Another Blank Expression: Fall Fantasy Looks in Second Summer
+ gift guide spoilers & lots of discount codes
Summer in L.A. sure has stamina. I'm not complaining or wishing it would hurry up and finish. I am enjoying every second of this 80+ degree weather. But I am eager to get some use out of my coats, knits, and boots. So far, I only get to wear them in my air-conditioned condo in DTLA while I shoot them for Substack and Reels showing "How I Would Style" them. (Like in this Reel: (which you can shop here.)
*At the bottom of this post you’ll find a list of several discount codes for The Sort subscribers.
Half a year ago, I did a spring version of the styling M.O. I call Blank Expression based on a One Weird Thing formula. For a fall version, I wanted to try adding two or three weird things. More than that might just get on my nerves or look silly. The canvas: this gorgeous gray Rue Sophie coat.
This is me styling, so of course I went for a monotone look and wore it over a grey sweater and trousers. I added a vintage silver pendant I got years ago from Danicia Stamenic, which I reworked into a lapel pin. I actually wouldn't categorize this as a particularly "weird thing." It's more like just the right amount of charm to rizz it up. I added some furry shoes by Daily Sleeper, which should count as a "weird thing" in theory but come off more as a laid-back-fancy-lady-flex a la Louis Trotter's Carven. I also loved it with bedazzled mesh flats, which I hate to admit are Tik-Tokker-approved dupes of the Christopher Esbers. These are probably a better much less expensive version. I tried adding my current favorite belt*, which ranks as a "weird thing" because it can be worn double-wrapped or with the end hanging down to my ankles. But I mostly liked the coat being allowed to be its own silver bullet, styled super plainly with loafers. Best of all, I liked it with my Brain Dead x Oakley sneakers. Those are a whole other story because as a sneaker-averse girl who is becoming a shut-in due to lack of proper footwear for walking around DTLA, finding sneakers that I actually LOVE is a huge deal for me.
At this moment, my toes are still out. I wear sandals most days, but I'm posting these low-heel pumps and luscious alpaca socks, which, spoiler alert, I would include as a stocking stuffer in a holiday gift guide.
The socks are by Eleven Six*, who is also the maker of this super soft popcorn stitch alpaca sweater and midi skirt set (yes, I had the ivory version of this skirt last year and loved it so much I got it in a second color) which would look as adorable in an urban landscape as it would off grid on a prairie. When I wear it, I try to channel Corinne Cléry in the 70's soft focus erotica film adaptation of The Story of O or Dakota Johnson as Susie in the Suspiria remake. (Shout out to Lewis's, who also has this film's wardrobe on the brain this week. Great minds.)
Okay, damn, I did not even realize I was pumping out so much content over the last couple of weeks, but I also started flirting with a soon-to-be fall transition in this look consisting of a simple wool cashmere black sweater (that I am already wearing on cool nights) and maxi skirt which I've weirded up with the above mentioned fuzzy slip ons and glass jewelry from ARC.
If you are already making your holiday shopping list of gift ideas, check out the rest of ARC's new glass collection. It includes these pieces of art to wear and sculptural bowls and vessels that transition from cup to candleholder for the home.
But wait, there's more!
I love the opportunity to write about outfit details in longer form on Substack and to be able to link. Here's another video featuring fall fits where you can see the belt I mentioned earlier in action. It can be purchased as a Janessa Leone x Jasmin Sparrow set* (another good gift guide candidate) with coordinating earrings*. You'll also see a full shot of the look with the glass jewelry, a good transitional outfit for a late bloomer seasonal shift with Brooke Callahan shorts, and a pajama-esque piped blouse and layered skirt ensemble from Et Tigre* that just dropped.
By the time this is being published, L.A. has had a few days in the mid-70s (it's only 65 today). Here's what I'm really wearing lately: a crochet top you saw me wear a bunch in spring (still available*) and an MNZ skirt I've had for years, over Brooke Callahan pants, mesh Mary Janes (toes are getting less exposed now), a parasol, and Bottega shield sunglasses. Mostly, I wanted to share a little anecdote about it…
I wore this to the studio the other day and walked over to pick up my lunch order at Zinc. After several minutes of waiting at the bar, the manager came over, and I heard her ask me, "Are you crazy?" I just paused, thinking, "Wow, is my fit that weird? It's the parasol, isn't it?" I told her I was there to pick up my takeout, and she said, "And you're not Tracy? We have an order ready for Tracy."
A good reminder to not project your hang-ups and insecurities onto others or assume the worst in them.
That’s it for now. I’ll be back with more fall looks soon.
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*Discount codes you can use for items featured in this post: (and I’d love if you used these links, so I get a commission)
*Eleven Six Sissy15 for 15% off orders over $100
*Et Tigre: use code SISSY10 for 10% off
*Janessa Leone: use code SISSY15 for 15% off
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