Autumn marks a transitional period. I don’t know about you, but these past few months have been an emotional rollercoaster. On one hand, as an introvert, I’ve reveled at the decreased in-person social interaction but on the other hand, being stuck in the same place has undoubtedly had a negative impact on my emotional wellbeing. 

Another recurring challenge for me has been the lack of control. Because of our current circumstances, I’ve been focusing internally on the things that I can control and one thing that’s been extremely grounding at this time has been fashion.

This fall lookbook is an exploration of outfits that I would wear if I had places to go because sometimes dressing up gives you a sense of purpose and that purpose carries you throughout your day.

Outfit 1: Park Picnic

This romantic and whimsical outfit is perfect for a warm autumn day spent picnicking in the park. The pastel pink and purple tones are reminiscent of colors that you would find within a summer palette, but longer layers make this outfit fall-appropriate.

I styled a dusty rose, ¾-length sleeve shirt with a lilac floral dress, and then added a bralette with similar colors for interest. Innerwear as outerwear has been a huge trend lately, and this outfit plays on that idea.

Dusty Rose Shirt, Borrowed From Sister
Purple Floral Dress, Raided Mom’s Closet
Pink & Purple Bralette, Old Fast Fashion
Black Platform Boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 2: Thrifting

I don’t know about you, but I miss thrifting in person! This outfit is what I would wear if I were stopping by all my favorite shops. I layered a yellow, floral, robe dress over a sheer black cardigan and then another dark-toned floral skirt over that.

Thrifting Outfit Tip 1: Wear something that’s easy to change in and out of
Long skirts or leggings are some of my favorite garments to wear when trying on potential take-home items. The ease of changing makes you more likely to try things on and that therefore decreases the chances of you accidentally taking home something that doesn’t fit.

Thrifting Outfit Tip 2: Include garments that are representative of your closet
One thing that I consider when thrifting is whether or not a garment is going to work well with the rest of my closet. To give an accurate understanding of this, I like to pair potential garments with other existing clothes that I own that do a good job of representing my style. In this instance, I happen to wear a lot of black, so I included this black cardigan in my outfit so that I can better understand how a potential piece will fit in.

Black Cardigan, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Yellow Floral Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2018
Floral Skirt, Thrifted 2012
Black Platform Boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 3: Running Errands

Okay, so this is obviously a life activity that we still have access to, but the way that we dress up for it has entirely changed. I know that a lot of people have been extra flamboyant with the way that they’re dressing to go to the grocery store because it seems like the only opportunity to be out in society, but I personally miss dressing casually just to run about town.

This outfit is the ultimate casual outfit. I’m wearing classic blue jeans with an oversized grey hoodie, and a thrifted, oversized denim jacket. I added hoop earrings and a sunflower cap for a bit of fun.

Grey Tee, Old Fast Fashion 2014
Grey Hoodie, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Oversized Denim Jacket, Thrifted 2020
Blue Jeans, Old Fast Fashion 2018
Black Platform Boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 4: Teaching Yoga

So, some of you may or may not know this, but I’m a certified yoga teacher! Teaching gigs have been paused since the pandemic, but I’m really hoping to get back at it soon.

This outfit is inspired by what I wore last autumn when I was still commuting to the studios for in-person classes. I paired classic black leggings with a bright flannel shirt (layered over a sports bra, of course), and then added my thrifted leather jacket and plaid overcoat. This outfit is functional and will keep you warm once the cold weather rolls around.

Orange Flannel, Thrifted 2012
Black Leggings, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Black Leather Jacket, Thrifted 2019
Oversized Plaid Jacket, Raided Mom’s Closet
Black Platform Boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 5: Coffee Date!

Don’t you miss hanging out in a cafe? I definitely do! While I love my french press to death, there’s just something special about grabbing coffee with a friend and spending that time to catch up.

I layered a graphic tee over a dusty rose turtleneck and tucked it into a denim skirt. The skirt is a DIY project from earlier this year and I’m sad that it hasn’t seen too many occasions out yet. I topped this look off with dark accessories for a punk-inspired feel.

Dusty Rose Turtleneck Tee, Organic Basics 2020
Black Graphic Tee, Old Fast Fashion 2012
Denim Skirt, Upcycled 2020
Fishnet Tights, Old Fast Fashion
Black Hat, Old Fast Fashion
Black Platform Boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 6: Travel

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? I miss traveling and dressing up for specific experiences. While I’m definitely a fan of pants/leggings for practicality when traveling, I always make sure to pack at least one dressier outfit in case a special occasion arises.

I played with jewel tones in this outfit, pairing a copper holiday dress with an emerald green skirt. I then layered an oversized plaid blazer over this outfit for a little more sophistication and to cover up because you never know how cold it’ll get!

Copper Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Emerald Skirt, Old Fast Fashion 2014
Oversized Plaid Blazer, Basement Find

Outfit 7: Dinner & Drinks

All-black is my go-to for dinner and drinks because it’s always chic and is also stain-friendly.

I paired a cropped black turtleneck with pinstripe slacks and threw on my leather jacket for an edgy flair. I’m wearing platform boots in this outfit (mostly because I’m too lazy to pull something else out) but realistically, I’d probably wear a shorter heel because you walk a lot in New York.

Black Cropped Turtleneck, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Black Pinstripe Slacks, Raided Mom’s Closet
Black Leather Jacket, Thrifted 2019
Black Platform Boots, Old Fast Fashion 2016

Outfit 8: Chilling At Home (without a mandate)

It might just be me, but chilling at home seems to have lost its appeal. I’m beyond grateful that I have this wonderful place to call home but spending time in the same space can certainly get stifling.

I’m wearing the ultimate comfy outfit with leggings, a cropped tank, and my favorite grandma cardigan. This outfit also functions for video calls if you’re working from home and are required to take meetings. 

Olive Crop, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Blue Leggings From Recycled Plastic, Lole 2019
Grandma Cardigan, Old Fast Fashion 2014

Which of these outfits resonated the most? What would you include in your fall lookbook?

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