Not only has it been the season for barn jackets, it has been Old Navy’s time to shine with its selection this year. If you had asked me a few months ago if I’d buy multiple Old Navy jackets this year, I would have scoffed at the suggestion … and yet here we are with three. I started with the viral canvas barn jacket, then fell in love with this quilted one online (it’s thin, but great as a light layering piece), and then found this one in store which must have been an online return as it was the only one and in my size. Kismet.

Better yet, I bought all of them at 50% off — which is basically what you should pay at Old Navy. I almost returned the canvas one because I’m not keen on the feeling of an unlined jacket and how it catches on the fabric of your top. But it has such a nice hint of stretch to it and looks especially cute with striped long-sleeve t-shirts. For the sale price of $30, it earned a spot in my autumn wardrobe.

I also purchased the green Freja Dress from Sezane last month. I bought the grey one back in August and love how cozy it is (and how it doesn’t get stretched out or pilled during the day). My style has been all over the place after the pandemic, and this dress with a pair of tights and ballet flats made me feel like myself again.

And, finally, my annual day planner. I like going analog with my to-do list (don’t worry, I opt for digital calendar reminders for scheduling). This has been my favorite planner for the past three years largely because it breaks down your tasks by week. For my job, that’s more realistic than assigning to-dos to each day.

LINKS

• Sugar Paper – 2025 Planner
• Old Navy – Canvas Barn Jacket
• Old Navy – Quilted Barn Jacket
• Old Navy – Quilted Long Jacket
• Sezane – Freja Dress

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Working at a university on the cusp of fall is kind of invigorating. There’s a buzz in the air with students moving back to campus, and the thrum of excitement as events and large-scale meetings ramp up for the semester. Plus, it definitely puts a girl in the mood for back-to-school shopping — even if lecture hall days are long forgotten!

Here are this month’s most noteworthy purchases:

• Sezane “Nicia” dress in black – Over the summer, I wore my black linen shift just about every week. It was just a matter of time before I found its cold-weather counterpart. This is such a beautiful dress and it’s really made me want every item in my wardrobe to be as pretty and well made as this. The wool is substantial and, while hard to see in the stock photos, there are darts near the bust to give it some shape.
• Sezane “Freja” sweater dress in charcoal – This dress is so cute and cozy with a pair of tights and flats — and since my office is on the casual side, I’ll be able to wear this sweater dress to work (which is how I’m justifying the cost). Joking aside, I’m really happy with the quality of this Sezane piece and I expect it to get a lot of love this fall. I’m considering the green one, too.
• Madewell “Greta” flats in studded ecru – I don’t buy a lot of trendy pieces. It’s not that I don’t enjoy them; it’s just that I feel like it was a waste of money when the trend fades away. When I do indulge, I try to make sure it’s a piece that’s versatile enough to wear with other items and has a core feature that I tend to gravitate toward regardless of trends. In the case of these Madewell shoes, the Mary Jane strap and studs caught my eye, but the flat sole kept me enamored enough to buy a pair. What can I say? I love my flats.
• J.Crew mid-rise cropped kickout jean in super-stretch – I can’t begin to express how happy I am that J.Crew brought these back. I had a pair in a nearly identical wash that I had to retire because they ripped in the thigh. This Madewell pair was close, but not as good as the O.G. I genuinely might need to buy another pair to keep on reserve.
• Better Homes & Gardens vintage-inspired fan (more styles here) – I have to give it to targeted ads because minutes after seeing these affordable fans, I went over to Walmart of all places to buy not one, but two! Most of the fan is metal, with exception of the knobs and it’s a shame they overlooked that detail, but they made up for it with a fabric-wrapped cord.
• Athleta seasoft mid-rise straight crop pants in black – I wanted a new pair of pants for neighborhood walks or long-haul plane rides that weren’t yoga pants. I like a legging as much as the next person, but sometimes you just don’t want something digging in, you know? These are surprisingly flattering and feel lightweight and soft. However, do be aware that these are more of a charcoal grey than a true black. They run a little on the large side, but not enough that I had to size down.
• Paravel “Main Line” duffle – Without exaggerating, this duffle bag was on my wish list for years. A recent sale was enough for me to take the plunge and add it to my ever-expanding Paravel collection. It’s so beautiful! And it’s a lot lighter than my leather duffle bag. Now we just need to book a weekend away!

Find previous “Notable Purchases” here and click here to see what I’ve added to my wardrobe this year.

