THE THIRD CLOSET TRANSFORMATION
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This article is dedicated to those who live in Barcelona city, just a few meters above sea level. That combination of latitude and altitude seems like a small thing... but it actually changes everything: schedules, full terraces in November, and, of course, the wardrobe.
Because let's be honest: transitional weather is no longer just an anecdote between seasons; it has become a season in itself. Especially autumn, which in our latitudes remains mild and warm throughout its three months (September, October, and November). Temperatures drop, yes, but slowly... and that forces us to have a specific wardrobe for autumn, different from summer and winter.
Yes, you read that right: three wardrobe changes, not two.
From head to toe – and beyond the ever-useful sneakers – mild autumn is the ideal time to enjoy ballet flats, loafers, and moccasins. As for clothing, jeans remain a staple, but the real stars are flowy skirts and trousers: fabrics with a soft drape, tailored or palazzo cuts, that you can machine wash without drama and that – if treated well – don't need ironing. A dream come true, don't you think?
Mediterranean autumn also calls for lighter jackets: the blazer goes from being an intermediate piece to becoming outerwear. It pairs wonderfully with shawls, capes, and scarves, which are literally the icing on the cake.
And then there's the shirt, probably the main star of this season. It's the garment that adds the most style and opens up the most options. If you wear it alone, you're still dressed with a more than acceptable degree of formality for the city or the office. And if you use it as a base layer, nothing beats seeing a nice shirt collar and impeccable cuffs peeking out from under an oversized, French-cut jacket with wide three-quarter sleeves. In the middle of winter, or at another latitude, it would be unthinkable... but Mediterranean autumn offers us these small luxuries.
In summary: autumn has its own wardrobe.
We can no longer use the short sleeves or ultra-light summer dresses, and that little cotton jacket is starting to be more decorative than useful. But we haven't yet reached the time for thick wool coats, cashmere sweaters, or soldier-style leather boots, those that save our lives every other day in winter.
Autumn demands its own pieces, and if we manage it well, we can make the most of it by strategically combining what best fits this extended transitional season.
However, the autumn wardrobe change is not the last of the year.
At the end of November, Arctic cold fronts begin their southward journey, and what we know as meteorological winter enters the scene. The most intense cold usually arrives with the Three Wise Men in January, but until March, we will happily continue to use those more substantial trousers, thicker cotton or satin shirts, along with lovingly soft and plush cardigans and pullovers.
A coat, without being exaggerated, starts to make sense from December: mornings and evenings require us to be prepared. That's why, at the end of November, it's time for the third wardrobe change (this one, the last of the year).
It's then when:
- We take out those beautiful sweaters that until now radiated warmth just by looking at them.
- We keep those comfortable boots handy that made no sense a few weeks ago.
- And ballet flats will probably take a back seat... unless they are velvet and you know how to wear them with high-denier tights, because in the cold, your feet seem to ask for more "distance" from the pavement.
For many people, the second and third wardrobe changes merge into one. However, even in those cases, we make strategic moves: which garments should be "at first glance" and which can spend a season in a drawer or on higher shelves.
If you're in the latter group, it's very possible that you started your wardrobe change almost a month ago and have the feeling that you haven't quite finished it yet. Don't worry: you're not alone. We know – because you tell us in store – that many of our clients are in the exact same situation.
I tell all of you the same thing: it's better for the process to take its time and for you to start December with the peace of mind of having done it well. May your wardrobe be clean, tidy, and ready to receive the next three or four months of winter, with mild days and cold weeks, and you prepared for everything.
Today's wardrobe needs dynamism and looks designed in layers: flexible, adaptable, and up to the demands of your daily life.
At Marta Folch BCN, we can help you complete those looks that still need a key piece and welcome the new season with that touch of strategy that translates into strength, confidence, and peace of mind.
After all, making a wardrobe change is a source of benefits (and, let's admit it, also a small emotional gym). Doing it three times a year and not dying in the attempt is, like almost everything important in life, a matter of attitude.
1 comment
Increíble articulo, de Marta F., para sentir-te apoyada en los ‘reordenamientos’ constantes dentro de nuestros armarios, quitando y poniendo ropa, botas si, botas no… Gracias por tus consejos que, por lo visto, vamos a necesitar en los otoños venideros.
Me encantó! Gràcies!
Angie