Fall doesn't arrive on time here in Sonoma County. It never has, really. And while we still technically have 10 remaining days of summer (the autumnal equinox is on September 22nd), it's hard not to get caught up in the joy that comes with the changing of the seasons.
The mornings here in Wine Country are cool, often in the high 40s or low 50's with a light drizzle. The evenings are same. The marine layer rolling in from Bodega Bay and Point Reyes make for gray nights and silvery mornings, and for a few brief hours in the day, it's easy to believe that the crisp fall weather is just around the corner.
The locals know better, however. Temperatures will reach the mid-80's until late October and sometimes even mid-November. Even so, the signs of fall are springing into view: the Crush (the seasonal harvesting of the grapes) has already begun in the Valleys, and the annual pumpkin patch and corn maze along The 101 in Petaluma has already begun to grow.
To transition between the misty morning walks to my car, and the muggy afternoons at lunch (and to keep warm in my over air-conditioned office), I added a hyper-functional, always practical, but certainly never boring wrap military jacket to my collection. The four pockets make it incredibly handy while grabbing my cell phone and keys (and Greek yogurt) while running out the door in the mornings, while the frayed hemlines keep the style feeling fresh and new. It looks great with jeans and stripes, and it is so fun to wear layered over dressier items, such as my lace skirt from Zara.
Staying true to my mission to create a wardrobe of closet and style staples, I've been slowly accumulating items that I naturally gravitate and reach for on a daily basis: the great pair of jeans that can be dressed up for work and also worn on the weekends, the striped top that will layer well, and dainty sentimental jewelry that I will always look forward to wearing (such as these seen here in the post). I've also learned that the colors that I purchase these items in are important: I've chosen to stick to a color pallet that will easily mix and match.
Heading into fall I'm curious to see how I will adapt the beautiful colors of the upcoming season, without altering my wardrobe too much; so far I'm thinking of wearing a matte lip color with a matching or coordinating scarf...We'll see!
Photos: Stephanie Malilonog Photography
Top, Jacket, earrings, and Purse: c/o Banana Republic // Jeans: Just Black // Shoes: Converse
Banana Republic compensated me for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.
