21. Getting into Autumn dressing & the WISHLIST
How the world feels in utter chaos this past week. It is hard to comprehend the evil people can perpetrate on other human beings, which in turn is leading to more violence. It’s impossible not to be upset and feel overwhelmed with things right now. I found this post on Instagram ‘what can you do beyond reading the news’ really good, and my favourite person to follow for real facts and great journalism is Irish USA based Journalist ‘News by Hil’.
Hope you are all doing ok.
I hope you're ready for some light relief today. x
Building an Autumn Wardrobe with Intention
It’s so easy to dive into buying right now. SO MANY LOVELY THINGS.
For clients who are either at that point in their Style Design Journey or are past clients who want outfits created ready to shop - I am in the middle of creating lots of Styling Boards.
One of my lovely clients Ali sent me a lovely picture of the CICI Dogtooth Double Breasted Reiss Blazer, just purchased from her Styling Boards that she teamed with her High Rise Wide Leg Boden Jeans, Whistles cardi and Mint Velvet Gunmetal Boots. Super styling!
I think it’s good to be an Autumn spectator for a couple of weeks, to really think about what your wardrobe needs.
It takes our brain little time to adjust to a new season and this shift in dressing. Moving from one season to another allows us to reflect on what’s different to this time last year? What shifted for you in what you want to wear? It takes a couple of weeks to get into a flow, to organise your wardrobe, to be sure what it and you need.
This week, I wanted to share Autumn thinking for my own wardrobe. What wardrobe categories I am looking out for, what some of my wish list items are and what I’ve bought and the last few weeks.
Crew Neck Jumpers/ Knits.
Would it be Autumn without a couple of lovely soft options to mix and match?
I Tried on the Uniqlo Cashmere last week in London. The price/ quality is really good and I’ve owned in a couple of colours of their Cashmere crew neck over the years. This year I am eyeing up the Navy. The sizing is what’s interesting for me. This is the XL I am wearing but I would like it more oversized so am holding off to see what else I see - always good to try the men’s section too, which is what I might do.
When you do find sizing that works for you in any items, I think it’s good to make a note in your phone (or wherever) to refer back too later. It helps you remember the brand’s general sizing for next season.
I do also love the Autograph Pure Cashmere Crew Neck Jumper, which comes in lots of colours. Love this mocha tone. Haven’t tried for size yet.
Two others I love. The COS chunky turtleneck (not a crew I know) and Next’s Lambswool Knit for £51.50.
You can also never go wrong with the Sezane Gaspard Cardigan (below). It’s reversible too. Comes in multiple colours each season and is super soft. It’s always selling out and being restocked. A great autumn buy. It comes up quite large. I would buy a M in this.
Everyday Separates
This season one of my personal disciplines is to buy only for my life in everyday Devon. That means I don’t need more dressy dressy clothes. I want to focus on everyday pieces I feel good in that mix and match and feel simple and stylish. For clients, I would always try to introduce them to a couple of brands that are new to them, that bring something fresh to their wardrobe and I am trying to do the same. Especially when it’s for this everyday category. You want the pieces you buy to feel special, interesting and stylish to you.
I think it’s good to identify 3 or 4 brands and concentrate on picking from these to build up this muscle for styling smart everyday looks - a category that can be so tricky.
Some brands I love are American Vintage, Varley, Wat the Brand, Oysho & Arket.
I lived in this matching set from American Vintage (below) last Autumn and this is me wearing it on the way to London last week. (terrible photo!).
American Vintage have beautiful cosy mix and match options and their knitwear is really lovely. I actually picked up my matching tracksuit set in their outlet in Kildare Village.
American Vintage Jumper TYJI in Pearl
American Vintage Women's Ganow Jogger
I also have my eye on this set from Varley (the rolled cuff pant and matching sweater) in black. This is a really nice quality lounge and activewear brand. I also have heard great things about 4th Arc in Ireland.
Relaxed Smart Trousers
A category that’s decidedly tricky. ‘Relaxed smart’ for me is a couple of levels up from loungewear but still soft and comfy enough to work from home.
