GET YOUR WARDROBE FALL-READY

Hey, style mavens! Feel that whisper of Fall in the air? You know what that means – it's wardrobe-swap time! Whether you're bundling up for a serious chill or just swapping sundresses for sweater dresses, I've created the ultimate guide to getting your wardrobe FALL-ready.

From purging those summer leftovers to prepping for the perfect transitional looks, here are all a style-insider's 10 simple steps. So grab a pumpkin spice latte and let's dive into freshening up your wardrobe for the season ahead. Trust me, your future cozy-chic self will thank you!

1) Clear out the summer stuff you haven’t worn this year. Summer clothes typically don’t last as long as Fall/Winter ones. Put away the linen and super lightweight knits, cleaned of course.

2) Go get your Fall things and try them all on. No judgement if some are tighter than last year. You can get these altered, or give them a happy home elsewhere.

3) Assess the condition of your clothes. Check for rips, holes (damn moths!) and loose buttons. 

4) Check your shoes and bags. Fix that broken straps, and a good leather conditioner will protect them and bring back their original luster. 

5) Visit your tailor and shoe repair. Alter whatever needs a tweaking. Bring shoes in for a little TLC, maybe a waterproofing spray or weatherproof Vibram soles.

6) Consider what you can wear now before the weather changes. Transition with pieces that are in the colors of Fall, but still cool enough to beat the heat. Even if you live in a warmer climate, you’ll want a change of looks.

7) Take inventory of core items that you’re missing. Could be time to upgrade your basics, too. Keep a list of things you are missing, and refer to it when you’re shopping.

8) Look at the new trends, styles, colors, & fabrics. Think about the pieces that call out to you and resonate with your personal style, and that you’ll wear on frequent rotation. Avoid impulse purchases of too-trendy looks. 

9) Shop to fill in and update your look. Freshen-up your wardrobe, but make sure that each thing you bring into the closet works with at least three other pieces. And don’t hesitate to spend more on outer layers, blazers, sweaters, and leathers, things that you will reliably wear for years.

10) Now, create your Fall outfits, then document them in photos either flat-lay (on your bed or floor), or as worn on you. Then put the photos on a private (or public) Fall Outfit Pinterest board or album on your phone for quick reference.

AND then BOOK a styling session with me for more inspiration! CLICK to SCHEDULE

'24 Pantone Color : PEACH FUZZ

WHAT IS PANTONE Color of the Year?:

Pantone's Color of the Year, Peach Fuzz, sets vibrant trends in fashion, home furnishings, and paint, embodying warmth and innovation in design. Pantone is a globally recognized authority in color standards, providing a color matching system used across various industries, from design to manufacturing.

WHY PEACH (FUZZ)?:

IT'S CARING, COZY, WARM & GIVING. A color that's comforting and uplifting at the same time.

"In seeking a hue that echoes our innate yearning for closeness and connection, we choise a color radiant with warmth and modern elegance. A shade that resonates with compassion, offers a tactile embrace, and efforttlessly bridges the youthful and the timeless." Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director, Pantone Color Institute

HOW TO WEAR PEACH:

PAIR Pantone Color PEACH FUZZ in COLDER MONTHS with charcoal, cream, grays, browns, beiges, and burgundies (HUGE for Spring, too); in SPRING/SUMMER with white, pastels blues, buttery yellow, vivid reds, pinks. Take this color darker into rusts and oranges, too.

HOW TO LIVE WITH PEACH:

Peach Fuzz in your living space is like the first sip of a warm drink on a chilly day—it's comfort embodied. Toss a few Peach Fuzz pillows on the couch, add a throw blanket, and your home instantly feels more inviting. It's not just pretty; it's a mood booster, a subtle nod to those feel-good, warm-fuzzy moments we all love.

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Let's back up and chat about the Pantone Color Institute for a sec. They're like the cool trendsetters of the design world. They're the authority on color trends and forecasting, and when they drop their Color of the Year, it's like a ripple effect across fashion, home decor, and even product packaging. Everyone from your favorite clothing brands to the folks designing chic sofas are tuning in to see what shade we'll all be obsessing over next. (Designers like myself used to use their PMS [Pantone Matching System} deck of colors to match colors for printing and fabric production. Pre-digital!)

 

Now, onto the star of the show: Peach Fuzz. It's not just a color; it's a whole vibe. Picture the soft, warm glow of a summer sunset or the cozy feeling of a fuzzy peach between your fingers—that's what we're talking about. It's like Pantone knew we were all craving something that felt like a hug after a long day, and voilà, Peach Fuzz entered the scene.

 

So, how does this affect your wardrobe and living room? Big time. In fashion, this color is like the perfect plus-one. It plays nice with your staple neutrals but also isn't afraid to mingle with bolder shades for that 'wow' factor. A Peach Fuzz top or dress is your new best friend for those days when you want to look effortlessly put together.

 

Accessorize with Peach Fuzz, and you're golden. Well, peachy, to be exact. A handbag, a pair of pumps, or a soft scarf in this shade can elevate your look from "I just threw this on" to "I'm effortlessly chic, and I know it."

