10 Rules to Follow for a Fall Wardrobe Makeover

Basics are the foundation of your wardrobe, so it’s important that you don’t speed over your decisions and default to the cheap fast fashion varieties.

As a general rule, make sure anything that touches your skin, especially sensitive areas, are made without toxic chemicals in the dyes or fabric manufactured from oil or plastic bases to ensure minimal skin irritation and maximum breathability.

We love this line of organic, chemical free cotton underwear from Pact.

Get to know your textiles (meaning fabric or materials) in your wardrobe selection. Each textile (either synthetic like lycra and polyester or natural like cotton, silk and linen) has unique qualities depending on your lifestyle and the garment itself. For example, if you want to stay cozy but not sweaty, merino wool is your best bet for wicking away sweat while stabilizing body temperature. Cool, right?

Get more info on the qualities of different textiles and their uses in this great resource from Earth Hero.

This tip moves away slightly from the direct eco/ethical tips and more into personal style. When choosing new pieces for fall, it's important that you select items with the intention that you’ll wear them for a long time, which means choosing a colour palette that you actually like and that you feel good in.

You likely already have an idea about the colour vibe that works for you, but in case you’re looking to refine it further, we recommend getting on Pinterest and searching anything you think you think you might want or like the colour of. Once you begin pinning different looks and styles to a board, you’ll start to see patterns of the same colours and styles over and over again. That’s how you’ll know it’s your authentic style and palette vs. trends.

Always look for quality made over cheap thrills. It might be new for you to spend a little extra now, but if you’re following the other rules in this guide and being intentional with your purchase, it will pay off in the long run. Consider every purchase you make an investment in yourself and in your values. You’ll have these pieces for years to come, so make it worth it.

For this investment in quality, we recommend mapping out big purchases with a budgeting tool like Mint to help you stay on track and feel good about saving up for quality items.

We love this rule because its both practical and has an heir of old school sophistication that you just can’t get with off the rack fits. Finding a good tailor for your wardrobe will allow you to customize your wardrobe to suit your body and style perfectly. Whether it’s getting the waist of your favourite jeans taken in, trousers hemmed an inch or two, or adding new buttons to your favourite coat, a good tailor is well worth the effort to find one.

In a perfect world (for us), there might exist some sort of dating like app for finding the tailor best suited for you and your needs, but in reality, you can probably find a good one in your neighbourhood. Most are still traditional and will have a minimal web presence, so it’s best to just get out there and start having conversations with the ones in your area.

While a good tailor can fix almost all of your wardrobe repair needs, knowing how to complete simple repairs can save a little cash and be so satisfying at the same time.

The OG of domestic magic, Martha Stewart, shares some of her mending tips in this article this article .

Your closet is likely already stocked with beautiful things that need just a little maintenance. Look through your current wardrobe and pick up items that could be leveled up with a new set of buttons, a little tailoring or even a new colour.

If you’re going the colour update route, check out this guide on dying clothes with food.

Pro Tip on updating your wardrobe:

If you got far enough in your quest to become a textile nerd, you’ll know that natural protein based textiles (like silk!) absorb dye the easiest.

If you thought reading this article was your plan, I’m about to burst your bubble. In order to make sure you’re getting the fall wardrobe makeover that you deserve, you’ll need to set aside some time to make a proper plan. This plan should include: non negotiables (example: Taupe high waist trousers with deep enough pockets for a phone and keys — that means no wasting your time on pocketless pants). This is about what you truly need vs. want (that beret can wait, bud). Your budget doesn't need the money stress factored into this endeavor when you “accidentally” blow your entire seasons budget on a single tiny purse or something else trending.

Now that you know what you want, have a great tailor (hi, John!), have planned out all of your expectations and dreams, it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty and start measuring up items against comparables so that you’re getting the best price, fit, eco and socially aligned garment to your values.

A good rule to follow is to find at least 3 comparables, and wait 24 to 48 hours before hitting that ‘order’ button on anything.

Our last tip for making over your fall wardrobe is something that's nearly always overlooked. We’re recommending you do a little research on the people behind the brands that you’re buying from.

As our culture evolves, we’re beginning to see and feel how deeply our systems of oppression have formed the foundation of our economy and spending habits. In order to have a fully conscious and ethically aligned wardrobe, you need to know who you’re buying from. Most often you can find this information on the ‘about us’ page of the brands website, but just in case you want a fast track, here’s a list of 28 Black owned ethical and sustainable fashion businesses to shop for your fall wardrobe makeover.