SEP 26, 2022
Fashion ~ My autumn essentials
by anne-marie leduc
I love autumn. It is my favorite season for fashion. I love playing with textures, luxury and long lasting fabrics like cashmere, layering and most of all coats. Coats are my favorite items to have in my wardrobe. I would describe my style to be inspired by the Scandinavian side of fashion. I like to be casual but stylish at the same time. I prefer to be comfortable in oversized and loose fitting clothes with both feminine and masculine silhouettes. In autumn I tend to go for neutral colors like cream, light brown, charcoal, navy and black. I like to mix and match everything. I don’t have a ton of clothes in my wardrobe, I prefer to invest in good sustainable quality items instead of buying multiple fast fashion clothes that’ll wear two or three times only.
Here are my autumn essentials. All these pieces can also transition to winter, too.
trench coat
Trenches are timeless and will never go out of style. It doesn't have to be super expensive either. I recommend choosing one with a nice good quality fabric to the touch and that is water repellent. I am not into the classic fitted shape, I prefer a more masculine take on it. I am so glad I found this one from Zara, it is my idea of a perfect trench. The quality is just so good.
leather boots
A good pair of leather boots is a great investment. Ideally choose one that could go casual to dress up with any outfits. Size up half a size or one complete size to have more room if you want to wear socks when it's cold. Plus, you will be so much more comfortable. Most important tip: take good care of your leather items, they will last you so much longer. Spray them or grease them to repel dirt and rain. Clean them every week or when you see that they need to.
one good pair of jeans
A good pair of jeans is supposed to fit you like a glove. In my opinion, you don’t need multiple pairs, only one or two. It is extremely hard to find the perfect pair, but when you do they will be with you for a long ride. A straight style will never go out of style. For Autumn I prefer a dark washed blue color as it compliments all the other items in my wardrobe. I discovered the brand Agolde a couple of years ago and really like their denim. They are a bit pricey, but you can often find them at lower prices during sales.
cashmere everything
A good 100% cashmere sweater or cardigan will elevate your style. Cashmere is a luxury fabric and will only look better with time (if you take care of it). A lot of stores like Club Monaco, COS, and Arket propose good quality cashmere at fair prices. Be careful as this fabric is fragile. I recommend washing by hand with a gentle soap and drying on a flat surface on a towel, and NEVER put your cashmere in the dryer machine.
a black dress
The black dress. Everyone needs a comfortable black dress in their wardrobe. It could be any style really. A black dress is timeless and chic. Good for any occasion, you can style it with loafers, heels, leather boots and even with chic sneakers.
loafers
Classic and comfy, a good pair of leather Loafers is a good way to make every look more elevated. They can be worn in every season. Loafers are a good alternative to heels, which I don’t wear often because I find them so uncomfortable. It has been a key piece in my wardrobe for many years now.
a Long coat
A long cashmere or wool coat. This timeless piece is more of an end of autumn/winter classic but it is my favorite piece so I had to include it in this list. You can wear it with just about any outfit, it will keep you warm while staying chic.
silk everything
A midi or long silk skirt. Silk is another luxury fabric that is a good choice to invest in. For autumn I would style it with a bulky cashmere sweater to play with textures and dimensions. Any kind of leather boots would look great too. Lilysilk is another great brand for anything silk.
an oversized blazer
An oversized blazer is a staple in a wardrobe. You can style it with jeans to look casual or style it with a silk skirt or trouser to look more dressed up. You can also throw it on a dress. I have this one from Arket and I love it. It is of great quality and will last me for years to come.
a trusty white shirt
Last but not least, a white shirt. Good for all occasions and will match with almost anything. When it comes to white clothes, I prefer not to invest too much money as it gets dirty more quickly. It is pretty easy to find good ones at really good price, fit and quality.
trousers
A good pair of trousers. This is new to me and is on my wishlist for sure. I can’t wait to style these. This will be so much more comfortable than tight pants. It can go with a lot of tops like t-shirt, shirt, blouse, sweater, blazer… This one in navy from the Frankie Shop is beautiful. Tip: If the length is too long, make sure to take them to the tailor, you don’t want to walk on them plus it cheapens the look.