The Infinite Power of an Autumnal Wardrobe
A Commentary on Fall Fashion
BY COLE O’BRIEN WITH ART BY JACQUELYN FAY
I, just like any other sensible person, wait on pins and needles as I watch the temperature slowly drop and the foliage leisurely shift from shades of green to hues of reds, oranges, and yellows. I pray for the day that the temperature finally meets the Goldilocks standard: not too hot, not too cold. Truth be told, this excitement almost solely stems from the desire to finally have a chance to break into my fall wardrobe. Let’s face it, by this point of the calendar year it seems like everyone is due for a change up. The fall season allows for just this: a switch up in our routine fashion patterns. This option for change seemingly grants us permission to tap into an entirely new personality. The correlation between fashion and self-identity/expression is undeniable. Autumn allows for the perfect chance to put together a new version of ourselves without complete soul-searching. All it takes is an intricately layered outfit that doesn’t need to be covered up under a bundle of winter coats, hats, scarves, and mittens the second we walk out the door. The autumnal weather allows for a reintroduction of the classic turtleneck, flannel, or sweater that looks like it was just sourced from your grandparent’s closet. With the increased versatility of our wardrobes comes an influx of potential personalities to conceive. Not to mention, the season gives us a chance to wear our coziest clothing out of the house with little to no judgment from a passing stranger. More than anything, the changing of the season grants us the opportunity for a reinvention of our characters, just in time to do it all again for New Years.