Feels like Fall: 5 Picks to Start the Season!

One year ago this very month, I started a little project I thought I'd call "the Dappled Waistcoat." After traveling around to different horse shows and trade fairs, and meeting people from around the country who oftentimes had given up more lucrative careers to pursue their passion for craftsmanship and product curation, I decided it was time to take to the web and give them their due. Truthfully, I didn't think that I would stick with blogging for that long. I assumed that I'd find myself uninspired and discouraged by the daunting "blogosphere," and that my voice would go unheard amidst the cacophony of other more established writers. It pleases me to say that this hasn't been the case. Through this blog, Twitter, and Instagram, I've met some amazing people, and there is no shortage of new and inspiring brands with stories to be told. So yes, Happy One Year Anniversary to the Dappled Waistcoat! 

Let me tell you, I've been delaying writing any kind of autumn-related post because I refuse to let go of summer. This is an annual problem, but I've lived in the Northeast my entire life... so I probably should have learned to cope with it by now. My signal that it's time to start writing about flannel and boots? The first morning that I have to put socks on to walk around my house. Strange as it may be, wearing socks while drinking coffee and reading the Times is what alerted me to the necessity of Fall blogging. 

It's hard to focus your attentions on what you really "need" every time a new season rolls around, and now after NY Fashion Week I like to hone in on just a few pieces that can serve as the home base for my Fall vibe. In this case, there are five of them. 

1. General Knot & Co.  Woodsman Plaid and Buffalo Check Corner-block Bandana, $45. The folks at GK really know their way around vintage fabric, and I really know my way around a bandana. Wear this with.... everything, it doesn't matter. Look at it! Are you kidding? If you don't feel like wearing a tie but you want to keep your neck looking fresh, this is the answer.

2. JCrew Excursion Quilted Vest in Camo, $138. I saw this while I quickly popped into JCrew to find a cardigan to wear to a wedding (I hate that I just said that) and my jaw fell to the floor. I don't think I'm alone in feeling that camo is the new neutral. Like denim, camo can be worn with just about anything and adds a bit of edge to more conservative fall colors and textures. When I go back to the store again this week to visit my dream vest, I'm sure they'll all be gone.

3. Greats Brand  Royale sneaker in Chocolate/White, $99. When I was in high school my mother would yell at me for wearing Vans and Converse in the fall/winter. She called them "summer shoes" because they were canvas. If I'd had these, she would have been stunned into silence. The Royales are Made in the USA with deerskin leather uppers and waxed cotton laces sitting atop a vachetta calfskin liner and imported Italian Margam rubber cup soles. It's a mouthful, but it's worth it. 

4. Penfield Idlewood daypack in Moon Tweed, $125. Made in USA from authentic Abraham Moon Tweed and leather trim. I like using the term "daypack" because it makes me feel less guilty about the fact that I'm not a student and I don't necessarily plan on just carrying this on my back. Like camo, this tweed will be one of the most versatile pieces in your wardrobe while still managing to really stand out. Rugged and functional, but classic and beautiful.
5. HELM Boots Marion in Olive, $395. Designed in Texas, crafted in Maine. The Marions are made of olive green Horween Chromexcel, which means they have a matte, slightly waxy feel and they'll break in to look like they were made just for you. The soles are leather with a stitched, injected rubber mini-tap lug and signature white midsole. Helm make boots that work hard for people that work hard. It just so happens that they're also absolutely amazing to look at.

Next week I'll be heading down to Texas to work for Dubarry at the American Eventing Championships, so I'll get one last taste of blazing heat before Fall really sets in. Keep up with me on Instagram and Twitter for updates on my first Texan adventure, and as always, I welcome any suggestions or photos of your favorite Fall pieces!