Oxblood vs. brown? Lockets vs. sardines? Argyle vs. Fair Isle? Fall raises the most compelling styling questions—and the hardest ones to answer at times. No matter how disciplined and forward-thinking our perspectives may be, the feeling of falling short can be inevitable. Being style-conscious isn’t just about shopping based on trends and forecasts, after all. It’s about curating, customizing, and rewriting the rules of getting dressed.
But each season, the goal isn’t just to be different, it’s to be you. How do we embrace the trends without blending in and staying true to ourselves?
My answer as fall approaches is simpler than you may think. Through a series of curated shopping moments this week, I’ve come up with three ways to customize my everyday fall wardrobe—that we all can use to define our style on our own terms.
1. Replacing My Plain White Tees
(Image credit: Jessica Habich Thomas)
Earlier this week, I stumbled into an NYC gift shop on Canal Street. I gravitated toward the traditional I <3 NY white tee and before I knew it, I purchased and threw it on. The dopamine kick I got from this $10 purchase was unlike any other I’d made this summer.
Swapping your basics for graphic tees is both a simple and impactful way to give your look personality. Best of all, there truly is a graphic tee for everyone. They look incredibly chic under a wool blazer or on their own with a killer pair of jeans. Plus, they tell a story on their own.
Don’t Ditch Palm Beach, Cheap & Chic, and I Did it Myself are among some of my favorites I’ve come across this week. I’ve attached a few of my other favorites to shop below.
FRAME
+ Ritz Paris Embroidered Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt
Vaquera
Graphic Print Crew Neck T-Shirt
Emma Mulholland on Holiday
Someone on Holiday Tee
éliou
Fishing Club Ringer Tee
2. Searching for One-of-One Leather and Suede
(Image credit: Jessica Habich Thomas)
Leather and suede for fall? Groundbreaking. While I was on my daily scroll of The RealReal last week, the little voice in my head told me to drop all my usual filters (a topic we’ll save for another day) and type one single word into the search bar: “leather.” To my surprise, there were a ton of cool and unique pieces that caught my attention for respectable prices.
I did the same with suede and the results were just as exciting. My “hearts” are now filled with leather and suede pieces of all different sizes, silhouettes, colors, and weight from great designers and brands. I’m personally snagging this 2017 Gucci by Alessandro Michele Black Leather Kimono, with “GUCCY” beaded on the back.
(Image credit: The RealReal)
My advice? Skip the micro trends and invest in a silhouette and color that feels personal, and will continue to feel that way for years. Don’t worry so much about which neckline is trending this season (even though, yes, the funnel neck is having its moment). Instead, find vintage or secondhand pieces that reflect your taste. Chances are, they’re more affordable anyway.
Loewe
Vintage Late 1990’s – Early 2000’s Faux Fur Coat
Saks Potts
Lamb Leather Bomber Jacket
Ralph Lauren Black Label
Vintage Suede Coat
Understated Leather
Leather Printed Bomber Jacket
St. John Sport
Leather Jacket
3. Personalizing My Denim
(Image credit: Jessica Habich Thomas)
If there’s one item that defines fall across every trend cycle, it’s denim. But this season, it’s not just about finding the perfect fit: It’s about making it personal. Embroidery, beading, patches, hand-painting, even airbrushing—customized denim is having a quiet, creative comeback.
Abbode is a great place to start if you’re interested in embroidery and patchwork. Spend the money to embroider your name, nickname, the city you live in or love, a funny little saying that makes you giggle, or really anything that makes you happy to wear them.
Another fun moment this week was when Lily at Fleur Asayag reached out to me to work on a custom piece together. I jumped at the idea. We’re currently creating a pair of custom shorts drenched in gold keys and, shocker, fish.
I was inspired by the incredible Duda from éliou when I ran into her at Marram this summer wearing a pair of DIY jeweled denim shorts she made. This sort of customization hasn’t totally hit the market yet, but I promise you it will.
(Image credit: Jessica Habich Thomas)
Acne Studios and Helmut Lang are brands that do “paint splatter” denim really well. To be totally honest, this is something you can DIY yourself. Take a paintbrush and a great pair of denim and go crazy.
Levi
501 ’90s Women’s Jeans
Gap
High Rise Relaxed Straight Jeans
Gap
High Rise Barrel Jeans
Blick
Blickrylic Student Acrylic Paints and Sets
In lieu of paint splatter, there’s an intentional form of painting. Kelia Moniz has me in a chokehold over her custom-painted denim shorts she wore to the launch of her ‘Surfing Sucks’ capsule for her brand, Honolulu Pawnshop, back in June. The brand never launched the denim shorts, and because of it, I’ve been so close to commissioning someone to recreate them for me. Kelia, if you’re somehow, some way reading this, PLEASE LAUNCH THE SHORTS.
Pairing your customized denim with all of those Pinterest-esque fall outfits you have saved helps you instantly level up the look. After all, the coolest thing you can do this fall—or any season—is reclaim your style on your own terms.
