I think it’s safe to say fall has officially landed in Western New York. The weekend temperatures were warm (in the low 80s), but it quickly changed to low 40s in the mornings!
Looking at the numbers ahead, it seems like summer is truly gone and the crisp air is here. While I am so excited for fall, I will admit I’m a little nervous. It’s my first fall in decades, and I feel lost on what to do, what to wear, how to act – just kidding, but you get it.
Obviously, I’ll figure it all out. As far as what to wear, I want to be comfortable and just look somewhat put together, you know?
So, I took a look in my closet (my small closet that is already full) to see if there’s anything I really needed. Here’s what I was missing: A really great (and warm) windbreaker, sweaters for layering, and a purse big enough to fit a book inside (more on this in a bit).
Whenever I need specifics, I go to ThredUp. They have SO much to choose from and you can search for what you need.
It was a very lucky day for me because they were having a sale and I had a giftcard! I admit I did spend a few HOURS looking for my items, but I love doing this. I like comparing items and trying to get the most for my money.
In the end, I found exactly what I was looking for. Here’s what I got:
A Warm Windbreaker
This was the number one item on my list because, although I have a rain jacket, it is not fit for the winds coming off Lake Erie! If you live near one of the Great Lakes, you know exactly what I mean. But I live close to the canal, and downtown Buffalo gets so windy. There have been times I truly felt like the wind would knock me over!
So, I really wanted a crispy windbreaker but one that was also warm — in the cooler months, that wind is going to be brutal. I searched high and low, and, admittedly, it’s difficult to see details online. But, I ended up choosing a gray puffer jacket that appeared to be fleece-lined.
Turns out, I was right! The jacket is so cute, a little cropped, with a matte finish. It’s warm, but not super puffy (which I love). I’m looking forward to wearing it throughout the fall season, and possibly into the winter (we’ll see how warm it really is).
Sweaters fit for fall
I *think* I have a decent collection of sweaters already, but I don’t want to wear all the thicker sweaters during the fall months and then be wearing them again in winter. I realize how silly this may sound, but if what I’m hearing about Buffalo weather is true, I’m going to be wearing sweaters for AWHILE.
So, I kept my eye open for any cute sweaters that could be layered for fall. I ended up buying two, and they were each under $10! One is a fusha cable knit that has more of a bubble shape, and the other is a cropped gray and black plaid situation — adorable!
A large purse
When I cleaned out my closet to move, I (very sadly) had to get rid of so many purses and bags. Trust me, I didn’t want to! But, they were either very loved or damaged; many of them were vegan or faux leather, which was flaking off.
When I got to Buffalo and started organizing my closet, I realized I now had no large purses. I needed at least one that was big enough to hold a book!
I was so excited to find a black Steve Madden bag that was structured, with two compartments, and gold hardware, with a buckle to fully close the bag. It has a short handle for shoulder wear, or a long cross-body strap.
I absolutely LOVE this bag! I love it even more after reading Steve Madden’s memoir. Anyway, I wear it mostly as a crossbody, and rarely do I actually have a book in it, but I am grateful for the option.
Trendy snap pants
I can’t say I worry much about fashion trends; I am always just looking for what I feel my best in.
However, there are some times I see an outfit or a certain style of an item that I like. Since I get 99% of my clothes via thrifting, there’s typically not a ton of current trends on the rack.
When I do see something online or on someone I like, I try and get a photo of it and just keep it in mind the next time I’m at a thriftstore just in case. And well, I actually found something during this online ThredUp shopping sesh!
Just a few weeks or a month prior, I’d screenshotted an outfit I saw on Instagram that included a pair of athletic pants that snapped up the side — fully 90’s style coming back.
I couldn’t believe it when I saw a similar pair at ThredUp! They’re Reebok, and are made of shiny blue fabric with black snaps all the way up each sides. They look so cute with tennis shoes (you can make them flare out by unsnapping the bottom snaps), and although they are very casual, I think they are so cute styled with a sweatshirt, or a light sweater and a denim jacket.
And that’s my little fall haul — what kinds of things are you shopping for this season?
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