I tried these Cord Trousers in Wine from Arket and they were lovely but I held back. They are more ‘fitted’ than what I would normally gravitate towards for working from home everyday wear but when I left them behind I was thinking about all the ways I could wear them. Sometimes, an item that at first you aren’t sure about just has to settle in your mind. The challenge can be the change, not the item itself.
The knit here is the Cable Knit Wool Jumper also from Arket. Tried and liked but felt a little washed out.
An item I have bought (pictured below) are the Relaxed Fit Nettlecord Trousers from Massimo Dutti and can confirm I love. Of course black cord, just about everything sticks too so if you can get past that and have a permanent sticky roller brush in your handbag :-), these are lovely! I bought an 8 and I have room so definitely size down. I am normally a 10-12. They work really well with a nice white runner or smart boots so very versatile.
I found a similar pair with a wider ‘cord’ from Albaray.
Relaxed Denim
Last week’s post and styling boards featured the Alabray Dark Wash Relaxed Denim, which I had myself bought a while back. If like me, you are curvy, you find it really hard to get that fit right around the waist but also the hips, these are really really nice. They are cropped, which I love but might not be for everyone.
The Jumper here is the Alpaca Blend Jumper from Arket last year. Shoes are very old from Office.
An Oversized Coat
Ok, I have a dream coat option here, which I have not bought. If money was no object I would buy the Veleno Wool Coat from Sportsmax (ideally in both cream and black lol). I see a coat like this as the ultimate way to dress up everyday items. I can picture this beautifully with an American Vintage matching set (the yin and yang of loungewear feeling elevated - perfection!) in navy or soft caramel tones and smart trainers. A great coat helps to bring those relaxed, dress-down items to another level.
This Virgin wool Coat from Mango has similar vibes.
Mango is killing it with their coats actually. This is actually my favourite alternative.
It’s amazing when you see an item in a certain colour and it just doesn’t draw you in, you can pass right by. The wool maxi city coat from Jigsaw reminded me of this. I first saw it in the burgundy tone and didn’t love but in the Navy….for me personally, it’s lovely. This of course is the beauty of being in tune with your own style and what feels good.
A Beautiful Blazer
It’s a category I am into. I have picked some serious dream options for clients styling boards including the (below) Cici Double Breasted Dogtooth Blazer from Reiss. I know, drool. You can see Ali wearing it below. It’s honestly so beautiful. It is expensive but this is a category I would treat just like a coat. If you buy well, for your style, it should last for years in your wardrobe and you should be able to style in many ways.
The Cici Double Breasted Blazer in Dogtoot
I also had the ‘Boy Blazer’ from Theory on a clients styling boards and it’s reduced from £500 down to £250.
This oversized wool blazer (below) has come into & Other Stories each season for the last few years for a reason. It’s a best seller and a real wardrobe staple.
But finally, my dream wish-list blazer? The Raey Exaggerated Recycled Wool Blend Blazer. Oh my :-)
Finally, The Wildcard Category
I like to choose one item in a season that feels outside my ‘normal’ style to keep my thinking fresh and challenge myself. This is the Whistles ‘Brushmark Wool Blend Jumper’. It’s got all the cool colour tonal direction I love but feels modern, fun, unique. Oh and oversized of course. Bright colours like this are definitely outside my usual style but that’s what keeps things interesting!
Final Thoughts:
Focus on what your wardrobe needs. What will make life this season feel nicer, easier, more stylish? What brands feel really good to you? Try to focus on a couple of brands that help you buy within the categories and style direction that feels good to you. It’s so easy to be overwhelmed by choice right now and buy randomly.
Think about your colour palette too. Not that you have to stick to one but more, what feels good? What will give you more mix-and-match options? Is there anything you can identify about colour in your current wardrobe that might help you buy better?
Happy styling this week (and buying if you are!).
If you enjoyed this week’s post please do share and I will be in the comments if you have any thoughts or questions.
Julie x