Details: vintage sweater (thrifted), Banana Republic jeans, Mia shoes (both retail), Coach bag (eBay)

Thoughts: Doesn’t this sweater look like a classic Hudson’s Bay 4 stripe sweater? I’ve always loved that pattern. Well, it isn’t. It’s some random Manitoba brand label, and I’m pretty sure it’s some unholy acrylic blend but I don’t care because it’s chunky and cozy and *vibes*. I mean, just look at how good it looks with my mom’s old Coach bag and my trusty BR wide leg jeans. A perfect fall outfit.

Details: Ralph Lauren sweater (gift), Ralph Lauren blazer (thrift), DKNY skirt (Poshmark), Anne Marie Chagnon necklace (Poshmark), Zara boots (thrifted)

Thoughts: Here is my fave 90s skirt, and another 90s-inspired fit. I loved this so much. This is how I do minimalism: simple but with interesting details. Lots of textural contrast here too, which also helps make minimalist colour palettes more fun for me.

Details: Ralph Lauren blazer (Poshmark), Oak & Fort turtleneck & jeans (thrifted), Gap belt (thrifted), Mia shoes (retail), Coach bag (trade)

Thoughts: OK, this blazer. It’s so good right? When I saw it posted on Poshmark for under $50, I tell you — I squealed like an excited schoolgirl. Ralph Lauren pieces have seen more inflation on the resale market than my grocery store. It’s getting SO hard to find to good deals, and this … this is a GREAT deal. It’s exactly the kind of blazer I adore (wool, professor-chic), and it’s a plaid colourway I don’t have. The colours are fantastic and those real suede elbow patches? Chef’s kiss. I wore this outfit to my kids’ parent-teacher meetings, so I kept things pretty simple, sticking with a brown/black/denim palette. I’ve been obsessed with black-and-brown this fall, and I think this outfit speaks for itself.

Details: Zara top, Jones NY blazer, Roksanda skirt (all thrifted), Chloe shoes (gift)

Thoughts: I wore this outfit on a rare day at the office. I tend to stick with a neutral palette when I go to the office. I don’t know why; our office had a relatively relaxed dress code even before the WFH/hybrid work schedules became a thing. I think it’s just what I still associate in my mind with “office wear”. I liked this outfit a lot (wouldn’t have worn it otherwise) but I’m glad it’s not my daily uniform. I like the freedom to dress a lot more creatively at home.

Details: Ralph Lauren sweater (gift), Silverado jacket (gift), Cotton Ginny belt (thrifted), BR jeans (retail), Chloe shoes (gift)

Thoughts: This outfit was made possible by 2 kind friends giving me things that weren’t working for them. The sweater and shoes came from J, and have been in almost-constant rotation since I got them. The cream cable knit, in particular, has turned into a cornerstone of my fall/winter wardrobe this year. It goes with nearly everything! The jacket came from S, and it is beyond fabulous. I love the pattern and the colours so much. It’s really more of a mid- to lightweight jacket, so best saved for warmer weather, but I couldn’t resist getting in at least one wear this year. When I tell you I’ve been imploring Mother Nature to hold off on the snow for now, you’ll understand why.

Details: Benetton sweater, Oak & Fort jeans, Converse shoes (all thrifted)

Thoughts: About 10 years ago, I bought my first pair of Chucks. I know because I recently came across the photo I took in the store that day on my IG feed. At the time, I debated between getting a grey pair and a red pair. Grey won out … but a decade later, I finally got my red pair too. To be honest, while I got lots of use out of my grey pair over the years (and I still have those shoes, by the way), red is SO much more my speed these days. The only problem? I am, ummm, sharing custody of these shoes with my daughter. Yes, we can basically wear the same shoes (there’s about a half size difference). On one hand, it’s fun. On the other hand … I’m a little scared, hahaha!

