Fall uniform

If I hadn't moved to Amsterdam, I would never have realized that I had a raincoat-shaped hole in my wardrobe. After getting soaked in the rain one stormy August night and getting sick the week following that, I decided that "summer" was as good a time as any to buy a rain jacket. 

The most important criteria: it had to have a hood, be waterproof, and cover my legs at least partially. It took a couple of afternoons combing the shops, I found this navy blue McG rain jacket at De Bijenkorf. I chose it for the semi-tailored preppy feel, as well as for the soft jersey lining and the cute little grosgrain belt that ties in a bow at my waist. I spent more on it than I had hoped to, but I felt better forking over the moolah knowing I'd get lots of wear out of this jacket. 

And I was right. This jacket already feels like a uniform, with all the rain we've had here. Although I must say I felt slightly odd wearing it out for the first time. It just didn't seem very... well, very me. Even Marlon gave a thoughtful hmmm the first time he saw me in it. 

This is my template outfit these days. I've gotten used to the rain jacket; I figure feeling "slightly odd" is a million times better than feeling downright cold, wet and miserable. Now that the temperature is on a steady downward trend, I've replaced my usual black stretchy cotton leggings with fleece leggings from HEMA, which feel awesome—like my legs are getting a nice warm hug.

The other part of my fall uniform is these brogue-slash-granny boots I scored on my day trip to Maastricht. They reminded me of the brown granny boots I used to own, which my mom brought back from Europe in the heyday of grunge. Ah, the Nineties.

Except my old granny boots didn't have the brogue-ish look of this pair, nor did they have this combination of black, brown and gray leather. Now resisting a pair of boots is always hard for me. But boots that go with everything? Oh hell yes.

Besides, it's fall. Lots of rain, getting cold and all that. I'm just being practical. Right? 

Shoes shoes SHOES!

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Pink fringed platform Change of the Guard sandal

TABITHA SIMMONS FOR PROJECT OCEAN – Blue sandal, £895

BIONDA CASTANA - Grey grey and pink Tabea shoe, £586 

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA - Red Dolores ankle-strap pump, £618

BALENCIAGA – Blue suede sandal, £465

DVF - Citron Zia platform, £235

MIU MIU - Multi-coloured sandal, £610

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA - Nude Dolly platform pump, £608

TORY BURCH - Reva jelly ballet pumps, £105

JIMMY CHOO - Tan leather ankle strap sandal

MULBERRY – Tan loafer, £383

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI - Largo platform court, £505

GUISEPPE ZANOTTI - Jewelled wedge, £530

YVES SAINT LAURENT - Gipsy Chyc suede block sandals, £565

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - Tan leather wedge sandal

VALENTINO - Couture wedge, £315

PRADA - Green canvas Mary Jane wedges, £510

PRADA - Blue and white woven tango shoes, £590

D&G - Naveeda sandal, £245

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Pink and yellow Praia wedge

PEDRO GARCIA - Felicity wedges, £235

POUR LA VICTOIRE - Jaclyn wedge, £198

MARC BY MARC - Flip flops

MECHANTE OF LONDON – Yellow wedge, £480

VINTAGE AMERICA - Jaxon wedges, £80

CAMILLA SKOVGAARD - Gold Trekking sandal, £637

VIKTOR + ROLF - Jolson sequin shoe boots, £445

GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI - Snake-effect leather T-bar sandals, £365

LANVIN - French bow sandal, £300

HOUSE OF HARLOW - Purple peep-toe shoe, £192

KORS BY MICHAEL KORS - Sasha lizard sandals, £206 

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Red and leopard print Salsbourg sandal

MULBERRY - Edie sandals, £355

BY MALENE BIRGER - Hilande Sandal, £286

JIMMY CHOO - Tan leather peep-toe shoe boot

ALEXANDER BIRMAN - Peep-toe python pumps, £305

GUCCI - Metallic python sandals, £845

LOUIS VUITTON - Leather platform sandal, £1070

CARVELA - Jelly sandal, £19

PRADA - Black leather lace-up wedges, £610

CHLOE - Fugitive wedge, £540

CAMILLA SKOVGAARD - Black Trekking sandal, £379

CHANEL - Silver wedge 

BIONDA CASTANA - Black and gold Saffron shoe, £631

OPENING CEREMONY - Chantal shoe boots, £500

RUPERT SANDERSON – Black patent sandal, £555

POUR LA VICTOIRE - Kela shoe, £185 

LANVIN - Berle Wedges, £1,100

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - Black and gold studded boot

PRADA - Brown stacked leather brothel creepers, £510

LANVIN - Joan ribbon wedge, £360

RUPERT SANDERSON - Nikita peep-toe shoe, £515

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Blue platform Balota sandal

LOUIS VUITTON - Jewelled heel sandal, £1120

PRADA - Brown cut out wedges, £770

GINA – Clair satin courts, £460

BIONDA CASTANA – Purple Maya shoe, £664 

YSL - Gold tribute sandal, £710

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - Resin leaf silk-satin peep-toe pumps, £995

MIU MIU - Multi-coloured sandal, £525

CHLOE - Wonder sandals, £405

LOUIS VUITTON - Leather platform sandal, £1070

RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION - Janna tasseled leather peep-toe pumps, £550

LOUIS VUITTON - Jewelled heel sandal, £1070

CHANEL - Tweed sole platform

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - Decorative gold wedge 

VALENTINO - Lace flip flop, £160

MIU MIU - Multi-coloured sandal, £525

CASADEI - Phonetic strappy shoe, £560

DVF - Opal wedge, £254

RALPH LAUREN COLLECTION - Shereen leather sandal, £570

CHARLOTTE OLYMPIA - Bananas Is My Business pump, £970

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Green patent peep-toe

SAM EDELMAN - Exie flats, £143

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Black platform pump

3.1 PHILLIP LIM - Calder T-bar shoe, £675

ACNE - Strain sandals, £180

CAMILLA SKOVGAARD - Black stiletto saw sole pump, £335

ALEJANDRO INGLEMO - Spider sandals, £710

ALEXANDER WANG - Kasia patent wedges, £510

RUPERT SANDERSON – Figaro shoe, £540

STELLA MCCARTNEY - Duke wedge, £525

BELLE BY SIGERSON MORRISON - Military green sandal, £230

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Black studded Lucifer pump

LANVIN - Godiva patent sandals, £470

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - Grey snakeskin sandal.

UNITED NUDE - Flat-pack shoe, price TBC 

BERNARDO - Jingle Bells bead-embellished leather sandals, £220

BURBERRY PRORSUM - Black army platform pumps with buckle, £550

CHANEL - Black wedge sandal

ALEJANDRO INGELMO - Spider shoes, £710

FIORENTINI + BAKER - Multi-coloured suede wedge

LOUIS VUITTON - Beaded fringed heel sandal, £1020

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Gold Pigalle pump

BURBERRY PRORSUM - Black high-cut alligator pumps, £2500

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN - Black flat sandal 

SERGIO ROSSI - Jelly sandal, £170

REPETTO - Leopard print pump, £230

CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN - Black peep-toe pump

BURBERRY PRORSUM - Black high-cut leather platform pumps, £495