Hello my SoCal neighbors!!

Your excitement for fall is refreshing and got me thinking. Summer was always my favorite month, until we lived in Florida where it never ended (not even a break at night). This year is the first time in my realignment with 4 seasons since then that I’ve returned to sighing at the mention of autumn. Wonder if I’ll be able to enjoy the chilly months this year the way I have the past few?

But in answer to your question, no, laying out purchase plans is not typically something I do seasonally, not even for my favorite season. I don’t really know what I have to wear this winter, should check out how things are fitting me. But the coatigan/blazer/cardi/whatever piece I’ve been mentioning recently is a HEWI that I have outfits planned for. It would be nice to have it pop up on my path—I’m unlikely to go looking for it like I should.

I have to say it is quite fun for me that you and I share a general climate these days. Hot summer and mild "winter", which is actually extended fall is just perfect for me, wardrobe wise. Love all your beautiful choices and color palette. I definitely see you in that first dress too!

I love your autumn palette and I could wear these colors forever. You have a very thoughtful way of approaching your wardrobe and I like reading your musings. I purchased that Patagonia (in a sea foam green) in late winter (nod to spring…I was sick of my dark jackets) and while I love it, I found the sizing difficult. The sleeves are really long, too, but I haven’t decided about shortening them. You are tempting me with this color, however!

Ha. I knew you'd rebel against my suggestion to buy both pair of shoes. Just thought I'd see what kind of response I would get

Beautiful pieces and gorgeous colors - fab finds! I hope you'll find enough this fall to add to your wardrobe.
I barely started to think about fall - got one long statement sweater and ordered skirt in heavier sweater like fabrication. However I've got news of my dress code for work going back to conservative black jackets with sweaters only worn with skirts - bummer since I like to have option of cardigans as occasional switch from jackets. I'm not sure now what to add to keep variety and look right for work - casual pieces are need to be evaluated as well.
I still have time since Bay Area will be hot most of the September and October.

Lisa! You're as bad as my family.

slim cat, that's a pretty restrictive dress code. Best of luck with it!

Aquamarine, what was tricky about the sizing? I don't own any Patagonia yet, so I have no idea how their sizes run.

shevia, I'm so glad to have others here in the same climate conditions I'm in, since all of my friends back home are firmly in four seasons.

Fashintern, I hate summer so much mostly because I lived the vast majority of my life in hot-summer climates, with no AC. Having air conditioning now, I can appreciate warm weather a bit more...very hot days are an inconvenience rather than a real struggle.

I'm excited to see what you come up with for that piece. That kind of thing is a cornerstone statement for my fall/winter style...you were thinking a slightly longer length like ones in Finds here, right?

chewyspaghetti, Sloper, if Delta ever ends, we're on!

RunCarla, that's exactly how I feel about spring! That will be a fun thrift hunt for the V-necks, though.

Brooklyn, "folksy" is a good descriptor, yes. It's early to be thinking about the change in season here, too, but my son noted last year that people in LA don't dress for the weather, they dress for the season. It's the artifice of this city that, come September, even if it's still 95° out, locals will be in booties and plaid.

Bijou, I have had such a hard time finding the "perfect leather jacket," I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me sooner that maybe I just didn't want one. I hope either that coat or something similar fills that hole.

Jenn, yes, I think that’s the length I want. If you come across any that look like me—good quality, sustainable, low contrast rich patterns of berries & mermaid colors, please let me know! I had been thinking Lanz, but they’re out of business, or Ivko, but theirs have too much contrast. Your Johnny Was is also great, but more contrasts than I want. I like patterns that look swirly and rich/luxe, but where the shapes are only clear if you look closely.
I hear you on the climate. Even with AC, too much heat is just too much—for me anyway. You’ve probably seen this video, but if not, have a chuckle https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-MtJoQ8Jc9M

I really admire how you track your wishlist, instead of freaking out and caving, like I do…. I also appreciate how disciplined you are with your palette. It’s a challenge for me. I really hope the rust coatigan makes its way to you - my gosh, what a nice piece!!

