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1. A perfect frosting recipe: This chocolate icing was the bomb. dot. com. I made it last week to zhuzh up and frost my (store-bought! ;)) chocolate cake mix for our daughter’s birthday. (I skipped the ice bath and the mixer instructions — just pop it in the fridge for an hour or so and mix by hand after.) It was so rich, decadent, and creamy.

2. A new book: I added Colored Television by Danzy Senna to my to-read list this week after seeing it as the #1 book that Sara Hildreth read in July. She describes it as “a sharp, funny, cringe-inducing novel about art, race, and money.” I’m saving it for when I’m craving something a little more intellectual to read.

3. A cozy show: I just started A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder on Netflix and I’d describe it as…a cozy teen British murder mystery? Set in a sleepy English town, a girl named Pippa is determined to solve the mysterious death of a classmate five years prior. Is anyone else watching it?

4. A solid style find: Mark my words, I’m going to be wearing this pant all. season. long. The comfort, the wide leg, the versatility. 🤌 More on this below.*

5. A gorgeous combo: I love the white skirt + colorful ballet flat look, seen below on jessie randall (who has a new newsletter!). Note to self to recreate it…

My Fall Style Playbook: 3 Rules I’m Using to (Hopefully) Have a More Mindful and Cohesive Closet

I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be in my fake-style-influencer-era (lol), but while we’re here, I thought I’d share with you what I’m thinking about right now: preparing for fall. (Sorry to throw the f word around in here! I know people are sensitive about it at this time of year!) It just felt like the perfect time to take stock of what’s working and what’s not in my closet and get ahead of things.

After some moodboarding, reflecting on past outfits, and more late-night scrolling than I’d like to admit, I think I’ve finally landed on a solid strategy heading into fall. My goal? To feel stylish and comfortable in what I’m wearing without overspending—because let’s be real, fall is when I tend to, um, get a little carried away in the shopping department.

To achieve this, I set up a few rules for myself. Below are the three fall guidelines I’ve saved in my Notes app (naturally) to help me shop more intentionally and get dressed more easily this season…

Rule 1: Wear Quality Basics…Paired With Something FUN and Interesting

My style leans more classic, which can easily veer into boring territory. I’m learning that the right accessory, like the final spritz of lemon on rich bowl of risotto, can add that much-needed zing to take a look from simple to interesting.

This fall, I’m all about bags, belts, and shoes in my accent colors—deep wine red, dusty blue, and animal print (!!)—to bring that extra something. Jewelry or a strategically draped sweater (hello, Diana-May’s electric blue, below!) can also turn a basic look into something that makes your eye want to linger a little longer.

ladydianamay

A post shared by @ladydianamay

Rule 2: Stick to Your Base Colors, Then Add Highlight Colors

As much as I wanted to avoid being a basic neutrals girlie, something I learned this summer is that I just can’t do bright colors in big doses. (I ended up donating most of my bright, patterned dresses.) I love a grounded color palette—and fall is perfect for that.

I’m starting to think about my closet in terms of “base colors” and “highlight colors.” Maybe this is obvious? But it’s been a game changer. For my base, I’m drawn to neutral colors that look good closer to my face: navy/denim, cream, gray, and black. My go-to accents right now are washed red, French blue, and olive—for me, these are best in small doses like shoes, a baseball cap, or a draped-over-the-shoulder layer. (Textures can act as “highlights” too. Fall is the perfect time to mix ‘em all—think suede jackets paired with light cotton tees or satin pants with knits and denim.)

Before I buy anything this fall, my plan is to quickly assess whether the item fits within this palette. Getting ready will also be faster this way, knowing that everything mixes and matches easily. I’ve already avoided a *countless* number of near-purchases this way. I’m drawn to vibrant colors like a magpie!

Rule 3: Lean Into the Relaxed Pant Trend (!!!)

While I don’t want to be overly trendy, I do like a nod to current styles—something that says, “I’m with it! I *occasionally* open TikTok!” For me, that trend is the low-slung, relaxed pant. I love loose pants paired with a fitted top; as a short person, it elongates my legs juuuust enough. The best part? Relaxed pants also pair perfectly with a bunch of classic tops I already own, whether it’s a t-shirt or a crewneck sweater.

(A quick, kinda related tip: I’ve been using what I call “bottoms-up dressing” in the mornings. When I’m stuck on what to wear, I start with what I want to wear on the bottom. I don’t know why, but it works!)

Okay, let’s get into 3 looks I pulled from J.Crew’s new collection. I try to be as mindful as possible when pulling stuff for partnerships like this—I like pieces that will work hard in my closet beyond the partnership, not just exciting pieces that will “photograph well.”

Look 1: Polished Casual

This is a good in-between outfit, ideal for running errands or casual outings. It’s neither too dressy nor too casual. You are ready to be perceived! You are ready to walk and go places! You are ready to be open to conversation and dialogue with friends and Trader Joe’s cashiers and other humans!

Here’s the planned look and formula:

Scoop-neck top + low-rise wide leg jeans + ballet flats + structured bag + cropped jacket.

And here’s what it looked like on me:

Look 2: Weekday WFH Cozy

This is your relaxed, loungey look that can still be Zoom meeting-appropriate. The marshmallow of a hoodie (so soft!) is perfect for throwing on that first crisp fall day. She’s walking the dog, she’s getting a reasonable amount of work done, she’s maybe watching Emily In Paris in between work sprints.

Here’s the planned look and formula:

Knit tank + wide leg pants + hoodie + animal print flats + chunky jewelry.

And here’s what it looked like on me:

Look 3: Work-Meeting Elevated

This could work for going into the office (I’d swap out the bag for a tote), attending a business-y lunch meeting, or a date night. She’s going places, she’s checking in on her reports, she’s presenting her decks, she’s earned herself a dirty martini.

Here’s the planned look and formula:

Fitted knit top + silky/satiny wide leg pants + fisherman sandals (or loafers could work too) + cropped jacket + contrasting small bag.

And here’s what it looked like on me:

**Notes on my sizing: I’m 5’0”, usually a size 2 or S. Size 26 for jeans. I took my true size in everything. I’m seeing reviews of the pants online saying that they run slightly big. I agree, but I *like* that slightly looser feeling around the waist… J.Crew sells petite lengths of everything online but I forgot to order the petite version. :)

Question for the group 💬

Do you have any fall trends you’re liking? Are you into the relaxed pant look? Has anyone found great BARREL JEANS?! Let us know in the comments below. (Open to all readers this week!)

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That’s all for this week! I’ll be back with a short, more personal post next week before I sign off for a summer break. After, September content will kick off with a biiiig focus on organization. Thanks for reading. x Alisha