Using a Catalog to Shop Your Closet

A look at how I shopped my closet for the au courant fall styles!

I haven’t written a fashion post in ages! AGES! Since being pregnant and having James, I’ve felt so uninterested in dressing up, which I think is pretty natural. You’ll remember I’ve been rocking this mom uniform on repeat. Unnnntttttiiiiillllllll…this catalog showed up in the mail from Talbots.

The rich color combos, lady-like cuts, and lush textures totally sparked my creativity and inspired me to get up and get dressed! But instead of immediately hitting checkout on the styles I loved, I challenged myself to shop my closet first to see what I already had that fit the fall styles. Using a catalog to shop your closet is a great way to reduce your spending and avoid fast fashion. I was pleasantly surprised at how many pieces I owned that matched the looks I was seeing in the catalog.

First I went through the catalog with a fine toothed comb, earmarking the outfits I loved and taking time to think about what specifically attracted me to those looks. One of my epiphanies was that it’s the color combos that attracted me the most not necessarily the individual pieces, so I made note of those hues. Then I swapped out my summer pieces for my fall/winter wardrobe, and as I pulled pieces out of storage I laid aside those that really sparked my fancy and matched the looks or colors I had marked.

I try and use my seasonal wardrobe rotation to edit out those clothes that don’t serve me any longer, so after the dust settled I got to the fun part of mixing and matching outfits. I ended up creating 10 looks that worked with the current fall “trends,” and I love all the new ways I’m planning to wear these pieces. I’m keeping these outfits together and separated in my closet, so I can quickly grab what I need and go.

I really shy away from using the word trend because I never want to be trendy. Maybe I should use the phrase: au courant or fashionable. Most of the pieces are really fall classics that will serve me for years to come, it’s just that styling them in new combinations makes them feel fresh.

The au courant styles I’m loving:

• Stripe sweaters
• Johnny collars / quarter zips with collars
• Wide leg pants, full and ankle length
• Loafers
• Mary Janes
• Pink & garnet color combo
• Chocolatey browns
• Fair isle
• Corduroy
• Jean jackets
• Leopard prints

One of the best parts of using a catalog to shop my closet was really seeing what pieces I’m missing in my wardrobe. As I tried to recreate some of the outfits from Talbots, I realized I need to invest in:

• A new jean jacket like this one or this
• A pair of tall brown boots – I’m eyeing these suede
• An updated pair of skinny jeans – ugh going to have to do a try on
• Wide leg jeans – loving the pockets on this pair
• Mary Janes – ordered these
• A luxe wallet – hunting second-hand for a classic LV
• A few staples in shades of brown because I’m obsessed with this color – more on this soon

Do you want to see a couple of the outfits I put together?

Here’s 3 looks I’m loving for fall inspired by this Talbots catalog…

Outfit Details: LandsEnd cotton drifter quarter zip (runs big)// Spanx twill wide leg pants (true to size) // Past Tory Burch Fleming mini satchel 32149694 in deep berry – similar styles on eBay // Sperry penny loafers (true to size and so so comfortable) // Tory Burch sunnies

Outfit details: CeCe ruffle turtleneck (true to size) // DL 1961 Patti straight leg Jeans (run big) // Vintage Harris Tweed by Richardson blazer – similar here and here // Birdies velvet Mary Janes (so, so comfortable and true to size)// Tory Burch sunnies

Outfit details: Ralph Lauren fair isle cardigan // Out of Print Emma lit tee // NYDJ stretch cords (stretchy and true to size) // Sarah Flint leopard print Natalies 25% off right now // Past Tory Burch Fleming

Shopping your closet may not be a groundbreaking idea, but I hope this post reminds you to try it with a catalog or magazine that sparked your creativity. Let it inspire you to create new outfits and looks with the classic pieces you already own. Set aside an evening, open a bottle of wine (white recommended to avoid stains), and enjoy trying on clothes. Play in your closet. I know you’ll end up with some great looks!