I used to love fall so much more before I moved. It’s really just an extension of summer (which wasn’t so bad when summer was in the 50’sF!) Our seasons here are so weird. The October before last, it snowed on Halloween (we trick or treated in several inches of snow). Then last year, it was in the upper 70s. *shrug*

I had a brown grandpa cardigan on my wishlist for F/W, but after my recent thrifted moth mess, have since paused the hunt. I am thinking the shacket LisaP added might work to fill that hole (the cardi hole, not the moth one…)

I replaced several essentials this year due to weight change and wear, I feel like I shopped A LOT (I have). I am nearing the end of 2 years of tracking so may put myself on a shopping freeze for the rest of the year while I do some analysis of what I really wear. Still, a brown cozy indoor topper might get a pass…

nemosmom, oh, I for sure freak out and cave sometimes! Luckily, enough things end up not working out that I end up on a pretty even keel in the end. Your Octobers sound a lot like what we had in Colorado, just all over the place. What I miss most living here is that bite in the air on certain fall mornings. LA can never, ever be described as "crisp."

I hate that feeling of having shopped a lot, even when it was totally necessary and not really too much at all. Sometimes, we just need a break from all the consumption.

I think Patagonia runs small and narrow. This is the second Patagonia jacket I have and I’ve had to size up both times. And then the sleeves are too long.

Jenn thats exactly how I feel. Right now its pretty imperative that I buy new clothes, I'm down to so few but at the same time I feel like i'm always buying things (what with the kids always growing). I really hate the feeling. I think a significant part is also because I'm a SAHM and I have this internalised feeling of it not being my money to spend but instead only my husbands. He never ever puts limits on my spending and often encourages me to treat myself but I suppose its from growing up. I went an all girls school, went to uni, got a professional job in my field and now I don't have any of that. Of course the over consumption of things bugs me too but I think its also partly for the reason I'm not independent too.

These are great pieces!
Ha, re: people dressing by the calendar! People do that here too...then they complain they're hot in their boots and jeans.

I always enjoy seeing your posts about your seasonal shopping thought process. I like the rusty colors you've got going. I'm going to add a little of that, too, this fall, though it's not a face color for me.

(FWIW, I have a grey Jenni Kayne sweater coat and it wasn't a good purchase for me. Part of that was seasonal -- where I live the period of time outside that you could wear just a sweater coat is very brief, and the coat is really heavy indoors. And the other part was that I'm a bit short for it.)

I like reading your eloquent and logical posts Jenn, because your thoughtful approach to wardrobe management and style evolution is very consistent! Every item screams YOU. I like the discipline of it! But what I like best is seeing you enjoy the process and its results

Jenn, I love your colour palette. Autumn is my favourite season. Unfortunately, it is too short and then winter. I had looked at the short puffer from Patagonia but did not like the colour selection. I did not see the rust. Perfect for you.
Kimonos work so well with your style. That is a beautiful one.

Super late to this thread, Jenn, but I can't wait to find out if one of those dresses (or both) work for you. As usual, I'm impressed with your careful curation -- love the idea of so many of those items for you. I wonder if a note to the company that makes that great sweater jacket would be in order? It would be PERFECT for you in that colour! You could model it for them, honestly.....

Your posts always jumpstart my own thinking. I haven't turned my mind to autumn yet here and doubt I need much of anything, to be honest. I'm very much in a holding pattern, fashion wise, and that includes purchasing.

Aquamarine, that's good to know. Thanks!

N, I relate to so much of what you said! I quit my job when I had my son and relied on just my husband's income for years until I started a business and grew my own income. I closed that biz when we moved recently (a combination of space constraints and COVID) and am building something new, but for the moment, I'm back in that same space of feeling less independent, and it's not a great feeling. I'll tell you what I tell myself, and that's that your husband would absolutely not be able to be where he is in his career and family life without you there managing behind the scenes, so when it comes down to it, he's not independent either. It's just a matter of what kind of work is valued financially.

suntiger, I'm down with it. Otherwise, I'd never get to wear boots!

UmmLila, that's great information about the sweater coat, especially that it's too heavy for indoors. We have quite a long season for that sort of garment outside, but it sounds like it would be an either/or for that or the kimono jacket for me.

Angie, my wardrobe is my happy place, for sure!

Style Fan, make sure you're looking at the Nano Puff, in particular. There's an olive color you might like, also a cream, and a couple of different muted earthy red-oranges.

Suz, great suggestion! I sent them a message noting that the rust was the only color without extended sizing, and asking if that might change with a restock. We'll see!

Off-topic, just want to say that I so agree with your message to N—someone else taking care of home makes it possible for the other partner to focus on the paid work that financially supports the family. Divorce courts recognize that; the rest of us, including people in happy marriages, should too.

Update: I contacted Jenni Kayne about the rust sweater coat and they said that color way is only for this season and won’t be restocked with additional sizes. They encouraged me to get the oatmeal instead. Oh well.