Musette’s here a-visitin’ this week (woohoo!!) so I’m writing this ahead of time and it’s also off topic. Let’s chat about fall/winter clothes, I’ll be on here responding to comments. If that bores you, see you next time.
It’s getting cooler outside and I’m slowly rotating wardrobe pieces. As you (probably) know, I love clothes, and fashion, and I’m always playing with new styles and ways of wearing things. The idea of a capsule wardrobe horrifies me. Let’s chat about current clothing trends and “basics.” You know those lists of wardrobe staples – like, every woman’s wardrobe should include X. (Menz, I’m sure you have similar “must-have” lists.) I have feelings…
Trench coat – a “wardrobe staple” on lots of capsule wardrobe lists, but not for me. I just got rid of my second (third?) trench coat. It was gorgeous – a (thrifted, I mostly buy secondhand via consignment/thrift, eBay, etc.) dark green trench from a fancy label. I think the issue is that I’m petite and no matter how elegant the coat itself is, I always feel like I’m a child wearing my dad’s raincoat. Don’t even get me started on the current, cropped-at-the-waist and belted version, which seems silly if it’s supposed to be functional. Other coats, though? The warm kind? I have a bunch, which brings me to …
Brown – the color, which is having a big moment in fall/winter fashion right now. I adore a dark, rich brown, and consider it a solid alternative to black. The older I get, the less black I own, replaced by navy and grey and now brown. I’m stocking up on dark brown sweaters and pants while I can. I just bought an absolutely stunning brown Suri alpaca wool overcoat from Pendleton, among the more expensive secondhand purchases I’ve made. Looking forward to wearing that in a few weeks.
Hobo bags – an on-trend bag this fall, which is great, because my bag collection is mostly hobos – big, slouchy bags with a shoulder strap. I have several — yes, I’m a bag-switcher depending on what I’m wearing, I have one of those handy bag inserts that make it easy. People online raving about their au courant Insta-famous structured bags that aren’t even easy to open/close/use/maintain make my eyes twitch. If it’s a good quality (vs. merely expensive) bag to start with, it only gets better looking with age, including my suede ones.
The white button down – the impetus for this post. I have never been a white button down person. All I can think of is years of being stuffed into my old-school work blouses with darts and pleats, very fitted and not comfortable. Well, the look now is oversized. So I’ve thrifted several to test-drive and … I think I’m on board! I doubt they’ll see me through the winter – it’s too cold here and it’ll be all sweaters all the time – but with jeans they’re fun!
The knitted vest – full disclosure, I think (thought?) vests were stupid. If I’m cold, I’m cold all over. I probably owned a fleece vest, and a down vest, at some point in my life but those are long gone. But eBay served me up several inexpensive, oversize wool vests, and I’m wearing one right now over a white dress shirt. It’s nice!
Oversize sweaters – which is all my sweaters except the more fitted, dressy cashmere crewnecks. I’m the quing of the giant sweater, have been for decades. So I guess I’m on trend at the moment. No, I don’t know why I feel stupidly childish in a trench but not a sweater big enough for two. Life is full of mysteries.
Wide leg jeans – all my jeans were “normal” width, probably mom jeans at this point. Last year I bought several pairs of wide leg jeans and I love them. Absolutely love them. Mine are more of the stylish variety, no rips or holes or doodads, and they aren’t gigantic. I’d also probably buy a pair of currently fashionable barrel jeans, except the wide legs are ticking that box for me. I also love all the dorky wide-leg pants that look like ugly gaucho pants on the 5’10” models but are just regular ol’ pants on me!
Perfume — right now it’s cool and rainy, which is so unusual here that we’re enjoying it. I still wouldn’t be wearing that trench if it were in my closet, though. The scent rotation the past few days has been Chanel Coco and Amouage Lyric, and yes, I smell fabulous.
What are your fall/winter seasonal staples? Have you dipped your toes into any recent trends?
images via Pexels
Yes to hobo bags and small cross body bags. I am struggling with finding a pair of jeans that work for me (5’3″) and don’t stretch out right away. Today’s denim is not the denim of my youth – which is good in some ways, bad in others!
I love the idea of a capsule wardrobe but the reality is challenging…My current goal is to actually spend a bit more, but on fewer higher quality clothes that I can continue to wear for some years.
