Freshman Energy
Merchandising Fall Like It’s a Brand-New Semester
You don’t need a student ID to feel the September shift.
Maybe it’s the cooler mornings. The impulse to buy new pens. The muscle memory of planning an outfit like it’s going to change your life. Or the fact that you still remember exactly what you wore on the first day of ninth grade, socks and all.
Around this time of year, I start craving that freshman energy. It doesn’t happen every fall, but if there was a lifetime achievement award for how many times someone has watched Felicity, I’d win hands down. I still binge on DVD. Even my husband got into it, and of course, he’s Team Ben. That quiet, almost shy “hey” still works on me every time. The show just gets it. The shaky confidence, the oversized knits, the version of New York you believe in at eighteen.
This fall, you’re definitely not headed to orientation at UNY like Felicity Porter.
But emotionally? You might as well be.
Fall carries that quiet, unmistakable charm. Even before the leaves turn, you can feel the reset already in motion. The shift is subtle, but it shows up in the way you reach for old favorites and wonder if they still feel like you.
As we settle into a new lineup of routines, I’ve been thinking about what I want in the mix. What reenergizes me? What makes getting dressed feel like a decision instead of a chore? Cozy layers with purpose. The cardigan that doubles as armor. The notebook on my bedside table, waiting for late-night Substack ideas. A juicy tube finally scraped clean after
’s convincing. And the pen at the bottom of my bag, useless for months, finally gone.Call it a grown-up school supply list. One part nostalgia. One part utility.
Entirely curated and merchandised for the version of fall you actually want. Six strategic upgrades to make September feel new again.
1. The Soft Cardigan That Feels Like a Hug
Because fall always starts with the layer you pull on before the coffee’s brewed. Whether you’re in a dorm room or catching the first cool winds through open windows, your pick should be emotional, maybe oversized, and built to layer over everything. My Binky Cardigan in grey, from Alex Mill, is my proven top seller, but this season I’m scouting for an upgrade. More drama. Bigger proportions. Cozy enough for Felicity to record a tape for Sally, structured enough to anchor an entire assortment.
2. The “I’m With the Arts Department” Tote
Back-to-school energy, but for your commute. You’re not hauling textbooks, but you’re schlepping your laptop, notebook, Stanley Tumbler, and whatever optimism the week hasn’t stolen. It’s gotta be big enough for all your essentials and sturdy enough to earn its keep until spring.
is claiming it’s a leopard tote this season, which is perfect because it’s really a neutral in disguise. But if animal print is not your thing, use this moment to test drive a color pop, a cheeky slogan with just the right wink, or a luxurious texture you’ll start building outfits around.
3. A Notebook That Organizes Your Brain
The academic year might be imaginary now, but nothing feels more September than cracking open a fresh notebook. Felicity and I both swore by spiral-bound in black, red, or blue, stacked like inventory for the semester ahead. These days, my notes are from sketch reviews, line plan strategies, marketing initiatives, and a to-do list that regenerates overnight. Some keep a notebook as the catchall for life — nothing is more satisfying than crossing off a grocery list, playdate reminder, and afterschool activity sign-up in one sweep. My hydrangea blue Moleskine still runs the show, but a bold pattern or print can be just as tempting. The best ones have a cover you want to open before the coffee’s even poured.
4. Sensible Mary Janes or Cool-Girl Loafers
The unofficial footwear of first days, whether it’s the semester or just a Monday that feels like one. Nothing screams academia like a Mary Jane or a cool girl loafer. Go polished with patent or keep it laid back with chunky soles and socks. Both hit that sweet spot between seasons and work just as well with cropped trousers as they do with a midi skirt. And if a ballet flat is more your lane,
’s edit proves it belongs in the same conversation.
5. The Grown-Up Lunchbox
The lunch table may be gone, but the politics of what’s in your bag are alive and well. You are either Team Grab Lunch Outside or Team Leftovers, and lately, leftovers are winning by a landslide. Sweetgreen? Please. That’s a line item in someone else’s expense report. A proper grown-up lunchbox turns bringing your own lunch into a small luxury instead of a concession. Bonus points for limited-edition print Tupperware that makes Tuesday’s spaghetti look like it belongs in a feature spread or a sleek bento box worthy of a product flatlay.
6. The Resident Advisor Knit Vest
Like office hours, but for your closet. Sweater vests are back and better than ever. Noel Crane would be proud.
is also a loyalist and swears now is the moment to wear them. Go solo, layer over a crisp button-down, or, when the weather deepens, slip one over a fine-gauge turtleneck. Pair with pleated skirts, jeans, or a healthy dose of existential dread. Argyle feels like tenure, cable-knit adds depth, and a bold stripe is the syllabus-free version of school spirit. The right one works in the faculty lounge or the boardroom, styled with equal parts intention and inventory strategy.
So here’s to our own versions of a first day. Small upgrades, merchandised for a season still figuring itself out. By October, half of it will be buried under a pile of laundry or in need of a very delayed dry cleaning drop-off. For now, it’s the exact assortment of fall I had in mind.
This was so fresh and fun! And now I want to binge Felicity.
Oh no, my school supply list just got SO MUCH LONGER. That Uniqlo sweater vest, the loafers, the TOTES. Felicity. Ben. NYC. Evonne, you’re speaking my fashion love language.