We’re deep into fall (and sometimes early winter – yikes!) here in the Northeast, and I’m realizing – yet again – what a difference it makes to have four distinct, separate seasons. In my Texas hometown, there are basically two seasons – a long summer and a short winter – and if you’re lucky you get a few weeks of spring and fall. (This year, they’ve had one season – a months-long protracted drought – which is finally abating, I think.)
Anyway, I’d never had to actually switch out my fall/winter and spring/summer wardrobes until living here – even in Oxford, winter wasn’t quite so cold. But I did spend an hour or so this weekend rearranging drawers and my closet – pulling out sweaters, corralling my stash of knee socks, folding thin T-shirts away for next summer, and taking stock of the following essentials:
1. Tights. I’ve always liked them, but I have SO many pairs now. I wear them by themselves in the fall, and under jeans/trousers in the winter. I’m kind of hard on them, though, so I don’t buy the pricey ones – I get ’em at Target and Old Navy in black, gray and brown, with an occasional “fun” pair in red or purple. (And I discovered sweater tights last year. Love ’em.)
2. Related: Leggings. I owned one pair in Texas; now I have at least four. (Also from Old Navy.)
3. Wool skirts, including a sassy red plaid one I found not long ago.
4. Boots. I have a boot wardrobe now, which includes red rain boots, ugly-but-warm snow boots (inherited from my sister), new black riding boots (a splurge this year), and two faux-fur-lined (and still cute) pairs.
5. Denim and corduroy pencil skirts, which I wear with tights and boots until, oh, about May. (A fashion innovator I am not. But it works for me.)
6. Dark skinny jeans, which I only like (on me, at least) tucked into boots.
7. Scarves. I have a large, ever-growing collection, mostly fringed pashminas.
8. Handknit fingerless gloves (and a full-fingered, lined pair for the frigid days).
9. Sweaters, of which I now have so many that I’m running out of storage space (but not out of occasions to wear them). I love the thin-ish wool or wool-blend ones from J. Crew (which I usually pick up at consignment shops), and I also like the ones from Victoria’s Secret and Express.
10. Handknit hats. (I can never have too many.)
11. Two wool coats – one shortish, one long – both from Victoria’s Secret. Plus a raincoat, and of course a down coat. (That last one is not fashionable, but warm.)
It’s not yet too cold to care about looking cute (though it will be later!) – so, for now, I’m having fun mixing and matching my fall outfits, pulling out old favorites and adding a few new pieces.
Tell me: what’s on your fall fashion essentials list? (I’m always eager for tips on how to look stylish and stay warm.)
What a fun list. It feels like England has been getting colder the last few winters, but my skin may be getting thinner! Right now we are enjoying a very mild fall and loving the color in the leaves.
Hmmmm….
-My Clarks leather riding boots. 5 years old now and I still love ’em
-leather and fleece snow boots – brought from my stash at mom and dad’s
-hiking boots – because we LOVE hiking in our household. And they’re waterproof. 🙂
-sweaters – I used to wear all turtleneck sweaters (remember that?!), but I’m moving away from that now to a more balanced variety. Lots of button downs that I can layer over lighter shirts.
-some new modal blend long-sleeved t shirts. WONDERFUL and so soft!
-scarves and cowls.
-fun dresses (wraparound or shirtdresses) to wear over leggings or yoga pants.
-rain jacket (can be layered with a fleece underneath for cold days)
– a new wool coat. I’ve had a dress coat and a run-around coat for a while, but Katie, I finally got rid of the blue pea coat. Sniff. I’m in mourning. It’s been replaced with a lovely chocolate colored version from Lands End.
-a down vest. A student asked me the other day if they are actually warm, or if I was just a slave to fashion. 🙂
Now, what I really need is a new hat. Is your shop still open?
Jacque love, my shop IS open. I’ll email you.
I of course can offer no help! But this fashion-challenged Texas girl wants to know, what’s the difference between tights and leggings??
Julia, leggings are just a bit thicker than tights – and generally not textured (at least for me) or printed. I love cabled tights, for example, but leggings are made of heavier fabric, and plain.
Oh the complexities!
I am a scarf and boot junkie. Which is probably why I live in Seattle. Also, my black wool coat is indispensable.
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Jennifer at http://www.downhomesouthjersey.com
I just discovered the fun of–get this–layering tights! Take that red or purple pair and wear them under a black or grey textured pair. Mine have a diamond lace pattern, and it quirks things up just a bit when I’m wearing the same skirt and boot combo every week!
I love winter essentials! just splurged on some new boots myself, they’re so pretty.
everything in your post I agree with; I only wear my skinny jeans tucked into boots; I have numerous scarves and never too many; a selection of fingerless and full finger gloves etc…. I’m missing the boot wardrobe though, will have to fix that.
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