Whether you call the season fall or autumn, the equinox has passed, and October has officially arrived! It’s time for trekking around pumpkin patches, apple picking and going on hay rides. But what are you to wear to these fun fall events? If you’re pulling out your sweaters, jackets, flannels and are feeling underwhelmed and uninspired, then this is the article for you. There are lots of different sources of inspiration in order to revamp your wardrobe for some festive fall outfits.
Frog and Toad books
If you are not familiar with the children’s book series Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel, I would urge you to find the book here. Frog and Toad are gorgeously illustrated amphibians who wear high-waisted pants, cozy jackets, and berets, all in shades of brown, green and yellow. If you have none of these types of clothes, that’s completely fine. Try incorporating the colors into your outfits, or see if you have any clothes you can imagine a frog living in a cottage would wear. All of these colors complement each other so you can’t go wrong in any combination. The characters in Frog and Toad offer us an abundance of colors to take as inspiration for our outfits, rather than just orange and black.
Menswear
Looking outside the conventional gender binary humans and clothes are forced into is a great way to find new outfit ideas. While going through old boxes last year, I found an amazing pair of thick green corduroy pants that my father wore in the 90’s. With an assist from a belt, these pants fit me now and are my favorite thing to wear in the fall. Exploring menswear can be great for finding different clothing textures too. Suit jackets in tweed, corduroy and houndstooth upgrade any t-shirt and jeans outfit.
Witches
Just last week, I wore a very witchy green jacket with black cuffs, a black faux leather skirt, and black tights just to go to the grocery store. Did I wear it too early and get super sweaty? Yes, unfortunately, I am horrible at checking the weather before I do anything. Did I feel like a powerful witch and get a compliment from a fellow shopper? Yes! Wearing whatever you want, especially if it’s themed or feels silly because no one else is doing it. It always has huge payoffs for confidence, even if you get a little sweaty. A fun challenge would be to try to incorporate old Halloween costume pieces you have into an outfit this month and see if it doesn’t create new opportunities for what you thought you could wear!
Don’t be afraid to look around at what you already have: an added belt, an artfully placed scarf, or black tights can transform any outfit. I am a huge proponent of thrifting, trading with your friends, and looking at unconventional sources (i.e. your parent’s old clothes) for new-to-you clothing. These are all simply suggestions, and I will always advocate wearing exactly what you want, no matter the season. If you are as comfortable as possible, having fun with your clothing choices, and feeling confident in your outfits, then you’re doing everything right!