To do list for Fall

As the thermometer heads south and the days begin to get shorting, it could only single one thing – time to start thinking about your fall wardrobe! As we head into the fall season here are some tips to pulling together a wardrobe that is truly your own.

Get your inspiration: September magazine issues mark the beginning of the fall season, just as fall collections begin to roll in to the stores. Start to compile your resources to put together an inspiration board or book of the key trends and pieces that catch your eye for fall. Go through magazines and pull out pages that appeal to you, print out eye-catching trends from online, and take pictures of anything you see that makes your swoon. Put this collection of references onto a piece of poster board or into a binder. Think about organizing them in some way, perhaps by item - skirts, outerwear, etc., or by look and trend.

Edit last year: Okay, now that you have your inspiration and know the look(s) and pieces that you will be going after this fall, it is time to go through last years wardrobe. Pull out anything that will continue to work with your new fall aesthetic sensibility. Retain pieces that you can possibly alter or make adjustments to in order to get the look you are going after. For example, if a skirt from last season’s hemline feels dated consider taking it to the tailor to get the desired length.

Make a list & budget: After going though what you already own, it is time to make a list of the items that you still need to fill in the gaps. Go through your inspirations to pull out key pieces and make sure that they are covered. Arrange you list in order of priority. Think about how much you can spend on your new look for fall and assign yourself dollar limits to each of the new items you would like to purchase. If you pulled and Alexander Wang coat for your inspiration but only can afford to spend $200 on this item, start to think about visiting stores where you could get the same look for less. Look at your list for duplications, if there are two pieces that are fairly similar, say tow blouses that caught you eye, edit one out and budget these dollars towards a another piece.

Hitting the stores: Before you get to the stores, go through your list and think about your plan of attack. What stores will have what you are looking for? Which stores can fill one or more of your needs? When you head out take your list and your budget with you so you stay on target. You can also bring your inspirations if they are in a binder or folder, or bring copies of pictures off your board to keep the looks fresh in your mind while you are shopping. While out shopping keep your focus, but if something catches your eye feel free to work in into your list and budget. Avoid the impulse purchase; make sure take some time to think about how and where this item is going to fit in.

Create your look book: Once you get home with all you new finds, put your looks together and take pictures. Think about how you can mix and match pieces to get the most out of your new wardrobe. Don’t forget about your accessories! Decide which bags, shoes, and jewelry best complement each outfit. Having this all worked out will making getting ready in the morning a synch!

Following these steps will have you ready for the fall season in no time flat! Always keep your eye out for new sources of inspiration and most importantly have fun!