It’s that time again — Songful Style, our little monthly styling challenge where I join forces with my fabulous co-hosts, Shelbee on the Edge and Marsha in the Middle, to create an outfit inspired by a song. Last month the choice was mine (obviously I went full witchy with I Put a Spell On You from Hocus Pocus — how could I not?). This month the pick was Marsha’s, and she went for something completely different: the gorgeous, gentle and slightly magical Neil Young classic, Harvest Moon.
A little about the song, Harvest Moon
“Harvest Moon” came out in 1992 on the album of the same name. It’s one of Neil Young’s gentler, more romantic songs — almost a sequel in spirit to his 1972 album Harvest. While Harvest was quite raw and folky, Harvest Moon has this cosy, nostalgic sound to it. It’s basically him revisiting the themes of love, ageing, and sticking together through life’s seasons.
- It’s a love song for his wife, Pegi. Neil wrote it as a sort of “we’ve lived a lot of life but I still want to dance with you under the moon” message.
- There’s a long‑circulated story that the soft brush sound isn’t a standard drum kit at all but a broom sweeping a wooden floor, adding to the rustic feel — though that detail comes more from lore than official credits.
- The gorgeous backing vocals are by Linda Ronstadt, who had also sung on some of his earlier records.
- The song has become a bit of a “soft autumn anthem” — you hear it everywhere in films and TV when they want a warm, golden, slightly bittersweet mood.
- The music video still gets talked about because of its dreamy, old-fashioned, slightly mystical feel — perfect for any whimsigoth inspiration.
- Even though it wasn’t a big chart hit at the time, it’s now considered one of his most timeless songs and often played at weddings and anniversaries. (Honestly it feels like it was made to soundtrack an intimate slow dance.)
Harvest Moon is such a lovely, easy-listening tune. It’s one of those songs that feels familiar the second it starts, and the video has that comfy, slightly old-fashioned vibe that makes you want to sit outside with a cup of tea and just chill. Nothing over the top, nothing dramatic — just simple and sweet.
One thing really stood out to me when watching the video again: all the checked shirts. They’re everywhere. It’s like an unofficial uniform for anyone who wants to dance under moonlight with Neil Young.
My outfit inspiration
Naturally, I thought, Brilliant! Easy! I’ll grab my pink-and-grey flannel shirt and job done.
Then I actually looked at it again and… well… it just felt a bit bleurgh for this challenge. Sweet, yes. Cosy, yes. But it didn’t have enough oomph.
So I reached for my other checked shirt — the one with a bit more personality — and honestly, I’d forgotten how fabulous it is. It’s Burberry (I know, I know!), and I found it in a thrift shop a few years ago for 11 euros. Truly one of those moments where the shopping gods say, Go on then, treat yourself.
After that, I had no idea where the outfit was going next. I’d wanted a waistcoat, but my only option looked more like something a pirate would wear to a fancy-dress party, and Michael’s waistcoat wasn’t right either. In the end, I layered my shirt with a little black sleeveless cropped jumper, which worked surprisingly well — a bit fitted, a bit preppy, without losing the relaxed vibe.
For the bottom half, I grabbed my wide-leg Salsa jeans. I hardly wear them because they seem to attract every stray cat hair in the entire Algarve, but style-wise they were exactly what I wanted. And since I’d already committed to more colour, my purple, black, and white Karl Lagerfeld trainers were a perfect match. Another designer piece, but again, outlet-centre prices all the way!
To finish, it was a bit nippy outside, so I threw on my black velvet Moncler gilet. Suddenly my Harvest Moon-inspired outfit had unexpectedly turned into a designer lineup — completely accidental because I’m absolutely not a designer girlie. Give me thrift shops, vintage finds, and second-hand treasures any day. But hey, these pieces live in my wardrobe, so they might as well get their moment!
The finished look
It came together in the end: a checked shirt with some attitude, comfy wide-leg jeans, a snug cropped knit, bold trainers, and a luxurious gilet to keep the chill at bay. Not at all what I imagined when I started, but somehow it fits the spirit of the video — laid-back, a bit romantic, and ready to dance under the moonlight.
We won’t be doing a Songful Style challenge in December, as hopefully we’ll all be busy partying lol, but I hope you’ll join us for our next challenge, which will take place on the last Monday in January. Then, we’ll be styling Shelbee’s song choice, a song deeply meaningful to her, and that is Reba McIntyre‘s 1992 hit, “The Greatest Man I Never Knew”. Until then, please take part in the link-up, below, and I’ll see you in my next blog post!