Details: Mexx shirt (Poshmark), American Apparel coat, Kimchi Blue pants, Asos boots (all thrifted), vintage bag (from my mom)

Thoughts: I had this vintage (made in Hong Kong!) Mexx shirt on my Poshmark watchlist for a long time before I finally decided to go for it. I’m glad I did; the collage-like pattern is so cool, and the colours — black, brown and yellow — are totally up my alley right now. I stuck with that theme, and added grey, bookending things with the jacket collar, bag and shoes in my fave shade of brown. A very satisfying outfit.

We are coming up on the time of year that always feels the heaviest to me. The change in weather and diminishing daylight affect my mood negatively; November feels especially somber because (in Canada) there are no festive occasions to lighten things up. This year, though, I want to lean into the transition rather than fight it. November is a downward and inward movement – into the slumber of winter, into one’s subconscious. (I like to think of it as the season of Persephone Descending.) Being able to experience this in a warm, safe environment is a privilege I don’t take for granted. I am never more grateful for my cozy cocoon of a house than I am this time of year.

To honour the season, this year I am adopting a few slow rituals. These are activities that require me to slow down, pay attention to my senses, and fully immerse myself in what I am doing in the moment. They help to bring intentionality and mindfulness into my days. I do most of these early in the morning, as a way to set the mood.

Light a Candle

I have become a fan of scented candles in the last few years, but I never burn them in the spring and summer months. To me, they are a quintessentially winter experience. Lighting them and watching the soft glow of the flame is soothing. Having a fragrant working space (at home) is a bonus. I like Paddywax candles, but I also use Sand & Fog and other brands – it’s really all about the scent for me. I love woodsy, smoky, and light floral smells the most. I usually light a candle near my office space right before I start working in the morning, and let it burn for a couple of hours. The scent can linger, then slowly fade. I sometimes also light candles in the evening, as a nighttime ritual before bed.

Make a Cup of Tea

I am not a big tea drinker, and I rarely drink tea in the warmer months. But, lately, I have been rediscovering the joy of tea (especially as I am trying to cut down on my consumption of diet Coke, my staple beverage). Buying a new kettle has transformed the process for me as well. We hadn’t had a proper kettle for more than a decade, and boiling water in a pot on the stove was a hassle. Our new Smeg kettle is a delight, though. Filling it up and pressing the little lever to start it is part of the tactile joy of making a cuppa. So is selecting a mug from my thrifted collection. For the tea itself, I am partial to David’s Tea Forever Nuts and Acquired Taste Lemon Cream, but I also enjoy Earl Grey and roiboos teas. When I’m having the latter, I have started to add milk as well to make it a richer tasting experience.

Use a Fountain Pen

I have a lovely collection of Lamy pens but had fallen out of the habit of using them. After years of gel pens and Sharpie markers (and don’t get me wrong, I still love those), I’ve picked up my fountain pens again, especially for writing at work. Refilling the ink is an important part of the process, as is selecting the colour. I use Iroshizuku inks, which have lovely colours and flow beautifully. Writing with a fountain pen also transforms my writing; I slow down and write more neatly and with a more rounded hand.

Wear Perfume

After I started working from home, I pretty much stopped using perfume (much like I stopped wearing makeup most days). But wearing perfume for oneself is not unlike getting dressed up for oneself (which I’ve always continued to do): it feels luxurious. It is a sensual delight, and slow rituals are all about appreciating our senses. I only have a couple of perfumes at the moment: By the Fireplace from Maison Margiela, and Butterfly from Hanae Mori. I am planning to buy a couple more – perhaps revisiting some old favourites in the process.

Write in a Journal

This is another habit that fell victim to my hectic schedule this year. Because I have other outlets for creative writing, keeping a diary feels like more like updating a written calendar than a creative exercise. It doesn’t appeal to me from my perspective. But I enjoy journaling as a meditative exercise; I’ve been writing in this Moon Journal for years now (it’s supposed to be weekly, but we can all make our own schedules) and I have picked it up again. I love the prompts, especially because many of them encourage you to focus on the senses. I usually journal in the evenings (alternating with tarot meditations) as a way to unwind from and release the day.

