As the seasons change, we typically need to turnover our wardrobe. But that doesn’t mean you have to buy a whole new wardrobe. You just need a few staples to create multiple outfits and looks for different occasions. Today I’m sharing my fall wardrobe essentials guide to help you create a wardrobe that’s buildable and versatile for the season ahead.
I also filmed a video for my YouTube channel about my fall wardrobe essentials. I go into more detail about each of the items, the fit and how to style them there, so you won’t want to miss it!
Fall Wardrobe Essentials Guide
Each of these pieces can be mixed and matched to build endless combinations of outfits. I’ve included workwear, casual and dressy pieces to help you dress your best for any occasion. These items can be paired with pieces you already have in your closet to create looks. Or if you already have these pieces, you can use this guide as inspiration to put together multiple outfits.
I broke the items down into categories in my YouTube video to keep it organized. The categories include sweaters, tops, bottoms, handbags, sweaters, dresses, outwear, shoes and hats. Plus most of the pieces I included are under $100 from retailers like Express, Walmart and Nordstrom Rack.
Tops & Sweaters
I shared a few great workwear tops that can be worn alone or under different pieces. This scalloped cami comes in a variety of colors and is such a great base piece to wear with cardigans and blazers to work.
It was hard to narrow down my favorite sweaters, but I included a variety of fits to cover our basis. Sweaters are great to wear with denim, skirts or leggings throughout the season. If you want to wear a chunky sweater with a skirt, just front tuck the skirt to define where you waistline is. I also shared a few sweaters that have a fitted bottom like this one that can easily be tucked into skirts or denim without adding unnecessary bulk.
I included three cardigans in this guide. The first is from Amazon and features pockets. It’s a casual silhouette and great to wear lounging or with casual outfits. This one from Express is similar in length to the Amazon one, but it looks more streamlined and less chunky. It’s a great option to wear to work or for dressier occasions. The last one is a shorter cardigan with a soft material that can be paired with skirts, dresses or for workwear.
Denim, Skirts and Workwear Pants
Use code LACEANDLASHES for 15% corduroy skirt (also works on entire site)
Denim jeans are definitely a capsule item to have in your fall wardrobe. You can pair them with chunky sweaters for casual looks or with a cami, blazer and pumps for an out-to-dinner look. A pair of non-distressed, darker-wash skinny jeans, a non-distressed pair in a lighter wash and an on-trend pair, like mom jeans are really all you need for your denim collection. Darker washes are great to wear for more dressier occasions. Lighter wash or mom jeans are perfect for casual events.
Skirts are a great option to wear throughout the fall as an alternative to denim. I’m seeing a lot of faux-leather skirts this season. I found this ruffle, faux-leather skirt from Express that I’m loving. Typically you see faux-leather only in more form-fitting silhouettes. But I love that this has volume and movement to it. You could pair it with a faux-suede moto jacket, sheer tights and booties for a night-out look.
I always recommend workwear pants from Express. They carry a wide variety of silhouettes, and they come in petite, regular and long lengths to get that perfect fit. I have a pair of paper bag pants from Express. They’re the perfect blend of fashion-forward and a timeless look.
Dresses and Outerwear
Dresses in the fall are so much fun because you have a good variety of different shoes you can wear with them. If it’s a bit chilly, you can wear booties, knee-high boots or over-the-knee boots. You can even wear sheer tights for an extra layer of warmth, if needed. Or you always have the option to wear mules, a braided heel like these or a sandal for those warmer fall days. In my must-have dresses, I included my favorite sweater dresses, a midi dress and a gorgeous v-neck swing dress pictured above.
For outwear, I chose two different styles of moto jackets. One is more streamlined and the other has pockets and looks a bit more edgy. Both work well for date night over dresses, sweaters or with leggings. I also included a teddy jacket to throw on while running errands, if you’re headed to the gym or for other casual occasions. It’s so cozy!
Shoes, Hats and Handbags
These three items – shoes, handbags and hats – elevate any outfit. One of my fall casual, go-to looks is a sweater and denim jeans with booties. To elevate the look further, add a felt fedora and a crossbody bag to complete the look. I rounded up my favorite fall shoes in this post here, if you’re interested.
It was tough to narrow down the bags to include in this post, but ultimately decided on two different ones. The first is the tote bag that was a best-seller. It’s so chic, incredible quality and under $50. It would work well for work, school or travel. The other bag included is this shoulder bag from Goodnight Macaroon. It’s a look-for-less to the Bottega Veneta Cassette bag that retails for over $3,000. So I was really excited when I found this bag for a great price. You can use my code LACEANDLASHES for 40% the entire site at Goodnight Macaroon.
A capsule wardrobe is all about pieces that are versatile that can be styled multiple ways to recreate different looks. I hope this post helps give you the inspiration you need to feel and look your best this fall season.
What’s one of your must-have wardrobe pieces for the fall season? Let me know in the comments below!
Shop Fall Wardrobe Essentials
