The Beginner's Guide To Building A Transitional Wardrobe

It’s a Monday evening at the end of September in Brooklyn and I’m staring into the void of my closet trying my best to be responsible and plan an outfit for tomorrow ahead of time. On the docket for tomorrow: leave around 8am for the office, attend two events after the work day, return home in the evening or night. I predict that I’ll arrive at the office and, if still available after a subway journey of fluctuating temperatures that, without a doubt, came with its fair share of hiccups that I always find a way to blame on something/anything being in retrograde, I’ll choose a seat next to the floor to ceiling windows for obvious reasons: it’s nice to feel some sort of adjacency to the outside. When making this decision I will somehow forget what I’m eventually reminded of every single day: it’s the end of September but the temperature is going to hit 80 degrees. When making the decision of what to wear in the morning (because although I intend to plan ahead of time, I often wait), I’m constantly reminding myself of this but still somehow failing to get it right: it might be 60 degrees now but it will be 80 degrees later and then it might even rain, but who knows? Not even the weather app.

The million dollar question: what are we supposed to wear in this climate? And why, despite Depop being my most used app, do I have way too much stuff and nothing to wear? How can I achieve a happy medium without being either weirdly sweaty or surprisingly cold at some point in the day? Most importantly, what staples and basics do I need for my closet to feel fully functioning?

The reality is that, as much as buying statement pieces feels like the right move in the moment, those items aren't going to carry me through these weird micro-seasons. This is what will carry me through: basics (both elevated and not), light pieces to layer (cardigans, light jackets, button up tops etc.), jeans in various washes and cuts, ballet flats, and loafers.

Ahead, is a shopping guide to help us all get through the end of summer or beginning of fall or whatever we want to call this transitional season we're currently in.