What I Wore in October as a Midlife Personal Stylist
I used to share monthly recaps of what I wore the month prior, and somewhere along the way, I stopped. I still photograph my outfits somewhat regularly—when I remember or am not in a rush. But I’ve fallen out of the habit of compiling and recapping them, and I’m going to start again.
It’s a nudge to myself to study my outfits with some regularity. Looking back at things I wore in the past week, past month, past season helps me continue to refine my personal style, which is something I feel like I’m constantly doing—not in a bad way, as if there’s something I don’t like or something feels off. But regularly tweaking and iterating keeps things fresh and interesting, which is important to me because I don’t often add a whole bunch of new clothes to my closet.
Maybe reading these also makes you think about your style a little bit, too? Not in a way that makes you feel like you need to wear something as I wear it or buy something, but more so, it simply makes you think about how you wear things. For example, I wear a lot of the same pieces on repeat—many of them, year after year. So perhaps seeing me do this confirms that there really isn’t a need to constantly buy new, and repeating outfits is okay.
These recaps are also a reminder of what the heck I even did the previous month (because, perimeno brain…)! I was quickly reminded how travel-filled October was, with trips to Amsterdam, London and Bruges, plus friends visiting me in Berlin.
I’d been on the hunt for leopard-print jeans for quite a while. I tried several styles from several brands, and this wide-leg, high-waist, ankle-length pair from H&M was my favorite. Apparently, having them in time for my travels was a good move because it seems like leopard-print jeans are a style requirement any and everywhere in Europe at the moment. The U.S., too? I’ve not met a leopard print I didn’t like, so I anticipate these being in my closet for the long haul. They’re so versatile, so it’s no surprise they’ve been in my regular fall rotation.
Another favorite jean for me? The SPANXshape® Authentic 360 Wide Leg Jeans (I’m wearing the color Marina), which have been in my closet a few years, and I’m always happy to pull them out in the fall. They’re a heavier-weight denim, so I wear them mostly in the fall, winter, and into early spring. As with most SPANX bottoms, I sized up and opted for the petite length, which is nearly perfect for me (I’m ~5’3”, for reference). I can wear them with a flatter shoe, like these Adidas sneakers, but I can also wear them with a low-heeled boot and they’re still plenty long.
These are some of the looks I was playing with—and ultimately packed and wore—on a recent trip to London and Bruges.
I also have the SPANXshape® Authentic 360 Wide Leg Jeans in corduroy. I wore these same two pieces together last year, but with the blouse tucked in and belted, and with a heeled boot. I hadn’t really considered wearing the blouse untucked, but when I put it on together, I liked it this way for something different. Untucked, with the last two buttons unbuttoned gave it a much more relaxed feel.
