Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, Massimo Dutti sweater, Gap blazer, Chicwish skirt, Chelsea Crew shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I love the way Molly Goddard incorporates tulle and wool sweaters in her collections, so I have been mining that inspiration for a few years now. Every outfit I try always feel better than the last one, and this continues that trend. It was inspired by a FW 2023 runway look. I am particularly happy with the decision to pair this fair isle sweater with the (vintage!) plaid blazer. It gives a slightly whimsical twist to the usual Historian vibe.

Details: Jeanne Pierre sweater, Mondi skirt (both thrifted), Jimmy Choo shoes (eBay)

Thoughts: Green and red can be a difficult combination to wear; it inevitably reminds people of Christmas. I wasn’t feeling especially festive when I wore this outfit, but I also feel that the chartreuse yellow in the skirt helps to cut down the Christmassy vibe a lot. In fact, this outfit feels more spring-like to me than anything else.

Details: Talbots dress, Frame blazer (both thrifted), Stella & Dot necklace (Poshmark), cuffs (Etsy)

Thoughts: But you know what always feels wintery to me? Dark plaids and velvet. And this outfit has both, in spades. I tend not to wear this style of dress very often these days — and if it had been any shorter, I wouldn’t be wearing this one — but this vintage wool (made in USA) version was hard to resist. When they say “they don’t make them like they used to” … this dress is a prime example.

Details: Wilfred sweater, Everlane pants, Elena Wong jacket, Aimee Kestenberg bag, Arnold Churgin shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: When I wear this statement coat, I usually pick a colour palette that harmonizes with or amplifies the yellow. That generally means blues and yellows. This time, I decided to stay more neutral, going with light grey, black and silver. In a way, it allows the coat to shine even more. I like the simplicity, and there is still enough visual interest so it doesn’t feel like a boring outfit to me.

Details: Tommy Hilfiger vest, Marc Cain skirt, J. Crew blazer, Canadienne boots (all thrifted)

Thoughts: I wore this to the second day of my art market; another outfit built around a pair of comfortable shoes. I love the combination of these boots and this skirt along with the tonal tights. I’m not a huge fan of mini skirts, but this is A+. I decided to wear this cotton mock-neck vest because it was really hot at the venue on the first day, and I wanted the option of being sleeveless if the temps warranted it. What I love about this vest is that, under a blazer, it looks like a regular sweater but it’s actually much easier to layer without any bulky sleeves. It has a good weight to it (like a regular sweater) but it’s very breathable too.

Details: Jeanne Pierre sweater (thrifted), Denim & Supply dress, BCBG harness (both Poshmark), Zara (retail)

Thoughts: Same green sweater, I can’t get enough! I was going to use a regular wide belt so I could “tuck in” the sweater and create that separates look (it’s actually a dress) but then I decided to switch it up a bit and use this harness belt instead. Because the sweater is cotton, it’s a lot easier to do this with it than with a thick wool sweater, but it still has enough thickness to work as an over-layer.

Details: Oak & Fort turtleneck, Tse sweater, If By Sea jacket, Tommy Hilfiger jeans, Fossil bag (all thrifted), Laredo boots (consignment)

Thoughts: I know shackets aren’t really a hot trend anymore (though they’re still popular) and it’s ironic that I got one now, when I wasn’t interested in them at all when they were super trendy. What sold me on this one was the colour palette. I adore teal and plaid, and the combination is irresistible. For this outfit, I doubled down on the teal, making it an almost tonal outfit. Doing so makes it a lot more interesting, to me, than it might have otherwise been. And, let’s face it, it’s a pretty basic outfit.

A new thing I’ve been doing this year is writing down seasonal wish lists at the beginning of each new season. It’s not so much about accountability – I do buy things that aren’t on the list if they are consistent with my current aesthetic – as it is about giving myself an opportunity to be intentional about where I focus my shopping energy, and later to reflect on what lessons are to be learned from how it all plays out. As we are moving into winter now, it’s time for a check-in to re-evaluate and update my shopping goals.

