fall fashion into
by DELANEY WILLET
WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE? Reacquainting ourselves with our closets after nearly two years of a sweatsuit dress code can be daunting and exhausting. But, it can also be celebratory, and incredibly freeing. In some ways, current fashions and personal style are making up for lost time—we’re ready to express again. The fog of exhaustion that’s clouded our sartorial patterns is beginning to part. A cultural sigh of relief echoes on the runways (which have, at least in part, returned to live shows) and in the streets, once again humming with stylish, socially distanced flaneurs. Emerging from the boxes in which we’ve been living these past 17 months, we are ready to wear what makes us come alive. We consulted local stylist Elissa Williams on how to embody an enclothed cognition that extends beyond a garment’s price tag, appearance, or function.
48 | SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2021
Realizing life is too short to wear sweatpants every day, and still seeking creature comfort and confidence in our outfitting, we must ask, “What fabric feels good on my skin? What prints inspire me? What colors lift my mood? What detail excites me? What silhouette flatters me?” Most importantly, “What do I love?” When we clothe ourselves in articles that fulfill us both visually and emotionally, we create a harmony between our self-presentation and our state of mind, a peace that projects palpable confidence. This state of enclothed cognition can be incredibly transformative— even healing, especially as we enter the transitional and nerve wracking period from lockdown to life as we now know it. This is the time to embrace the beauty of the clothes of the season. Our fall fashion comprises more than a well-curated closet; it is a welcome homecoming into our metamorphosed personas. Here are a few outfits Elissa curated to inspire us to step into fall, fully self-expressed.