A Pre-Fall Shopping Guide for the Girlies

It is time.

Pre-Fall new arrivals are here. Rather than buying things much too early for me to actually wear (my kids are still at the pool daily right now), I’m using the newness to update my go to outfit formulas. This allows me to focus in on what I’m really looking for this fashion season.

Fall is a huge season for fashion girlies and I’ve always found this is the time of year that I tend to invest the most in. For most brands, Fall is the biggest product drop of the year, and tends to be their best too. This is a great time to look for investment pieces that can carry you throughout the year and beyond.

I also love this time of year to cozy up by the fire, pour a glass of natural wine or a hot tea and read a new book. So I've included my “to read” book pile within each look.

But first. I talk about this a lot in my outfit guide, but most of us have so many incredible pieces that can be reworked again and again. I’d highly recommend doing the work of buying the guide, editing your closet, taking items to alterations/dry cleaner, and looking for upgrade ideas from your existing wardrobe before I would buy a single new item for Fall. It’s called mindful shopping and it’s a real game changer if you’re willing to invest a bit of your time.

That said, if something sells out, then OH WELL! It just wasn’t meant to be (there will something better that comes along anyway). And if it’s really that good, the brand will reorder it. Trust me, as a former corporate retail merchant I know first hand that brands love to reorder items they know they still have high demand for!

So, let’s repeat after me:

1. I’m first going to assess what I already have in my closet (and attend to any items that need cleaned, altered or donated).

2. I’m looking for styling inspiration and not just newness.

3. I’m looking to make smart investments and fill in known gaps in my wardrobe.

Ok, let’s jump in.

Here are six outfit formulas to guide you through Pre-Fall Shopping:

One item I highly suggest ordering now is primary red pull on pants. They are a wonderful transitional piece that can be worn right now but will be so useful for color blocking as the season transitions to fall. I ordered these and can confirm they are fantastic (and under $100).

Here I’m using an oversized button-down/caftan vibe that I have loved all summer but changing it up by pairing it over my new bright red pants. The styling of a dress over pants keeps the entire look feeling trendy and new.

I’m keeping my accessories as is: my go to summer leather thong sandals, silver statement earrings and mid tone sunglasses.

This look is great for a daytime creative event, an evening school open house, a family dinner or gathering, or hosting at home. Pairs well with the book Land (I’m currently about 1/3 into this book now).

Same formula but you can feel the Fall vibes entering in a big way. The palette shifts, the leather thongs get changed out for beautiful leather ballet flats. I actually just ordered these new wine colored mules for this exact same effect (I have a personal preference for a slide on mule as a busy mom).

I’ve got both this oversized button-down and these copper pants sitting at the top of my “to buy” list. I think this palette is so versatile and looks fantastic with red, meaning it can easily be worn all throughout the holiday season.

A cozy knit scarf that flexes with the changing temps and the chandelier earrings signal there is a textural shift occurring within the look. Because September and October can still be very warm, I love the little hint of summer lingering with the raffia basket bag. Basket bags are not going anywhere so don’t be intimidated by investing this season. Skall Studio just confirmed they will be everywhere by Spring 2027.

This look is great for basically anything; work, a casual girls night out, a low key date night, a Fall farm visit for apples + pumpkins, any notable appointment you may have on your Fall calendar. Pairs well with my Artful Outfit Guide.

This formula includes two key items for Fall 2026: a plaid blazer and a jewel tone/saturated purple knit. Here I’m styling the Flore Flore longsleeve tee as it’s less of an investment in the color but still registers it in a big way. I also found this purple knit which will most certainly sell out (you have to buy the Cos knits on the early side as they never restock).

If you do not yet have a well made, slightly oversized blazer to pull out each Fall then I highly recommend the Quinn silhouette from Anine Bing. I invested in the camel cashmere blend version in 2024 and I look forward to wearing it each year as the weather turns chilly (you see it in my outfit guide a few times too!). It’s the perfect oversized fit (order true to size) and I’m very tempted to snatch it up in this timeless plaid that just screams English countryside to me. Also, the plaid comes with a matching skirt which could fulfill all my Clueless millennial dreams.

The jeans and mules (sign up for the restock) shown in this look are two pieces that I strongly recommend investing in. Jamie Haller is currently a CFDA Fashion Fund Finalist and is getting the attention she so rightly deserves! The brand’s assortment, quality and fit are unparalleled in the women’s clothing space (I should know, I shop for a living). The jeans I swear by are “the Fan” but the brand seems to be phasing these out (win win for us because you can easily find them on sale right now) The other silhouette that I plan to invest in is “the Baggy Painter” in the dark raw rinse. Customer feedback says these will get you stopped in the streets.

