The Best Closet Staples for Fall

Hi there! I’m giving this post a little fall 2023 update today! Fall fashion is easily my favorite. An oversized sweater paired with jeans while I still have a summer tan just makes me feel so much more confident than how I feel in the middle of January when I’ve been missing the sun for months. Anyway!

I love to share my seasonal favorites and must haves, so I’ve put together this blog post to share the things I know I will reach for this fall and consider closet staples because I wear them ever year. While we each have our own personal styles and wardrobe essentials, I think this post is full of classic pieces that can fit into any wardrobe for the fall and winter. Plus, one of the things I love about closet staples is you can mix and match most of these pieces to get many different looks – kind of like a fall capsule wardrobe.

My Most Worn Closet Staples for Fall

The Black Blazer

Blazers come in so many different shapes and sizes, so you can never have too many of them if they’re your thing. However, a black blazer is definitely key to my closet. They’re perfect for work, to wear with jeans, or a midi skirt. Basically, wear them with anything!

I styled two very different black blazer outfits below. The second look is bump friendly. I loved wearing it last year when I was pregnant, but it’s also a cute fall outfit even if you aren’t expecting!

So, that’s why a black blazer of any kind, whether a traditional blazer or a tweed jacket, is my top staple for fall – because there are so many different ways to style it.

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Blue Denim Jeans

Okay, this might seem obvious, but having a pair of blue denim jeans are a wardrobe necessity for me, especially once the weather gets cooler. You can wear them with loafers, knee high boots, ankle boots, and any type of top for so many different occasions.

There is a great generational debate about skinny jeans, boyfriend jeans, wide leg jeans, and straight leg jeans, but I have to be honest, I love them all! If you’re looking for denim outfit inspiration, then you’ve come to the right place! Jeans are one of my favorite things to wear no matter the season. Click here for a blog post I just wrote that is full of outfit ideas for wide leg jeans. I also surprised myself and bought a pair of flare jeans that I wore recently. Middle school me would be so proud. Okay, last one – denim in light washes are also very popular right now. Click here to see how I style that type of denim.

The Layering Shirt

I love to have a few simple shirts that I can use for layering. I recently bought this one. The top below is one I purchased when I was pregnant. It’s a good length to pair with leggings or other pants where you want to cover your bum! It’s so cute tucked in or worn out like I am below! I highly recommend this top if you’re pregnant. It’s comfortable, and it also works well with maternity pants because it covers the stomach panel!

Button-ups are also great layering tops for the fall and winter. You can wear them under a blazer to the office, or wear them with a fitted top underneath for a more casual look. If you just want to add one to your closet, I’d go with a regular fit white or striped button-up. I also love oversize button-ups for a super comfortable look!

A Neutral Dress

Depending on your height or just your preference, having a midi or mini dress that you can throw on for anything is so convenient! You can wear this dress for something casual or you can dress it up. I love to pair dresses with any type of boots once it’s cold enough.

A dress in a neutral color can really mean any type of dress that you would love to wear the most – emphasis on you! Last year, I bought a shirtdress because it was perfect for pregnancy. I really gravitate towards midi dresses right now since I have a baby that I pick up all the time! So, this year, I bought a few sweater dresses that are a perfect midi length.

A Neutral Sweater

Okay, I know, another neutral, but the whole point of having a neutral sweater in your closet is you can wear it with pretty much anything. With one sweater, I can easily think of four outfits: jeans, neutral sweater, loafers or boots; slip skirt, neutral sweater, booties; slip dress, neutral sweater over slip dress, heels; work pants, neutral sweater, flats or pumps. I would go for a crewneck, but a v-neck serves the same purpose!

The sweater below is by far my most worn sweater in the fall, winter, and spring. I highly, highly recommend it! It comes in tons of colors, and it’s incredibly soft. Importantly, I haven’t had pilling issues with it, and I’ve owned a few of them for around five or more years. I’m wearing a size small, and I think it runs true to size.

Black Pants

Black pants always seem like they might be kind of boring, but I do think the right pair can make you feel like a million bucks! Whether you pick faux leather leggings, cropped leather pants, wool pants, or a cotton blend pant, a pair of black pants are great to have in your closet when you feel like you have nothing to wear. Just pair your black pants with your neutral sweater – or with a layering top and a sweater coat. Add boots or loafers, and voila!

I was very into my chunky boots when I took this photo back in 2021, but this is still an outfit I love today. I recently purchased a new pair of faux leather pants in my new, postpartum size. They come in black, navy, and a camel color! I actually went with the navy this time, but I saw both the black and camel in store, and they’re gorgeous.

Leather Jacket

Leather jackets are perfect for when the weather turns cooler. You can add an edge to any outfit just by wearing a leather jacket. They now come in so many different color combinations that it’s also easy to keep your look more classic than edgy. If you don’t want an edgy look, I would choose a suede jacket in a camel, brown, or other lighter neutral than black. Navy would also be a good option in leather. I have always loved to wear my leather jacket with a pleated skirt, jeans, or trousers. A denim jacket is another great option if you don’t like leather jackets.

Sweater Coat

Since fall in Washington, D.C. is really a season that can be 80 degrees or 50 degrees, I love to have layering options – that is why a leather jacket is a great option, but so is a sweater coat for a totally different look. I love these for work or weekend. I used to wear my sweater coat to work all the time with a sheath dress. It is always so helpful to have pockets!

I have a neutral beige color, but I would pick based on what you will get the most out of with your entire wardrobe. Click here for a photo I took this weekend of a sweater coat outfit I wore when I visited with family.

Shoes: Loafers, Sneakers, and Ballet Flats

Okay, last but not least on the fall essentials list is shoes! I live in my loafers in the fall and spring. They’re the perfect shoe to wear between winter boots and summer sandals. Click here for an entire blog post I just wrote on how to style loafers!

I know loafers aren’t for everyone, so if you don’t like the look of loafers, ballet flats are another great option that I love to wear with jeans and skirts. I also like to wear sneakers in the fall when I want to be the most comfy or when I want to give a tailored look a sporty twist – like jeans, a blazer, and sneakers. I’ve linked some of my favorites shoes for fall below.

If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading!! I hope this post helps you style some of your favorite wardrobe staples.