Photos by Beatrice Granados
It’s around this time of year, the new pencil case nostalgia and back to school playground bells ringing in my ears, that I start itching to spend money like I have the stuff to burn. LEAVE MY POCKETS AND REPLACE YOURSELVES WITH BURGUNDY CORD, I dramatically bellow into the distance, patting myself down and rifling through old handbags like I’m looking for treasure.
Obviously it’s the breath of fresh air into my most-worn that I’m really craving and definitely not the urge to empty my bank balance, and with this knowledge in mind (and before The Big Wardrobe Sort Out which admittedly I never got round to doing for summer)- I thought I’d share some of images and outfits that have been re-inspiring me before I go on a total bender on Vinted (have you ever heard a less poetic sentence? No, me neither). Whether that’s Pinterest ideas or outfit recipes that I turn to again and again this time of year- half of the fun is shaking up what you already have and wearing it again with brand new eyes in just a bit of a new way.
When it comes to dressing any time from late September, the below are a series of outfits that I find myself coming back to again and again. All rooted in a heavy dose of nostalgia, a sprinkling of sixties and some true 70s news anchor energy for good measure. They are as follows:
THE MINI:
A pinafore dress, layered with frilly or dagger collared shirt/slim roll neck, tights and Mary Janes (I feel like over the knee boots also work very well for this).
THE CORDS:
Cords in a warm tonal colour, paired with a denim jacket (the perfect thing to go underneath coats for when it’s colder too), a buttoned up cardigan, t-shirt and fun trainers or fun ankle boots.
THE DENIM:
Double denim galore! Denim is a true baseline for my autumn wardrobe and really does the most in an outfit when it’s paired with beautiful tan pieces and a silky neck scarf, or even a bomber jacket for a real Sex Education cast member feel. In short, if it’s good enough for George Harrison or Aimee Gibbs, it’s a go go.
THE SUIT:
A two (or three) piece suit for a lifestyle I frankly do not lead and class I do not teach, but every September convince myself it could be a valuable addition to my wardrobe (surprisingly they always *do* get worn- there’a a corporate girl in me forever waiting for her time to shine).
And! If I’m not abiding by one of the four styling pillars above, chances are I’ll be taking inspiration from the below three styling seasonings, which always help draw my focus onto the things I’m particularly attracted to during a season (especially if I’ve just seen something I’m giddy for, and can *really* pick apart what I’m loving about it and whether I can find something similar secondhand) whether that’s the…
COLOUR
Whether that’s primary-coloured socks to make summer shoes autumn friendly or a soft pastel blouse to add a little softness to richer autumn tones or for A* under-knit layering- the power of mixing up the colours you think ‘match’ and go together can truly open up so many avenues. So often I’ll see a knit and perhaps realise it’s not the jumper I love but the colour and the way it’s been styled unexpectedly. After my pal Kerry introduced it to me (a woman who is also so, so brilliantly versed in styling colour), for my birthday I received this Japanese colour dictionary which is truly WONDERFUL at helping you work out complimentary colours and the way tones work together. I’ve always been a stickler for textbook traditional coordination when it comes to getting dressed, and this truly spins it on it’s head which has been truly refreshing when putting an outfit together.
SHAPES
‘Tis the season where a summer solely built on ethereal floaty dresses merges with a juxtaposition of mannish tailoring, three tiered layering (give me a roll neck, sweater vest and blazer as a minimum pls) and interesting shapes to really help create outfits that feel pulled together and ‘me’. I feel like I’ve properly learnt about the shapes that work for me from season to season; whether that’s a particular shape of jeans (normally sailor cut, with front pockets), a dress length that I know will work well with boots (longer than a midi but not quite full length) or the type of coat I’ll wear every day- I know I’m far more likely to feel confident in what I’m wearing (and keep comparison at bay) when I’ve stuck to the shapes I know.
TEXTURES
I think one of the most exciting things about autumnal dressing are the total collage of textures that you can play with when getting dressed. We’re striding out of linen season and into a time where anything from jumbo cord, thick aran knits, rich velvet, silky satins and silks, indigo denims, smooth leathers and cosy cashmeres are all on the agenda. Nothing is off limits! As well as cheese and pickle, Lea & Perrins and macaroni and a hot chocolate and an autumnal walk; a vintage printed silk blouse and a great pair of cords or some dark denim and rich oranges truly make for two of the iconic duos of autumn.
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