Note 50 - The Fall Edit
Jacket - By Malene Birger / Trousers - By Malene Birger / Loafers - Flattered
Happy September! There’s something about this time of year that always feels like a fresh start, and in my opinion, even more so than the New Year. After the long and hot days of this summer, September is the perfect moment to reset, reinvent ourselves, and ease into a new season with new intentions and possibilities.
In the spirit of all that, I’ve put together my ultimate fall edit: the outfit formulas I’m most excited to wear this season, my personal fall to-do list (including a few books I can’t wait to read), and, finally, the hobbies I’m making time for in the coming months. It’s also fitting that this is the 50th note on Effortless & Edited, as it all started with my fall recommendations (Note #1, Note #4, and Note #7 were especially autumn-themed).
So grab yourself a cup of tea, get cozy, and settle in!
What I’m Excited To Wear This Fall
Trench - Totême / Turtleneck - Arket / Jeans - By Malene Birger / Bag - Aesther Ekme / Boots - Arket
Jacket - Dagmar / Top - Flore Flore / Jeans - Totême / Boots - Aeyde / Bag - Loewe
Fall is my favourite season for getting dressed, because it's all about predictability and outfit formulas built around layering. Above are three outfits (all pulled from my own wardrobe) that I return to again and again every fall and winter.
My go-to fall outfit formula: a trench coat or jacket with an element of interest + cashmere knitwear + a flattering pair of jeans + black leather boots with an elegant silhouette + a practical handbag)
One thing I'm especially excited about this year in Paris is being able to wear leather booties all season long without ruining them, and reaching for my favourite coats instead of a bulky puffer.
The pieces that come back to me again and again are boots. I gravitate toward three styles with different heel silhouettes and toe shapes, but I stick to short boots in general, since I mostly pair them with jeans and find that combination most flattering. I also stay firmly in black: I've learned over time that brown just isn't my colour, and suede boots scuff and stain too easily to be worth it when it’s rainy.
The rest of the rotation is all about layering: trench coats, cozy cashmere sweaters (you'll find me in one all season long), and double-faced jackets. I also want to wear more blazers this fall!
The Fall To Do List (aka Everyday Delights)
Nordwik Dutch Oven
Books I’m reading this fall
1 - Fall Reading List
Sophie Standing There, Meg Mason - I just finished this one, the latest from Meg Mason, and it was such a wholesome fall read. It follows a protagonist working as a tech assistant at a literary festival the year after her divorce, and how she begins a parasocial relationship with a famous author. Touches on loneliness, heartbreak, and hope.
London Falling, Patrick Radden Keefe - I've mentioned this one before, but it's one of the books I'm most excited to read this fall, based on a true story set in London. I’ve read the first 50 pages, and so far I’m really loving it!
The Thoroughbreds, Elin Hilderbrand - Part 2 of The Academy series. It is set in a boarding school in New England, and all of it just feels very Gilmore Girls meets Gossip Girl meets Curtis Sittenfeld’s Prep.
Body Language, Meg Howrey - Meg Howrey wrote one of my favourite books (They’re Going To Love You), so this one is my most highly anticipated this fall.
Black Coffee and Red Lipstick: Notes on Living, Alexandra Shulman - As the ex-editor of Vogue UK, Shulman wrote one of the best magazine/fashion memoirs, Inside Vogue, so this will be a fun one to dive into when it comes out.
2 - Signed up for knitting classes
I learned to knit in art class at school, but unfortunately never picked it back up or taught myself anything beyond the basics. This is finally the year I change that. I’ve signed up for classes at Talk Arty to Me in Paris, a little café that hosts creative classes across different mediums, and I’m so excited to meet new people, start my first project, and develop a skill I’ve always wanted to get better at. I really think knitting could add so much to my life; it’s such a cozy fall activity.
3 - Joined a book club
Joining a book club has been on my list for a long time. When I lived in London, I went to a book club meetup that unfortunately only happened once, but it left such a good impression on me. I think it'll be a great way to meet women my age who share my interests and dig into one of my favourite subjects. September's pick is After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which looks like a very fun read.
4 - The year I (hopefully) bake the perfect cardamom buns
This one makes my fall to-do list every single year, and every single year I never quite get them right. When fall comes, I just want my kitchen to smell like a Scandinavian bakery, so I'm determined to actually crack it this year. If anyone knows of a great course (or has a foolproof recipe they swear by), please let me know! And if you want the Scandi bakery vibes without actually baking, may I recommend reading Time to Rise by Helene Holmström.
5- Learning to regulate my nervous system
After a busy summer, I want to build in small daily rituals that actually help me slow down and calm my vagus nerve. I've come across a few techniques, and I'm going to be mindful about weaving them into my routine: breathing exercises, face tapping, and legs up the wall. I’m hoping it will allow me to take life a bit more slowly and calmly.
6- Back on track with my beauty habits
I’ve also been less consistent with my skincare routine, and I want to go back to my habits: lots of water, LED masks, gua sha, and, of course, retinol!
7- Cooking my favourite fall recipes
There are certain recipes I only start craving once the temperature drops: a proper gratin dauphinois, slow-cooked ragù with pasta, and a Sunday roast chicken are all at the top of my list. I find cooking incredibly meditative and comforting, and this fall I want to make more time for it.
8 - Taking my German to the next level
This year marks three years of learning German, and I want to challenge myself by finally reading an entire book in German.
It definitely won’t be easy, but after all the work I’ve put into learning the language, especially over the past year, I know it’ll be an accomplishment I’m incredibly proud of. So this fall, I’m making the time to actually sit down, open the book, and see how far I can get. I got one in Hamburg that’s probably a bit too advanced, but I will take it slow and search the translations for each word if I have to.
This Week’s Edit
Emily Weiss on the To The Moon Honey Podcast (and article here)
I really enjoyed this podcast interview about Motherhood with former Glossier CEO Emily Weiss, who now lives in Copenhagen and is embracing a different model from the North American one she grew up with. The pictures accompanying the article are also beautiful!
I went to see this movie at the cinema last night because I’m a huge fan of Norwegian actress Renate Reinsve. The decor is obviously spectacular, and the film is a bit uncomfortable to watch, but it made me think a lot about culture and acceptance.
I picked up this book because of all the hype and discourse around the fact that it’s based on Nathalie Portman. The style of Cusk’s books is a bit less for me, but I’m really into the discussions around it, and I’m really looking forward to Shameless Podcast’s take on it (I will add the link once their podcast review is published).
Label Naturel Cashmere Blanket
We gave our living room a little refresh this season to make it cozier and a touch more grown-up, and one of the items we got is this cashmere throw. The oatmeal tone blends beautifully into the couch, and it might be the softest blanket we own, plus it’s warm and light all at once. Already looking forward to curling up with it all winter.
Love, S.
