Profuse apologies for the unannounced absence: I finally broke down and replaced my ancient, filthy laptop, and it took longer than anticipated for the nice people at the tech store to transfer all my data. So I lived without a computer for TWO WHOLE DAYS and it’s kind of amazing how hard that was for me—I felt purposeless, distracted, and and vaguely as though I was missing a limb. And it’s been raining here in Sag Harbor so pretty stir-crazy too. I texted a friend to say “I don’t know how we survived in the olden days,” to which she replied “I think about that often. Our brains have changed.” Which is undoubtedly correct, and that scares me a little, but mostly I’m just pleased to be connected again. I’ll be back after the long weekend with all sorts of exciting, autumnal posts—it’s been cool out here (and from what I hear in the city too) and it’s put me in a very back-to-school-shopping mood. Tell me, readers, what fall purchases are you looking forward to?
Welcome back, Kim. Me, too – vacation is exhausting! (At least with one’s 80+ Yr old parents!) I’m excited about sweaters, ankle boots, and a size smaller in pants. Yay, me!
Something—anything—cordovan colored.
I just bought, like literally delivered yesterday, the Everlandstraight leg crop in olive green (they call it surplus, lol). I already had them in white and am looking forward to that green mixing with other cool weather colors. I also bought some black Cole-Haan sneaker oxford things. Bring on Fall!
Holy typos, Batman!! This should read “the Everlane straight leg crop…”. More coffee, please.
ooh, can I ask the you/the hive mind about leather moto jackets that aren’t black? I want one badly to wear like a blazer this fall but can’t find one that looks thin enough and isn’t 4 figures.
https://www.gofugyourself.com/fug-nation-loves-moto-jackets-08-2019
I found a purple/wine colored IRO one at Neiman Marcus Last Call for a ridiculously low price (there is an online site for Last Call) and have seen great ones at Nordstrom Rack.
Try AllSaints. They have a lot of black, yes, but also tend to have a few really interesting colors. I love the Dalby and Balfern styles.
I desperately need rain boots that are not pull on style and in a 9.5.
I have the Everlane Chelsea rain boots but may return.
lost my comment.
In desperate need of non pull on style rain boots in a 9.5. Have everlane Chelsea rain boots that I may return.
Why are you considering returning? I’m considering purchasing but reconsidering now…
I need help on winter footwear that does not approach 4 figures. Think you could do a post on cool winter footwear from Zappos (that come in size 11)?
I’m in Los Angeles so it’s going to be 90 degrees until late November 🙁 I’m wondering about silhouettes, is oversized still in or is fitted back?
P.S. Oh Majestic Fashion Overlords–stop trying to make boot cuts a thing again!
Same. Just getting my white pants hemmed now. Last year it was 93 on Thanksgiving!
And 93 isn’t even so bad. Sometimes it’s even worse! It has been not too bad this year, I hope it lasts. And I hope we get rain again.
I always found the boot cut to be very flattering, actually. Hated having to hem though!
Wow, really?! I’m so tired of skinny I could just BARF.
I wear skinny, wide-leg and boy-friend. Actually, that’s sort of a lie. I work from home so I mostly wear yoga pants. Now, those are what makes me barf 🙂 Jeans are almost black-tie for me at this point.
I so relate.
Chocolate brown tops, ideally not in any form of wool or cashmere (I’m allergic)… so hard to find but so great.
Oof, I’m also allergic to wool & cashmere. I feel you! Sweater season can be so challenging lol
Cardigans of all shapes, weights, and degree of coziness. I love cardigan days.
i can’t say i’m in the mood to even think about fall purchases quite yet because it’s about 100% humidity here, but had to say i love the pixel quality of that photo through the window screen.
Boots that are not “booties” and not knee-high. About as tall as Dr. Martins, but more refined than Dr. Martins. Picky, picky, picky. Of course, at the moment, it’s still in the 90’s in Austin so Fall probably won’t happen until next January. (for this very reason I’m enjoying the heck out of the East Coast weather until I have to return)
How’s this: https://totokaelo.com/radio-lace-up-leather-boot/W008133.html?lang=en_US
Thank you! These are just about perfect (and look so comfortable), but they aren’t in my size. (imagine a super sad face) I’ll do a search to see if I can find them somewhere else more size appropriate.
