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WHAT I PACKED: FOR A WEEKEND UPSTATE NEW YORK IN FALL

This weekend we’re doing something we never do – spontaneously travel. It’s a small trip, just two nights in upstate New York, but I can’t think of a time when we’ve ever booked a hotel one night and were packing the next. That’s partially because (in the past year or so) being away from work requires more strategic planning, partially because we’re typically carefully budgeting for our travel and partially because Adam usually takes some warming to my more hazily hatched plans of ‘let’s go somewhere!’ – but as it were, there was a musician we both like who was playing a show in Woodstock this Friday night and we started kicking around the idea of going about a week ago. Which lead to casually looking up a few places to stay (most of which were already fully booked..), which lead to finding a place on Thursday night and (after a ringer of a couple of weeks) saying ‘what the hell?!’ and booking it. Only to have the venue cancel the show we were going to go see! But c’est la vie – we’re left with two nights away visiting a couple of towns that we really like + staying in a new to us town we’re looking forward to exploring. And with nothing much on the agenda beyond a couple of bookstores I want to visit, some bars and restaurants we’re eyeing and a giant bathtub I plan on soaking in.. it’s safe to say I’m unexpectedly brimming with excitement. Below, what I hastily threw into my bag!



I went with a fall color palette, lots of texture and easy pieces I could mix and match plus a few dressier pieces for dinners out. Highlights include these cargo pants I’ve been wearing constantly (now 40% off! I took my smaller size and they’re a relaxed fit but a lot less baggy than on this model), these great lug sole leather boots and these croc embossed knee high boots I got last fall and still love, a cozy new sweater (I sized up as it’s pretty cropped and I wanted a bit of slouchiness), this cream lipstick (the perfect fall berry hue) and this forever wardrobe brocade dress I wore in Paris and couldn’t wait to wear again (it’s an investment but keep an eye out for sales – I grabbed it for a great discount during a promo).

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PARIS OUTFITS: BY DAY 2024

It’s no secret that packing for a trip is one of my very favorite things. I love subtly leaning into the location (and never more so then when the location is Paris) with my style and using travel as a chance to first wear new seasonal pieces so that they instantly take on sentimental value. While every trip we’ve taken to Paris has been so incredibly special (day and night outfits from our honeymoon last year), I think these outfits might be some of my all time favorites.

Above: One of the first things I bought after we’d booked our flights, this striped jersey dress with interesting draping and a sleek silhouette stopped me in my thumb-scrolling tracks when I first saw it online. There’s something a little bit My Fair Lady about it, but with a modern twist. It reminded me of the chic wrapping of a French candy! I love wearing it and felt so chic. I added a wide suede belt to cinch in the waist and walkable ankle boots.

Above: For our first full day in the city it was overcast and grey and so I pulled out this monochrome look – a little bit 1950s/60s schoolgirl but again with a modern twist. I love this cropped cashmere sweater and patent loafers and have already been wearing them loads back in New York. The skirt was a killer Isabel Marant find via The Real Real that I had tailored and the bag is a fun green wool Frances Valentine (also via TRR) for a bit of contrast.

Above: We landed and, jet lagged be damned, got changed and headed right out into the Marais for lunch at our favorite post-red eye stop, Cafe Charlot. I threw on these wide leg jeans, ankle boots, this striped crinkle shirt I’ve been wearing on repeat and an old silk scarf.

Above: For a walk through the Musée de l’Orangerie (one of my favorite places in the world), I went took inspiration from Monet and wore this pleated denim skirt and an old floral cashmere sweater from Talbots (option below from this year’s collection).

Above: For a day met with sporadic rain showers, I spent most of it with my trench coat but wanted a pop of color and pattern – and (as I mentioned on Instagram) I’m loving the combination of bright cherry red mixed with a deep merlot.

Above: Is there anything prettier than an Autumn walk through the Tuileries? Non. We were doing a lot of walking this day (okay, everyday) but I knew I wanted to be comfortable and warm enough so I went for wide leg jeans, ankle boots, this satin button down and oversized plaid blazer with hints of autumnal hues.

Above: On our last full day in France we took a sunrise train ride to Reims (the champagne region) for a tour at Veuve Cliquot and a mini tour of the surrounding town. I wore this easy and comfortable rose print dress, tall (but low-heeled) leather boots, Adam’s sweater on loan and broke out tights for the first time this season.

Above: The final morning of the trip, in search of one last croissant before we headed to the airport. Again in wine hues with this fun tweed jacket (last seen here), my favorite jeans and these burgundy ankle boots (super comfortable). Until next time, au revoir Paris!

