Each year, when August hits, we all start longing for fall. Bright blue skies, crisp mornings, and desire for a fashion change.
Staple fall wardrobe items don’t change year to year. They are updated a little here and there — perhaps there is a more popular color or a change in shape. But there is a core list of items that you can lean into each year, time and time again.
This isn’t about the biggest trends of the season (that article is coming!); this is about styles that endure while keeping your wardrobe on-trend for 2023.
Top 10 Iconic Fall Wardrobe Pieces
We’ve included splurges and steals throughout this article, so read through all the options below. And, remember to check out your local boutiques for similar updated classics.
Blazer
This year, a plaid blazer is the one to add to your wardrobe. Find one that fits a color pattern you tend to wear, and then think about the shape. Yes, bigger and bulkier is in. But does that suit you and your frame? Only buy what you will wear and feel confident in. If you can pull it off, that 90s oversized blazer will make your outfit modern.
From Veronica Beard, this blazer can also zip in dickeys they offer for an additional price. The crochet trim is just the icing on the cake of this gorgeous blazer! Shop it HERE for $798.
This plaid blazer from Anthropologie has sleeves that roll up with a tab to secure them. It comes in petite, regular, and plus sizes. Shop it HERE for $148.
Jeans
A pair of dark jeans is always your friend when fall comes around. And Ladies, I know many of you love you love your skinnies. I am not telling you to get rid of them. But let’s not buy a new pair, okay? Let’s get a pair that, if you end up being whisked away to Paris for the weekend, you’ll feel chic and fabulous in. Of course, you’ll still be fabulous here on American soil, whether you’re headed out for a date night, work day, family gathering, or a weekend trip to the farmers’ market. Yes, those jeans exist. They have a wider leg, and the trendy name is the “puddle jean.” If you can’t do that, opt for a bootcut.
These double-waisted bootcut jeans from FRAME are just the best. With a 34.5 inseam, shop them HERE for $268. If you are petite, consider the pair below.
Made for petite women, these have a 32″ inseam (made to wear with heels) and won’t overwhelm the petite frame. Shop these Paige jeans HERE for $249.
Spanx has seriously branched out in recent years, and it’s only getting better and better with each season. These jeans are slip-on and just $168. Shop them HERE. Available in regular, petite, and tall!
White blouse
Yes, a white cotton blouse is great year-round, but there is something about finding a silk one for fall … Maybe it’s because there is a bit more formality to the season, with so many holidays as fall blends into winter. Add that blouse to the pair of jeans above, a skirt, a pair of leather pants, or under a sleeveless dress. It’s versatile and timeless. There is nothing groundbreaking here except the fact that a white blouse needs to be updated regularly, so check and see if yours is ready to retire. If so, grab a new one!
You may have seen this brand, Milano, show up in your social media feeds. Its slightly thicker, soft silk tops with pretty buttons have garnered a somewhat cult following. Shop them HERE for $275.
The classic button-down white silk blouse women turn to year in and year out is this one from VINCE. With hidden buttons, it comes in three colors. Shop it HERE for $325.
For a simple white silk top that won’t break the bank, we turn to Everlane, as we do for many of our basics. Shop it HERE for $150.
Ankle boots
Boots have always been a fall classic, and booties started to break through as a fashion staple over a decade ago. They aren’t going anywhere soon. Pair them with pants, dresses, skirts, and jeans, and they take up waaaaaay less room in a weekender bag! Having a pair of higher boots, mid-calf to knee-high, is also great. But if you have to pick ONE boot to add and don’t have a pair of ankle boots you love, I’d vote for them — even in 2023.
I’ve opted for three options here that are all basic with a “something something” to make them a bit more on-trend. Each is available in several colors, including black, but I’m showing them all in a similar color play below.
Western style is either your thing or it isn’t. If it is, these booties from Sam Edelman are super cute and work for casual, but are nice enough to wear to a company event or informal work setting. Shop them HERE for $200.
These ankle boots from Cole Haan are comfortable and a little more versatile, working for many occasions and generations. They are updated with a bit of a platform and lug sole. Shop them HERE for $220.
These booties from Dolce Vita are the trendiest of the bunch, with a thick lug sole. But they are still classic enough to get several years of wear. Shop them HERE for $150.
Chunky knit sweater
Choose a neutral color like beige, grey, ivory, or oatmeal. Black and navy are great as well. If it’s chunky but not too bulky, you’ve hit payday! These wonder sweaters can be paired with skirts, jeans, or dress pants. With some body types, you can wear these over a sheath or A-line dress as well. I like to go with cashmere to find that chunky, not bulky, sweater. The ribbed fisherman sweater is a classic staple.
Jenni Kayne is known for luxury everyday essentials, and her brand delivers time and time again. They are on the pricier side but hold up for years, travel well, and are super soft. She offers a HUGE range of colors, but they are all neutral. Shop this cashmere sweater HERE for $395.
La Ligne is a nice brand that carries a similar style. If you like rich, jewel colors, La Ligne has options that span the bright rainbow. Shop these colors HERE for $295.
Quince brings a much-reduced price to this style while still being cashmere. I don’t pretend to understand supply lines and all of the middlemen involved, but this cashmere sweater has great reviews — as in over 1,000 five-star reviews. Shop it HERE for just $89; 8 neutral colors are available. Maybe buy several?!
