It’s that time of year where we can start talking about fall clothes! Truly, and I’ve said this before, I feel like my closet comes alive in the fall. It’s my favorite season to dress for! While I like the weather changes that come with different seasons, I could totally live somewhere that I had to dress for fall nearly year-round. I love the layers and textures. It’s easy to be comfortable but still very put together by just throwing a couple layers together. I could go on and on, but instead, I’ll show you!

As you’re preparing to think about your fall wardrobe, I want to share some items that are essential to my closet this time of year. These are the items that I will reach for time and again, building numerous outfits around each one:

Outerwear

1. Long Camel Coatigan

Item Shown: Boutique find, but very similar option: J Crew Ella Sweater Blazer

I found this coatigan at a boutique last year and it was everything I didn’t know that I needed. I love that the sweater material makes it comfortable to wear as part of your outfit, so you can build a whole look around it. I’ve worn it super casual to dress up leggings and sweats and love the combination. It also works well with faux leather leggings or jeans!

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2. Moto Jacket

Items Shown: BLANKNYC Vital Signs Moto Jacket & Morning Suede Moto Jacket

I’ve had a moto jacket like this for years. It’s a great layering piece that adds a bit of structure and edginess to your outfit. You can style it so many ways, even with a dress!

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3. Shacket

Items Shown: Thread & Supply Shirt Jacket & BB Dakota Shirt Jacket

Shackets are new this season! I have a couple that I got during the Nordstrom Sale earlier this year that I’m excited to wear. They’re definitely a casual option, but I like that they’re different and unlike anything in my closet. I will opt to keep my outfits pretty simple when wearing one of these.

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Tops

1. Oversized Plaid Shirt

Item Shown: BDG Urban Outfitters Brendan Flannel Button Up

I bought this year’s version of this shirt during the Nordstrom sale, after wearing last year’s a ton. I sort of feel like a middle-schooler when I wear a traditional plaid or flannel shirt, but the cut of this one makes it much more palatable for me! It’s easy to dress way down with leggings and sneakers, or dress up a bit with faux leather leggings and heeled booties.

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2. Long Sleeve Tee

Items Shown: Daily Ritual Shirt, Zella Relaxed Long Sleeve Tee

A long sleeve tee is a very basic closet essential, but it helps with creating those layered looks! Keeping the base layer simple, like with a t-shirt, allows more room for fun accessories, like jewelry and shoes.

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3. Short Sleeve/Sleeveless Bodysuit

Items Shown: Abercrombie Short Sleeve Bodysuit and Abercrombie Sleeveless Bodysuit

Bodysuits aren’t going away anytime soon, it seems! I like them for layering, especially if you’re adding a bulkier sweater or jacket over top of them. It creates a nice fitted base that you can add a slouchier layer to without looking too frumpy.

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4. Simple Grey Tee

Items Shown: Madewell Whisper Crewneck Tee

This is a year-round closet staple, but again, a great piece to have for creating a layered look. We will have warm weather here through October, so there will be plenty of times that I’m wearing just jeans and a tee, but making it “fall” with my accessories!

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Bottoms

1. Faux Leather Leggings

Item Shown: Spanx Faux Leather Leggings

I love these leggings so much. I wear them very often during the fall and winter. Dressed up, dressed down, they’re so good! I like that they’re a step up from solid black leggings (which I wear a lot), which makes them a bit easier to style up with heeled booties and an elevated top. So many outfits have been created with these bad boys!

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2. Skinny Jeans

Item Shown: Everlane Authentic Stretch High-Rise Jeans

Regardless of what the trends are, I’ll always love skinny jeans. They’re great for balancing an outfit, especially as we get into the season of bulkier sweaters and oversized tops. I like that they play off the volume on top by creating a bit of a more even look. Plus, just about every type of shoe looks great with skinny jeans, so you’re not limiting yourself in the footwear department!

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3. Black Jeans

Item Shown: Madewell Roadtripper Jeans and 9″ Mid-Rise Jeans

I’m so excited for black jeans season. I don’t wear them much at all in the spring and summer, but come fall, all bets are off! They’re naturally a little edgy, so you can either play that up with the top you choose to pair with them, or balance it with a more feminine top. I like that there are a lot of options them with them!

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4. Straight/Mom Jeans

Item Shown: Madewell Perfect Vintage

Not everyone is into the mom/straight jeans trend, but I’m here for it! I like that they add a little variation to my closet, which is otherwise full of skinny jeans. They’re a little more constricting than skinny jeans when it comes to pairing tops and shoes, but it just takes a little trial and error to see what looks right with the more relaxed style of jeans.

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Shoes

1. Mules

Item Shown: Sam Edelman – Linnie Mule and Steve Madden – Finn Mule

I love mules! I started wearing them when they first came on the scene as “stylish” a few years ago and haven’t stopped. I find them to be very comfortable and love that they’re a good in-between from sandals to full flats.

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2. White Sneakers

Item Shown: Sam Edelman – Aubrie Sneaker

Another staple year round, I’ll definitely be pulling out my white sneakers this season. They’re cute with jeans, leggings, sweats, dresses, and everything in between!

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3. Nude Flats

Item Shown: Vince Camuto – Darlington Flat (no longer sold)

A nude, pointed-toe flat is just about the most flattering shoe you could wear, in my opinion. They instantly elevate a look without adding the hassle of a heel.

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4. Flat Booties

Item Shown: Marc Fisher – Yale Chelsea Boot

I love the look of heeled booties (and own a couple pairs), but a flat bootie is what I reach for more often – it just makes more sense for my life and style right now!

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