Wearing a slip dress and cardigan from Mes Demoiselles, a fabulous brand in Paris…you can find a similar lace slip dress and cardigan from Dôen."
I got home from Spain late late late last night and it was downright cold. Okay, cold compared to how it was when I left home and definitely cold compared to Spain. The weather there was absolutely perfect…low humidity and highs in the low 80s. It still felt like summer there, and then I stepped out into the cold here in the South.
So…what’s a girl to do with a suitcase of summer clothes and a closet that hasn’t transitioned to fall? Here’s what…she unpacks her suitcase and moves summer out of the closet!
That’s exactly what I did today and it felt so good! I started with my makeup drawer, wiped everything down and vacuumed, then moved on to the closet. I made a pile of things I didn’t want, decided what I might still wear (I’m sure there’s a bit more warm weather to come) and started moving the rest out. I made a separate section for a few summer pieces that can transition, because we have a wedding at the coast the first part of October and I’m sure it will be warm there.
We’ve rented a beach house on the water for the wedding weekend and I’m so excited. It’ll be the last bit of “summer” as far as clothes go, and I’m hoping for great weather because I’ve already decided what I’m packing. I want a couple of hours in a chair by the water with a good book. Four of my five grandchildren will be there, so that might be tricky, but we’ll see.
The wedding is just the start of a busy fall! I’m already thinking about the holidays because they’ll be here before we know it, but I’m still excited to decorate the porch for Halloween. On top of all of this, the kitchen remodel will be starting very soon. In case you haven’t been keeping up with my saga, a tree fell on part of our house the last part of August and we’ve been dealing with insurance and cleanup ever since. I’m hoping to have everything settled and start demolition within the next two weeks…that’s another we’ll see.
I know most women are extremely good at multitasking and I take pride in my ability, but I also keep thinking about the saying “do one thing at a time, do it well and then move on.” I just don’t see how that’s possible at this time in my life, and I’m sure whoever said it was a man with a woman taking care of everything but the “one thing.” So…while I’m choosing kitchen appliances, working, being a wife and grandmother, traveling, decorating for Halloween, planning for the holidays, taking care of dogs and dealing with insurance, I’m also thinking about what I’ll wear as the seasons change.
Bear with me while I go down a rabbit hole for just a second…I promise I’ll get back on track.
I loved being in Spain with my friend! She knows absolutely everyone everywhere we go and she’s the ultimate planner (remember Julie McCoy from the Love Boat), but as sometimes happens, being away made me realize just how much I love home. I’m so glad I went, but for some reason I was homesick the whole trip. I missed Baldy, my sweet pups, my bed and, to be honest, I missed working. I’ll have to ponder exactly why at some point, but I’m so happy to be back…even though I couldn’t straighten my legs last night because both dogs slept on my side of the bed. I guess they missed me too. The older I get, the more I want to have adventures and the more I want to stay home…talk about a contradiction! I’ll just have to figure out how to have adventures that are a bit easier to get to, or how to take everyone with me.
***Delicious salted prawns from a tapas restaurant in Old Town Marbella called Casa Curro. I could have eaten these every day!
Yes…I took the picture and I’m getting pretty good…what do you think?
Okay…now on to what I’m thinking about for fall!
Brown with blue and chartreuse
I had so much fun with color this spring and summer and I’m not ready to let it go. I’m pairing rich browns with light blue and chartreuse and adding interesting jewelry, like this peridot necklace from Hart and a gorgeous cocktail ring from Mounser. I know that brown for fall isn’t groundbreaking, but it’s a huge color this season, and this chestnut brown blazer from Emily McCarthy has a cut that’s really flattering. I’ll wear it with these cheetah boots from Stevie 42 once the weather gets cooler (and maybe before if I just can’t wait).
Loafers with personality
I’m loving loafers this fall and I’m so excited to wear these brown suede plaid penny loafers from The Office of Us. They’ll definitely turn heads! I’ll pair them with everything from trousers and blazers to barrel jeans with a white blouse and a cardigan (this argyle cardigan in light blue and taupe from Tuckernuck is perfect). I’m looking for pieces with personality as I enter the next fashion phase of my life.
