I love September weather in the Mid-Atlantic. Or is Northern Virginia the south? I never know. Either way, this is one of our best months. We can still wear sandals and there’s no need for socks or a real jacket, but one can add a sweater or a light trench and we are not drowning in humidity. True fall is not yet here and I’m already pretty bored of seeing barn jackets, loafers, and La Ligne sweaters for the millionth fall in a row (P.S. I LOVE LOAFERS and La Ligne). Also, burgundy (don’t we always wear burgundy in the fall?). I’ve been scrolling and scrolling for looks that inspire me and make me want to put together outfits in a different way. It always comes back to Sienna Miller, Isaac Mizrahi, and Becky Malinksy doesn’t it?
This image was featured in Vogue in spring 2018 and makes me wonder why I don’t have a denim trench coat? What have I been doing with my time? We have a number of options available to us (here, here, and here) but these all look sort of stiff. I think the key is for the coat to be a very soft denim and to have movement. I’m wondering if this would work? And it’s not just the coat. The pink heels with the yellow bag and the striped button down shirt - no notes. Here’s a reasonably priced pink mule, a darling yellow tote and my favorite button down.
Let’s hear it for this Isaac Mizrahi runway show from Spring 1991.
Check out a video clip of the images below here:
I realize this is a stark contrast to the 90’s minimalist we are seeing right now, but I will always love a full skirt moment. Plus the sweaters with cuffs and collars. And the BELTS - oh the belts?!!! Be still my Patricia Field Fan Club Heart. The use of color and the styling of the models is perfection. There is a big part of me that wants to dress like Amy Smilovic every day but there’s another part of me that yearns to be Betty Draper. Alas, we all contain multitudes.
If one wants to take a break from their cargo skirts this fall, Free People is offering us a full skirt in a range of colors. Is it a terribly interesting design? No, but it’s a good price for something that is unlikely to get a ton of wear. I like the Deep Mahogany and I would pair it with last season’s Doen sweater or J.Crew’s shrunken cashmere and these Maryam Nassir Zadeh X J.Crew loafer heels or Tibi white Barry sandals while it’s still warm. Do you think the models are wearing petticoats (is that still a thing?) or are Mizrahi’s skirts that full, full, full?
While both of the above images are from spring, I would argue that September and May in Northern Virginia are kind of the same season. Some of us choose to start painting our nails burgundy and wearing corduroy in the middle of September and the rest of us are mixing browns with pastels and sandals.
Our queen, Becky Malinksy, shows us how to mix proportions. This is something I have a hard time with in real life and I gave it a try this week. I recently picked up a Tibi satin corset top from Noihsaf and (also influenced by Becky) the Zadeh x J.Crew cropped cardigan and was having some trouble styling both. I wore them together last week and felt so happy in my outfit!
Speaking of Tibi, I received a zillion compliments on these crazy Tibi pants when I wore them for the first time this week. They are good. Very, very good.
Meanwhile school is back in session and the high school kids are flexing all their new fashion.
I’ve clocked not one but two of the cool girls wearing what must be vintage Jack Rogers thong mules. They must have dug them out of the very back of their mom’s (or grandma’s) closet. I might be picking up a pair for myself for next spring here.
Not exactly groundbreaking but McQueens and platform Adidas have taken the place of Golden Goose.
Jeans are still high waisted and straight or bell bottomed around here (the low rise has yet to appear on the scene, thank heavens).
Lots of bubble hems.
Never Not Shopping
LOVE LOVE LOVE this Ulla dress. COS had a black dress with a similar vibe but I waited too long and it’s sold out. I’m hoping there may be pop backs.
Speaking of playing with proportions, this Hunter Bell top I’ve been looking at all summer is finally on sale. There is a printed version that is new for fall and I think both would be so fun with jeans and skirts.
Cute socks to style with heels, sandals, and loafers this fall.
I adore this entire Norma Kamali situation and would love to wear it on a work trip with the black Caddis readers I’ve bought and lost twice and my silver Parker Thatch bag.
Thank you so much for reading!
XOXO,
Tara