A Home and Wardrobe Refresh

By August, I'm usually ready for a little change. Not necessarily fall clothes or an entirely different direction, just a tweak that makes what I've been wearing all summer feel fresh again. I'll revisit my closet, starting with the easiest pieces to update - familiar jeans, white pants, flats, and basic shirts. Before shopping for anything new, I think about how wearing these favorites can feel current again.

I’ve always liked mixing the past and present, styling an old piece I’ve owned forever with something new in a way I hadn’t previously considered. It’s about updating the uniform. It might mean polished next to casual, a high-low mix of jewelry, worn-in denim with a recently purchased shoe, or reworking an all-black look to match today’s mood. Mostly, it’s the finishing touches that bridge the two.

I’ll start with thinking about what I can add to the clothes I’ve been wearing all summer. Instead of a striped linen or poplin shirt with white jeans, I’ll reach for one in mocha brown or plaid. All shades of brown are already on my mind as a color I want to focus on for fall, so bringing it in now feels like an early preview of what’s ahead.

I’ve tested this pairing a few times recently with an all black outfit - poplin pants and a tee - worn with brown Mary Janes and a tote, both in beautiful matte suede. The color and texture added depth to an otherwise basic look.

Another area on my radar is belts with prominent, sculptural buckles. It’s a small detail, but one that can completely change an outfit I’ve worn countless times. My makeup is ready for updating too. I’ve just started using the Westman Atelier concealer which has pushed all others to the bottom of the pile. For my skin texture, it’s perfect. Disappears and is creaseless. A new foundation I spot use is just enough to keep my hyperpigmentation at bay. And a Westman Atelier blush duo in the prettiest shade of peachy pink and tawny beige has been my go to for the last month. I'm also looking at how the colors I've reached for most this summer, especially pink, can be carried forward into the next season. Pink and brown is a striking combination.

I take a similar approach with this edit at home. By mid-August, the light in the house has shifted. The late-afternoon sun comes in stronger, hitting rooms and objects in ways I haven’t noticed in months. Long shadows and a golden glow make me see things a little differently. I’ll start tweaking little vignettes around the house, adding or removing, pairing old with new, editing in much the same way as my wardrobe.

After decades of antiquing and collecting, there’s no way for me to have everything on display at once. An armoire and a few drawers are used for storage of the overflow. When I’m interested in rearranging things, I’ll go through those items before I buy anything new. I’ll find an older object I’d overlooked and think about where it could be best placed or what it could be paired with to give it presence. A small piece of art can feel more important propped on an easel (I have several small easels doing this work throughout the house). An object that would disappear into the back of a bookshelf might benefit from a petite lamp nearby. A stack of books and a vase might be better gathered on a tray. They’re slight adjustments that make me view my home in a different way.