Thursday Outfit: Colors of Fall

I wanted to say up front that the inspiration image below is probably AI generated. Over the last month, about 20% of the fashion photos that I’m being fed on Pinterest have that flat, moody look that so many AI images have. But because real photographers are now using filters to recreate that softened appearance, it’s so hard to tell.

I decided to use the image anyway for two reasons: 1) I liked the look, but 2) I thought this would be a good opportunity to have a discussion about AI in fashion. J.Crew just made a whole campaign with AI. Multiple beauty magazines have foregone using real women and are just using AI. Ali Rogan reported on AI in depth for PBS, and one of the concerns was how some brands are using AI generated models to add diversity to campaigns instead of hiring people of color.

Long story short, I’m using this image today to show you how pervasive AI is becoming in fashion and beauty from souping up retouching software to building entire campaigns that don’t exist in reality, but this AI-gen image will be the last one you see here. At least until we can no longer tell the difference between real and faked with AI, and without meaningful regulation (which we are likely never getting) that will probably be sooner rather than later.

What I like about this outfit is that the color palette evokes the mood of fall, but it doesn’t look like it fell out of a 2015 Instagram photo. You get all of the moody, golden goodness and none of the Fall Mom vibe. Here’s how to recreate it for a business casual office or a nicer-than-casual dinner with family.

The Coat // I adore an ivory coat. I own two (one wool, one trench). That doesn’t mean they are easy to keep clean (thank heavens for cleaning wipes), but they are beautiful in a very ethereal way. This coat from Karen Millen is a dream, but it’s spendy. For a more affordable coat, Ralph Lauren always has a lovely option in a lighter hue.

The Pants // Corduroy falls in and out of fashion favor. So if you’ve held onto a pair from 2013 or 2019, bring them back out. If you’ve never tried corduroy before, these J.Crew pants are a great option. The amber hue above is fabulous, but if you want something more wearable that will blend into your existing wardrobe, try the denim-blue option instead of jeans.

Looking for a more affordable pair? These straight-leg pants from LOFT are worth a look. Want a darker pair with a golden hue? Boden has a great pair in a deeper ginger.

The Sweater // The places to buy fall sweaters are very often unexciting retailers like LL Bean. Yes, Sezane is cool. Faherty is great. Quince makes the dupes you want. But for me, this cotton-cashmere crewneck from LL Bean is where I would put my money. It’s well-made, it’s classic, and it comes in both plus and petite. Even if you decide to wait for a sale to get a better price, put this sweater on your radar.

The Shoes // The round-toe honey-colored loafer is a great basic for casual wardrobes. Not my favorite, though. I want a little more sleekness to keep this look modern and work-friendly. That’s where these fabulous Birdie’s flats come in. They’re casual, but not relaxed. Amazing.

The Accessories // The Khaite-inspired bag from JW Pei is back. There is only one left in the brown on Amazon, so snatch it up if you want it. Or grab it from their website.

For the hair, I chose a simple hair pin. Need tips on how to use it? This video from YouTube has a few ideas. And for the jewelry, I just used a simple pair of earrings from Ana Luisa, a great mid-price brand.

{this post contains affiliate links that may generate commission for the author}