style journal ~ fall edition

fall mood board, cozy sweaters and wardrobe planning

I’m feeling oversized, chunky sweaters, gold jewellery with jewel toned stones, leather, argyle prints, and silk bottoms. Eau Capitale by Diptyque is a heady rose and bergamot scent that I hope to buy one day and feels perfect for this season.

Fall is the most poetic of seasons, and I love dressing for it. While I continue to be intentional with what I add to my wardrobe, here are a few categories I'm interested in: 

• Building out my sweater collection with higher quality, longer lasting, beautiful pieces. 

  • I recently picked up a navy blue wool Vince sweater at Nordstrom Rack, and I'm so in love with the cut and feel. Retail, it would have been completely out of my price range, but I picked it up for 100 USD while in Florida, and it's perfect. 

  • I'm looking for a grey cashmere sweater to add to my closet. I really like this shrunken one from J.Crew. I got one in black last year on sale and wore it a ton. I want to mention that it has pilled a bit, but I'm not sure if there's much more one can expect from cashmere at this price point. It's not too bad, and nothing a little fabric shave can't fix. I think a basic grey one would be a staple in my closet. 

  • A crewneck cardigan in pale grey or cream. 

  • Something with a print - like argyle in blues or greens would be beautiful… 

  • I ordered two sweaters from H&M's premium sweater collection. They just arrived and are so soft and in the prettiest colours. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep them. Oddly enough, I only see the fossil grey one online now, but I also ordered it in cream. They're at a higher price point, but I purchased them during a site-wide sale. I would keep an eye out for other sales around American Thanksgiving if you're interested. 

• Boots 

  • I'm looking for a great everyday black boot, durable enough to withstand my boys stepping on my feet (which happens all the time) but nice enough to feel special when I put them on. I'm unsure if I want them to be short or tall - but I think short makes more sense at this point in my life. In my dreams, I would be purchasing the Staud Wally boots, but I would wear them so rarely that I don't see the point. I also haven't tried them on, so there's that, lol. I do think a tall boot can be such a great addition to your fall/winter wardrobe. I love my black suede Stuart Wietzmans and have had them for over ten years. However, they're fitted, and I love the way a looser knee-high like the Wallys look. 

• Jackets 

  • I would love an understated leather jacket, but the prices are way out of my budget. I don't love the idea of synthetic leather, but I think that may be the only route. Mango has a few options like this and this (currently on sale), and I recently came across the brand Modern Citizen which has some great options. I would love to find a vintage one, but that would require a lot more time and effort. I'm also aware that barn coats are all the rage, but I'm wary of trending items and don't know if I would wear them after the craze has passed. They are super cute though, and there have been several that I've loved. 

  • I'm also interested in a puffer coat that will keep me warm in the colder temperatures. I've been eyeing the Aritzia Super Puff, and regardless of its ubiquitousness in Toronto, I love all the colours and lengths it comes in. This blue is on my radar in the long length. 

• Fall/winter dresses

  • This is a surprisingly difficult category for me. I like my dresses to have a touch of warmth in this season, and it's hard to find dresses that aren't a satin or slip-like material. It's cold in Toronto, and I don't want to freeze to feel cute. I'd love to find a knit dress like this one from DIISH . I also love this Doên dress , including the way it's been styled with the sweater, so I might keep an eye out for it to go on sale. 

A few other fun finds and links to the items from the fall mood board:

• Small Le Pliage Longchamps bag , love the oxblood colour 

• Shop hart charms

• Anything Gas Bijoux

• Olina silk pants from Reformation 

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I also wanted to share some videos that have inspired me this season:

The first video is GOLD. It’s a peek inside the closet of Parisian fashion journalist and editor Benedict Burguet. I saw this video when it first came out a few years ago and I remember the quiet feeling of yes, this is what I want when she shared her closet staples. I had fallen deep into a fast fashion cycle following baby number three, and all my recent items were synthetic, trend-driven, and disposable. Listening to her speak about timeless fabrics and silhouettes she loved, pieces she’s had tailored, and jewelry she was personally designing struck a deep chord with me. I hope you enjoy it and also take away a few nuggets of wisdom. 

The second is by YouTuber Emma Hill, who I’ve followed for several years. She has a thoughtful, meticulous way of thinking about her closet. Her clothes match her lifestyle and needs, and she is dogged in her vision of a functional and beautiful wardrobe. I think you’d learn a lot from her channel, but this particular video is excellent for considering a new season and how to plan what to wear and purchase. She also shares many great suggestions about using Pinterest to work with your wardrobe.

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I hope this month’s style journal gave you some inspiration and direction. This a gentle reminder that my intention isn’t to make you want to buy a hundred things (though I know looking at beautiful things can have that effect) but to help you ascertain what pieces would make getting dressed feel wonderful. Creating a closet filled with items we love takes time, and there isn’t ever a finish line. Clothes evolve with our life, and it’s a slow process. The point is to enjoy the experience of finding what we love and purchasing pieces that enhance our day-to-day.

I’d love to hear what you’re thinking of adding to your wardrobe this season, what trends you love, what pieces you’re obsessed with, and any other fashion tidbits you feel like sharing. 

Love, 

Sana