Falling Forward

I’m writing this post from our beach house rental, where it’s a breezy but very sunny 88 degrees. Call it end-of-summer denial, but I’m finding it hard to believe that in another month or so most of us will be unpacking our cashmere sweaters, booties and more. Not to mention wearing them! So I thought this might be a good time to share some of my personal “get prepped” wardrobe tips and tricks.

Twice a year (spring/summer and fall/winter) I undertake a pretty critical “culling” process as I unpack the coming season and then pack up the season we’re saying goodbye to. This forces me to put a critical eye as to how things fit, how many similar items I already have, does something look “tired,” mistakes (yes, I make those), and what my wardrobe is actually in need of. And I mean actually!

But…that doesn’t mean there aren’t those standout pieces that have caught my eye or possibly even turned into an obsession. Pieces that just look and feel fresh, cool, timeless, worth the price of admission, and play well with others. I often put these items in their respective “shopping carts” and force myself to at least sleep on them before buying. A perfect example would be these Mother jeans, in chalk ivory — a season-less alternative to white. And a full price purchase I haven’t regretted for a second.

This is also a good time to make sure favorite fall items are ready to go. For example, my beloved Gucci loafers (now 6 years old) will go to The Leather Spa for minor sole/heel repairs and a professional polish. Same for any bags that need strap/handle/zipper repair. I’ll also resew any loose buttons or hems and seams (good to do while watching something mindless on TV) and deliver any clothes that need more serious tailoring to the dry cleaner.

If I’m on the hunt for something, I’ll first scroll through the sale tabs of tried-and-true online retailers — Nordstrom, Saks, Net-a-Porter, The Outnet, J.Crew (become a Passport member and enjoy 30% off regular price items and 50% off sale items with code PASSPORT), Banana Republic and Nordstrom Rack. It’s very rare that an investment/designer piece from the year before looks outdated, and very likely that I’ll find a gem at a tremendous discount. Like this Ganni shirred poplin shirt, which I bought in both black and white. This is actually a purchasing strategy I stick to all year long. Alternatively, I’ll keep an eye out for special collections and designer Collabs with Target — like this Rachel Comey quilted jacket from Fall 2021.

I hope this post has been helpful, maybe even inspired you to give your own wardrobe a sprucing up. If you have any tips you’d like to share, I’d love to hear them. And enjoy the rest of summer — wherever you are.

4 thoughts on “Falling Forward

  1. Ah, fall 🍁. Changing leaves and swapping clothes.
    I , too, do minor sewing fixes. However, I have also become “besties” with my dry cleaner’s seamstress. I’ve known her for over 20 years and she still refuses to learn English. Even though there is a language barrier, I swear she can read my mind!
    In short, good tailors and shoe repair specialists are crucial for extending life for our beautiful, irreplaceable fashion staples!

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