Critically Curated: Fall Staples
Critically Curated: Fall Staples
What you're excited to wear when you're not excited for the season
I open this Google Doc and hit ‘File > Make available offline’. I slip into worn leather ballet flats that are scuffed at the toes, moulded to my feet, and easy to kick off. I hide my curtain bangs that are painfully growing out under a baseball cap (can we move on to the next phase like … now please?). Canvas tote in tow with a laptop, SPF, a blanket, and some dried fruit. I head to a local park a few blocks away. I write this under a tree that dapples afternoon sunlight onto grass that’s a little bit green, a little bit crispy. The gentle hiss of water misting into the air and the intermittent screams of gleeful children from a nearby splash pad form my soundtrack. I resentfully type the title: Fall Picks. Eugh. August, forever slipping away into a moment in time.
I’m not ready for summer to end. I haven’t finished everything on my bucket list for starters. But more importantly? I just don’t want to be cold. Let me sizzle or steam away in a frittering heat. I can find shade! I can bask! I can get one of those weird hats with an attached fan on it. But to go back to shivering? To feeling like there’s ice in my bone marrow? Sure there’s downsides to climate change but if I were to never feel cold ever again … compelling!
I know I technically have until September 22, but you’d think from the way we as an internet are already putting together lists like this that fall is a week away. It feels like I’m reliving that barrel-of-the-gun feeling when I’d approach the end of a semester in school and would have to actually start writing that paper that I had, well, the entire semester to complete.
I was scrolling recently and saw this post and had a laugh. How I feel!
Here are the things I’m most excited to wear this fall.
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Outerwear
Blazers: If the return of fall does mean anything positive for me personally it’s that I can more comfortably wear my beloved blazers! This was one of my favourite wardrobe additions - light and perfectly oversized in such a timeless, classy pinstripe. I feel like a badass when I wear this.
Trench: A classic. I’ve had this one for a number of years and I’m jazzed to pop this on top of a stripe tee and straight leg jeans.
Lady Jacket: I picked up this particular one in a black and white stripe last year and wore it to death with jeans and slacks, open over a tank or buttoned up as a top. It was the perfect weight for fall - heavy and cozy but not suffocating. Speaking of, this red stripe version is so good.
Quilted Jacket: This would be such an ideal utilitarian meets cute for my chillier, daily fall walks.
Denim Shacket: The perfect weight for fall days. A little heavier than chambray with just enough structure.
Plaid Barn Jacket: Okay swoon how good are the moody colours on this cropped barn jacket? It feels both rustic but polished at the same time?
Sweaters / Knits / Shirts
Cotton Sweater: From what I can tell, poppy red is going to continue to trend into fall which of course makes me happy to hear. While it isn’t time to break out the serious knits just yet, I like the transitional material of a lighter cotton blend in a boxy silhouette to move into fall.
Cotton Cardigan: I have a few colours of this particular style and I’m eyeing a black one, too. Though how delish is this chocolate brown one? A colour that I’m so glad is still trending for another fall season. I love wearing them for cozy WFH days. They’re such a great weight! I equally enjoy wearing buttoned up on their own as a ‘sweater’ or worn open over a tank.
Cashmere Crew: One of my favourite purchases last year that I can’t wait to wear again is this heather grey cashmere crew. There’s something about the innate basic-ness of it that truly thrills me to my core. It’s the perfect item. I also think it’s worth noting / remembering / normalizing that even amidst inspiration posts like this where I’m definitely window shopping in my internet tabs that, very often, there is so much inspiration to be had in my own closet. There are a lot of wonderful, beautiful items I already own that I am so excited to get to wear again. So this is your gentle nudge to perhaps look on another forgotten rail in your space or see if you tucked your favourite knits away for summer and fall in love with what you have all over again. For me there’s almost a Christmas-y feeling of flipping my closet back over for the season to lay my eyes on pieces I haven’t looked at it in a long time. Call it goldfish brain, but it’s like things feel new again. And I’m so excited to get to pull this one back out and wear it over top of a white tee (the collar peeking out as a layering moment) or with trousers.
Sweater Shirt: Very into these lighter takes on knits that we’re seeing as of late. They feel like the perfect go-between when it’s a little bit chilly but not cold enough.
Knit Tank: In the same category as the above sweater shirt, with less sleeve. And how good is this gorgeous dark forest green?
Stripe Sweater: I mean. Who would I be if I didn’t include a stripe somewhere? And *chirps* how cutie is that shoulder button placket detail?
Linen Button Up: For those false fall days when a heavier fabrication is just a shade too warm. This is a new closet addition. Call it an adventurous branching out because in an effort to not purchase exclusively black things, friends, this is a navy linen button up. You see? You see?! It’s different! It’s blue! But so blue it’s almost black! But it’s definitely not. See how it’s very different? In seriousness - I do like that it’s a softened, less harsh take on pretty-much-black. Which I think works transitioning from summer to fall.