I’m with you on denim. I recall buying a new pair of 501s (button fly) and it taking a good while to break them in — and then went on to be the most comfortable jeans. Sigh…
Heya March,
Back in the 90s I bought a pair of super wide hem palazzo pant jeans. The trend never made it to Australia and every time I wore them people would ask about them. They were my faves until they fell apart beyond repair.
I’m not much of a coat person, I find them all really stifling. Have had the same puffer jacket for well over a decade and it gets all the wear in super cold. Otherwise I’m a jumper and hoodie person. Back in my skinny days a knitted vest was a favourite.
LOVE button downs but don’t own one currently.
Portia xx
Oh I bet you rocked those wide hem jeans!!!!! I think I’ve seen your puffer over the years in various photos of your world travels, whenever it gets cold. I wish I’d learned to sew (I know it’s not “too late”) so I could make a thing or two.
You should be able to do a local sewing course a couple of evenings a week March. That’s what I did as a child. Was in a room full of much older women learning to sew. It was excellent fun and it seemed like some of the women really connected and made friends.
Fellow petite here
Trench- I owned a classic single breast Burb from eBay. The style that the inner lining can be removed, has poacher pockets & a big pleat insert at the rear that means you can ride a horse wearing it. Rarely wore it, sold it in. I now have a beautiful leather trench from M&S via eBay. Close fitting, butter soft, totally impractical, I ADORE it!
Leather, faux leather, suede-my weakness. Leggings, trousers, jackets of any style.
Jeans-currently horseshoe or barrel, classic straight or slim.
Jumpers-I’m acquiring a collection of cashmere jumpers & cardies. Bright red or neutrals.
Bags-currently a khaki half moon from Uniqlo. I do rotate but dumped the big shoulder bags when I retired.
Black trousers-wide or 7/8th.
Chunky Chelsea boots, Chunky skaters, platform Fitflop boots in burgundy.
Button downs-hard no. I’m far too “blessed” in the boobage dept!
oooooh, hello fellow eBay friend! I love eBay. Among other things, it helped me keep my kids outfitted as they grew, when they needed fancy camping gear, etc. Reading your list: separate from the boobage and its requirements, it sounds like we like a lot of the same sorts of clothing.
I also had a perfect trench coat that I regrettably gave away and wish I hadn’t. You and I are opposites in one thing. I don’t much care how big a coat or jacket is, I’ll happily wear it, but that does not apply to sweaters – too big and I feel, well, silly. The exception is button down shirts. I have some and they are oversized. I wear them over tanks and tees, sometimes loose, other times tied at the waist.
And then, hobo bags. Always loved them! Love wide-legged jeans and pants. “No” on the barrel jeans, because I think a barrel is what everyone looks like wearing them. LOL. Recently I did get a pair of light grey stovepipe jeans. They are surprisingly and amazingly comfortable and very flattering! Now I want more stovepipe jeans.
PS Wishing you and Musette a great and fun time!
Thank you honey! We are having a great time, involving a lot of food. After dinner we are going to my favorite ice cream place. I started out wearing button downs as over-shirts to a tee shirt but have now embraced wearing them all on their own. How people get by with tiny, stylish purses is beyond me. I want a pair of light gray jeans!
I don’t own a trench coat but would like one. They’re so Film Noir. When I moved here I divested myself of the overcoats I did have: a very heavy wool one and a lighter on in Harris Tweed. In retrospect I wish I still had them although I think they would be swiss cheese from moths by now.
Button-downs are my go to, but I prefer blue or pink to white- maybe a leftover of living in NY where whites never stay white long. I love the ones from Brooks and wear the crap out of them. Bean has nice ones too.
Back in the day I was actually stylish. Then I gave up, gave in, and went back to being the prep I was raised to be. Boring, but easy.
I like your preppy style! And I love, love love pink on men — pink shirts, pink in general. It’s probably due to my growing up preppie-adjacent. I own a man’s Brooks Bros shirt that’s fantastic quality. Honestly? I think you’d look amazing in a trench coat. You could pull it off, you have that classic/retro style. Oh yeah and I also own a Harris Tweed blazer because they smell amazing 😀
March,
I am on board for a fashion discussion! I have a red trench that hits mid-thigh that I’ve owned for 25+ years, and it’s a timeless staple. As a fellow shorty, I understand. I ditched 2 previous trenches (khaki and black) that were swamping me. When my hair went from dark brown to silver I ditched almost all the brown leather shoes, bags, and belts. I know it looks great on other people, but I decided to weed it out. I love button down shirts — I have white, pale pink, and pale blue. Love a hobo bag and also a structured bag. Most of my sweaters are cardigans. I’ve got a few oversized pullover ones. Theyre very cozy. And I don’t currently have wide leg jeans though I do like them a lot. Is there a brand you really like? Wearing AG Heure Exquise today. Nice for a fall day.