I was taking developmental psychology courses when smart phones became widespread. Having to look at the components of addiction, both behavioral and neurological, I was disturbed by the addictive elements with smartphones and made a point of setting limits on technology. The downside is, people treat me like I’m a freak because I never stare at a phone. As for clothing, I have set my sights on a “vintage” LL Bean black jumper dress that I mean to wear with a men’s YSL white button down. (It’s strange to write, vintage, for an item that was contemporary for me.)
I still have a flip phone and I refuse to text!! It’s divine. I have also never been on any social media at all, which I guess disqualifies me from modern life. ….
I have seen such a (troubling) change in my attention span and I am making some changes to make it more difficult for me to stare at my phone. Such as leaving it in a different room than I am in at night, getting out of bed right away in the morning before going down a long rabbit hole of checking my emails and various other crap on my phone. Reading a book before bed and not my phone. I am having varying degrees of success with these things. but I am trying. Even if I have to remind myself while staring at my phone to PUT IT DOWN. I really find it so awful and disheartening to be with family or friends and everyone is looking at their phone and not engaging with one another.
I agree – the phone thing is a habit. I don’t think our brains have changed. Except posssssibly our attention spans might have changed, but, I think they can change back, too.
I need a new full-on winter parka. I finally got rid of the old one I had, that I had gotten on sale in like July for a ridiculous percentage off. It was quite warm and functional but poo brown and the sleeves were too short (I have monkey arms). I felt like a giant poo emoji wearing it. I’d love a Canada Goose one but can’t afford that, and that $70 one that everyone has from Amazon isn’t my style.
Same. I’ve actually been looking for a parka for what feels like a zillion years. I have an incredibly beat up and simply totally gross looking North Face that’s needed to be trashed for years. I ordered/returned at least 7 last year (SO not an exaggeration!). Maybe fodder for a post? PLEASE??
I need a new heavy, heavy winter parka too. It seems like an expensive, but boring, but also very necessary purchase. I’m going on my fifth year with the North Face and it has seen better days.
The arms in every winter jacket I try are at least 3-4 inches too short, so I hear ya.
Have you checked out Aritzia? It’s a Canadian fashion site with a great selection of reasonably-priced puffers and parkas in lots of colors (and stores in the U.S.) Also LL Bean, Eddie Bauer and Lands End? I live in a Rocky Mountain ski resort and my favorite, warmest parkas are from Parajumpers, an Italian brand. They’re pricey, but are super warm, look great and last forever. You can find some discounted on eBay NWT or pre-owned. I’m not a fan of Canada Goose – never seen one on a real, non-model person that looked attractive . Happy hunting!.
Just chiming in to second the Aritzia suggestion.
Aritzia is a great suggestion! I was planning on spending quite a bit to get something extremely warm but my daughters both have parkas from Aritzia and are very cozy. But I’ll check out Parajumpers too!
Canada Goose coats have always been extremely popular up here but another brand that seems to be giving them competition is Moose Knuckles. Decidedly not inexpensive though.
Late to this party but yes, winter parka recommendations would be absolutely wonderful! Haven’t replaced mine in years, it is on its last limbs…
I felt your pain last year! I got this and felt the color and size were winners, very simple but unusual. For me, no fur or faux fur trim was a real asset.
https://pipeandrow.com/products/just-female-steal-coat-pine-grove
My future winter parka will also be without fur! But faux fur will suit me just fine, as well.
I feel like winter parkas are what The RealReal is MADE for — tons of Canada Goose, Moncler, Mackage, etc. for way less $$$ and North Face/Patagonia stuff for $150 or so. Plus it’s all returnable so you can try a bunch on and see… I ended up with an adorable 3/4 length Tory Burch puffer right at the end of last winter that cost I think $145. Not as cheap as $70 on Amazon but much better quality and better for the environment to buy used!
These are all great suggestions, thanks folks! I also want no fur (real OR faux), and $150ish is fine but not $700 (in the past few months alone I’ve run into some issues with my house, plus a $1500 bill from the kitty ER and $2,000 in car repairs, ouch!!).
It won’t be cool here for ages, but I really want a timeless field jacket to layer for fall. The Nili Lotan is spring-ier, to me, because it’s linen. I’m hoping for something hip-length, cinches a bit at the waist, in some military color.
