I may have been standing outside in 93-degree heat for these pictures (no kidding), but in my mind, it was a perfectly crisp fall afternoon!

It seems that with every passing year, I fall more in love with white button-up shirts. Their versatility and classic feel make them perfect for so many different looks. This beautiful white shirt was gifted to me by Brochu Walker, a brand I genuinely love because their pieces always feel classic, current and so wearable. I paired it with cropped straight-leg jeans from Mother (I have 3 pairs of these) and draped a camel Brochu Walker cashmere sweater over my shoulders. The combination is timeless, but the Tory Burch leopard bag keeps it from feeling too predictable. And then there are the Veronica Beard stiletto boots. I know this heel height isn’t for everyone, but I still love wearing this classic look with a stiletto because it instantly makes jeans and a white shirt feel so chic. I have also linked a similar pair with a kitten heel.

I was absolutely roasting while we took these photographs…it’s been so hot and humid here, but hopefully my “crisp fall day” face convinced you otherwise. The things I do for fashion!

Look closely at the side of the shirt and you’ll see that I did a little button trick instead of my usual half-tuck. I folded the buttonhole side underneath, skipped a button and then fastened the two buttons in a way that gathers the fabric and pulls one side of the shirt up. It creates a little shape and interest without actually tucking anything in…and, you could even add a brooch at the gather. I’m going to share a quick tutorial in Instagram Stories because it’s much easier to show than explain! I also added my loooong strand of pearls from Julie Miles…the one she hilariously calls the “vajayjay strand.” It adds another classic element, but in a way that feels completely unexpected. A white shirt, jeans and pearls may be timeless, but the styling keeps the whole look from feeling too proper or predictable.

I’m including a boutique below with options for sweaters, booties and blouses at different price points…

Of course, the calendar may be nudging us toward fall, but the farmers’ markets are still overflowing with the best of summer. Later today, I’m heading into the kitchen to make something fresh and seasonal for the week ahead and I’ll share the recipe here tomorrow.

I suppose that’s September in North Carolina: wearing cashmere for the camera, cooking with tomatoes and corn in the kitchen, and happily making the most of both seasons.

And in case you missed yesterday’s beautiful blue Brochu Walker shirt, I’m sharing it again today on Instagram and the complete look is still saved in my Stories. It’s another one of those special shirts that does most of the styling for you and is absolutely worth a second look.

I also have a new Substack post that was published yesterday. I wrote about anticipating fall and why sometimes we aren’t simply buying the sweater, but the feeling and the possibility we imagine coming with it. It’s about how anticipation can be its own form of dreaming and how, every once in a while, we really do rise to meet the life we’ve imagined. You can read it here, and if you enjoy my Substack, I would love for you to subscribe!

I hope you’re all enjoying this long weekend! It’s a bit cooler here today, but the humidity is real! Happy Sunday!

Thanks so much for reading today!

~XOXO Suzanne