in which all my fall foundation faves harmoniously come together:
zara peacoat, rag & bone black skinnies, saint james breton, PS1 satchel, frye penny loafers (currently on sale)
wouldn't it be great if you could confidently walk out the door every day wearing your go-to favorites, head-to-toe? i think this is really the ultimate reward of having a wardrobe that really works.
read on for my quick reviews of two budget-friendly key foundations...
the peacoat:
i love the luxe emerson version, but after doing my budget for the season, i decided to save some money for holiday planning. enter the zara factor – their coats always appeal to me the most as worthy, relatively inexpensive alternatives to a designer splurge. still, you have to pick and choose. there are plenty of times when i've admired a chic zara coat on the rack, only to look at the fabric tag, wince at the high % of synthetic / poly / acetate, and put it back. this peacoat, however, checks off the right boxes in fit, tailoring, and fabric quality. it's made of a warm and straightforward 75% wool / 25% polyamide with a viscose lining. i'm wearing the S, as i wanted to have a bit of room for layering a sweater. perfect if you're in love with the idea of a timeless peacoat, but want to stay under $200.
longtime readers know my love of gentlewomanly footwear (as evidenced here and here). these frye penny loafers are my favorite bargain buys of the season – sturdy, all-leather construction, and comfy right out of the box. they run true to size/width (i took my usual 6.5), and accomplish the feat of staying true to the old-school style without looking too masculine. highly, highly recommend them, especially as they're currently on sale in a number of colors and the full range of sizes.
P.S.: per a reader's question, mine are the charcoal color – a dimensional, very dark grey that looks black.
do you have a fall uniform / a favorite purchase from zara? what's your go-to shoe these days?