No. 101: A Video Walk-through of 12 Fall Outfits I've Worn for Nearly 12 Years

when you're not shopping and need to feel extra excited about what's already in your closet, this is the plan

I shared in Part One of this post last week that Fall is my absolute favorite time of year to shop. What piece of clothing could be better than a new cardigan, truly? I’ve spent many Fall seasons on a cease-spend, though, and every time the most helpful step is trying on outfits I’ve owned for years to remind me that new is not always better. In college, I started saving to spend on the best clothing I could afford rather than strictly buying “going-out” tops from Forever 21 that would fall apart after one wash*. To paint the “best clothing I could afford” picture properly, I need you to know that I worked at a chocolate shop and as a 12 year old club volleyball coach—but I did learn how to save and choose wisely. Did I always do it perfectly? Nope. A neon green silk taffeta Tibi skirt still haunts me, actually. But there were lessons even in the mistakes.

I find myself so grateful for those lessons because over the past 13.5 years of marriage and my adult life, I’ve built a wardrobe that feels timeless, reliable and even exciting at times. My only advice is to invest intentionally in the pieces you’ll want to wear fifteen and twenty years later and sprinkle in some trends here and there without breaking the bank.

This week, I picked through some of my favorite items in my closet—some of which I’ve owned since the volleyball and chocolate shop days, some newer—and tricked myself into being excited by my own wardrobe again. Or, if not excited, content. Since I don’t have links for a lot of these ancient clothes, be sure to check out this year’s current Fall Momiform and my LTK if you’re in a spending season. One thing that is always in stock year after year is the Mason Pant in the video I show in two colors. It’s a pair of pants I recommend to just about everyone, especially my fellow tall friends.

Now, this video is shot on my iPhone in my room while standing approximately one hundred feet away from it to be able to shoot horizontally for Substack. This is by no means professional or glamorous but it is very much a FaceTime call while trying to get dressed for the day. I highly suggest letting it play while you cook a meal, wash your face or propped up on a mug while you’re trying to get the motivation to start computer work.

*I also was married at 21 years old, flew to my classes from across the country by Junior year and was dubbed the grandma of my college volleyball team. It’s safe to say all those “going-out” tops that magazines told be were so essential to my wardrobe never even made it “out.”