Fall 2019 Wardrobe Additions

Fall 2019 wardrobe additions — Cotton Cashmere Cat Hair

Madewell Northside long-sleeve vintage tee (seen here and here): $19.50 (originally $29.50)
Madewell Cali demi-boot jeans in Preston wash (seen here, here, and here): $114.50 (originally $135)
Madewell crewneck bodysuit (seen here): $38 (originally $45)
Madewell tie-waist Huston pull-on crop pants in stripe (seen here): $50 (originally $75)
Banana Republic Italian melton topcoat: $158.50 (originally $299)
& Other Stories cotton blend sweater (seen here and here): $44 (originally $49)
Everlane ReDown puffy puff: $178
Everlane ReNew fleece raglan sweatshirt (review here; seen here and here): $51
Everlane cotton weave picnic dress: $56 (originally $88)
Nisolo Amalia all weather boots: $203 (originally $248)
Nisolo Lucia block heel sandals in nutmeg (seen here): $76 (originally $148)
AUrate birthstone stud earrings (c/o; seen here and here)
Earth Denali Anchor boots (c/o; seen here)
Earth Glacier waterproof boots (c/o; seen here)

Fall 2019 Budget = $500

$500 (quarterly budget) = $988.50 ($342 September + $488 October + $158.50 November) - $100 Madewell gift card - $25 Everlane credit - $363.50 earned from Poshmark sales

Another quarter, another maxed out budget. Ha. I’ve come to realize that I pretty much have no self control at this time of year. I want all the things! It doesn’t help when the sales are good. I added lots of new fall/winter goodies (and some items for spring/summer) to my wardrobe these past three months. With it being Black Friday today, I wasn’t planning on buying anything for myself but I did end up placing an order at Anthropologie. We’ll see what happens by the end of the weekend! Those items will end up in my forthcoming winter budget.

What I kept:

  • Madewell Northside long-sleeve vintage tee in Driggs stripe: I love the dark red/burgundy stripes (perfect for fall!) and the fact that it shares a name with a town in Idaho. ;) I sized up to a small so it didn’t fit too tight, and it’s perfect!

  • Madewell Cali demi-boot jeans in Preston wash: raw-hem edition: Another Madewell item named after an Idaho town! Ha! I absolutely love these jeans. I wasn’t expecting to love them as much as I do, but they’re so comfortable, and the silhouette is fun. I took these in my usual size 25 and opted for the regular length, which still fit slightly cropped on me (I’m about 5’4” for reference).

  • Madewell crewneck bodysuit: I dove into the bodysuit trend this fall. I was drawn to this one because of the thong bottom but it’s just a little tight everywhere in my usual XS. I think I’ll try a small next time. It’s even a little bit too short in length, which I wasn’t expecting. I guess my torso isn’t short after all!

  • Madewell tie-waist Huston pull-on crop pants in stripe: I purchased these pants for my 30th birthday trip to the Cook Islands, and they worked out better than I had expected! I wore them nearly every evening, and they also lived through a tomato sauce stain. I went with my usual size XS and they fit comfortably loose but did stretch out slightly with wear.

  • Banana Republic Italian melton topcoat: I haven’t owned a camel coat for a few years (my last one was due for an upgrade). I fell in love with this coat’s clean, classic cut. Even though I haven’t been drawn to wool coats lately (I’m all about the utilitarian puffers for everyday), I hope I like this one enough to keep in my closet whenever a special occasion or event arises. I tried on both XS and small and bought a small so I could layer comfortably underneath.

  • & Other Stories cotton blend sweater: I love the rich cognac brown color of this sweater. I took size XS and it fits slightly oversized but I expect it to tighten up in the wash.

  • Everlane ReDown puffy puff: I absolutely love the spice color of this coat, and it’s so cozy! I was unsure that I would get enough wear out of it (Korri told me that the color could only be worn in the fall and made me worry that it wouldn’t work in winter and spring), but goodness I need to branch out from my neutral coat closet. I haven’t worn it out because I’m not sure how the sheen will handle water (hopefully it doesn’t stain!). I bought size XS and it’s slightly oversized.

  • Everlane ReNew fleece raglan sweatshirt: I think out of everything I bought this past quarter, this was my single best purchase. I’ve worn it almost nonstop since I got it! I originally ordered (and reviewed) a size XS but ended up preferring the fit of the size small. I like having more room in the shoulders.

