💌 Style Mail: How *not* to get ready for fall

Here's what you can do instead & what I was almost tempted to buy

Yesterday, I got a sale email from J Crew. I’ve been a fan of J Crew since I was in high school & devotedly read their catalogs. And even though they’ve been inconsistent over the years (like many brands), I still keep a hopeful eye on them to see what they’re doing (like I do with many brands). So, I clicked through.

I found myself looking at cashmere sweaters & thinking, “that’s a great color. Maybe I need this one for fall?” And then I smacked myself into reality.

I was wearing a t-shirt & shorts. It was one of the most summer-like days in the Bay Area (we’re basically in summer weather through October). I won’t be wearing cashmere for months. And the only reason I was even looking at fall clothes wasn’t because I wanted them - it was because of that darn email.

And it reminded me of one important thing - the worst way to get ready for fall right now is shopping. But it’s not surprising that shopping for fall feels like what we should be doing right now. Because there’s tons of fall product in the stores. Because we’re hearing from brands constantly about new fall arrivals. Because influencers are sharing links daily with the item you need to complete your fall wardrobe.

But here’s the thing - you got through last fall without leaving the house naked. So, you probably have fall pieces in your closet that work. And if you want to pull the trigger on new items for fall (later), there are things you can do (right now) to ensure your purchases are mindful & intentional.

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✍️ Style Scoop

I could have titled this article ‘what you probably don’t want to do to get ready for fall.’ Because I know that it might feel easier to just go shopping. But then you end up buying a cute jacket (that you later realize you have nowhere to wear). Or a sweater that just looks like all your other sweaters.

So, here are a few steps you can take so that when you do shop, you’re truly ready. I suggest doing all these steps - but you can pick & choose based on work that you’ve already done around your style. So that what you buy will become a valued part of your fall wardrobe.

This is a snippet of my women’s style board on Pinterest, where I gather my own inspiration. I also have boards specifically about accessories, color & print mixing that you can follow, too.

GATHER INSPIRATION

You’ve probably heard this from me before. And it’s one of the first things I ask of my new clients (here’s a quick peek at my new client framework). But before you even think of what you want to buy for fall, gather some fall inspiration.

There are many different ways to gather inspiration. You can create a Pinterest board for the season (this is how I show my clients to do it). Or collect photos on your phone. Or create a digital mood board. The goal is gathering images of items & outfits that you like, that represent how you want to show up this fall. And once you have a bunch of images to look at, highlight any priorities & consistencies.

See if you’re drawn to a certain color palette. Or if you keep picking layered looks. Check to see if your inspo is all about fall dresses & knee high boots or cozy sweaters & jeans.

LOOK AT YOUR SCHEDULE

The next step is basically grounding yourself in the reality of your life for the next few months. Are you going on a trip this fall? Are you attending any out-of-the-norm events? Or is your calendar comprised of your regular, everyday life - going to work, attending school events, girls’ nights & date nights, watching your kids play sports, etc.? I know this may sound elementary - but it’s a helpful reminder that can keep you from buying high heeled boots (that you’ll wear once between now & New Year’s Eve).

When you’re gathering inspiration, don’t get stuck on thinking, “I can’t wear that outfit” - because you can get inspired by just one aspect. Like how things are layered or color & print combos (or just a cute pair of loafers).

GO THROUGH YOUR CLOSET

Yes, this may be the most un-fun thing in this article. But it’s also the most important one to ensure you don’t do any unnecessary shopping. And I’m not saying that you need to do a full rake through of every single thing that you own. But you can go through all your fall pieces to check their condition & see if there are any obvious gaps. And you can start comparing what you already own with how you want to show up this fall (your inspiration) & what you’ll actually be doing (your schedule).

And this might sound like a wardrobe stylist fairy tale - but you might actually discover some things that you forgot about. Like the boots you bought at an end of season sale. Or the coat that spent part of last fall at the tailor. Or the cashmere sweaters that were accidentally left in a bag headed for the dry cleaner (yes, that’s what I did).

And if you want to follow my example - I don’t allow myself to do any fall shopping until I’ve gone through my closet. It’s a boundary that I set for myself that’s proven very useful - both in keeping me from shopping & motivating me to spend time in my closet first.

Is your fall vibe neutral & cozy? Or are you all about traditional fall colors & layers? Note these ideas as well as you prepare for the season. (Photo by Tijana Drndarski on Unsplash)

WRITE A WISHLIST

Writing a fall wishlist is essentially the goal of this entire exercise. Because rather than shopping without knowing what you need - you can shop knowing exactly what you need (and/or want). Both to fulfill specific functions in your fall wardrobe & complete the outfits that can make you feel great this fall. And while you should always create a list before shopping (these are my general steps to create a list any time you want to shop) - a seasonal wishlist is a little different.

A seasonal wishlist is the items that you’ll keep your eye out for during the season (as opposed to heading out to buy right away). It helps reign you in when you do get those emails - or you’re tempted to click an influencer’s link. And like I said - you’ll create your wishlist by aligning your inspiration with what you already have, tempered by what you’re actually doing this fall.

And if the leap to creating a wishlist seems a little daunting (or if you want a shortcut to this whole process) - just go into your closet & start creating fall outfits. Trying to create outfits can readily point the finger to what’s missing - although it sometimes requires a little more abstract style thinking. Because you’re not simply recreating outfits that you’ve been inspired by, you’re adapting them to what makes sense for your lifestyle, preferences, etc.

Are these steps that you already take to get ready for a new season? Which parts of this are new to you? Drop a comment to let me know!

A quick footnote - not everyone needs a wishlist. You may go through this entire exercise & realize that you have what you need. And what you want to focus on this fall is coming up with new outfits ideas. Or giving yourself more time to get dressed. And those are incredibly helpful realizations, too.

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💡 Client Spotlight

A sneak peek of Janie’s latest outfits, which I’ll be sharing in the next Style Mail VIP Look book!

‘Janie’ reached out to me for a few reasons - she had shifted sizes & she was heading back into the office regularly. She had no idea what looked good on her (which is common among my clients) & shopping overwhelmed her (also common among my clients). So, we defined her style & audited her closet. And then, over the course of two shopping sessions (one in spring & one in late fall), we filled the gaps in her wardrobe. And I created outfits for the office, family time, date nights, school functions & more.

When she got her spring look book last year, she said, “This is amazing!! I am totally getting it printed & spiral bound. I can't decide what to wear tomorrow, there are so many choices. I can't believe what you are able to do!!”

When she got her fall/winter look book, she responded, “OMG!!! I love it. I want to crawl inside, it all looks so cozy!!”

And last month, we shopped for some fall transitional pieces - to create outfits for now & the next few months. And I’ll be sharing her latest look book in the next Style Mail VIP post.

So, if you want to see outfits that I created that are perfect for the transition to fall (plus get links to items that you see in the outfits), now is a great time to become a Style Mail VIP.

Once you sign up for Style Mail VIP, you’ll get a look book with 30+ outfit ideas each month, links to many of the items in the look books, a monthly ‘style challenge’ to motivate & inspire - and even more paid-subscriber benefits. And you’ll have immediate access to all existing look books & challenges for even more inspiration!

Click here for more details on Style Mail VIP & tap the button to subscribe.

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Let’s Work Together!