Here were the pieces that I had identified as “key” additions to my fall wardrobe this year.

White baby tee
I got this early on and it proved to be a great choice. I’ve worn it at least 6 or 7 times already, and can see that continuing through the winter and into next year. Next to my black turtleneck, this is one of the best layering pieces to increase the versatility of my closet.

Black floral slip dress
I haven’t quite stopped looking for this, but it has slipped lower and lower on my list of priorities. I think the 90s revival aesthetic is more of a warm-season thing for me, so I am not using it as often these days as I did during the early months of fall. I still haven’t found a dress that meets my specifications, either at the thrifts or on Poshmark, so I continue to look as I would prefer a vintage version over buying current retail.

Vintage Coach bag
This is a special success story! A blog reader saw my last post and reached out to offer a trade: one of her mom’s vintage Coach bags for one of my embroidery hoops. I love trading art but this exchange was also meaningful in its own way. I adore my new-to-me bag, and will treasure it especially because of its origin story. The bag is classic British tan, which was the colour I had most hoped to find – I didn’t already have a bag in that shade of brown, and it would go very well with my wardrobe palette.

Mary Janes
In my original post, I wrote that this was not a high priority because my platform loafers worked well with the 90s revival vibe so I didn’t really need the Mary Janes. I did see a couple of options at Winners, but didn’t love them enough to commit. And my platform loafers have, indeed, met my outfit needs. Now that we are past fall and into winter, this may be an item that I drop from the list until next year.

Ralph Lauren Polo bear sweater

Still. Looking. Still refusing to pay $250+ for one.

RL fair isle sweater vests
Still looking for this as well, but not especially hard. I have enough vests so this is not a key priority. But it’s one of those items that, if I come across it for the right price, I will always buy.

Black or grey tiered tulle skirt
I wore my pink tulle skirt quite a bit this fall, and now I REALLY want a black or grey one. I found the black version of my pink tulle skirt on Poshmark weeks ago, and the price was decent but I dithered and cheaped out, and lost it to another buyer. Now I am kicking myself for it because I’ve decided that only this specific skirt will suffice. I can find it on eBay but for a lot more money, so I am back to waiting and hoping.

Full velvet skirt
I have not found this and, truth be told, I haven’t really missed it from my wardrobe. I have so many other amazing fall skirts, I don’t have enough time to wear them all as it is. So this isn’t a key priority anymore either.

Did other key fall pieces pop up on my radar since September? Not really. Other than a few of the pieces I talked about above, my fall wardrobe felt pretty complete and I had a great time putting together outfits. If anything, the season didn’t feel long enough for me to wear all the outfits I had planned. I suppose that just means I have a lot to look forward to come spring. But, first … what about winter? Here are some key pieces I’ve been thinking about adding:

Metallic silver bag/shoes

I’ve been influenced by Trinny, who wears a lot of silver (and sequins!) and has some amazing silver bags and shoes. I am looking for a mirrored metallic finish specifically — a small bag, some kitten-heel shoes, and maybe even a pair of ankle boots. I am keeping my eye on Zara pieces on Poshmark, specifically, as I think they do a lot of metallics in their collections and these are not items I want to spend too much money on. If I find a higher quality version at the thrifts, all the better.

Sequin or rhinestone mesh layering top

This is a trend I’ve been seeing in a few places, and I am very drawn to. You guys know that I am a magpie at heart! I think a sparkly base layer would be a super fun addition to my winter wardrobe, especially around the holidays. I have seen some versions at the mall (H&M, Zara, and Simons) but was not impressed with the quality at that price point. So I am waiting for the right piece to turn up secondhand.

