Autumn Lookbook 2021
It’s officially autumn and in honor of this transitional season, I’ll be sharing 12 outfits from sustainable sources grouped in accordance with the three months of fall.
The majority of these outfits were created from old fast-fashion pieces that I bought years ago (because the most sustainable thing you can do is to keep wearing your old clothes) but I also threw a few secondhand pieces and newer pieces from sustainable brands into the mix.
One thing that you'll notice about these outfits is that I reuse a lot of the individual pieces. Again, when it comes to sustainability, we should ideally be wearing the same clothes over and over until they're worn out.
September Outfits
September marks the start of the season and despite ongoing hot afternoons, we’re greeted with shorter days and chillier evenings.
Outfit 1
In this first look, I’m sporting mauve shorts, a white button-down, and a knitted cardigan. The outfit blends traditional summer garments like these shorts with more fall-appropriate pieces like the long-sleeved top. Adding a light, textured cardigan provides dimension to the outfit and also functions as an additional layer for when it gets colder in the evening.
White Blouse, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Knitted Cardigan, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Mauve Shorts, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Outfit 2
Look number 2 highlights one of the pieces that I wore all summer: the pastel green, floral dress. I chose to layer another pastel green button-down on top to keep the look cohesive but also autumn-appropriate. A big part of sustainable fashion is making use of the garments that you already own so throughout this lookbook, you’ll see me restyling the same articles of clothing into different outfit combinations that match the changing temperatures.
Green Floral Dress, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Green Button-Down, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Outfit 3
Look number 3 plays with pattern mixing. I’ve chosen to layer a black and white striped skirt over a black, turtleneck mini dress and then added another sheer, plaid layer on top of that. The color black is a unifying component of this look and the darker colors signify a shift into a colder season.
Black Turtleneck Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Black and White Skirt, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Sheer Plaid Button-Down, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Outfit 4
Look number 4 clearly showcases summer styles, colors, and patterns, but layered in a way that works for dropping temperatures. I’ve added a dusty rose turtleneck from Organic Basics under this floral yellow wrap dress for a look that is still playful and light, but clearly signifies that it’s no longer the dog days of summer. The color of the turtleneck plays off the flowers in the dress and further emphasizes the floral print.
Dusty Rose Turtleneck, Organic Basics
Yellow Floral Wrap Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2018
October Outfits
To me, October really is the spirit of autumn distilled into one month. It starts off with t-shirt appropriate weather but ends sometimes even with snowfall.
Outfit 5
Outfit number 5 again plays with the idea of transitioning a traditional summer look into something that can be worn for autumn. I’ve layered a cropped black turtleneck shirt under this long, blue and white, corset dress for a simple autumn look that can be worn during the early days of October.
Black Cropped Turtleneck Top, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Blue & White Floral Dress, Secondhand
Outfit 6
It’s finally long pants season! Look number 6 highlights these flared blue overalls. I picked them up last spring but alas, didn’t have much of a chance to wear them out because we’ve been in lockdown for almost the entirety of summer. I wore them over a powder blue leotard from Hara and then brought back that white button-down shirt from the September outfits. This look features a baggy silhouette that I find comforting for the cooler seasons.
Powder Blue Bumi Leotard, Hara The Label
White Blouse, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Blue Flare Jeans, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Outfit 7
A technique that you’ll see me use across many of these looks is the use of the color black to make a traditionally summery outfit into something moody for the autumn season. Outfit number 7 is a prime example of this. I’ve layered a gingham skirt (I call this my picnic skirt) over the black, turtleneck, mini-dress from the September outfit and then added another sheer black cardigan on top. This look juxtaposes a light and fun picnic skirt against edgy black pieces.
Gingham Picnic Skirt, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Black Mini Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Black Cardigan, Old Fast Fashion 2017
October 8
The final look for October again plays with the ideas of pattern mixing and layering. This time, I chose to wear the pastel green floral dress over a black, cropped turtleneck and then layered the black and white striped skirt over the outfit. Look number 8 really showcases the green dress and is a reflection of this month as a whole. It references the bright, fun patterns of summer, but pulls that energy into a more grounded and practical outfit.
Black Cropped Turtleneck Top, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Green Floral Dress, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Black and White Striped Skirt, Old Fast Fashion 2017
November Outfits
To me, November is always the precursor to a flashy holiday season. It’s a month of grounding, warmth, restoration, and family, before the extravagance of December.
Outfit 9
For outfit number 9, I’ve layered the blue and white corset dress over the black mini dress and then added the long cardigan on top. The long layers and flowy silhouette are extremely comfortable and provide a sense of security in this season.
Black Mini Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Blue & White Floral Dress, Secondhand
Knitted Cardigan, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Outfit 10
Ah, pattern mixing again. I really love this technique--can you tell? I’ve played with the same idea of mixing black with the picnic skirt but then added a little of an academic flare with this oversized plaid blazer. Although the colors are extremely different, the pattern mixing in outfit 10 still works because both patterns are part of the checkered family.
Black Cropped Turtleneck Top, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Gingham Picnic Skirt, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Oversized Plaid Blazer, Secondhand
Outfit 11
Outfit 11 is a basic but elegant late autumn look. I layered the dusty rose organic basics turtleneck under a simple black tank top and then wore a white and black striped skirt on the bottom. This silhouette is a classic one for late fall and you can easily replicate this look with a thicker turtleneck underneath or another cardigan over it.
Black Tank Top, Old Fast Fashion 2017
Dusty Rose Turtleneck, Organic Basics
Outfit 12
The best thing about loose, wide-legged pants is that you can basically layer them over anything. I chose to wear these over the black minidress and then added the sheer, plaid button-down for an edgy element of movement. This look is a little more masculine than what I typically wear but I actually quite enjoy it.
Black Mini Dress, Old Fast Fashion 2016
Blue Flare Jeans, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
Sheer Plaid Button-Down, Secondhand from 2nd Street Taiwan
There you have it--12 looks for the autumn season. Thank you so much for watching until now. Please let me know which look was your favorite and what techniques you use to carry some of your favorite summer pieces into the cooler season.
