all right, ladies, we are headed into the homestretch. another week has zipped by as we march through October in record time. the holidays  are on my mind what with the supply chain issues we’ve dealt with all year presenting all sorts of shipping issues and items selling out lickety-split. in the good old days, yours truly would wait until the last minute (and i mean last minute) to purchase gifts. in recent years i’ve changed my tune. and this year, well, i think sooner is better than later. mr. style would be proud of me as he was an “early bird catches the worm” kind of guy. me thinks a shopping spree in Atlanta is on the horizon. one of my favorite stops is Avalon, an outdoor mall filled with all of my favorite stores. Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn, and Anthropologie. it’s loads of fun to stroll along a sidewalk, stop for lunch at an outdoor café, and shop to my heart’s content. it looks like it’s time to slip into a fall wardrobe essential the poncho and head to the mall.

next week i have a fun, and i do mean fun series on deck. The Devil Wears Prada turns 15 this year, so i thought we would take a look to see if the outfits have stood the test of time. powerhouse Miranda Priestly based on the infamous Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour had a fashion-forward sensibility built with timeless classics. Miranda was nothing less than polished and powerful with her wardrobe and her attitude. the two go hand in hand. we’ll kick the series off on Sunday with a Devil Wears Prada makeup tutorial, then dive into four iconic outfits from the movie. movies have always been inspirational when it comes to fashion. i’ve shared many times on the blog how Love Story impacted my preppy aesthetic that’s alive and well to this day. here’s a sneak peek at next week’s series.

fall wardrobe essential the poncho

autumn is a glorious time of year that finds us reaching for a third layer. don’t miss my post on 5 fall and winter coats. today, i’m ditching a jacket in favor of a fall wardrobe essential, the poncho. technically, this wrap is considered a ruana as ponchos are slipped overhead while ruana’s slip over your shoulders. but Banana Republic has deemed this striped wool-blend wrap a poncho, so who am i to argue? a poncho makes an excellent choice for a third layer as it’s soft and warm but doesn’t leave you feeling too hot. plus, it makes a fashion statement all on its own. today, i’m wearing a black ribbed turtleneck available in five colors that’s been on style repeat all season long. why? it’s lightweight, doesn’t feel constricting, and it goes with everything! turtlenecks are wardrobe basics that i turn to time and again when putting outfits together. i even wear sleeveless turtlenecks in the hot summer months. turtlenecks look terrific paired with skirts or high-rise slim blue jeans that can easily tuck into a pair of boots. today, i opted for black driving moccasins (similar here and here) for a casual chic look. if i’m headed on a shopping spree, a crossbody handbag (old, similar here and here) frees my hands to carry shopping bags. 

denim | turtleneck |poncho | shoes (similar here and here) | handbag (similar here and here) | similar belt

denim | turtleneck |poncho | shoes (similar here and here) | handbag (similar here and here) | similar belt

Shop the Post

Beth Djalali

is the Founder and CEO of Style at a Certain Age. She writes Sundays-Fridays on all topics ranging from fashion, health, wellness, home design and more.

She’s 65, 5’8, and size 8.

See author's posts