I had a red raincoat (not a trench) in DC and I’m sort of sorry I gave it away. And yes wow, how much everything changed when my hair did the same transition. My wide leg jeans are relatively inexpensive but I like them very much — from Uniqlo, H&M, and Levi’s. I think they were all labeled as “wide leg cropped” which again is just a normal length on me so I don’t have to get them hemmed.
My daughter gave me a Burberry trench in black and I feel elegant and sophisticated when I wear it so I rarely do. It just doesn’t feel like me, and if it’s rainy, I want a hood on my raincoat because I don’t like to haul a wet umbrella around.
I do have a white button-down but I mainly wear it under sweaters.
Wide leg jeans for the win! I’ve worn nothing but straight leg for years but I’m loving my wide leg jeans and trousers.
Losing a lot of weight makes for fun shopping.
Wide leg jeans and trousers are so comfortable AND stylish, I would not have guessed. Glad you are enjoying shopping for your new size! A Burberry trench does sound very glam, and yet if it doesn’t feel right, it doesn’t get worn.
And your style is FABULOUS! My comment on your elegantly casual outfit yesterday was sincere!
And LOL! on the trench! I’ve been with you for the trench journey for eons… it’s a siren call to you… and it always dashes you on the rocks!
Jackets, though… wowzers! You can really rock a good jacket!!!
See, I would think you’d look great in a trench — you have the height and the presence.
Welp! As you know I tend to swing WILDLY in my clothing – from yoga pants and tight stretch tanks ( hoodies atop the tank)… to actual formal ball gowns that I wear with skate shoes or laceup boots. I don’t really have casual clothes… or if I do I don’t really know where they are – I go to the gym, then my Work from Home desk, then the garden ( insert shrug)
I was laden with your cheeses and reindeer and Comfort was my goal, so I stuck with All Black Yoga Everything for this trip and I regret nothing!
You have what I think of as that Chicago style — elegant, spare, lots of black and white, which suits you very well. And your all-black yoga style for this trip is both attractive and practical. You look very much like “you” which is as it should be!
This was such fun. Why do they want us all to look alike? It’s beyond me. Here I go.
Trench coat: I hate the regular ones. It’s not even that they wouldn’t fit (because I’m titchy) but I just hate the look. But back in the day I had a black swing-style knee length rain coat that I adored. Long gone but just found one that I hope will be similar.
Hobo bag: I only use cross body and handbags as wearing anything on my shoulder aggravates pain in shoulder/hip issues. And smaller — no big bags for me any longer.
The white button down: Uh, no. I look even more ghost-ish and I would invariably get something on it. Pale blue, mid-blue, a fun print (I have a white button down with a strawberry print).
Not going to bother with knitted vest.
Oversized sweaters: I look like the dog’s dinner.
Wide legged jeans: I stopped wearing jeans a while ago. Swapped for wide-leg cords in autumn/winter and cotton or linen ‘trousers’ in spring/summer.
Perfume … It has been mild for October — and not too rainy (which changes in a week, per the BBC). It’s been NVC Eshal, Perfumer H Smoke, and I just reminded myself I own Guerlain Shamilar perfume.
Oh, I hope your new raincoat is exactly what you want! If I lived in the UK I’d definitely have one … I had 2 – 3 in DC which is also rainy. You made me laugh with “the dog’s dinner — wide leg cords are part of my closet now! Again, they’re supposed to be dumb culottes, but they are normal ankle pants on me.
Marks & Spencer here has been doing heroic work on offering great quality basics that don’t look basic in 3-4 lengths for trousers. I have forest green, brown, midnight blue and two pairs of black cords. Am jonesing an olive pair …
Olive — a color trend of the season! I own a pair (but not cords, alas.) Everyone should make multiple pants length options, or do what Uniqlo does and offer inexpensive hemming services. Last time I got a pair of pants hemmed here, it cost more than the pants did!