Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials

Dressing for fall can be so exciting. I think it’s one of the most exciting times of the year, maybe second only to spring. Actually, no, spring is second to fall. When the weather is getting a little bit colder outside, or even before it does, fall clothing is on everyone’s minds. We can imagine our sweaters coming out, our little jackets coming out. It’s so nice.

One thing that makes me feel a little bit more mature, but not in a less creative way, is owning clothing that makes sense to actually wear and put on in the changing seasons. Things that work for errands, for school drop-off, for work, for a late night out, whatever it may be. There are some useful, beautiful pieces that hold a wardrobe together, and we definitely see that in fall.

1. The Camel Wool Coat

Camel is a perfect neutral, right in between light and dark. It can ride with any outfit, whether it’s lighter leaning or darker leaning, and it can be dressed up or down. It even goes well with other brighter colors, ones that aren’t neutral.

2. The Black Turtleneck

This is also a piece that can be dressed up and down very easily. A turtleneck is a great layer that keeps you warm, but without anything on top it can still be somewhat breathable.

Black especially is a good color for layering. You could put something on top, whether it’s a jacket or a vest, and it’s going to look chic with black.

3. The Cream Crewneck Sweater

A cream sweater is like a silent hero of fall. Whenever I see a great fall outfit that looks light and bright despite the cold weather, it’s with a cream sweater. A crewneck is also great because you can layer a collared shirt underneath.

4. The Fine-Gauge Cardigan

A fine gauge cardigan is great for layering. It can add a feminine touch to any outfit, whether that’s a feminine-leaning outfit like this one with the mini skirt and the ballet flats, or on top of a button down, it looks great.

It can be worn alone or layered, and it’s good in neutral colors like the charcoal here, or in a pop of color.

5. The White Button-Down Shirt

I’ve already mentioned this multiple times in combination with the other essentials above. Here, she’s layering the white button down underneath a crewneck sweater. It looks comfortable, it looks warm.

It’s a smart casual outfit with the loafers. A great choice, and better than if the sweater were alone.

6. The Striped Long-Sleeve Tee

A stripe is a great addition to any closet because it reads a little bit more modern than a floral, while still giving you a print when you need something more interesting than a solid.

What’s also different about a stripe versus a floral or a pattern with multiple colors is that the two colors of the stripes are easy to pair in any outfit. Here, she has the beige trench coat going with the black and the off white, which makes total sense.

7. The Ribbed Layering Tank

A tank is a great option to dress down any outfit. It can be layered underneath a collared shirt or a sweater. It really should be the base of most of your outfits, especially when you’re considering removing layers throughout the day.

8. The Tall Boot

A tall boot is actually a great piece to have all times of the year, especially fall. This is one of the first pieces I get excited about pulling out of my closet for the fall. I think you can pull it out a little bit early and wear it with mini skirts, or even shorts.

Here, she’s wearing it with a midi skirt so the top of the boot is hidden, which is a chic way to wear the tall boot.

9. The Trench Coat

The trench coat is a great piece to have in any color. This beige neutral that she has here is definitely one of the most classic, and probably my most recommended. Adding a beige trench coat not only looks fashionable but timeless.

An army green khaki can read a little bit more casual and less chic than a beige. Navy blue is also a good one.

10. The Quilted Jacket

The quilted jacket is a great fall piece when you’re trying to read a little bit equestrian. It can either go equestrian, or it can go grandma-core cozy. Either way, both are definitely fall themes. We love the leather collar that she has here.

The quilting with the leather makes it feel so cozy and durable, almost like a patina. That’s the thing about quilting, it feels like it can be worn and worn and worn. For some reason it feels more durable than another type of jacket, because of the extra step taken to quilt it.

11. The Dark Straight-Leg Jeans

Dark jeans are a great staple to have when the days are getting shorter and darkness is coming earlier. It’s nice to have something easy to throw on that looks refined and crisp while still being pared back.

Having it be a straight leg also takes away some of the guesswork of putting together the outfit. You can use a straight leg in many more situations than a wider leg, which won’t go with as many shoe pairings, especially for a dinner out or for work. A straight leg looks great almost every time.

12. The Relaxed Blue Jean

This is a little bit more relaxed than the straight leg above, and it’s also a lighter color. This isn’t a dark, dark blue but something that reads a little bit more casual and comfortable to be worn throughout the day, not necessarily to work but more to throw on.

Pair it with layering on top, or depending on the weather, maybe a thicker jacket or a tank top. A relaxed light blue can go with light shoes or dark shoes, and brown boots also look good. Natural denim like this pairs well with other more rustic looking fibers like suede or patina leather. Something a little bit worn in looks nice in the fall.

13. The Black Trouser

This is a great staple for work. I like how she has it high-waisted here with the tuck in. For even a little bit more of a modern look that could translate to something easily worn outside of work, a low waist would also be good.

The black trouser is a little bit fitted and tailored in this situation, but even a little bit looser, it’s really a general piece that can be worn to work, to dinner out, to the club. It’s a very versatile thing to have in your closet.

14. The Wide-Leg Trouser

This is a classic wide leg trouser that she has on, and we love the pleating down the middle. This is a great staple to have in your closet for work but also generally for fall. The fabrics you find trousers in are usually warmer, which is more forgiving when the temperature is colder.

