On September’s Signature Style, our fall wishlists…Great pieces to update and upgrade your fall wardrobe!

Hello and welcome to September’s Signature Style. We are just in time for the first day of fall this week. I’ve been taking in the catalogs, doing a little shopping and surveying my own closet and have come up with my wish list and so has Cindy. I feel like it’s been a long summer. By mid-September I am excited for sweaters, new jeans, loafers and I’m even dreaming of a few coats here in my little corner of California. It’s back to school for grown-up girls and I’m so ready!

Let’s time travel

When I think about back-to-school clothes it brings back a distinct memory of paging through my first Seventeen magazine my mom let me buy in 1975. I was only 10, but she gave me the 75 cents. I remember it being a September school issue so I told her I needed it! The pages of the old Seventeens were big and I poured over those on my bed. My mom didn’t understand why I wanted it, but with a later subscription, I learned what was argyle, tweed, and plaid. I took note of loafers and knee highs. I learned what the ‘ivy league’ was too… All things that never crossed the brain of this middle class suburban California kid.

Phoebe Cates in Seventeen Magazine! She was always a favorite.

I think I began my love of fashion there – and ‘browsing’ with my mom. Since we didn’t buy clothes all year long, like people do now, school shopping was an exciting time for me.

Back to 2026

So if you have cleaned your closet, I give you permission to shop and make a list. Before that you really shouldn’t spend much because during summer we truly forget what we own. Even I had forgotten jeans bought before June, and a pair of loafers! I haven’t touched them in months and have forgotten all about them. I also realized these were pieces I NEVER wore the past years and they frankly should go. Nothing super special, but the things as I said before, I’m just not ‘choosing.’

My rule of thumb: if you won’t ever choose it, it probably should go.

We all make mistakes. There are things that never fit quite right, or looked better in the dressing room. Don’t I know it. There are colors you just never feel good in. There are those ‘investment’ items that just never became something you feel good in. Some are pieces I’ve been influenced to buy and they did not work out. There are tight jeans and loose jeans. I have shirts and jackets that also feel tighter in the upper back as I age.

Let them go, and feel okay knowing that someone else will love them! You don’t always need to get the value of what you spent. Sometimes, the win will be that the things in your closet will fit right, feel good to wear and make you feel lovely. That is worth the money itself! We need less and just what we love. A closet filled with stuff is not something to covet, but a closet with things perfect for you is.

Bags of my donation clothes.

My Fall shopping strategy – start with a few good pieces and think about color

This summer I ended up buying navy and a mauve pink in a few different things. I really didn’t intend to, but it was nice to have two colors to mix in different ways and with what I already owned. Easy for packing too. So this fall, I am going to try and focus on two colors and one will be a silvery grey because I know that color flatters and I always like it, and the other will be something in the brown family. Now the issue is seeing what’s out there.

Try and think about what two colors you may want to add in to your mix and maybe, like me, make a list of a few things to focus on when you do shop. For instance:

I know I want

• A flat- (either a sneaker or a loafer/boat shoe)
• A pair of chino type pants in a barrel shape
• A pair of jeans in a straight or relaxed style
• An oxford shirt from AYR in white
• A pair of Frank & Eileen joggers in another color or denim
• A jacket of some sort

My go-to brands and fall pieces to consider:

If you’ve been reading the blog for a bit you know I’ve been preaching about buying pieces that will stand out and last. So while your jeans and t-shirts may not be forever, your jackets, shoes, scarves, and accessories should be pieces you are crazy about. Buy only what you love. Don’t shop to shop. Have a real attraction to what you decide to purchase and you’ll love getting dressed. Some of my jackets and things I’ve bought in the last few years have been splurges, but I also love seeing them in my closet and can’t wait to wear them again.

Below are good things from some of the brands I know well and like

Frank & Eileen

I was just sent this great Rowan jacket. I love their terry jackets and this navy is a great one for fall. We just went to Carmel for two nights and I wore it every day. It’s a great layering piece, warm and yet not heavy!

I also adore their denim shirt and wear it at least once a week! The joggers are so comfy and I want a denim jogger pair for fall. The Coatigan– a cross between a coat and cardi is really lovely if you can splurge, worn by founder Audrey, below.

I love the 100% cotton sweaters and some of the roll neck styles are now on sale like this grey and striped one. This flannel is a great fall piece too.

