THE BEST PICKS OF THE WEEK
Pants to buy now, fresh ways to style black, shoes and bags to consider, and less predictable investment watches.
I’m slowly leaning into fall fashion even though I know we won’t get a glimpse of cooler weather until late October (fingers crossed) or November. Living in California, the best way to partake in fall fashion is to shift the palette. Lightweight pieces still dictate any outfit, but styling them with a fall mindset allows me to feel more intentional about the season. For someone who loves coats, sweaters and boots, California has always challenged my fall wardrobe. I’ve finally accepted (sadly) that I don’t need any of these covetable pieces except for travel. This partially explains why I love to travel off season to places most people would prefer to escape in the middle of winter. Experiencing weather and dressing for it makes me happy. But I digress. Today, I’m talking about the pants that are replacing my jeans, a fresh way to style black, a good shoe, beautiful bags, and a striking watch you don’t see on everyone’s wrist - all in the context of dipping into fall fashion.
THE PANTS - VOLUME, COLOR, SHEEN
Lately, I’ve surprised myself with how few times I reach for a pair of jeans when getting dressed. They’ve always hung front and center in my closet for quick, easy and frequent access. However, I've been glancing right past them to reach for soft, relaxed silhouettes instead.
The shape is nothing new, but they’re the most style forward pant at the moment. The pairs I’ve collected over the years are now being imagined from a new perspective. The beauty of the style is in personalizing how far you want to go with volume, movement and shape. Conservatively speaking, a wide-leg pull on is the entry level. Feeling a little more adventurous lets you delve into a barrel leg. The farthest I’ll possibly test is a balloon leg that gathers at the ankle. It all depends on the fabric. They're quite easy to style with t-shirts, blouses, jackets, and sweaters. Even better, as the silhouette becomes more dramatic, the shoe pairing actually gets easier. While I prefer a flat sandal with a wide leg pant, a balloon leg looks great with either a flat or heel.
Color and fabric are defining details too. Black and white are classic choices but can feel too dressy in the soft fabrications I’m focused on. If I’m trying to wear this style in place of my jeans, I want them to look casual. Khaki, green, olive - really the entire range of greens - looks best to me. For something more adventurous, I'd try a pale blue or butter yellow. As for fabric, a subtle (or bold) sheen is the finishing touch that really puts these pants in the spotlight. All the colors I love look dramatically better with a lustrous finish. How much or little is personal choice.
A FRESH WAY TO STYLE BLACK
I’ll never abandon black in my wardrobe, so I’m always looking for ways to make it feel fresh. This season, I’ll introduce green. An emerald sweater (love the polo in opening image), a bright olive skirt, or sage pants will bring life to my favorite black pieces. The key is to break it up with a pop of white to emphasize the contrast. What I love about this combination is how sophisticated it feels without trying too hard. Black with green is one of those color pairings that feels both unexpected and completely natural. The darker the green, the more dramatic the effect. But even softer sage tones create something special when paired with black. The white element doesn't have to be major—a crisp white tee under an emerald sweater, white sneakers with black pants and an olive jacket, or even just white accessories can do the work. It's that third color that prevents the look from feeling too heavy or monotone. My favorite way to pull it together is with a green sweater tied around my waist or over my shoulders with a black pant and white poplin shirt. From the pieces in the above image, I’d wear the green cotton shirt (fall weather friendly) with white jeans, and black accessories. I’d also try the black skirt and top with a bold green piece of jewelry or a scarf. This simple refresh using mostly pieces I already own is at the top of my Ways to Transition to a Fall Wardrobe list.
A BEAUTIFUL SHOE
As sandal season wanes, the closed toe shoes emerge. My go-to for the last several fall seasons has been a loafer. But there’s been a shift in the visual balance and a more tapered, perhaps feminine, shape has emerged. I tested the waters last year with The Row Park pump and appreciated the versatility of the toe profile with both skirts and wide leg pants. When I saw the Christian Louboutin low heel black pumps, I immediately thought of The Row Park pump and had to make sure you all saw it too. The toe shape peeking out from a wide leg jean or pant is the gamechanger in making that silhouette more flattering. The trend in shoes continues to move towards a slimmer profile with a minimal sole. Look back at this post with discussion on the low profile sneakers of the moment.
NEW BLACK BAGS
A few new black bags have caught my attention. I’ve already talked about a tan Balenciaga Rodeo in this post, but think it looks especially strong in black. The somewhat slouchy but still structured shape is appealing. And I love the subtle warmth the gold hardware brings to the Rodeo. My preference is the smaller of the sizes offered. Also in the same vein of slightly undone is Prada’s Buckle bag or the even simpler Aimee shoulder bag. These are all a nice departure from the more formal, structured bags that have been on my radar the last several years.
A LESS PREDICTABLE WATCH
I look at a watch as a piece of jewelry more than a timepiece. Precision timing isn’t the end all for me. And like jewelry, I find beauty in the unique and collected. The wave of watches I’ve been drawn to lately is vintage or less predictable versions of both emerging and well known brands. There’s always a place for the investment classics, but it’s the watches that don’t get as much press that are grabbing my attention. And what a great arena to shop gently used or vintage. Some of my recent favorites include a bold Bulgari, a rose gold Cartier tank and a simple gold face Rolex - all with a black leather strap.
Really love the green and black idea! Thanks for continuing to inspire regardless of trends and brands.
That green with the black really got me! So good.