Anatomy of an Outfit: Doing the September Outfit Straddle (SOS)

 

If I had to create a recipe for what to wear now when the temperatures are still in the 80s and 90s but everything else says Autumn (like the calendar, window displays, and the weather people) it would be inspired by the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Remember when she comes upon this lovely place in the woods and there are three bowls of porridge on the table? She tastes one and it’s too hot; the next one is too cold, the last one is j-u-s-t right. (Look out, Goldilocks!)

Outfits that straddle summer and autumn need to include a part that’s fall-like, something that’s lingering from summer, and accessories that are possibly suitable to both summer and autumn.

 

Here’s how the recipe would go:

Recipe for the September Outfit Straddle (SOS)

Begin with an item that is seasonally-neutral 

Add a piece or two that undeniably belongs in Autumn

One-third of the outfit can be something you wore in Summer

 

I needed to wear one of these outfits on Saturday morning when I was going to meet my friend, Debra, at Uber Optics in Petaluma to pick up her new glasses that we choose together two weeks earlier.

This wasn’t like the previous Saturday when Russ and I were heading into Petaluma and I had a good thirty minutes to concoct my triple denim outfit. No, this Saturday I had spent way too much time cruising Instagram, lazily getting through my Morning Pages writing, and starting a cool writing exercise Debra had shared with me. When I looked at my bee watch, I only had ten minutes to get dressed. Yikes!

 

 

Anatomy of my straddling outfit

With my SOS recipe in mind, I reached for my just laundered seasonally-neutral Alina ankle NYDJ jeans.

Next I decided on my undeniably Autumn pieces which were my newly purchased Paul Green Nelly Boot and my bison leather belt that is the same color as the boots. I added a hinged cuff bangle in the same brown color. The total bonus was when I decided to grab my Marni clutch and the wood frame was a similar shade of brown.

 

 

The accessories I decided to wear are pretty seasonally-neutral. I liked filling in the neck of my blouse with these fun chunky vintage looking pearls. I added the playful earrings that I got this summer from Banana Republic. I like how the white cones echo the white in the pearls. And those mustardy colors in the earrings blended in with the handbag.

 

 

I wanted bangles so I reached for my vintage Lanvin creamy bangle and the hinged cuff I mentioned that echoes the color of the boots. Naturally, the owl ring fit right in with the mix.

 

 

The one-third of the outfit that’s summery came in the yellow and white J.Crew blouse. When I looked in my closet and saw that blouse, I knew I had to wear it. It won’t feel right to wear in October (I could be wrong!) and it needed its place in the sun. You know how yellow always makes me think of Mother. I felt like I was bringing Mom with me by wearing this blouse. (She’d have loved being with us!)

I thought about adding a jean jacket and doing the double denim thing but gosh, everything seemed to be moving in a prettier direction. I looked at my jacket section and saw the yellow Lilith jacket that I haven’t worn much this summer. I was running out of time to even look at it in the mirror so I was going to go with it if it felt right. I slipped into it; it felt just right. (Goldilocks, give me a high-five!) So there was the one-third summery part of my outfit.

 

 

After we had lunch I took Debra to a new bakery in town called Bump City Bakery. She used to own a bakery so it’s always fun to watch her as she scopes out the goods and talks to the bakers. We each got a gluten-free cookie (totally yum). The bakery is in an alley between Kentucky Street and Petaluma Avenue.

I insisted she come with me to a fun new fashion store that also happens to have a brow bar (which I needed!) so we kept going through the alley to get to Obsessed Beauty & Style

That’s when we came across this amazing mural by Dom Chi, 2015. Debra said, “Your outfit would be perfect in front of that mural.” She claims she can’t take pictures but she did a great job! I just have to show you another one. Isn’t it so cool?

 

 

So, besides learning the recipe for September Outfit Straddle (it kind of sounds like strudel, doesn’t it?), I’m going to leave you with a list of Petaluma places to check out if you’re in the area.

Uber Optics for great eyewear.

Water Street Bistro for great food.

Della Fattoria for great food, bakery goods and coffees.

Bump City Bakery for all your gluten-free bakery needs.

Obsessed Beauty & Style for clothes, shoes, accessories and a brow bar.

And sorry this part is getting to you late, but the Petaluma Antique Faire happens the last Sunday in September and the last Sunday in April. Russ and I love going there. Last year I bought my beautiful Danish mid-century teak desk from one of the vendors. I’m writing from it right now. So that’s where we were this last Sunday. We decided to go to Della Fattoria for a coffee and to read the paper when guess who popped in for the same thing? Our friends Debra and John! There’s no getting away from a good thing.

And if you’re reading this, a very special hi to Wendy from San Francisco and her sister Anne from Vallejo who introduced themselves to me while strolling through the Antique Faire. Wendy recognized me from Instagram. They were raised in Petaluma and we had a fun time chatting. Really, it’s a friendly town. Check it out!

So my friends, have you come up with some great SOS outfits? Care to share some of the ingredients?