  • Everlane cotton weave picnic dress: I was planning on buying this in the summer, but I’m glad I waited because it showed up in the Choose What You Pay sale (after selling out once over the summer). Even though it’s too cold to wear out now, I love this dress! It is snug in the bust, which was a common reviewer complaint, but I purchased size 0 and decided to keep it. I don’t think it’s too long on me, either. It hits at mid-calf.

  • Nisolo Amalia all weather boots: These are absolutely stunning boots. I ordered them because I wanted more weatherproof boots that are wearable for all day everyday (i.e. not specific rain or snow boots). The brandy color is gorgeous, but the leather is stiff and I’m still working on breaking them in. I took my usual size 7, and they fit well but are borderline tight on the top of my feet. I hope they loosen up in that area!

  • Nisolo Lucia block heel sandals in nutmeg: Nisolo’s nutmeg collection is one of my favorites, so I was thrilled when these sandals went on sale back in September (and they are still available in most sizes). I grabbed size 7 and they fit true to size, but the ankle strap fits a little awkwardly.

  • AUrate birthstone stud earrings (c/o): As part of a collaboration with Nakturnal back in the summer, I received AUrate credit and used it to purchase a pair of sapphire stud earrings. They’re simple but feel high quality. I hope they last for years!

  • Earth Denali Anchor boots (c/o): As part of my ongoing partnership with Earth, I selected a couple of pairs of boots to style in outfit posts. These boots fit seamlessly into my wardrobe! My usual size 7 fits well with thin wool socks.

  • Earth Glacier waterproof boots (c/o): I had to try these boots just because they’re waterproof…and I predict these boots will get a lot of wear this winter. I took size 7, and they would be too snug with thick socks so I’d recommend sizing up if that’s what you hope to wear.

What I tried and returned:

  • Everlane texture cotton crop cardigans: I ordered this cardigan in cider and bone and the fit was absolutely atrocious on me. I’ve never had an item from Everlane fit me so terribly! I ordered size XS and they barely buttoned up. The dropped shoulders and wide sleeves were terrible and made my already broad shoulders look even wider. They didn’t drape well, and the fabric wasn’t soft at all. I sent them back right away. I don’t understand how others love these so much…

  • Madewell perfect vintage jean in Cassie wash: I ordered these along with the Cali demi-boot jeans and I preferred the fit and style of the demi-boot jeans. I wasn’t a huge fan of the wash. This was the same style of jeans I had purchased at the end of summer but that pair didn’t end up working out, either.

  • Madewell tank bodysuit: This was my first bodysuit purchase, but I never wore it because it was just a little too tight in my usual XS like the crewneck bodysuit. Madewell let me return it for a gift card, but the return hasn’t been processed yet. Fingers crossed it happens soon!

What’s on deck for winter:

  • Everlane cashmere scarf: I used some Everlane credit on this gorgeous cashmere scarf! I ordered black, but I’m also obsessed with the loden color. I think the black will be more versatile.

  • Aquatalia Tilly weatherproof booties: I’ve been waiting for these booties to go on deeper sale since they debuted at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale during the summer. After originally wanting them in grey, I ordered them in chocolate. I think that color will go with more items in my wardrobe. I was able to try them on in store a few months ago and went with my usual size 7. The only thing is that I ordered them before the dang Nordstrom Black Friday deal. Do I reorder? Gah!

  • Anthropologie Natasha faux fur jacket: I saw this jacket when I stopped in store a few weeks ago; it was really the only thing that caught my eye (other than the gorgeous faux fur pillows). Because I’m weak, I ordered this jacket with the Black Friday 30% off promo in carbon, size small petite. Fingers crossed it works! Or not, since I’ve pretty much already spent my full winter quarterly budget and December hasn’t even started…ha.

  • Madewell travel buddy packable puffer jacket: I’m planning to order this in navy, size small. I tried on both XS and small in store and while the XS fit, the arms were just a tad short and it would be slightly snug in the shoulders with a thick sweater. The small is wider through the body but hopefully I can cinch it fairly tight at the waist. For how thin and light it is, it felt really warm!

  • Nisolo Rosa pouch: I love this pouch! I think it would be amazing for travel. When we visited the Cook Islands, we had a pouch of cords and such for our electronics and another pouch with a small first aid kit. This would be perfect for that…or makeup, etc. I just can’t decide on a color! I love the gorgeous nutmeg suede but am worried it could get ruined more easily than leather.