterday. My green silk blouse from Frame, bought on impulse last summer. The green Everlane tote, also purchased last summer. My ancient Alfred Sung houndstooth blazer, bought in the very early nineties. A pair of second-hand Buffalo “mom jeans” purchased at Trove Fashion this summer. And my new shoes.
I love, love this outfit. It’s similar to an outfit I tried last year. But I like it much better with the baggy jeans and Mary Janes. My friends, these baggy, second-hand jeans have rejuvenated my closet. I love how they make my conservative blazers and neat sweaters edgier… cooler… less fussy. Dare I say chill? “Chill” is one of my three style words… the aspirational word. I aspire to not look too classic, or fussy. And pieces like these jeans help me achieve that.
Surveying my fall closet yesterday reminded me that there is lots of scope for creativity there. Lots of pieces that I’m excited to wear. If I’m honest, I have to say that my fall closet is pretty darned bountiful.
Fall is always a bountiful season in the fashion world, isn’t it? All those “Fashion Weeks,” and articles showing who wore what to what event. All those shopping and haul videos, and the trend forecasts, and the videos telling us what we absolutely need to buy for fall. Telling us what we need to acquire, instead of how we might style what we already have.
In a recent post on her Substack publication Threadbare, Ruth MacGilp talks about the Fashion Week phenomenon and fall fashion frenzy. MacGilp says for years she “used to think that Fashion Week was the epitome of cool.” But, she goes on to say, “Now? It’s hard to stomach the constant churn of collections and collaborations and parties with hardly a nod to sustainability, when no one can honestly still claim to be unaware of how urgently we need to get off this train.”
Of course, MacGilp is referring to the fashion industry’s never-ending cycle of over production, followed by over consumption. Check out her post to see the number of clothes produced by the few companies who have consented to disclose their production numbers. There’s a move to pressure more and more of the big fashion brands to disclose how many clothes they produce. I think the numbers would scare us.
I admit I rode the fashion frenzy train for years. Not that I ever attended Fashion Week, anywhere. But each fall I surveyed my closet, watched the runway shows, bought the fall fashion issues of the big magazines, and excitedly made my shopping list. I always shopped carefully. But still, I bought the propaganda. Until a couple of years ago when I got off the train. When I started reading about slow fashion, counted how much I bought, and tried to slow my own consumption. Sometimes in vain.
And then I read about the “Rule of Five” pledge. And began to get serious about how much I shopped. I stopped patting myself on the back for the things I was already doing. And tried harder to adopt some of the practices I wasn’t doing.
I’m not perfect. Far from it. But I’m trying to do better.
And if I’m trying to do better, why can’t brands, and influencers, and marketing people do the same?
By the way, you don’t have to answer that. It’s a rhetorical question.
P.S. You can follow Ruth McGilp’s Substack account “Threadbare” here.
P.P.S. Most of the clothes I’m wearing in this post are older and not available. I can provide links for the newer pieces if you like. Just let me know in the comments. And if you don’t want to shop and would like to support my blog, you can always buy me a coffee. Just click the coffee cup icon that pops up on the right. All funds help pay for the blog.
31 thoughts on “My Bountiful Fall Closet”
I really like the first outfit today, probably because I’m partial to dark wash jeans.
Thanks, Elaine. I’ve had a heck of a time with those jeans. At least now I have a couple of ways to wear them.
I admit i wasnt sure about your new shoes Sue but I really like them with the outfits you have chosen.
Me too, Noreen. But I love them with really casual pants like my baggy jeans.
Great blog. I’m not a green person. I love it in the great outdoors but not on my person or in my home. However it looks great on you and in the outfit with the AS tweed blazer. I am definitely trying to follow your lead and shop my closet and it is surprising sometimes, what you can come up with. Thank you for the inspiration.
It never fails to amaze me how many new ways old pieces can be worn. 🙂
Both outfits are great and I will use your inspiration for my inspiration.The whole jean silhouette has thrown me. Loose, straight, baggy, light wash or darker wash I just can’t seem to figure out what’s right. Shoes with jeans is a whole thing too. While I love your Mary Jane’s I did them in college and just don’t find completely flat shoes comfy. More and more I appreciate my older clothes. The only things new I’m adding are button shirts, which I find I reach for consistently and PJ’s because mine are embarrassing. I’m also on the hunt for a pair of comfortable driving mocs. Something to throw on and go. Any suggestions from anyone are most appreciated.
I have a pair of Todd’s driving shoes. But I bought them as a treat for myself when I retired with a gift certificate from my friends. Not sure I’d pay that much anymore.
I liked your comment about your behaviour not being laudatory. I have been doing this for most of my life, with some blips in my thirties. I bought very judiciously and I enjoyed wearing the clothes in my closet for many years. This should simply be considered normal. It’s not normal to keep on buying things that one doesn’t need without wearing out the things we have! It’s great that putting a thoughtful constraint of “five” around your buying is helping you and adding to the message you are sharing with your readers.
PS The jeans look nice with your blazers! I sometimes mix in my dad jeans and baggy ones but lately I’m back to the slim/straights. I like how you’ve styled the second pair in particular!
The “constraint of five,” as you put, it has really helped me. That and finally shopping thrift and consignment stores. Now second hand is my first stop if I’m looking for something, or simply want to browse.
You look great in that plaid blazer and the olive green. I have a blazer just like it. Now you have given me new inspiration for styling it. I, however, do not look good in golds or olive greens. I am more the apple green, light green, aqua green. We all know our colours don’t we. And I just found that blazer in my alternate vintage closet in our basement when I was looking for my table decorations for Thanksgiving. I knew I would eventually find them and I ended up finding a whole lot more outfits to coordinate for fall/winter. Thanks so much for the inspiration. Hope you are feeling better soon. These viruses take a lot out of us.