Leather jacket
The leather biker and moto jackets are iconic and add some edge to an outfit. Both are great with jeans, over a dress, and with a skirt. Wear with a silky slip dress or over an A-line dress. The trendier biker is a bit bulkier this season, but buy the style that makes you feel most confident. That’s the one you’ll still be wearing 20 years from now.
Not everyone looks great in black, and this navy cropped biker jacket can also elevate all-black looks, as seen in this photo. It’s cropped, making it work well with dresses, too. For one that hits at the waist, see below. Shop this All Saints jacket HERE for $499.
Also from All Saints, this black leather jacket just oozes “cool.” It spans generations, pairs well with edgy, and pairs especially well with feminine looks, making an outfit not too “sweet.” Shop it HERE for $499.
Again, Quince comes in at a much lower price point. This leather jacket is a moto style, with a banded neckline. It’s just $149. Shop it HERE.
Classic trench
Yep, as seen in our 10 Iconic Items for Spring, the trench coat is showing up for this season as well. If you live in the South, it simply doesn’t get super cold here until it’s actually winter. With a few exceptions, we can throw on that wool sweater with the trench coat and be warm. This coat will get you through the cooler September nights, fall days, and many weeks in winter. Buy one you love, as you’ll have it for a really long time.
Our splurge trench is this one from Veronica Beard in a deep olive color. It’s classic, cut exceptionally well, and will carry you for years to come. Shop it HERE for $898.
This trench from J Crew lives up to its name. They call it “Icon,” which can finish any outfit from work to the weekend. Shop it HERE for $348.
Gap has released this trench, which is a great price. At just $168, this will have you nicely covered for the weather elements of fall. Shop it HERE.
A long skirt (or dress)
Pick one that hits just below the knee, a midi, or a maxi. Longer skirts work well in cooler weather and look great with ankle boots, flats, and heels. If you aren’t a skirt gal, consider a solid color dress that’s well structured and can be layered. For 2023, consider a silk slip skirt or slip dress if it’s a look you can pull off and like. Alternately, choose something that gives a nod to the cargo look.
This skirt is made from 100% silk, and the length is really nice. Pair it with a cropped sweater or top, or tuck in a blouse or one of those cashmere sweaters from above. A banded blouse would be lovely as well. This skirt comes in five solid colors and seven patterns. Shop it HERE for $198.
Available in ivory and black, this skirt is not silk but has a silky feel. It also sits higher on the waist and is not quite as long as the one featured above this one. Shop it HERE for $188.
When I saw this at Nordstrom, I knew I needed it. It’s not a silk skirt and not nearly as refined, but I’m adding it here as it fits a similar vibe, just MUCH more casual. It’s that parachute-like material. It is on-trend with the cargo style that is everywhere this season, but it doesn’t add the bulk of cargo pockets. Pair it with t-shirts or one of the cashmere sweaters we listed above. Adding a structured blazer would make for a fun work outfit. Shop it HERE for just $59.
For those who don’t want a skirt but like this style, J Crew has this slip dress that doesn’t run too low in the chest. I think the Barbie pink trend is going to continue, so why not buy pink?! Shop it HERE for just $98. Don’t be afraid to wear this as a skirt with a sweater or T-shirt over it. Other colors are also available.
Wide leg trousers
Pick a solid dark color like dark grey, black, or navy. If you want two pair, pick a stone, light grey, oatmeal, or … red. Red is the season’s hot color, but it’s also a classic color! Red is bright, but it’s also a neutral, and wide-leg pants are classics.
La Ligne has these beautiful navy wool pants. Worn casually or for dress-up, these pants are a great part of a capsule wardrobe. Shop them HERE for $350.
Available in petite, tall, regular, plus sizes, ivory, black, and olive, there’s a lot to love about these wool wide-leg pants from Banana Republic. Shop them HERE for $150.
I highly suggest having a pair of red pants. They are so versatile, and they just bring a pop of fun over and over. Red is a bright color, but it’s also a neutral — I don’t understand how it can be both, but it is! These cotton twill Theory pants are 50% off. Shop them HERE for $177.
To scroll through an edited group of gorgeous and classic wide-leg pants, check out this selection from ME+EM. LOVE!
Flats
From ballet flats to loafers, flats are classics that all generations can embrace. Don’t just wear them with pants and jeans; wear them with skirts and dresses, too. And, the most modern of all flats? Sneakers.
Rothy’s have become classic staples. Perfect for traveling in or wearing anytime you are looking for elevated comfort. Shop a ton of styles and colors HERE for $149.
Loafers are classics, though they tend to come and go trend-wise. But they are back and have been for the past few years! Shop these, and many other colors, HERE For $244 (sale price). They are made to order by Adelante.
The classic shoe of the season that you can pair with dresses, jeans, and pants is the Adidas Sambas. I like black with white stripes for fall, but there are several color options available. Shop them HERE for $100.
We’ll be back later with some more in-depth trends for the season, but these are your classics, updated for 2023!
**********
Bring some style and substance to your inbox each day by subscribing, for free, to StyleBlueprint emails! Sign up here.
