So, I was rummaging through some old photos the other day, and bam! There I was, all set for fall, way back in 2014. And it got me thinking about the whole palaver I went through that year just to get my autumn clothes sorted. It wasn’t exactly high fashion, let me tell you, more like a mission of pure practicality with a tiny dash of “what on earth was I thinking?”
The Great Closet Clear-Out of ’14
First thing, I had to tackle the monster – my closet. It felt like I was digging through ancient ruins. I remember pulling out sweaters I hadn’t clapped eyes on since, well, probably the fall of 2013. Some bits were alright, you know, the usual stuff: a decent pair of jeans, a couple of long-sleeved tops. But then there were the… well, the highly questionable items. Remember those really, really chunky infinity scarves? Yeah, I had a collection.
My way of sorting things was pretty basic, really:
- Pile 1: Definitely keeping. This was a pretty small pile, to be honest.
- Pile 2: Hmm, maybe? This one was massive. Mostly stuff I felt bad about chucking.
- Pile 3: What possessed me to buy this monstrosity? Straight into the charity bag it went.
After all that, I had a slightly better idea of the massive gaps in my fall gear. I wasn’t aiming to look like I’d stepped off a catwalk, just needed to not turn into an icicle and look reasonably human for work and, you know, just general living.
Hitting the Shops (and Clicking Around Online)
Back in 2014, buying stuff online was definitely a thing, but I still found myself trudging around actual shops quite a bit. I distinctly recall a specific hunt for a new coat. My old one was looking seriously sad. I was after something warm, but not so puffy I looked like a walking marshmallow. I think I ended up with a pretty standard peacoat. Nothing revolutionary, but it did the trick.
Then came the sweaters. Oh, the sweaters. I remember being massively into cardigans that year. Dead easy to layer, weren’t they? I reckon I bought two or three in different, very ‘autumnal’ colours – you know, burgundy, olive green, that kind of vibe. And boots! Can’t forget the fall boots. I’m pretty sure I got a pair of ankle boots that I wore until they practically fell apart.
My main targets when I was shopping were:
- A dependable, warm coat. No messing.
- Sweaters I could wear with anything, mostly cardigans.
- Comfy boots that could actually handle a bit of drizzle.
- Maybe a new pair of jeans in a darker colour.
The “Outfits” I Actually Wore
Putting it all together was usually a frantic, last-minute dash in the morning, if I’m being totally honest. My standard look was pretty much jeans, a t-shirt or a light jumper, and then a cardigan chucked over the top. Add the peacoat and ankle boots if I was venturing outside. Simple. Very predictable. But hey, it got the job done.
I also remember trying to make scarves a proper ‘fashion statement’ for myself. Not just those huge chunky things, but trying to drape thinner ones in some kind of stylish way. Sometimes it sort of worked, other times I just looked like I was auditioning to be a draught excluder for a door.
Looking back at those photos now, yeah, it’s a bit cringeworthy, no doubt. Fashion moves on so quickly, doesn’t it? But that was my 2014 fall uniform. It saw me through the season. And to be fair, some of those cardigans? I wouldn’t be surprised if I still had one or two hiding at the very back of my wardrobe. Don’t you judge me.