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A few more recent purchases that are worth keeping on your radar:

• Boden ribbed striped long-sleeve t-shirts (also available with a v-neck) – I bought one of these Boden long-sleeve tees on sale back in November and loved it so much that I refreshed the page almost daily to see if other colors would come back in stock. They never did, so you can imagine my delight to see this style part of the new pre-fall arrivals! I immediately ordered it in navy and yellow, along the the v-neck version. I go up a size so it’s not too snug across my midsection. I’ll likely buy another navy one to replace an old J.Crew tee that I’m not too keen on.
• Undo Hairware claw clips – These are the prettiest claw clips that I’ve come across and they’re comfortable for all-day wear. (I hate when you can feel claw clips poke the back of your scalp!) They come in a variety of beautiful shades and are handmade in Italy. Yes, they’re pricey for what they are, but I’m over the moon with them. The 2″ clip is my favorite for securing a low bun. I’m planning to order the espresso one for autumn.
• Monica Vinader turquoise pendant necklace (also available here) – This necklace was the only thing that tempted me into making a purchase at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. It’s dainty, but the turquoise shade is so bright that it’s still eye-catching.
• H&M printed dress – This is such a great dress for late-summer and early-fall when you’re eager for fall colors, but the temperature doesn’t support wearing heavier materials. Plus, this is such a unique color combination that you don’t find often.
• metal slat platform bed (also available here) – As I shared in a recent post, we’re working on our guest room and bought a bed! This was tricky because I wanted a platform bed that felt sturdy, was a combination of traditional and modern, and didn’t cost an arm and a leg — and would arrive before my parents stayed with us recently. Enter this bed. We bought it over the Fourth of July weekend when it was on sale for $520, which is about what I’d recommend paying for this. I will say that the quality is better than expected, and it doesn’t creak or otherwise make noise when you’re lying on it. I’m really happy with this purchase and appreciate that it goes with a more classic aesthetic without feeling old-fashioned.
• Cocofloss – I realize that floss is such an odd thing to add to a roundup of notable purchases, but hear me out. I first heard of this brand from a dental hygienist and since I’m one of those odd people who actually likes to floss their teeth, I was intrigued. It’s thicker than your standard floss, but unlike most drugstore brands, it’s not overly waxed and slick. I wouldn’t say it’s gritty, but you can feel and see the fibers in the strands. This helps to remove plaque more efficiently. I’m on my fourth refill.

Find previous “Notable Purchases” here and click here to see what I’ve added to my wardrobe this year.

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Last month’s greatest hits included:

• Sweater Storage Bins – While my closet is large, it’s not very well laid out and the only shelving I’m using for sweaters is an old Ikea bookshelf. Revamping that space is not high on our priority list, so I’m always on the lookout for storage solutions to rotate my clothes seasonally to create room for the pieces I’m actually reaching for. I found these bins on Amazon and purchased two sets of two to store my sweaters. I love that they have a clear panel so you can see what’s inside. And, you can access your items from the top or via the side zip. If you don’t overstuff the bins, they stack nicely, too.
• J.Crew linen dress – This has been a summer staple for me at work. I love it so much that I’m considering buying another dress to have on backup when this one is in the laundry pile. It has a flattering A-line shape and can easily be dressed up or down. It stretches out a bit as the day goes on, which is to be expected with linen.
• Lizzie Fortunato aventurine and enamel earrings – Knowing that I have a, well, “robust” jewelry collection has led me to seek out unique pieces that are truly different than items I already own. I bought this pair for myself as a birthday gift at the end of May. The color combinations are beautiful and I like that they’re made of real aventurine stones rather than glass or plastic.
• Madewell maxi dress – I bought this dress in green last year and it quickly became one of my most-often worn pieces on those sweltering days. At the beginning of this summer season, I told Dave that I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another one if Madewell ever offered in blue. Lo and behold, they did. And it’s lovely. Go down a size since the only thing you’re measuring is the elasticized band across the top of your chest.
• Madewell linen sweater – One of my favorite summer sweaters is a linen-blend one from Garnet Hill that now looks a bit worn. (I still love it, though.) I tried this one from Madewell and it’s a lovely alternative. It’s a classic cut that hits me at the top of my hips. It’s a bit sheer, so you’ll need to wear a skin-tone bra or layer it over another shirt.
• OXO Good Grips fridge organization bins – I don’t know about you, but the top shelf of our refrigerator is for miscellaneous condiments and sauces that don’t fit in the door — and they tend to get shuffled around and items go missing in the very back corners. I bought a couple of these trays to put those items in so now I can pull the entire tray out when I’m looking for something. It’s a small upgrade but has given me a ridiculous amount of joy.

Find previous “Notable Purchases” here and click here to see what I’ve added to my wardrobe this year.

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