Autumn brings out the minimalist witch in me. I always have a huge clear-out around this time each year, and I feel the need to go back to basics. During September, October, and November, I want to buy black t-shirts, statement jewellery, oversized coats, plaid skirts. My personal style is very similar to the look and feel of my blog; mostly black and white, with accents of bold colour and metallics, and an otherworldly vibe. I like great shapes and tailoring. I try to buy at least 80% of my clothes second-hand, and the rest must be high-quality enough that I know I'll get many years of wear out of them. I'm always up for going thrifting, but never more so than in the autumn, when rummaging through old bracelets and band t-shirts feels like a picturesque experience from You've Got Mail.
In Cardiff, Sobey's is my number one vintage spot; the rose-gold triangle ring you can see below is from there! It's a little big for me so I wear it on my thumb most of the time. They sell gorgeous button-down shirts and old Converse in every colour of the rainbow. For new clothes, one of my first stops is always Urban Outfitters. I love their homeware, lingerie, and books as well as the pretty dresses and jumpers. For the colder months, I might invest in a new coat through Lyst.co.uk (In an ideal world, I'd get this one by Whistles) and keep an eye on their site from the comfort of my bed on those days when I know exactly what I want but I'm not sure if it actually exists. In reality, my budget will probably stretch to one of these Twin Peaks-style babies from Missguided (all the Madchen Amick vibes). For minimal and delicate spooky details, have a look at Eclectic Eccentricity; they sent me the crescent moon and cluster necklaces pictured above. All their stuff is gorgeously magical and exquisite, and I'm newly obsessed.
Part of the reasoning behind having a clear out and rebooting your wardrobe is that you rediscover things you already own. If I get rid of enough tat, eventually I find a few gems underneath the rubble. One item I had almost completely forgotten about is this simple black bag from SkinnyDip. I picked it up in the sale during some sleepless-night internet shopping. I've also remembered a passion for acrylic nails, especially in black. The ones above are from Elegant Touch but I hear there's a place in Cardiff market that will do you a set of gels for £9, so I may have to go and give them a try.
