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Hello, hello! Today we’re talking about the best ways to incorporate the color blue into your fall wardrobe, how to style statement colors, and some ultra-cool brands to shop your bluest pieces from. I know red and its many shades tend to be a staple of the season, but I think we’ve had just about enough of it, am I right?

Blue can be one of the trickiest colors to style. It varies from brilliant and bright to subtle and soft, but its colorful counterparts can make outfits feel too garish or borishly monochromatic if styled incorrectly.

But it’s well worth the effort and thought that goes into a well executed outfit. So let’s talk about how to make it happen.

One of my favorite shades of blue is in this ethically made cardigan from Lisa Says Gah, paired with a pop-of-color trouser from Rachel Antanoff. On top of producing playful and engaging designs, Rachel Antanoff also donates to women’s health organizations like Planned Parenthood, placing women’s wellbeing at the forefront of their business. The look is rounded out with a gorgeous flat from a black-owned brand, featuring a pop of a lighter blue to draw the outfit together. It’s a common misconception that pastel tones can’t work in the fall and winter months, but I think that pairing deeper tones like the dark blue in this Lisa Says Gah sweater with a pops of paler tones like this Rachel Antanoff and Chelsea Paris flat effectively bring those lighter colors into the darker seasons.

These brands are also perfect for getting creative with your blue tones—like bringing a cool print into the mix. A plaid set paired with a graphic tee and statement bag are the perfect way keep your outfit nearly-neutral and still eye-catching. Silver & Riley is the perfect accessory brand to reach for when your looking for a beautifully constructed bag that looks and feels like luxury—and 5% of the profits from this black-owned business go towards helping other black women start their own businesses.

But I get it! Prints and pops of color aren’t for everyone. And when things aren’t stunning but color, we make them stunning by texture and silhouette.

Nothing says stunning like a gorgeous structural leather trench from black-woman-owned label Kai Collective. When a piece is so gorgeous and bold, I like it let it stand almost on its own. So for this look, I’m pairing the trench with a two-toned heel from Kendall Miles—a black female designer who manufactures her products in family-owned factories—to lean into the blue hues. The simple white tank and muted olive purse from Brendan Blackwood let the blues shine without toning them down. I love to mix another cool-toned color into an outfit like this one—the dark blue and muted green complement each other without either piece stealing attention from the other. The simplicity of the outfit is carried through by a pair of low rise Levi jeans. While the jeans themselves are simple, the work that Levi Strauss does on behalf of reproductive justice, worker rights, and immigrant rights is consistent and extensive.

When it comes to blues, I think we tend to forget about the bolder tones—so let’s talk about teal. I love a beautiful statement piece in a gorgeous, bold color. Especially when that piece is as unique as this sweater from Hanifa, a black-owned brand founded on the notion of empowering women to break barriers. That boldness and creativity is evident in every one of their designs—just look at this sweater. Not over the top, but still entirely special in its construction. To complete this eye-catching look, I went with a heel from Hanifa as well. In my mind, metallics are practically neutrals, and so this silver strappy heel serves as an ultra-cool support piece to the rest of the look.

Leaning into interesting textures doesn’t necessarily mean going for heavy fabrics like leather. I love an all-mesh outfit, especially for the cooler weather.

Mesh is visually engaging as is, but I find it also communicates patterns better than so many other fabrics. The material moves without losing its shape, and so the print of the garment is almost always maintained, no matter how you’re sitting, moving, dancing, etc. House of Aama, a label run by a mother and daughter duo, manufactures all of their pieces in Los Angeles. Each piece is crafted with the black experience in mind—in their words, they design “timeless garment with nostalgic references informed by historical research, archival analysis, and storytelling.” The clothing they create isn’t just beautiful, it’s purposeful.

In the United States, women make up the majority of discretionary spending—it’s anticipated that we’ll control 75% of it by 2028. We are fueling a tremendous portion of the economy. It’s this massive well of power that we have, that I don’t think we consider as often as we should. Where our money goes is powerful. I’m writing this on November 8th, 2024, when it feels like women have lost so so much power. When white women have largely voted for an oppressor. When women of color might feel like they’re fighting that oppressor alone.

I know it’s just clothes. It’s just shopping. One of those things that’s always been dismissed as frivolous and girly. But here we are. And maybe we’re losing power in one sense, but we still have it in others. And where we spend our money means something. Spending our money on clothes designed by black women, manufacturers that are environmentally conscious, brands that donate to women’s health organizations, businesses who support immigrants—it matters. It sends a message. And I don’t mean to imply that this is the most important thing we can do right now. But it is something we can do. One thing we can control is where we shop, and I hope that we can all take this opportunity to turn our money into not just our own power, but each other’s power. To lift each other up and to show the people who want us weak that we will not back down—even if it’s through something as “silly” as our shopping habits.

Normally, this is when I’d tell you to take what you love and leave what you don’t. But I hope that’s not all you’ll do. I hope this will spur you to reflect on where you’re directing your power. I hope this will make you consider the things that you can do to make things better. I hope you’ll consider if and where you have privilege in your own life, and allow that consideration guide you into taking action to lift up the people in the world that this administration is seeking to tear down. And yes, maybe find a cool outfit along the way.