I finally made the switch + My Fall Five

Why I'm here and some timeless transition pieces.

Sometimes change is good.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love beautiful, thoughtfully made things. I love style and clothes. That said, I truly believe in living with fewer, better things. Sometimes you need new things, more often than not you don't. And I am SO over the overt sell, sell, sell business model that is required when you rely solely on affiliate partnerships. No one needs something new every week, and when you are looking for something, I’d rather you seek out pieces from smaller women-founded brands to mix in with your designer labels items, plus a bit of vintage. That also doesn't mean the conversation on style should stop. There is plenty to talk about beyond acquiring things. You know, the nuance of it all (often the best part.) So, I’ve decided to dive in and see if being here is a better option.

I will still share my favorite items from luxury sites (see below), I am still a customer myself. I also am working on some exciting collaborations with some of my favorite designers, and if you’re following me here, you will be the first to know (which at some point in the near future, could be to your advantage in multiple ways.) But by moving to Substack, and asking you, dear reader, to pay a small monthly/yearly fee, I can be upfront and authentic, because I’m no longer reliant on selling you something beyond what I type here.

Maybe this creates a new kind of community.

I have enjoyed the thoughtful comments I’ve received on my site, sometimes I feel there are multiple conversations happening, sometimes between the readers. I hope that some of the topics I cover here will bring more of this. As this letter evolves, I can’t wait to see how this wealth of interest, diverse points of view and ideas also take shape.

The details.

What does moving here mean? First, I am asking that you value my work by subscribing either monthly ($5 per month) or yearly ($60). If you are on the fence, I have set this up so you can read a few letters, but free subscribers will have limited access. I will post 3 to 5 times a month. I’m not committing to a number of posts or a specific day. Why? Because I don’t believe in filling space. If I have something to say, you’ll hear from me. If I don’t, who needs more in your inbox? Second, inspiration strikes when it does (for me it’s often at 3 a.m., which I have begrudgingly come to accept) and I won’t sit on what I have to say.

My site is still live + What goes on IG

If you want to go back and look at my old posts, they are still on my site. It is also where my guide, The Wardrobe Project, lives for the time being. But there will be nothing new showing up there. Also,I’ve often used a lot of inspo pics to illustrate my posts. Those, for the most part, won’t be here, but on IG (@theflairindex). They will coordinate with what I post.

With that out of the way….My Fall Five.

Fall is my favorite season and I find New York in fall to be spectacular. Because of that, this is the first of more fall thoughts. It will be another month at least, before it gets cold enough to wear serious fall clothes, so it’s time for those in-between pieces.

These five pieces are the cornerstones of getting you through transitional weather. I am going to imagine you have some version of at least a few of these pieces already in your closet. Get them out, mix and match them with other items, before you decide you need to refresh something.

First, a trench coat. It’s classic, it’s sexy, it gives off an air of both mystery and seriousness. It’s Deneuve. It’s Garbo….Gainsbourg, all my favorite ladies. It’s lightweight so it works with a simple button-down when it’s temperate, and layered with a cashmere sweater when there is a chill. I have a classic Celine I bought three years ago and this Toteme, which I bought before that, so realistically I don’t need another. I love the oversize fit of this one from CO and Nili Lotan’s Tanner trench is perfectly proportioned in a more classic manner.

Then a button-down shirt. Blue, preferably. Why? Because it goes with the trench, but also it still shows off a bit of whatever summer glow you have going on. I have this HommeGirls one, and a version of this lightweight one from Frances de Lourdes. Another option: steal your boyfriend’s, son’s, husband’s.

Then jeans. I like a longer, slightly flared shape to start fall. When paired with the trench and the button-down, it gives me 60s/70s vibes—my forever eras. I have these Anna jeans from Nili Lotan. I bought mine last year, but they are available again. (If you don’t want to spend that much and can hold on, wait til later in the season—I bought mine from The Garmentory last year for 30% off.)

The first sweater of sweater season. For me, it’s always grey cashmere. It’s my soft spot. I wanted this Khaite Jo sweater last year (the neckline is very nice with my necklaces…especially this Grey Pearl Bullseye and this JJ Case), but I can’t buy everything I want every season, so I had to wait until now. Khaite cashmere quality is excellent and a sweater like this is a workhorse item. Worth it. I have also had a similar Allude sweater, which I wore to shreds.

Accessories…the two worth highlighting here are these Alaia leopard ballerinas. Sadly, I pre-ordered them from Bergdorf Goodman and they are now unavailable. I cannot find them anywhere else. I’m sure they are going to show up somewhere, if they do, you will be the first to know. (Update: After posting BG emailed that the ship date for these is now 10/23, which either means they are coming tomorrow or never at all.) But I want a touch of leopard this season (and something with grommets….next newsletter) and like mixing it for now with these lighter colors. Waisted jeans also look polished with belt. This Khaite Julius belt sold out in a nano-second. I’m sure they will make more. If you want it, add yourself to an email wishlist and keep tabs. In the meantime, this one and this one are equally nice.

That’s it for now. A big thank you to all of you who have supported me in the past, I hope you will continue as I move into this new format. I have a renewed enthusiasm to continue TFI, because this feels truer to how I want to communicate with you.

If you have any questions, or think I’ve left something out, please send me message here and I will respond as best as I can.

Until the next newsletter! xx Jennifer

Follow me on Instagram @theflairindex. Some links are affiliates, and I may earn a small commission from them.

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