To me, these are two pieces for your wardrobe that are well worth it to pay up for (think of the cost per wear) and will literally never go out of style. FYI: I take my true size in the jeans and a half size up in the loafers.

Never underestimate the power of a colorful printed silk scarf (it keeps the look from feeling too librarian/stuffy) and the earrings add interest while keeping things artful.

This look is great for a casual work environment, traveling throughout the Fall season, a pre Thanksgiving look, dinner out with friends or a casual creative event. Pairs will with Kathryn Stockett’s buzzed about new book: The Calamity Club.

Speaking of artful, this is THE look for a super funky, a little spicy, art mom turns into a cool girl vibe. Inspired by my summer trip to NYC and the trending “cool girl” content online (which I take as very fun and lighthearted, not meant to be exclusive) I wanted to style a look that’s a bit more “scene-y” than I usually do. I’m manifesting a need for this outfit for myself this season.

This entire look is all Dôen, which after shopping it in person for the first time ever this summer, just increased my affinity for the brand. The pieces are just so effortless, romantic and It Girl that I really can’t stop obsessing over them. My favorite silhouette by them is their silk lace shorts which quite literally added so much spice into my wardrobe last year.

This season, I’m loving their new version, with a slightly longer hem, and tonal lace/silk color. And I’m dying over the new blue color way of their chore jacket. I have this jacket in many colors already and absolutely do not need another one but the heart wants what the heart wants guys.

This is a formula I return to again and again because it’s full of my staples: chore jacket, oversized top, lace shorts, and funky shoes. But damn, this look in particular has my shoppies hitting fever pitch!

This look is great for a creative event, a girls night out, date night, or hosting a dinner party at home. If you were feeling particularly editorial, I’d wear these for family photos too. This pairs well with Whistler, which I have heard is fantastic!

Call me crazy but September can quickly turn into the holidays. My go to look for all holiday gatherings is Natalie Martin’s Fiore dress. Natalie and team don’t do frequent product drops, their line usually holds steady with no newness for most of the season, so I like to make my purchase early on to get the print I want the most.

I can confirm this new print is amazing as I ordered it a couple weeks ago, and plan to wear it for the boys school open house next week. The olive coloring will make it extremely versatile for more casual gatherings and easy to dress up into the holiday season (olive green and bright red are a particularly favorite color pairing of mine).

I’m also desperate to get my hands on the new Monet shape, a riff on the Fiore, and love that it comes in timeless prints like stripes and polka dots.

Also, I’m in a deep trance over the new fringe pieces they introduced this season and I’m trying to justify a cream fringe dress for the holidays despite having 4 children (one of which will be just four months old). A girl can dream!

These boots and this necklace are all you need to make the dress sing the Western vibes of the season.

This look is great for a big city trip, family photos, a creative work event, any holiday plans, a girls night out, date night, or hosting the Holidays at home. This pairs well with Lady Tremaine (a modern feminist take on Cinderella that I loved).

Saved my favorite formula of all for last. This look is inspired by the outfit I wore for our Homeworthy episode which ended up being one of my favorite outfits of 2025. I just love a super over the top printed top, paired with simple denim, and a flawless execution of hair and makeup. It must be the milennial in me that lived for a going out top but damn, this is so good.

These are the jeans I discovered towards the beginning of my pregnancy that were so comfortable, so slimming, and so versatile that even my closest friends couldn’t believe I was pregnant after seeing me in them. I’m telling you, they are the goldilocks of jeans…just right.

And this printed Alemais top is so stunning and would work well in both warm temperatures but also with a fabulous leather jacket layered over closer to November. I love the mock neck, print and fringe. It’s just such a statement, which is honestly the type of tops I like to invest in. Ones that can be pulled out just for the right moment and iterated on again and again. This is another great option for those that prefer sleeves.

I like to keep the accessories here simple since the top is doing a lot. Turquoise earrings, a rattan half moon bag and simple leather slingbacks are all a girl ever truly needs.

This look is great for any Fall travel, a creative work event, dinner with friends, or hosting at home. This pairs well with In Her Defense (which I can’t wait to read!!).

Happy outfit planning + Pre-Fall shopping! You can explore all the looks here and what made the cut for my own personal Fall Wishlist here.

xx Kate