THE Wardrobe Staples for Fall

As I mentioned in my Navigating Trends post, fashion has taken a bit of a schizophrenic turn lately. Seemingly everything is in style and nearly every trend goes with every other trend. It’s an exciting time, as our outfit options are endless.

Having so many options does make writing up a Fall Trends post a bit tough. What to choose? What to leave out?

Let’s start with the most important piece: confidence. With so many looks on trend, you just need a confident stride to pull off any look – within reason, of course.

The style for fall (as it was for spring) is a balance between hard and soft – leather paired with lace and denim, floral prints with menswear-inspired pieces, and all paired with statement jewelry and a bright lip.

Dark Florals are and will continue to be a favorite of mine. For fall, try a floral blouse or pant.

This blouse by Mango is budget friendly and will go perfectly with a pencil skirt for work or a pair of dark denim jeans for the weekend. Add a leather jacket or blazer and a pair of bright shoes for a pop.

Or try this gorgeous dress by Ted Baker from Nordstrom. It will be perfect for a date night or holiday party (and is expertly styled in this shot, just add a cute swing coat or shrunken jacket).

Lace

Still loving that lace blouse or dress you bought earlier this year? Keep it around!

Pair it with a leather jacket and black leggings/cotton pants and booties for an ultra-chic look. I’m loving this chic look from the Sartorialist.

(So maybe you’ll pair your piece with an undergarment and tights, but you get the idea here…)

Chambray Button Down

This layering piece is essential. It goes perfectly with a fun pant or skirt (think of it as a neutral) and can be easily worn under a sweater or jacket. Be sure it’s fitted through the mid-section to keep everything long and lean looking.

JCrew has an amazing polka dot option that I’m dying for. The pattern is subtle enough to appear as a solid from afar, so don’t hesitate to pair it with a printed pant or sweater.

Leather!

As much as I’d love to tell you to go out and “invest” in a pair of leather leggings, I’m not going to. It’s a trend that probably won’t last and simply isn’t worth dropping $1,200 on (unless you’re dying to drop $1,200, and in this case, please call me ASAP).

A leather moto (i.e. biker) jacket, on the other hand, is an amazing addition to any wardrobe. They come in endless styles, colors, and price points. If I had the budget, I’d opt for this Belstaff. But luckily for us Nordstrom offers several lower priced options.

If a black moto isn’t your favorite, try something a bit more minimal or a neutral such as this June camel jacket:

I’m also obsessed with this Trouve moto in dark blue. Sophisticated with an edge. LOVE.

For pants – keep your colored and/or printed denim going. This trend will continue into spring and summer. Try throwing on a pair of black or navy trousers with your floral/lace top. Menswear is a chic way to differentiate your look.

Coming up – shoes and accessories plus a post on layering!

Oh! Did you know that I’m on Pinterest? Check out my boards for more style inspiration.