 

Now, let's take it home. Peach Fuzz in your living space is like the first sip of a warm drink on a chilly day—it's comfort embodied. Toss a few Peach Fuzz pillows on the couch, add a throw blanket, and your home instantly feels more inviting. It's not just pretty; it's a mood booster, a subtle nod to those feel-good, warm-fuzzy moments we all love.

 

And the best part? Peach Fuzz isn't just a young, trendy thing. It's got this timeless charm that makes it a fit for any age. It bridges the gap between the fresh and the classic, the now and the forever. It's a color that says, "I'm modern," but whispers, "I'm also wise beyond my years."

 

In the grand scheme of things, Peach Fuzz is more than a color trend—it's a reflection of what we're all feeling. We're looking for connection, warmth, and a bit of softness in a hard-edged world. Whether through a cozy sweater or a welcoming armchair, this color is here to remind us that the best things in life are the ones that bring us closer, make us feel something, and add a little sweetness to our days.

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Here are some curated finds that embrace this warm, wonderful color, a shade from the orange family (which is also a favorite this spring/summer!):

UNIFORM DRESSING

Real reasons to find the look (outfit) that elevates your mood & makes you feel invincible, then wear it on repeat. It's uniform dressing at it’s best. With less stress, more presence.

Don't dis the uniform

Once upon a time, the idea of repeating an outfit was anathema to me. While other kids were busy doodling in their notebooks (or actually paying attention in Chemistry class) , I was sketching outfit combinations like a mini Anna Wintour in the making (in my dreams!). I meticulously documented each ensemble I wore, down to the accessories. BUT even when I stumbled upon a look that made me feel like a million bucks, I'd shelve it for weeks, if not months. Why? Well, let's dive into that.

Insight: Studies have shown that clothing choices can significantly impact one's identity and social perception. The reluctance to repeat an outfit often stems from a fear of stagnant identity or repetitive social signaling. In my case, finding my identity in high school.

The Fashion Faux Pas That Wasn't

The reluctance to repeat an outfit is a mindset that contradicts everything I've come to understand about the transformative power of fashion. The clothes we wear make a statement, not just to the world but to ourselves. They can elevate our mood, boost our confidence, and set the tone for our interactions.

Insight: According to "The Psychology of Fashion: How Clothing Affects the Mind," what you wear can indeed influence your mental state and your interactions with others. This lends credence to the idea that if an outfit makes you feel good, it's worth repeating.

The Lasting Impact of First Impressions

We've all heard the saying, "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." It's cliché because it's true. What you wear plays a pivotal role in how you're perceived, especially during those crucial first encounters. So, if you've discovered an outfit that encapsulates your essence and makes you feel invincible, why wouldn't you want to relive that magic? Of course you would!

Insight: "The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing" discusses how attire can affect cognitive processes and performance. This suggests that an outfit that makes a strong first impression could also be enhancing your cognitive abilities.

Uniform Dressing: Why It Works

So, if we find an outfit that elevates our mood and makes us feel invincible, why not wear it again and again? Or better yet, extract the essence of that killer combo and recreate it in similar iterations. If a blazer, jeans, and boots make you feel like you can conquer the world, then by all means, make it your uniform. Uniform dressing is a form of streamlining the process of outfit creation.

Quote: "When you wear something that just feels right, you are confident. And it is also great to have a trademark look. It makes you memorable and distinctive,"

personal branding guru, William Arruda

The Formula for Success

For instance, if a blazer, jeans, and boots combo is your personal style nirvana, explore that theme. Switch out the blazer for different cuts or colors. Experiment with various types of jeans—skinny, flared, or straight-leg. Play around with boots; go from ankle-length to knee-high. The possibilities are endless, but the essence remains the same: You've found your formula for feeling fabulous.

The Icons Who Got It Right

Some of the most successful, and some of the chic-est celebs turn to an near "formula" for their daily dressing. Take Carolina Herrera and her trademark, Vera Wang in all-black, and many other designers who sport a trademark look, perhaps as a simple backdrop to their colorful and varied designs for others. Steve Jobs understood the power of a uniform. He chose a black turtleneck, blue jeans, and New Balance sneakers as his daily attire. By selecting a uniform for himself, he ensured that "he had one less decision to make daily," Jobs famously said.

Quote: "I’m trying to pare down decisions. I don’t want to make decisions about what I’m eating or wearing. Because I have too many other decisions to make.”

former president, Barak Obama, on wearing a same-suit uniform, daily, while in office

The Take-away : Become a Repeat "Offender"

Being a repeat "offender" (again, the refusal to repeat outfits that you KNOW you rock!) isn't about laziness or a lack of creativity; it's about recognizing what works for you and leveraging it to your advantage. It's about cutting down the time in decision prison, that can cripple us in front of our open closets.

And In a world obsessed with the "new," there's something incredibly empowering about finding your signature style and sticking to it. So go ahead, be a repeat "offender"—because when you feel great, you look great, and that's a look worth repeating.

Ready to get the looks worth repeating...ones that make your soul sing? Let's do it together.

(click to schedule your style discovery call, gratis)

Vera Wang Photos: Frazer Harrison and Dimitrios Kambouris for Getty Images

Carolina Herrara Photos: Frazer Harrison and JP Yim for Getty Images