With the change in season, it’s only natural your closet is going to change along with it. Your summer clothes aren’t going to cut in the colder weather. But that doesn’t mean you need to buy a whole new wardrobe and that certainly doesn’t mean you need to buy into micro trends or fast fashion. So here’s your guide to creating a timeless, sustainable fall wardrobe.

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What to search for?

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When building a fall wardrobe you want to think about your personal style first and foremost. Think about colours, fabrics, shapes, what kind of tops do you like? Skirts or pants? Lots of layers or minimal layering? All things to consider. 

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In my opinion one of the best pieces to have for fall is a trench coat. They fit practically anyone's style: they're chic, they'll keep you warm and they're so easy to style. 

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Next, leg warmers. They’re cute, they’re cozy and they can also be worn in winter meaning they’re multi seasonal. If you love wearing light colours white will match any outfit, if you prefer dark colours think black or navy blue.

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Low rise jeans. They look good on everyone and they elevate any basic outfit into a Y2K masterpiece. They can be styled with practically anything making them a staple in your closet.

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Chunky sweaters. A nice big cozy sweater is the perfect way to bundle up for fall. Pair it with those low rise jeans and a plain tank top underneath in case you get hot and you’ve got an incredible outfit. 

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Lastly, and most importantly accessories. Whether you like big or dainty jewelry, finding accessories to match your outfit easily takes it from boring & basic, to cool & interesting. It doesn’t just have to be jewelry though, hats, scarfs, gloves, or really anything you can add will take it up a notch.

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How do you find clothes?

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First, it’s all about where you’re looking. There are so many good thrift stores here in Toronto that can easily allow you to curate your fall wardrobe, you just need to be willing to spend some time there. A lot of my thrifting success has been at the Value Village boutique on Queen Street & Bathurst Street as well as the one on Bloor Street & Brunswick Ave and the regular Value Village on Dovercourt Road & Northumberland Street. The nice thing about the boutiques is that they are a bit more curated, however depending on what you like, something less curated may be better for your search. 

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Okay but what if you don’t want to have to spend hours at the thrift? If you prefer shopping online then using a second hand shopping platform is a great way to keep your shopping sustainable while not needing to put in all that work. Ebay, Poshmark, Depop, Facebook Marketplace are all platforms you can buy clothes second hand from. My personal favourite is Poshmark as it makes buying clothes really easy and their search system and algorithm are very good at finding exactly what you want. However there are some disadvantages to buying second hand online like shipping, both in cost and the emissions from shipping the garments to you. Although the emissions from buying secondhand are far less than those of buying new, so don’t let that deter you completely.

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Lastly, the ultimate place to start searching is your own wardrobe. There’s clothes in there you don't even know you own. Before going out and buying a whole bunch of clothes, check what you already have. If there’s stuff you're not wearing, donate it or sell it, so someone else can appreciate it. It’s all about keeping stuff in the cycle and out of landfills.

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