A Final Midwest Fall
September 29, 2024Fall 2025 Beauty Favorites
Halo Glow Highlight Beauty Wand Rose Quartz
With a Connecticut–New York City summer in the rearview, I’ve returned to the charming Midwestern city of Madison, Wisconsin. Compared to the East Coast, Madison feels almost small-town—but when I ventured just fifteen minutes outside the city in early September to a local winery, I was reminded that I don’t truly know “small town” at all. Rolling cornfield hills, grazing cattle, and nothing to see for miles ahead.
Whether it was that brief excursion into nearby farmland or the subtle sensing of a budding trend through social media, I’ve found myself embracing an old Western style this fall. Leather, suede, and neutrals are timeless autumn staples, but when viewed through a Western cowgirl lens, they can be reimagined into something new and deeply endearing.
Personally, this has meant scouring eBay for the perfect vintage riding boot. Among the many brands that have historically produced timeless riding boots, Frye has remained at the top of the list for me. Their styles are painfully simple in a way that resonates deeply with my own personal taste. “Painfully simple” is how I’d describe most of my wardrobe: a perfect pair of Levi’s, a crisp white 100% cotton T-shirt, monochrome black on a night out—no matter the season. Even my skincare and beauty routine leans toward minimalism: clean teeth, a light face wash, and sunscreen are all I need to start my day.
To me, Western style embodies simplicity and everyday wearability, which perhaps translates into its “rugged,” lived-in, barn-tending feel. What’s better than wearing something in until it feels like it was made specifically for your body? A good pair of jeans and a solid pair of riding boots have an incredible ability to mold to you in a way I find extraordinarily special. After three trial-and-error eBay orders, I finally found the perfect leather Frye boots—just the right tone, just the right fit. Because they were pre-worn, they took only a few weeks to shape perfectly to my calves and feet. They feel like a second skin, which is perhaps why I haven’t taken them off.
Unlike my perfect Frye boots, I can’t seem to keep a coat on for the life of me in the fall. Whether it’s the unpredictable weather or the sunshine I delusionally believe will last even as September fades, I feel this way every year when the leaves start to change. Jackets have always felt tricky to me—the wrong one can ruin even the best outfit, whether through clashing color or a distorted silhouette.
In an effort to change my relationship with outerwear, I turned to Madison’s local Goodwill in search of suede coats. Luckily, I found three—and I’m obsessed. My favorite is a chocolate-brown suede with a loose, cropped fit that pairs perfectly with denim. The other two are black suede and, shockingly, turquoise suede. The turquoise one is truly legendary.
My turquoise suede jacket paired with my vintage Frye boots...
While there’s a bittersweet feeling in the air knowing this is my final Midwest fall, I’m excited to embrace the not-so-distant cornfields in my Fall 2025 wardrobe.