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12 FALL OUTFIT IDEAS WITH TALBOTS

Fall always makes me excited about getting dressed again. It’s a chance to revisit old favorite pieces, try interesting layers and add a few items that inject some new life into things I already own. As I approach a new season, one of the things I love doing is spending a couple of hours in my closet putting a bunch of outfits together and then snapping quick photos so that when I’m getting ready for work or travel – I can easily go back and reference the photos and easily pull together outfits that I already know I love and feel great in. Have you ever tried this? It’s a game changer.

If you’re thinking about your own wardrobe this season – I suggest anchoring things with a few great basics (like the wide leg cuffed jeans, long sleeve ribbed knit or simple wool shift dress shown here) and then adding layering in a few fun ‘fashion pieces’ (like this cropped suede jacket, mixed print shirtdress or faux leather pants). Finish with a few accessories that you feel like will tie things together or add a fun contrast (try leopard calf hair heels, plaid buckle flats or a tortoise link strap handbag). Mix, match and repeat!

Above & Below: 12 outfits I pulled together with new arrivals from Talbots – all pieces I truly love and can’t wait to wear in endless ways this season.. and beyond! See them all in motion on my Instagram here!

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FALL JACKETS WITH TALBOTS

In New York there is a fleeting window of weather when it’s crisp but not yet cold, warm but no longer so much so that you’re coming undone on a brisk walk. It’s my favorite season for getting dressed. And while “sweater weather” gets a lot of love – jackets are the thing that make my heart skip a beat. They’re the magic third piece to an outfit that makes everything more interesting. And Talbots is a reliably great source for finding jackets in fun textures, cuts and colors in classic yet modern shapes.

This season I’ve added two new options to my repertoire – this oversized tweed lady jacket in plummy shades of rose, merlot and burgundy (I belted mine for a take on the cinched waist silhouette that’s big this season) and a very cool, dark denim trench with shiny gold hardware and contrast stitching. Be still my jacket loving heart.

Honorable mentions (aka what I’m also eyeing from their site) – this impossibly chic collarless suede jacket, this great little double faced wool jacket in the prettiest cornflower blue and this boxy, olive green brushed wool bomber jacket.

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MY 2024 FALL READING LIST

I know I say this every year, but there is nothing better than Fall reading in my opinion. On a park bench with crunchy leaves underfoot or a chilly evening spent under a blanket with a cup of tea will always be peak bookish-ness to me. This year I’ve got a great stack that I’ve been saving for this season specifically – and it’s a fun mix too – from a buzzy new release and cute romcom to a couple of real back list titles, some historical fiction and naturally – something a little witchy. Below – the 10 books I’m looking forward to reading this Fall. What’s on your list?

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors: My most anticipated new release this season – I’m going in blind because after loving her debut Cleopatra and Frankenstein a couple of years ago, I trust wherever Mellors is going to take me with this one.

James by Percival Everett: A Pulitzer Prize finalist, James is a reimagined Huckleberry Finn, this time from Jim’s perspective. My book club is reading this month and I’m looking forward to reading something classic-adjacent. Plus, I’ve heard nothing but rave reviews of this.

The Witches of New York by Ami McKay: It’s not Fall reading without a little something witchy. I meant to read this last year and between our wedding and honeymoon and a million other things, didn’t get to it. Can’t wait to dive in this year.

A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle: I’ve had a used copy of this book for ages and the other day I finally picked it up. Because it follows the calendar year of Peter’s year in Provence – it would in all honesty be a good January book – but I’ve started now and am enjoying it.. so onward!

September by Rosamunde Pilcher: This summer I read The Shell Seekers and adored it. Pilcher has a timeless voice that’s captivating but accessible – and because these are like 25 years backlist, there are plenty of her titles for my to comb through. I’m going to pick this one up to match with the season, naturally.

Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese: Another retelling, this one of the woman who inspired Nathanial Hawthorne’s Scarlett Letter. I picked up my copy of this two years ago on a trip to Salem (dying to go back for a longer visit this fall) – and so it feels fitting to match it to this same time of year.

You, Again by Kate Goldbeck: The only thing I’ve heard about this romcom is that it has a ‘When Harry Met Sally’ vibe – and frankly that’s all I need to know. And, like the movie poster, the book has a fall-ish cover – so feels like a fun one to pick up now!

Empire Falls by Richard Russo: I’ve heard this backlist title from 2001 is like a literary Gilmore Girls (say less) and on top of that it won the Pulitzer that year. I’ve been saving for this season and am really looking forward to getting into this one.

The Mad Women’s Ball by Victoria Mas – One from last Fall’s TBR stack that I never go around to reading! Set in 1880s Belle Epoque Paris, with a gothic sounding twist. I’m going in fairly blind here too but its largely set in an asylum for women that society has deemed hysterical or otherwise crazy – so I think it will have a dark enough edge to feel just right for spooky season.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom – It’s a fluffy, witchy romcom. I will be taking no further questions on my choice to read this book.

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