my college girlfriends and i go on a trip together every year. after lengthy debate, we ended up picking ogunquit, maine for our destination. maine in early november? you ask. trust me, we were a little concerned too. were we setting ourselves up for failure due to freezing temps and inhospitable rain and winds? god knows that’s not ideal for insta pics. but alas, we decided to chance it anyway.
and well, it was actually PERFECT. if you’re worried about going to maine in the late fall, worry no more! the weather was that beautiful crisp fall, brackish air and still warm enough for us to walk along the coast in a mid-weight jacket. the leaves were still hanging on and the fall colors were stunning. pumpkins were still scattered on porches and along the quaint storefronts and the charm of small town maine was everything i imagined and more. some mornings were misty and drizzly but that only gave us an excuse to wear cute rain gear. being the savvy packer i am 😉 , i was prepared for most weather scenarios. so if you’re planning a trip to maine (or new england) in the fall read on for everything you should take with you. and yes, you can fit 3 jackets, 3-4 pairs of shoes, and 3-4 outfits in a carry on. i’ll do a specific post on packing tips soon!
what to wear in maine (new england) in the fall:
maine is quintessential new england and new england style is obviously preppy. but for those of us who don’t want to go full on j. crew and vineyard vines (because blehh), there are still some great ways to incorporate preppy style into our current wardrobe.
we’ll start with what shoes to wear in maine in the fall:
shoes are a great way to add some new england style to any wardrobe. my top two picks for a fall trip to maine are sperry duck boots and hunter rain boots. maine is wet, so you need appropriate footwear. these two boots are actually pretty versatile and work perfectly for a stroll around town or a walk along the coast. if you want to level up, these burberry rainboots are also perfect for the northeast!
it should be noted that, for the longest time, i was pretty much against hunter boots. i just thought they were too, well, basic. but i finally caved in and i love them. and if there’s anywhere to wear hunter rain boots, it’s in new england. if you’re on the fence about these, trust me, just get a pair, you’ll thank me one day, especially when the whole world is flooding. i see you, global warming, and i raise you my hunter boots.
now onto tops
here are some classic tops to wear in maine:
flannel is a perfect choice for maine in the fall. i got this blue and yellow flannel shirt at abercrombie and fitch. i know what you’re thinking. who the eff shops at abercrombie and fitch anymore? i’ll tell you who, the moneywise blogger who walks past the storefront and spots the perfect flannel in the window display and then, bonus, it’s 50% off! sorry revolve and your $200 flannel… and you’re welcome everyone reading this. i paired it with jeans (which i discuss further below) and my burberry quilted jacket – we love a classic high-low moment.
UPDATE: this post is older and the new trend is “shacket” instead of “flannel” which is really just an oversized flannel, but here are some fave shackets of mine as well that would work for maine in the fall:
you also should not go anywhere in the fall without a cozy cream sweater. they basically go with everything and look good on everyone. i have like 12 different cream sweaters, but here’s a nice classic cream sweater option and here’s a more trendy sweater look for this season, and here is just an all time favorite sweater of mine in a camel color (camel is very ontrend for 2021)!
next up: patterned cozy sweater, ah yes, another cozy sweater. you pretty much can’t have too many. this one was perfect for maine in the fall. super soft, check. warm enough to insulate from winds on your coastal stroll/instagram photo opp outing, check. autumn colors, check. cute af, check. can cook live lobster in it, check, check. so basically you can’t go to maine in the fall without this sweater.
update: sadly this sweater is sold out, but here are some other cute options:
i paired it with leggings, my barbour water-repellent jacket, (note hood is sold separately here) and duck boots. perfect for a stroll along the coast.
a deep yellow is the perfect color for fall. this sweater pairs especially well with a blue and white striped raincoat. my specific coat is no longer available, but here are some other options: this striped raincoat or this cute blue one with striping on the inside. another way to incorporate yellow is with a classic yellow raincoat paired with denim, a breton striped sweater, and hunter rain boots. so basically, rubber ducky but make it fashion.
now onto pants: i guess we have to wear them when it gets cold out.
if you’re not quite ready to go full on mom jean, but know you need to ease out of the skinny jean trend, these are the jeans for you. they are so flattering and still give you some shape without looking too grandma like. i love them! (ps: they also sell them on revolve(free 2 day shipping!) but look a little different on the model – i recommend sizing up one size for a slightly looser fit.) they’re great as they work well with hunter rain boots but also look good with a pair of trendy loafers (that you 100% need for the 2021 fall/winter season) or sneakers, like this sustainable pair that I’m obsessed with. and yes, the mom jean is here to stay. so don’t be afraid to invest in a few cute pairs. i also absolutely LOVE these! the cropped style looks great with a cute pair of ankle boots which you can wear out to a nice dinner in maine.
when you don’t want to commit to real pants, leggings are always an option and definitely one of my staple pieces. this high waisted pair is my favorite of all time . i don’t think i’ve ever gotten so much use out of a piece of clothing. and compared to a lot of yoga pants, these don’t pill from continuous wear. they’re great for traveling (i normally wear mine on the plane) but they’re also perfect to wear with rainboots, a sweater, and a burberry quilted jacket to make the look more sophisticated and ya know, fit in with that blue blood crowd. plus, the high waist compression helped hide the candy corn i gorged on before my trip. if you want to look a little more dressy, these are my two favorite pairs of leather leggings (both are compression), these have a more pebbly leather look and these are slightly shinier but not overly so, just a little more “elevated looking”.
for maine and our day spent in boston, i paired my leggings with my burberry jacket. i was never really a “burberry girl”. i was more a leather moto jacket kinda person (which if you’re in the market, all saints has some great the best options). if you’re on more of a budget, i love this suede one and this amazing bargain option (80% 0ff).
ok, back to my burberry jacket. i wasn’t that into them, but then, circa 2015, i saw this jacket at nordstrom and it was begging me to try it on. so i did. and then it was love. long story short, i am so happy i got it. it’s so versatile and a nice balance of casual yet chic. i’ve gotten a lot of use out of it, plus it’s timeless. a classic burberry jacket will always be in style. unfortunately, i can’t find my exact style anywhere anymore, but here are some other options: tan quilted burberry field jacket or fern green quilted burberry jacket.
so that about wraps up this post on what to wear in maine in the fall. moral of the story, never say never. even sjp’s infamous scrunchie has risen from the ashes.