Pants / Jeans
Barrel Pants: I own these in the red/brown colourway that are beautifully called ‘Rosewood’ and realized in the spring how they are probably my favourite ‘transitional’ pair of pants. I kept reaching for them so much that I’m making it a goal of mine to add a new colourway. Incidentally, Everlane expanded this fabrication into a few more cuts and colours for fall. Lucky me! They’re so incredibly comfy and light and pair nicely with tees or sweaters. Naturally I felt myself moving towards this dark green pair. How good would it be with a striped tee and cognac flats?
Dark Wash Denim: I find myself very into this super dark wash of denim as of late. Maybe it’s the resurging 90s thing? But I find it, especially in a higher rise with an ever-so-slightly tailored flared leg feels like a denim version of a wide leg trouser to me. V polished and boss-like!
White Wide Leg Denim: I am that perpetually clumsy person who remains hopelessly optimistic and full of audacity that this time, no really *this time*, is the time that I’ll keep my white pants free of stains. Let it be known that I have yet to own something white that hasn’t become victim to me dropping food or running into someone else’s food or some other situation where food meets pant. I own a pair of tight-fitting straight leg jeans as well as some white wide legged linen trousers but there’s still a part of my wardrobe that craves the offspring of those two items. Something crisp and casual and easy to wear but still polished. And so I’ve been on the hunt for either denim in a wider leg or some kind of cotton chino situation to fill that gap. I recently ordered these during Labor Day sales and will keep you posted on how it goes.
Leather Pants: While it’s near impossible for me to look at a pair of leather pants without thinking about Paste Pants, there’s something about this that calls to me. I’ve been giving the ‘three words’ style strategy a ponder, mulling it over a lot in my brain. And a part of me wonders if the key to figuring out what those words are lies in these leg suffocating little wonders. Edgy? Cool? Textural? Sculptured? Polished? I’m intrigued! Someone define me!
Shoes
Ballerinas: While I don’t see myself falling for a mary jane flat these days (they’re just too twee for me, someone who is only 5’4” and feels baby faced on a good day). However, I love that the similarly girly but possible to make more elevated bow flats which are back in style. You know me - a true sucker for a bow. I love these suede mule versions.
Loafers: How good are these? And they come in like a million colourways! Love that Gucci-esque horsebit hardware.
Tall Boots: I’m so looking forward to breaking these out again! They’re so comfortable and one of the most stunning pairs of shoes I own.
Sneakers: I’ve been on the hunt for a colourful shoe that isn’t named after a type of antelope. Something interesting and less obvious. Contrarian, some might say. My only struggle is I can’t figure out if I like this poppy red or beautiful forest green colourway more.
Leopard Flats: I’ve long said that leather is a neutral. I’m personally still cursing the fact that I threw out a pair of ballet bow leopard flats (circa my college days, but I still had them kicking in my closet) for the sake of ‘decluttering’. Boy, do I miss them now. That said, I do think that the more pointed almond toe on this pair are a better silhouette for me now and also for the times.
Ankle Boots: Love the colour and cut on these! They seem easy enough to pair with jeans or trousers and even skirts.
Converse: I definitely anticipate getting more use out of my Chucks in the fall. They’ve lately been one of my go-to pairs for the office when I’m wearing a vest + trousers. As mentioned here.
Accessories
Chunky Earrings: I dipped my toe into the ‘statement’ jewelry world with a recent necklace buy that I get compliments on endlessly. I’ve loved throwing it on to boldly dress up even the most simple ‘base’ outfit and thought a chunkier knotted pair like these would round out my ‘statement’ collection nicely.
Gold Coin Earrings: These are kind of giving the vibes of Taylor’s ancient coin necklace she wore recently!
Suede Bucket Bag: Watch out because I’m going to make 2025 the year of the bag for me and my closet. This is definitely an item category I woefully overlook in my closet. I’ll be honest that most days I’m schlepping a very utilitarian backpack to and from the office, using a Lululemon belt bag on my hot girl walks, or even *gasp* using one of those cheesy free totes with purchase. But I promise, next year will be the year! And while there are tons of designer bag options that I have my eye on, Madewell seriously does so well in the bag department. How chic and delicious is this chocolate brown suede number?
Leopard Bag: Yes more leopard let me enter my RHONJ era in peace. But also how seriously good is the shape and scale of this bag and the leopard print? MWAH.
Patent Red Bag: I fear I’ve recently drank the Sézane kool aid and have found myself perusing their site more and more. It’s become a sickness. Signing up for waitlists. Refreshing tabs constantly. Now I’ll admit that my tactics have paid off because I’ve now successfully secured two delightfully TSS green-approved pieces (I’ll give them a spotlight in an upcoming What I Wore This Week post) but oh. my. god. How crack-worthy is this zippy patent red bag? It’s like candy for my eyes. I can just imagine it juicing up a white tee and jeans. Plus a statement necklace. Maybe a blazer? Some loafers? SWOON.
Perfect Belt: I have this belt in two colours (brown and black, natch) and wear them a lot throughout the year but never more so than in the fall. They’re just the warmest, most classic piece to make an outfit a bit more polished.
What are you excited to wear this fall?