Fall Essentials
I just completed day 2 of my trip in Milan, and let me tell you, it has really gotten me in the mood for some much needed fall weather. Fall is my absolute favorite season of the year. Why you ask? No, it's not for pumpkin spiced lattes or butternut squash soup (I actually hate both of those things). It's because I LOVE fall clothing! I mean seriously, an average fall day in Manhattan is pretty much a full on fashion show. Who wouldn't enjoy that? The only bad thing about it is that every day I see someone wearing something that I want to buy...so much for saving money! Well, I've put together a list of what I believe to be the most essential fall wardrobe pieces. By checking these things of your list, everyone passing you will want to buy what you're wearing!
Boyfriend Blazer
Blazers are an amazing investment. They pretty much carry you from fall, all the way into the very last days of spring. They are most definitely a wardrobe staple, and can be worn casually with jeans, or dressed up with a dress and heels. Last fall, I got a super cute, heathered grey, Rag & Bone boyfriend blazer, and I became obsessed. It pretty much went with anything, kept me warm, and got me lots of compliments. This fall, boyfriend blazers are in again, and I am NOT complaining about it. A couple weeks back, I mentioned a Zara blazer that I bought from the men's section. I couldn't find the right fit in the women's section, so I opted for a true boyfriend fit. If you are having trouble finding the right shape as well, try to think outside of the box like I did. While manipulating the sizing of clothing is sometimes the way to go, it doesn't always have to be. Below, I've tagged a few boyfriend blazers that are perfect for this coming season, no manipulation involved. Even though black is always an easy color to go for when choosing a blazer, don't be afraid to have fun with your selection. Velvet has been super in this year, so why not include it in your fall styling as well? I'm really loving the mustard yellow, velvet blazer from Mango. If I could pull off that color, I would buy it in a heartbeat. Honestly, I'm super jealous if you can.
Black Booties
You guys, black booties are absolutely a must for the fall. I promise you will wear them with everythingggg. They add a fun, flirty vibe to a casual look, and make for comfortable (and warm) shoes during a night out. Confession time: I own 4 pairs of black booties, 5 if you include my black rainboot(ie)s. Maybe that's a bit excessive, but just give me a second to back myself up. Each pair of my black booties looks completely different, and has a different heel height. Some are fancy, some aren't. I believe that black booties are so essential that there can't possibly be a limit to how many you are allowed to own. Now, black booties are simple and a basic, yes, but I dare you to find a unique pair of black booties when you hunt for them. They should be unique enough that they stand out from the ones that the girl standing next to you is wearing, but basic enough that they still go with everything. Get what I'm saying? You want to get the most bang for your buck. If you're not sure what I mean by unique, but also basic black booties, take a look at the ones below! They should help provide some kind of sense of meaning. Out of the list below, I personally own the Sam Edelman booties with the embellished heels, and the Margiela booties with the buckle across the top.
Statement Bags
I tend to think of neutral and warm colors when I think about fall. I know that everyone doesn't exactly stick to wearing neutral colors for fall, and you don't have to, but I typically do. I try to add pops of color to my fall looks by way of statement pieces. This fall, I'm really liking the idea of a statement bag. A statement bag can be a couple different things. It could be a bag with a cool print or texture, or it could be a bright color. In this case, I'm talking about a pretty, contrasting colored bag. Not only does it show that you know how to handle wearing funky pieces, styling a colorful bag with a fall look means you're not afraid to have fun with your ensemble. Spice it up a bit. If there is a color that you can't usually wear (like mustard yellow, in my case) then use this as an excuse to add it to your wardrobe. In fact, I have a mustard/gold Marc Jacobs bag that is really similar to the one below!
Fall Floral
In case you were unsure, fall floral is totally a thing, and it knows no limits. Okay, so maybe you're wondering if there's a difference between spring/summer floral and fall floral? Yes, there absolutely is. Spring/summer floral tend to be light in color, often with white backgrounds. Whereas fall floral usually have darker backgrounds and deeper hues. There are a million different ways that you can wear floral, but some of my favorites are below. If you're feeling daring, throw on a pair of floral booties to add a bit of a kick (haha, get it?) to your look. If you're feeling extra girly, try out a fun floral bag with a pretty, neutral look! But, if you're really in the fall spirit, try wearing a floral maxi or midi with a boyfriend blazer, black booties, a statement bag, and some metallic earrings (keep reading! they're coming up). And just like that, you've got yourself the perfect fall outfit.
Bold Metallic Earrings
Lately, I've become super obsessed with statement earrings again. They were really popular about 6 years ago, and they're definitely making a come back. But just like any other fad, I'm sure they'll go out of style again, so instead of wasting money on super specific earrings, try to stick with more classic silhouettes and colors. My favorite right now are mixed metals. I tend to wear more gold jewelry than silver, but I still find myself wearing both on a daily basis. By wearing earrings that already come in both silver and gold, I don't have to put much thought into my jewelry choices. I just grab a pair of earrings and go. I just got the oval-ish ones from Mango (4th from left), and I can't stop wearing them. Not only are they really cute, but they're lightweight, and really inexpensive. Geometric shapes like this are sure to stay in style for quite some time.
Dark Hued Lipstick
I am a sucker for a good lipstick, especially during the fall. Even though I don't usually wear dark lipstick on a regular basis, I feel more likely too during the fall and winter months. Even though I get ridiculously pale during fall and winter, I still feel like the contrast in color adds a fun, funky element to any look. My favorite colors for fall and winter are deep purples, burgundy, chocolate-y browns, and silky nudes. If you don't feel comfortable going for a dark lip, try out a nude. A nude lip always adds a fresh, sexy detail to any look. Some of my favorite lipsticks are below. Even though I love all of them pretty much equally, I must say Antique Velvet from Mac is my go to brown for fall. You can see it on in the cover photo for this article!
By checking these items off of your shopping list, you will surely be prepared for this fall season, and you'll be the best dressed around. It's easy to follow fads, but they don't always work the same for everybody. Make sure you pick pieces that are true to who you are and that really show your very own sense of style! Do you boo, do you.
Happy Shopping Everyone!!!
xoxo,
Zoey Leigh