A new-to-me brand: Ciao Lucia
I just bought these fabulous striped pants from Ciao Lucia, along with the matching sweater in the same colors but with a vertical stripe. Together they make a head-turning look, but the individual pieces are so versatile.
Rewearing last season
I’m pulling out things I loved last season and styling them in new ways. I can’t stop thinking about my Veronica Beard jacket with the fabulous embellished collar (similar here) and the green suede blazer (similar here) Baldy bought me last December. Veronica Beard is genius with embellished collars, and maximalism is right on trend for fall if you’re someone who cares. I’ll be wearing both jackets with bootcut jeans and western boots (love these affordable ones from Dolce Vita) when I’m in the mood for a more straightforward look, and with a romantic lace top, straight leg jeans and suede riding boots for something more boho and vintage feeling. My suede bag from Jimmy Choo is on its third season and still absolutely perfect going into fall. It’s one of those bags I’ll carry forever…I think my girls are already fighting over it!
An easy outfit formula
Cuffed jeans, a more fitted cardigan and ladylike kitten heels make an easy but fabulous outfit formula. I’ve been finding a lot of things at Ann Taylor lately, and these chartreuse slingbacks will be great with that formula and so many other looks. Ann Taylor has upped their game this season and I’m loving it!
For the house
When the weather turns, I tweak things in the house…yes, even now during this crazy time for us because it makes me feel good! Since I’ve been collecting Murano glass for years, I’m always drawn to unusual pieces and I found some gorgeous items from a company called Rosemary Home…like this fabulous tic-tac-toe set, this pink vase and this beautiful mirror. I’m giving my granddaughters a mirror for Christmas, but I don’t think the boys are ready for a Murano glass tic-tac-toe set…seems a bit dangerous. If you have someone on your list who loves beautiful things, be sure to take a look at Rosemary Home!
The towel warmer I actually love
When we redid our bathroom last year, I wanted towel warmers, so we bought two expensive stainless steel ones that mount on the wall. They were horrible and I hated them…they only heated the towel where it touched the bars, and they were by the bathtub when I almost always take a shower. We took them down and I bought this portable towel warmer from Amazon. It’s like a little bucket…you put your towels in, set the timer for up to 45 minutes, and when you get out of the shower you open the lid and pull out a towel that’s warm all the way through. It was only $149, and a warm towel every day this winter is exactly the kind of little indulgence I’m here for.
A farmers market fall salad
And…on the plane home from Spain, I felt inspired to make a few fall meals…I think it was because I was really homesick!
One of my favorite things this summer was going to the farmers market every Thursday afternoon, and I’m excited to go this week. Since it’s been cooler, they should have local lettuce and hopefully some beets for a fall salad. I’ll add a few figs and make a dressing with champagne vinegar from Brightland, olive oil, a little mustard and salt and pepper. When the ingredients are this fresh, they really don’t need much to bring out the flavor. I’ll serve it with a roast chicken and Tuscan white beans (recipe coming).
My mouth is already watering…and after being away, even planning dinner feels like coming home. It’s not such a bad thing to love the life you’ve created!
I’m fading fast…my body thinks it’s 2:30 am in Spain! I’m going to bed and planning on waking up tomorrow ready to jump back in. One other thing I decided while I was away - I need to take better care of myself and that’s a Substack for another day! Sleep tight and as my mom used to say…don’t let the bed bugs bite!
Good night and thanks so much for reading!
~XOXO Suzanne
P.S. - Everything from this post is linked here.
First of all glad you liked being in Spain! I opened a gym in Nerja, Málaga, at 25 and ran it into the ground in under a year lol. Anyhow, I also feel the same way. I LOVE to travel but I LOVE coming home. I was on this ritzy cruise for 12 nights and away for 15 and I was dying to get home although I really loved the experience. I have to go to Spain to see my dad and I´m postponing it until 2027 because too much travel lol. Lovely outfits!