Ooh… and vintage haul in your own home. I’d be in heaven.
A big nod to your green silk blouse, houndstooth blazer and mom’s jeans. All the separate elements create a simply complete image of confidence and personal style. I would definitely notice you and smile with a bit of envy too. More and more I notice women who basically have cared for themselves on a very personal level. It seems to allow them to wear very minimalistic styles and still just shine. You see them first not the clothing . This style you choose is a keeper.
Love your moon flowers too!
Thanks so much, Jan. Those flowers are from seeds my mum gave to us years ago. They keep popping up in our garden every couple of years. Makes me feel a bit sentimental. 🙂
Thanks for a fun post! I too am pulling out pieces from years gone by and pairing them in different ways. I have put a moratorium on buying any more jeans or sweaters. I have away too many. I like both your outfits, you look great!
I need to do that too, Deanne. I find myself longing for a new sweater. But I just need to pull out what I already own.
The new shoes really move these classic looks into new territory – what a perfect choice for you! How do you think they will “age” as a style themselves? I’ve been so intrigued and attracted to the new flat MaryJanes, ballet flats and loafers available now but haven’t pulled the trigger on anything yet. Curious what your thoughts are.
I’ve also been very impressed by and influenced by your 5 pieces plan for 2024. I look forward to your end-of-year post about how it all worked for you (at least I’m hoping you’ll do one). I buy and then donate FAR too many items of clothing and shoes in a year and make no excuses for it. It’s taken me a long , long time to find a personal style I’m happy with , despite working in fashion for much of my career. My weight also fluctuates enough that I can be a completely different size from one year /season to another, and as a result my clothing buying is all over the place. It’s not great.
There definitely will be an end of year “Rule of Five” report. I’m pretty sure I won’t have met the challenge. But I learned a lot I can put to use next year.
Not sure how those shoes will age. I abandoned my “must wear well” rule when I bought them. 🙂
Love both outfits which do indeed look chill. The green handbag reminded me that I have one in a similar colour, only it is in suede, that I haven’t used in ages. Might be a time for some search and rescue in the spare wardrobe. I have some short green boots which match nicely and recently bought some green sneakers with a bit of a platform so they might see me through a wet and windy spring. Like you I have clothing in my wardrobe which I’ve had for many years as I tend to buy classics in plain colours. In fact I wear a lot of my mother’s silk scarves which could be 50 or more years old! Just recently I rediscovered a pair of burgundy ostrich print loafers which I’ve worn a bit this past winter and they would be at least 30 years old. I’m not hard on clothing so it lasts. Now if I could just convince my figure to return to its previous size a lot more could be used!
Old scarves are wonderful, aren’t they. I follow an account on IG called “Nearly New Cashmere.” They refurbish cashmere as well as silk scarves. I love to watch their videos on how they work with their merchandise. I wish I lived in the UK so I could order some of their products. But the duty and shipping would be so expensive that I just watch and admire.
I hope your reprieve from camping helped with the recovery. It takes so long to bounce back. I had to go closet diving this past weekend to find a dress for a formal wedding. Luckily I had a long dress from a cruise over 10 years ago that fit perfectly. And, luckily the deep merlot colour is in for this fall season, win win. My weight fluctuates up and down and the timing was perfect for this fall.
I have one purchase left for my 5 and am thinking if I ‘need’ something it will be off to thrift for a peek, and save the last purchase for something special, perhaps a cashmere sweater in the black Friday sales, or not.
You are looking terrific in your fall choices. I should get the summer items packed away to better see what works with what is left. The temperatures are finally cooling off a bit to enjoy them.
Thanks, Diane. Your “merlot” dress sounds wonderful. Good for you to have held onto it.
Smart dressing. I like everything you pulled together. This is a society of consumerism and it does need addressed. Many people are encouraged to keep buying and buying. Content creators make money this way, while the viewers go deeper into debt and constant pull to buy. I don’t even subscribe to content creators that post biweekly with their ” amazing” hauls. Enough is enough but individuals have to decide that.
I agree that individuals have to decide to consume less. But if we keep talking about it enough maybe it won’t seem like such a foreign idea to others. I remember listening and reading about how content creators a few years ago were quitting their day jobs because they were making so much money from their on-line businesses. And I remember worrying that many young people were burning bridges they might regret later. Hope they invested their earnings wisely. Tik Tok, I hear, is notorious for its unreliability. Rewarding creators with huge sums one week before changing the algorithm and cutting off the flow of cash.
Lovely autumn outfits! Styling is everything! And The Shoes!!!
I didn’t buy anything for the fall (nor for the summer as well. Even no new bathing suits-but this was a bad decision!). I have a couple of old-ish jackets and a really old brown leather one and have a lot of fun styling them
Dottoressa
I simply dread having to buy new bathing suits. Is anything worse?
I like the way looser trousers make an outfit more casual , less sharp . Tight jeans look quite odd to me now , though it still seems to be a ‘look’ – eg Kate Moss . I’ve been pretty good this year but always like one or two autumn buys to spice up my wardrobe . This year it is a couple of pairs of loose corduroy trousers from Toast , one green & one brown . I’m having fun mixing them up with my old stuff to perk things up .
I agree. Upon second look, I’m not all that crazy about the outfit with the dark green blazer. I’m going to try those jeans and shoes with a different jacket, I think. I envy you those corduroy trousers. None of the bricks and mortar stores I’ve been in have had corduroys.
Getting closer to sweater time.
It’s here! Yah!
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