Sprezzatura Quarterly
End of Summer/Early Fall 2024
When do you consider the end of summer? After Labour Day, first day of school, the fall equinox or just when you consistently need a light jacket?
As I write this, it’s September 1st. A bright lovely day with the perfect amount of breeze, creating a moment to savour for the remaining days of summer.
Gazing out over the Toronto skyline in the park I notice something immediately - numerous pairs of Adidas sambas, the shoe of the summer in various colours. To the left of me a group of 3 friends are chatting and I ask to take a picture of their shoes lol for proof.
When I was thinking about summer trends earlier this year I thought sambas were a mainly online trend seen mainly on TikTok and Instagram but seeing them all over in real life (IRL) was oddly comforting. A trend that actually stuck! Conversely, my trend forecast of drop waist dresses was seen all over the internet but I didn’t see anyone wearing them IRL. Based on social media London and New York had this trend covered and paired with sambas of course!
I’m not sure if there is a word for this specific experience but it explains why fashion overall feels so haphazard. We’re exposed to every trend at such a rapid pace that it’s jarring in IRL to see what is actually being worn and by whom. It looks quite strange sometimes seeing the mishmash of 90s, 00’s super baggy pants, tiny tops and low rise jeans plus all of the TikTok micro trends. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with following trends because trends can help you expand your palette in whatever style wheelhouse you play in - it’s just alot. I will emphasize that to be stylish you need to lean into things that you truly love and not what you think you should wear. This can put you at odds with what is currently popular but you’ll never really be out of style. Being your authentic self in building your style is the only way to truly be stylish.
Reflecting on my summer it was quite busy now that I have a 1 year old. Mainly our families and friends wanted to see lil chicken and we enjoyed our time together. I was really pleased with my style this summer. I wasn’t wearing my silks as much but everything fit well and looked great in photos so I’d say it was a win-win. Our first international trip was interesting - mainly we caught covid the 1st week of a 2 week trip so it was a bit much.
3 weeks later
“September is moving like they have somewhere to be” - a wise twitter user
Its now officially fall and so far my light trench coat is too heavy for the current Toronto weather which is 20 degrees celsius but humid, so sweaters over the shoulders or tied at the waist are doing the heavy lifting for the cool mornings.
As you start putting away some of your key summer items and look to your fall wardrobe, I want to assure you that you probably have a number of classic fall items that you can style beautifully. If I see another video stating that “turtlenecks and burgundy are trending for fall 2024” I’ll probably eat my burgundy purse.
If I see another video stating that “turtlenecks and burgundy are trending for fall 2024” I’ll probably eat my burgundy purse.
As your favourite stylist let me give you the ingredients for a great fall look that applies to everyone (women, men, gays and they’s):
A great pair of boots
A good sweater or cardigan or both for layering
Denim (jeans, dresses, skirts, tops etc,.)
Corduroy (trousers, dresses, skirts, tops etc,.)
Scarves (silk, wool, silk-wool blend, modal, cotton, bandanas etc,.)
Hats (baseball, beret, paperboy, beanie, etc,.)
Colours: burgundy, dark green, orange, black, white, navy, brown, tan
Patterns: plaid, houndstooth, animal print, paisley, buffalo check
All of these items are easily accessible whether your like thrifting, consignment, shopping online, or at the mall, a boutique or borrowing from someone dear to you. I’m sharing my fall mood board for some inspiration and vibes. For setting mood for these fall vibes listen to Kelela’s RAVEN album it’s too good - very moody.
Housekeeping
I’ve updated my styling services and enabled gift cards on my website. These updates to my services will create a smoother client experience and make it easier for new clients to select the appropriate services for their needs. If you have any questions you can contact me through my website.
Also you may have noticed my newsletter is now on substack! This is a better platform to publish on and facilitates multiple forms of newsletters. I can’t wait read your comments and interact with y’all!
I love the list of ingredients for a fall wardrobe! Everything can be easily mixed and match, and suits many styles. The white knee high boots have inspired me to bring my own boots out from storage!
Happy almost end of September!!
I think when we see trend predictions subverted in real life, it reminds me that more often than not, many people will choose to wear what they want, over what's been set out for them to like. There is a certain comfort in that.