These slow rituals have allowed me to enter the dark time of the year in a more gentle and loving manner, which in turn has had a positive impact on my mental wellbeing. I think anything can serve as a slow ritual, depending on one’s personality and preferences, as long as it involves taking time to really savour the moment and sink into a sensory experience. I would love to hear from you about your own slow rituals and other ways that you navigate this season.

Details: Wilfred sweater (retail), J. Crew blazer (retail), Banana Republic pants (retail), Josef belt (thrifted), Chloe shoes (gift)

Thoughts: This is a perfect fall outfit for me. The colour palette is perfection; I usually gravitate towards the cool end of the spectrum, but these browns and yellows have a cool tone which really works for me. The sweater and blazer are super old (2016-2017) and the pants are recent, so this highlights the possibilities of a versatile wardrobe. This might not be trendy, but it also doesn’t look dated; the pant silhouette does make things feel more modern, without screaming “trendy”.

Details: ElevenParis tee, Joie cardigan, Ralph Lauren skirt (all thrifted), MaxMara belt (Poshmark)

Thoughts: Another outfit that I loved wearing. I adore this skirt — it’s wool and has a beautiful check, the very definition of autumnal; I tend to wear it backwards to highlight the slit. To me, it’s pretty much the perfect skirt silhouette. Here I emphasized the vertical line by pairing it with a long cardigan (with a nice textural contrast), and added some juxtaposition with a fun, irreverent t-shirt. I still felt like something was missing, so I added this tonal but funky belt. It basically takes the place of a statement necklace and adds extra definition around the waist, which highlights the shape of the skirt.

Details: Ines de la Fressange x Uniqlo shirt, cashmere cardigan, UO pants (all thrifted), Ralph Lauren belt (Poshmark), J. Crew shoes (consignment), Zara tie (from husband)

Thoughts: I really like the colour scheme of this cardigan; it’s not my usual colours, but there is something very pleasing about it, so I decided to let it be the focal point of the outfit. I picked up on the marigold yellow with a tie, and kept everything else pretty simple. Simple but effective.

Details: Revello top (retail), Second Female cardigan, Jessie skirt (both thrifted), Laredo boots (consignment), Paloma Picasso bag (Poshmark)

Thoughts: This skirt-top combo was one of my fave late-summer fits, and I decided to update it for fall, taking advantage of the gorgeous weather on (Canadian) Thanksgiving. These boots … I cannot say enough good things about them. I bought them last spring because I had been looking for a pair of granny boots for ages, and these seemed like a good compromise. But I was still a bit unsure. Were they a bit too masculine? While they are not a classic granny boot, they can lean in that direction, but they can also lean into combat boot territory, and these are both very pertinent to my current aesthetic. And they are so comfortable! Good job, Old Me!

Details: Ralph Lauren shirt, Jeanne Pierre sweater, Talbots skirt (all thrifted), Jimmy Choo shoes (eBay)

Thoughts: This outfit was inspired by a look from the Dries Van Noten SS 2024 runway collection. What captivated me was a combo of chunky green sweater and blue-striped shirt. My versions are totally different from the DvN ones, but it doesn’t matter; I love this combo, and I probably wouldn’t have thought to pair them like this on my own. Yay for inspiration! I struggle a bit with choosing a bottom, but ultimately took the cue from the runway again, and chose this camel hair skirt. The runway original was khaki and had a totally different silhouette, but again – it was the general colour palette I wanted to replicate. I really liked the relaxed vibe of this.

Details: H&M top (retail), Everlane sweater, Ralph Lauren jacket (both thrifted), Icone skirt (swap), Laredo boots (consignment)

Thoughts: Those boots again — see!? They are so good. This was another 90s-influenced outfit that took me back to my teenage years. And I even got a compliment on it at the thrift store! Sweet!