Note 48 - Home Time & Closet Reset
View from my desk
Happy Sunday! I don't know about you, but my brain is already in full fall mode. It's a condition I have every year, and I think I'll always split my year into two "starts": January and back-to-school season.
Now that I'm fully settled in France and all my belongings have finally arrived, I did a second clear-out of everything. I realized I had just accumulated too much, and I don't want to hold onto things that don't bring me joy. All that to say, I've been asking myself over and over what I actually like about an item, whether it's homeware or fashion. And from that, I've landed on a more edited version of my closet and home. And when it comes to clothes, instead of a dozen unique dresses I only wear once, I wanted the pieces I can wear again and again without ever getting tired of them and that go really well with the rest of my wardrobe.
So here is how I did my little closet reset: the clear-out, the inspiration behind the look, how I'm building outfits now, and which pieces I'm still missing after all of it. Come along!
-The Inspiration-
From left to right: Filippa Moulier in the Soft Goat Cashmere Girlfriend Cardigan, Julie Lauridsen in the By Malene Birger Lalou Jacket, Flattered Bon Bon Loafers, By Malene Birger Vinola Jeans & Tallalia grey sweater, Lié Studio Harper Earrings, Flore Flore Max Tee in Off White
As you can see, my inspiration for fall is very minimal. I love a combination of creams, greys, and muted blues, and rich materials like cashmere, wool, and leather, with a few accents of gold jewelry. The picture on the left, posted by Filippa Moulier, is my reminder that a simple look is often best: high-quality knitwear, a pair of jeans you feel good in, simple gold hoops, and a polished beauty look. I'm also loving the shape of her Soft Goat turtleneck. This exact colour is sold out, but I think it's a great reference point for classic knitwear.
The second and third pictures are from Julie Lauridsen, who I discovered on TikTok. She shares her daily work outfits, and I'm completely obsessed with her style, how she pairs outfits with hairstyles, and just her whole vibe. I especially loved (of course) her By Malene Birger jacket with the unique tie detailing at the waist. It’s a piece I actually managed to track down secondhand on Vinted after I moved here, and I cannot wait to wear it once the temperatures drop.
Finally, a few essentials I'm planning to wear more this fall: cream jeans, really good basic tops, and elevated knitwear. For this, I’m shopping my own wardrobe and finding ways to pair items with what I already have to create new combinations.
-The Method-
So if you're like me and you've realized you own too many things and none of them feel quite right anymore, here are a few steps I would recommend especially ahead of the autumnal season.
Audit your closet. I really like using a closet app (like Indyx or Whering) to get a good visual overview of everything you own. It takes time up front, but it's easy to maintain afterward, and you get useful stats on how often you actually wear things. Ask yourself what stands out against your three words (check out the three-word styling method here), what fits your vibe, and start identifying pieces you're not really wearing anymore.
Resell what you don't want. This is where the fun happens. Upload those pieces to a resale platform. You might even end up with some funds to reinvest in your closet, and it’s a good way to declutter and go back to the essentials.
Gather inspiration that's actually achievable. Think about where you're going day to day and what you find comfortable, then put together a mood board.
Identify your gaps. At this stage, I recommend narrowing it down to no more than three key missing pieces. You don't want to go overboard here. And before buying, spend time finding the perfect one in terms of fit, materials, and details you like. We often make the mistake of getting the first thing we see, but it’s important to be thoughtful about it.
Build outfits you'll actually wear. Again, a wardrobe platform is great for this. This will serve as inspiration for when you’re getting dressed.
Do a final audit to make sure everything you own has a purpose and that you genuinely like it.
Adopt the habit of checking in with yourself before adding anything new to your closet. Do you actually love it, or does it just feel like a trendy piece you won't wear much? For a long time, I would buy things without thinking about the bigger picture or when I would actually wear them.
What I Wore This Week
Shirt - By Malene Birger / Bag - Totême / Shorts - Aritzia / Ballet Flats - Soeur Paris
What I wore for a work day in Paris! I love wearing these Aritzia Effortless shorts with pretty much anything in the summer. They're super comfortable and still look put together. This time I paired them with an oversized shirt, my everyday handbag, and my fishnet sandals, which add just the right amount of interest. These sandals show off the silhouette of the foot without exposing the toes too much, so they're perfect for the city.
Everyday Delights
Organised my bookshelf
Biking to the train station
Receiving my furniture from Canada
This week felt a little more normal than the rest of the summer. Now that my furniture has arrived, I spent the weekend unboxing and arranging the apartment to feel more like home. At first I was overwhelmed by how much stuff I had (I guess that's what happens after a few weeks of living with just the essentials), but now that everything has its place, I feel a lot more at ease. Seeing my bookshelf in a prime spot in the living room has been a highlight. I love walking past it and seeing the spines bring back memories of when I read each book. I also just love how cozy it feels, and the colour it adds, since most of the apartment is in shades of light wood and cream.
I also got my bike, which meant cycling all the way to the train station instead of taking the bus. It gives me a lot more flexibility with my time, and the ride was beautiful: a long path lined with trees. That's definitely something I will romanticize. It's already making me look forward to fresh walks there in autumn.
This Week’s [book] Edit
I've been reading a lot of good books recently so I thought I would share my recommendations here! You’ll see common themes woven through all of them and that’s just because these are the books I enjoy reading the most (along with memoirs about fashion journalists…).
The latest novel by one of my favourite writers. It tells the story of a girl whose brother disappeared, woven together with Swedish folklore, and it also explores art, family, and grief. I read it all in one go on the train to Amsterdam.
Nothing Grows by Moonlight, Thorborg Nedreaas
A feminist classic of Nordic literature, this book is about a woman's shattering love affair and how it shapes the rest of her life. I really loved the way it was written.
Set in Stockholm, this novel follows Anna as she becomes a mother and navigates how that changes her life and relationship. It's more literary fiction than plot-driven, essentially all vibes and rather than events.
I've been listening to the audiobook, narrated by the author herself. It tells the story of two couples living in the same Parisian apartment decades apart, and how their lives converge. The book explores relationships, psychoanalysis, motherhood and fatherhood, belonging, and more. I love the narration, and some details mirror my own experience in Paris, like the descriptions of the heat and everyone leaving the city in August.
Love, S.