Heavy-duty winter parka

This is a tentative one. I don’t own a heavy parka at the moment and, generally speaking, that is a must when you live in Edmonton. But I am not sure how much I actually need it because I don’t spend a ton of time outside when it’s really cold. Like, there are probably only a handful of times when I legitimately need something substantial — such as when we take the kids skiing, and even then, I spend most of my time in the chalet. I could easily find something at the thrifts but the reason I’m not sure I will pull the trigger is storage. I have a lot of coats already and I don’t know if I have room for another bulky one. So until I decide just how necessary it is, I’ll hold off.

If you’ve been keeping a seasonal wish list, how did you fare this fall? And what are you hoping to find this winter? Tell me all in the comments.

Details: Lewit sweater (swap), tulle skirt (thrift), Silverado jacket (gift), BR belt (thrift), Ralph Lauren bag (Poshmark), Laredo boots (consignment)

Thoughts: I am so happy to have found this tulle skirt because the colour is gorgeous and it opens up a world of possibilities in my closet. This outfit being a case in point. While I prefer fluffier tulle skirts in general, this more streamlined style makes this skirt a lot more “everyday” wearable. I loved the tonality of this outfit, and this shade of blue is so soothing.

Details: Frank & Oak turtleneck (swap), Everlane sweater (thrift), Ralph Lauren skirt (Poshmark), Chelsea Crew shoes (thrift)

Thoughts: I chose this outfit based on a colour palette inspired by the skirt. It’s nice but in retrospect, feels a bit too muted for me. I am going to brainstorm some ideas for a brighter/more contrast-y pairing for this skirt.

Details: Wilfred sweater (retail), Ralph Lauren blazer (Poshmark), Fossil belt, Twik pants (both thrifted), J. Crew shoes (retail)

Thoughts: I am obsessed with this outfit. It’s a lot of brown, and I know brown isn’t for everyone. But I am loving it right now. Does it suit my colouring? I am not sure it does. I think I look better in colours that contrast more with my hair, but that could be a personal bias. (I am still not sold on seasonal analysis/colour theory, lol!) That being said, I will wear colours I enjoy regardless; I tend to simply wear them away from my face, but clearly that isn’t a rule set in stone either. Break the rules!

Details: Tommy Hilfiger vest, J. Crew blazer, Esprit belt, ASOS shoes (all thrifted), Banana Republic jeans (retail), Picasso tote (consignment)

Thoughts: A very simple but satisfying combination. This knit vest slash sleeveless mock-neck top was a strategic buy, and I’m thrilled to have found it because it suits my purposes perfectly. Basically, I have been wearing my ivory cable knit sweater a lot, and find it super versatile … but it can be bit too bulky to wear under some of my blazers. I decided a sleeveless version would be useful to have on hand. And this piece is perfect! The mock neck gives it of a cozy-looking vibe, but it’s actually 100% cotton so great for layering in all kinds of different situations (not too hot, not too cold). If I need arm coverage, I wear my white H&M long-sleeve pima cotton top underneath (remember that purchase?), and the combination is great.

Details: Tabi sweater, Chichwish skirt (both thrifted), Zara boots (retail)

Thoughts: A chunky sweater with a “chunky” tulle skirt, what’s not to love? I added chunky boots to keep the vibe a bit more punky than twee.

Details: Toni T dickie, Gap sweater, Higher State dress, petticoat (all thrifted), Laredo boots (consignment), Coach bag (eBay)

Thoughts: Jo March meets après-ski. That’s it, no notes.

Details: mushroom sweater, Kimchi Blue pants, Office London shoes (all thrifted), Coach bag (eBay)

Thoughts: This is some rando brand dupe for a Zara sweater I had eyed on Poshmark a couple of years ago. It’s cute. It’s so cute, in fact, that my daughter has already claimed it. I guess it’s communal property now. To be honest, I’m not mad about it. This sweater doesn’t really align with my current aesthetic — it’s a bit too whimsical — although that could change; in the meantime, it’s still gonna get some wears.