There’s been lots of resurgence in wide leg pants, and even balloon pants, recently. Before, wide leg trousers with a higher waist like this would almost read vintage, but now it’s feeling more modern.

15. The Slip Skirt

A slip skirt in a satin or silk is very polished and easy to combine in the fall with boots or heels. When the skirt has a little bit more give, like in this situation, with a little more fabric and movement, it can easily pair with a looser sweater on top.

If the slip skirt is a little bit tighter, you might want to pair back the volume on top so that your silhouette still makes sense from afar.

16. The Knit Midi Dress

This is an often forgotten basic that is flattering on most people despite body type, and despite many people being insecure about their midsections. The knit of a fitted dress like this is very forgiving. I love that she has paired the taupe with the taupe-beige trench jacket here, which makes a cohesive base for her outfit.

17. The Denim Jacket

This is a classic, and a vintage classic as well. Recently denim jackets have lost a little bit of their popularity in terms of the number of people wearing them, but it’s definitely a timeless piece that will never go out of style.

The great thing about denim is it comes in multiple colors. We think immediately of blue denim, but black denim, or even white or off-white denim, is another great piece to have that’s useful in fall as well. It’s timeless while still almost being a statement piece, despite its classic silhouette.

18. The Chunky Knit Sweater

The coziest of all the pieces we’ve seen so far, a chunky knit sweater comes in so many great fibers. I would suggest a high quality wool, a great investment piece if you’re feeling like spending a little bit of money. There are also great secondhand options.

When picking a chunky knit sweater, you can go for an interesting knit, and you should go for a knit that you love. Keep in mind that if it’s too interesting, it might not be worn as much. Statement pieces should be restrained while still feeling creative. Unless it’s something that you really love, then by all means go for it. I’ve often seen someone get a vintage chunky knit sweater that they don’t wear as much as they thought they would.

19. The Plaid or Check Shirt

This one here is a lighter cotton weave that she has on. It’s almost a base layer, a second layer that she has underneath her jacket.

What’s great about a checked shirt is that it could be a plaid cotton like we’re seeing here, or even a thicker flannel check. All of these are great ways to add pattern into an otherwise minimalist outfit without going too outlandish.

20. The Leather Belt

This one almost goes without saying. Everyone obviously needs belts in their closet, and a leather belt is the most basic. I would actually say that even in a minimalist wardrobe, everyone needs two leather belts, one black and one brown.

It could be a bronze buckle or a silver colored buckle, but having the two options allows you to mix and match with your shoes and your bag without feeling constrained. Belts in general don’t need to be too numerous in your wardrobe. There are cute belts that aren’t leather, like metal or chain belts, but the most important one to have is definitely a leather belt.

Notice here that the brown leather is much lighter than the brown leather of her shoes, but that almost makes it look less matchy-matchy and more on trend.

21. The Ankle Boot

Here she has an ankle boot with a pretty considerable block heel. I do love a higher block heel, especially with a boot. It’s a nice way to add a heel without looking conspicuous. Her ankle boot goes up a little bit higher on the ankle, which is easier to wear and less cumbersome than a calf-length boot, but also nicer to hide underneath the hem of pants without worrying about conflicting lengths of the boot and the pant or skirt.

Overall this is a great boot that she has on. I love the brown leather, it’s dark enough to go with anything while still being sleek. Also the semi-pointed rounded toe is not something that’s going to be off trend in a couple years. An extra square toe or an extra pointy toe goes in and out of style, but something in between will last for years.

22. The Loafer

Here we have a leather loafer. I’m wondering to myself if loafers are always leather, because I think it’s definitely the best way to go for being such a comfortable shoe. The leather makes it look more fitted, almost connected to the foot, in a way that still looks collegiate and professional rather than loafing around your house.

It’s similar to a ballet flat in comfort, but where a ballet flat feels dainty and feminine, the loafer feels more structured in a way that doesn’t take away from its femininity. It’s authoritative and classic while still being a smaller shoe to keep in your wardrobe. And let’s not forget that a white sock under a loafer always looks good, a long sock, really any colored long sock.

23. The Clean Sneaker

We love a clean white sneaker. It does not go out of style, and it’s definitely an essential to have in your fall wardrobe, and actually in every season’s wardrobe. I do think it’s important to put it further down the list, because we reach for this beloved classic more often than not.

Clean sneakers are the best choice in some situations, but I would avoid leaning on them too often. When choosing a clean sneaker, leather looks a little more polished than other materials, and suede is also a good option for fall.

A capsule works best when each piece lasts. The EPA estimates the US generated about 17 million tons of textile waste in 2018, and buying fewer, better pieces and caring for them is the main idea behind a capsule. For the wool pieces on this list, Woolmark recommends cleaning them before storage, folding rather than hanging, and using cedar to deter moths.

What to Shop for These Outfits

Three of the capsule pieces that are easy to buy online.

• Amazon Essentials Low Heel Ankle Boots. A pick for the ankle boot in #21, simple enough to wear with every trouser and jean in the capsule.
• Ewedoos Wide Leg Trousers. One option for the wide leg trouser in #14.
• Genuine Leather Belt with Pin Buckle. The leather belt from #20, in a plain style that suits jeans and trousers alike.