Frank & Eileen pieces cost more, but they have beauty in their finishes and details. The collars pop perfectly and the edges have a little fray and the buttons are so good. The fabrics are wonderful. Most all of the pieces are made in California. So instead of getting a look alike, maybe save and get one of the denim shirts, jackets or pants and see the difference. It will make you want less things, but appreciate perfectly made pieces instead. I often find some of their things for less at the Rack, so look there too.

J. Crew

J. Crew right now has a cropped button-up that is really nice. I love the pink pinstripe and the blue and even the red in this. If you still don’t have a cropped button-up they are a great addition to the closet, and so easy to wear with so much – pants, skirts. They take the hassle out of whether to tuck or not.

I think this embellished 1986 barn jacket is a standout and worth adding to your collection. The khaki green with the sequin collar and plaid lining make it special. The denim version is pretty cool too.

Quince

On my list at Quince is this great 100% cotton Fisherman sweater. Lots of great colors. I could use a black, but love the marled rose, or shell and soft blue, and beige. The chocolate plum would look so good on gals with darker hair.

They also have this cotton cardi with great buttons and the new baby alpaca sweater in a pretty brown. This boyfriend sweater.

I also love their ultra fine turtleneck for layering.

Banana Republic

BR has a Friends and Family Sale until the 27th with nearly 40% off everything. A colored pant is a nice update for fall versus a jean. I love these pull on pants in mauve color. And whiskey. (They say they run big so read reviews.) I also love the mid-rise painter pant, but it’s nearly sold out.

I also love this boucle oversized cardigan. Cute worn by itself alone. I also like this cotton/silk mauve sweater and this pull on barrel skirt in tan or black.

Rails

You cannot go wrong with their Getty wide leg jeans. I love mine in petite in the East Coast Wash. Many washes and hem finishes. Great quality.

I have bought a few of their jackets over the years and they are some of my favorite closet items. I wear my Tomoko Fringed Jacket so much and have my eye on this new Stafford Jacket which is a nice cross between a trench and a jacket- perfect for a California winter!

Ba&sh

I adore Ba&sh and will be doing an event with the Bloomies team in October. I was just over there and fell in love with this drawstring top! It’s such a unique piece, like all their things. (Also in black.) Their dresses are a great investment and flatter! I like this Ciahara dress (also in a pretty yellow) from the new collection. All these French pieces are gorgeous and worth the investment!

Evereve

Some great options at Evereve like these pull-on carpenter pants and I like this patterned satin pant with sweaters or a blazer for a dinner out or a gathering.

This oversized T with a soft and cute sweatshirt shape is a good piece to add in to what you own to look a bit slouchy and updated. I would add a scarf or necklaces.

AGolde jeans are so comfy and this pair with a big cuff is a fresh update! Even if you just add this to what you already own, it is enough. This would be darling with sweaters and loafers like these or these suede clogs.

I also love this Rails North jacket with the puff sleeves and crinkle look and this lace trimmed t-shirt. This one is shown under the jacket.

French Connection

FC has a Friends & Family sale with 25% off everything until today. I love this pull on satin slip skirt. I have one and I bought somewhere else last year and it’s so cute with a big soft sweater for gatherings and dinners out. I’ve also seen them with a leather (like this faux bomber by them) jacket or jean jacket for a soft/tough mix. Yes, it looks like your mom’s slip, but all the kids are wearing them and this is a thicker material with the same look.

Mine from last year, below.

Madewell

I adore Madewell and think they are getting better all the time. I noticed this year so many of the pieces are 100% cotton instead of synthetic mix, which is great. On a recent visit I loved the green cords, the polo sweaters, green scarf, and the bandana jeans! Oh also love the canvas tote!

They recently sent me a cute pair of pull on pinstripe Devon pants and they look good with everything. I am loving them along with the white oxford button-up. I chose small in both. The pinstripe pants are a good update and will be super in fall and winter with a blazer.

I’ve been loving my Gary bag that I just bought from Sezane too! Bandana is Madewell.

Driving Mocs

These are the eternal cool fall shoe and there are so many classics and a few new ones. I wore mine to Carmel last week and saw many others in them! Here’s a selection of some of the cutest and classics out there now.

Most the pieces mentioned on today’s post…

I hope this gave you some fresh ideas for fall. You can also pop by my ShopMy boutique to see all my collections.

If you missed last month’s post, we shared jewelry styling and ideas.

If you want to save this post, you can pin this graphic on Pinterest.

Let’s go see what Cindy has for us, shall we? I’m sure she has some beautiful things on her fall wish list…

Cindy Hattersley Design

See you on Saturday. If you are new here, welcome!

Kim

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