My main purchase this year is a giant contribution to Kamala Harris. I urge everyone here to select the candidate of their choice and out whatever money you have toward them. I just read that Trump is deporting migrant children with cancer — on top of everything else he is doing to harm these poor babies. This is a political post but we are caring women, and I am skipping out on stuff in favor of making our world same again. I encourage you to do the same. (Or as they say in Texas, all y’all.)
Eeks — typos. “Put” not “out” and “sane” not “same.” Sorry about that!
Normally I’m not a fan of political stuff in non political posts but your comment has given me a nice dose of hope in this current shitshow of a timeline. Thanks <3
I need wool socks. I have thick calves, so I need something not too tight. But wool. My feet froze last winter.
I’ve seen lots of sales on Smartwool lately. They’re the best! Also very cute.
Smartwool is the freakin’ best. I don’t even bother with anything else anymore.
It does not look so nice, perhaps … but I just cut the top band of most socks. Believe it or not, the entire sock does not unravel.
It’s not you, it’s the sock.
I just got a pair of leopard booties that I’m excited to wear with black jeans all winter long. Sigh … just typing “winter” bums me out. I live in MN so I’m sure some of you can relate!
Booties are the wardrobe work horses of the cold climate — warmer than shoes on colder fall and spring days, when big winter boots aren’t required. A new black pair is ready to roll.
Patterned shoes (snakeskin, pony, leopard, anything!) to wear with the upcoming seasons of jewel tones and winter black/creams.
Fall shoes to transition from summer to fall or work to weekend? Slip on sneakers comparable to the Greats or Veja? More mules in less than 2 1/2 inches? And more colored denim or work to weekend pants in not black?
And yes to donating to political campaigns!
Black jeans. Why are the right ones so hard to find?
Maternity clothes! Thrilled and a little shocked to find myself pregnant at an, uh, advanced age. Would love any recommendations from anyone who has them!
I have a blogger friend who found herself pregnant at 46! She got stylish maternity pieces from Hatch, and a lot of non-maternity that worked well in her first two trimesters. Good wishes to you, C!
I was an advanced age with my second daughter. (The doctor actually congratulated me for being his oldest patient that got pregnant the natural way.) I disliked spending a lot of money on clothes that I was going to wear for only a few months…Old Navy has some cute, cheap maternity clothes!
Cute, casual jackets under $200 that aren’t brown, mustard yellow, olive green, or burnt orange! So sick of those colors. Is it me or are they lately everywhere? And I look tired and washed out in all of them.
I come to bare witness. It is not you. Those colors are EVERYWHERE. I am olive-skinned and those shades make me look like Gumby.
Yes, oh yes! For those of us who look best in what’s considered winter jewel tone colors, this season’s fall leaf colors make me look sickly and sallow.
Moi? An apple watch so I can use it to work out with and answer texts so my phone can be locked up at work (HS Teacher) – such a practical thing but costly and research needs to be done. I also wound up getting some great pairs of jeans this summer – (discovered the brand Mother) and cleaning up at the No. 6 sample sale. So, all I really need are toppers to go with. I’m on the lookout for good cardigans and easy / not too stiff blazers to go with new jeans and clogs to work.
So glad you are back! Although I always support you in taking a few vacation days when you actually choose to. Fall purchases – I am desperately hunting for a olive green pair of pants, ideally deep green, full length, minimal stretch. It’s proving difficult. I’d also like a new floral blouse, but that’s proving tricky too, as I’m very picky. I just bought a chambray blouse from Esby during their Labor Day sale, and am very excited to see it. Love reading what everyone else is up to!
Yesterday I just scored brand new Stuart Weitzman flat, over the knee, fringe boots on ThredUp for a ridiculously low price, but obviously won’t be wearing them for another few months. In the meantime, I’m also looking for good booties that don’t have a high heel, new post perhaps?
Yes please, I second the booties with no heel. And if possible, for a wide foot….I can dream…..
Kenneth Cole at Costco, affordable leather with a low heel for those of us who wear them in weather. No tread, though.
I’m about to pull the trigger on some non-jeans pants (preferably in olive or gray), along with a houndstooth blazer and a rust-red skirt in corduroy wale.
I should try to shop my overflowing closet instead. I’d already bought my transitional Madewell Texture & Thread puff-sleeve dress (in a thicker material) as well as a black denim pencil skirt. So these are all nice-to-have items.
