It may be triple-digit weather where I live, but with back-to-school season in full swing, the promise of fall is on the horizon.
Something about the coming of fall makes me want to put my wardrobe in order — you know, get it organized and streamlined before the first chilly morning.
And to me, the first step in that process is to look back on what’s worked so far. I like to pull a few garments from my closet and jot down specific reasons why I tend to reach for them.
This practice helps me start my fall prep from a grounded place. It softens the influence of social media and helps me hone in on what *really* works for me and my daily life.
Ready? Let’s jump in!
What’s Worked
My goal this year was to lean into a functional, high quality wardrobe that truly served my day to day needs. There were 10 items that topped my list:
This may not be the most dazzling collection of clothes, but these pieces are the backbone of my wardrobe. Now that I’m looking at it, I realize these are the things I’d run out and buy if all my clothes suddenly disappeared and I had to start over from scratch.
JEWELRY + ACCESSORIES
Jenny Bird Tome Medium Earrings | I love that silver jewelry brings energy to my skin tone. It makes me feel fresh!
Amazon Claw Clip | If I’m getting ready in a hurry, this claw clip always comes to my rescue. It takes about 5 seconds to clip up my hair and it always looks chic.
SHOES
Roxy Gabbie Flip Flops | Flip flops have always been an integral part of my style, but my old flip flops were wearing out this year. These Gabbie flip flops were the perfect replacement — I love their minimal lines, comfortable sole, and budget friendly price.
Adidas Samba Sneakers | These sneakers make me feel like a fashion girlie and I love it.
TOPS
Abercrombie Body Skimming Tee | This tee really changed my closet this year. It was the first tee I found that was the right length to pair with my mid-rise bottoms, opening up a whole world of styling possibilities. Plus I love that it’s body-skimming, but not tight. Ah, I can breathe easy in this one.
Reformation Will Oversized Button Up Shirt | These shirts have that it factor. They are oversized, but they don’t feel blah, you know? In fact, they feel vibrant and sensual. It all comes down to an impeccable fit.
BOTTOMS
Mid Rise Abercrombie 90’s Straight Jeans | High-rise jeans are uncomfy for me, and I’m so happy that mid-rise jeans are officially back. I like the straight leg, classic cut, and versatility of these jeans. They’re neither too trendy nor too dated.
Agolde Parker Long Shorts | I like that these mid-rise shorts are a little longer. Plus the fabric is so soft.
DRESSES
Christy Dawn “The Dawn” Dress | This dress satisfies my need for a romantic dress without going full cottage core. It’s comfortable — nothing is tight or clingy. Plus, it’s easy to wash.
Everlane Ribbed Tank Dress | Another versatile, easy to wash, great fitting dress.
• • •
All in all, this year specifically, I’ve made a few big shifts that have really worked. Things like:
- More silver jewelry, less gold
- More loose or body-skimming tops, less tight tops
- More mid rise bottoms, less high rise
It’s a short list, but these few shifts have impacted my wardrobe in profound ways. These changes have made my wardrobe more useful, and have brought more delight to my routine each morning.
• • •
And there you have it!
What about you? What’s worked for you in your wardrobe additions this year? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!
Have you looked into your color season? I think you are like me and are a True Summer. True summer looks better with silver than gold. Your comment about silver making your complexion come alive makes me think it is your color season. I’ve enjoyed colors more, knowing which colors look best on me. But I will always default to my love for neutrals but more white, navy, and light grey than beige and black.
I liked this post a lot. I have to thank you again for recommending the Everlane dress. I bought it in black and I have worn it 14 times. That is really A LOT for me, as I don’t wear dresses very often. Which made me order it in white also as a birthday present for myself, I have only worn it twice but still counting! I love your blog and your style.
I also bought that Everlane dress in black because of this blog and I have worn it to death all summer. It’s now super faded and I bought a new one in white.