Speaking of shopping one’s closet, did you see Oxfam’s September campaign pledge? https://oxfamapps.org/secondhandseptember/
just bought an engineered garments paisley cotton top, and can’t believe how much I am digging it. any other paisley suggestions?
Enjoy your holidays always but I feel your pain about unplugging: my job is in marketing/social media for a medium size company but I’m the only one who does “my” work so it’s extremely difficult to turn it off. Bought a grey wool rag and bone blazer on sale in July and now I need to find a black one that’s just as great.
I’m in the same boat. I have the same job for a medium-sized nonprofit and it’s impossible to leave it behind. You’d think it would be the opposite. Hmmm…
Not excited this time of year at all. I live in Florida where it is 90 90 90 degrees day after day. Now is the time for me to scoop up summer clothing bargains!
Not only is Florida hot but Hurricane Dorian is on its way. I’ll be online shopping for Labor Day Sales until I lose power.
Cosy cardigans! So looking forward to putting one on. I am imagining something white-ish that’s super soft and comfortable and goes with everything, but haven’t been able to find it yet.
Well, I broke my right arm saturday night so I’m just looking forward to shoes with laces and being able to wear a real bra. Sometime in October…
Here’s hoping you’re left-handed. 😘
Oh, I am so so sorry! What a bummer. I am visualizing a quick healing.
And I absolutely feel for you re the bra. I suppose you have already tried fastening it around the waist in front, and then twisting it around and pulling it up? I hope you have someone who can help.
I need a new black roll neck sweater.
Fall as such won’t arrive here for quite some time, but I do like to start transitioning with a deeper color palette, closed-toe footwear and light (light!) layers. I purchased two J Crew sweater blazers on big clearance a few months back; really looking forward to wearing those.
Totally get it!
When I’m distracted and not good at being chill I like to put on some music or a podcast( always connected..) and cook. Crack open an actual cookbook. Bake a pie or muffins. A big soup for a rainy day:-)
Yes! I’m in need of a great everyday fall coat ( I rarely dress up) one my teenage daughter wouldn’t wear…
Also boots! Yay boots!
Love a post!
Yes, technology rules us in interesting ways. I find I have to be a little critical about whether or not I’m actually working or doing something of value or just filling up time. With only mild success.
Fall shopping: I am really hoping to find clothes in a good deep green. Something like a forest green (probably the trees around you right now), not almost-teal or yellow-green. I’m afraid it may be harder than I thought to find.
I could live without my laptop mostly, but take away my phone and my brain goes into panic mode. Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport explores the topic of our brains being rewired by technology and presumably what to do about it. It’s on my reading list, but I don’t plow through books like I used to (probably due to the short attention span created by using my phone!)
I’m looking forward to buying an animal print in an unexpected color, a cognac-colored tote or shoulder bag, something in olive green – camo jean jacket? pumps or flats? shoulder bag?, and a comfortable black or navy dress that I can dress up or down. And not tied to the season change, a single pearl on a chain. There are several options, but I can’t seem to settle on the shape or price tag.
I love Cuyana too. One of their totes should be the ticket.
I always look forward to getting a couple of new cashmere sweaters and a pair of boots. This year I keep looking at Bass Weejuns…not sure what that’s about.
I’m looking forward to ankle boots, pullover cashmere sweaters, and a cool-looking cardigan I can wear over long-sleeve blouses.
A camel fall coat would also be nice!
I really want a pair of Katherine Hepburn type wide-leg wool pants in a houndstooth or subtle plaid. To be worn with a cashmere sweater or a crisp white shirt. I’ve seen a lot a the very high end – hoping the style will show up at some lower price points.
Also, I always want a camel coat in the fall but I’ve learned that I look terrible in camel, sigh.
I want a good, stylish trench-style raincoat (one that is actually waterproof) and also more boots. Always more boots.
I’m always on the lookout for a good, affordable, classic fisherman’s sweater that’s substantial but not too bulky. They are so hard to find.
I got a new laptop over the weekend too. Way overdue. And that lead to a new neoprene sleeve and tote. I bought a Cuyana structured tote and can’t wait for it to arrive. I’ve purchased some small leather goods from Cuyana and I’m looking forward to the tote.