Five Fall Wardrobe Essentials

These five things are staples in my fall wardrobe once the temperatures start to drop and crispness returns to the air!

While we haven’t *quite* gotten rid of the humid summer weather here in the south, it feels like we’re inching closer to fall by the day. Don’t get me wrong, I love summer. But by mid-August I’m ready for cooler temps, crunchy leaves, jeans, and fall foods. here’s nothing better than starting to notice the leaves changing and hearing the leaf blowers start running.

Lucky for me, we’re now in Boone (in the mountains of NC) for a month while our new house in Winston-Salem is being renovated, so I get to start my fall-vibes even earlier. It’s about 15 degrees cooler during the day and even more at night and the air definitely has fall crispness! I love it! Don’t get me started on how cute Thomas (my two year old) is with puffer jackets and jeans on.

Let’s get into it!

I had to drop a fall photo from the month we brought Thomas home two years ago. Our (old) house was decorated which made me SO happy. Look how small he was!

My Fall Wardrobe Staples

1. Tall Boots

Tall boots are one of my favorite things to wear in the cooler months. I doubt they will ever go out of style, which makes them a great investment for your closet and a staple for your fall (and winter) wardrobe. In fact, I’ve had my tall boots for YEARS. And I especially love them for dates in the fall and winter, since they’re a little too dressy for my work from home lifestyle.

I recommend having both a pair of brown leather boots, and black leather (or suede) boots. I feel like leather is a little more casual than suede, so I love tall black suede boots for a more dressy look. When you’re styling tall boots, think of the boots like you would tights. Since they cover half of your leg, they can be worn with shorter dresses all winter. They’re a great way to get more wear out of your short dresses throughout the winter.

Outfit linked here

Similar sweater | Jeans | Similar boots

Here are my tall boot picks to add to your closet!

2. Booties

Booties are the most worn type of shoe in my closet in the fall (okay, maybe second to my loafers and my running shoes). They go with everything – jeans, dresses, skirts — and they’re also a great transitional piece as the seasons change. I find that heeled booties are MUCH more flattering than booties without a heel. I’m 5’1, so flat shoes don’t do a ton for me (although I LOVE a flat loafer), but a small heels makes a huge difference for me. It makes my legs look longer and my outfits more flattering.

I always try to find a pair with a heel, and always something pretty comfortable.

If you’re going to wear them with skinny jeans, make sure your jeans are tight enough to tuck into the booties without extra fabric. If your jeans are too long or too baggy, cuff or hem them so that your jeans hit about 1-1.5″ above your shoes, on your ankle.

Also take into consideration the shaft height when shopping for booties.

You want the top of the bootie to hit the most narrow part of your ankle instead of hitting at a wider part. The goal of heels booties is to elongate your legs, not make them look shorter. A bootie with a super short shaft is going to make your legs look shorter than they are. Go for something with a taller shaft, like this.

One last thing to consider when shopping for booties is the material.

Booties with a wooden heel are more casual than a suede bootie with a suede heel. If you’re only going to buy one pair this season, a wooden heel is likely more practical. Leather booties are even more casual than suede (but can easily be dressed up).

Booties with a taller shaft are cute with cropped straight leg jeans too–in fact, maybe more so than skinny jeans.

Outfit linked here

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Outfit details

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Here are my booties picks this year:

3. Sweaters

Fall weather = sweater weather = best weather. Super oversized sweaters aren’t my main go-to since I’m so petite (I’m 5’1″). But leggings call for longer sweaters. When I wear an oversized sweater, I just make sure it’s slim through the torso to avoid overwhelming my frame, or I tuck it in the front. Another thing I do is roll the sleeves a little to show some more skin to balance it out. I also love a cropped sweater with jeans and a cardigan (buttoned up, worn as a top!).

While I have a ton of basic sweaters in solid colors, I do love having a few fun, colorful sweaters too. I tend to miss the pattern and colors of warm weather tops and dresses when I’m in the dead of winter, and fun sweaters like the one below help fill that void.

Outfit linked here

Here are my picks for sweaters this year:

4. Cardigans, Coats & Jackets

I love having a variety of cardigans, coats and jackets for the fall since the weather is so finicky, especially in the South. It can be 80 degrees one day and 40 the next! I think a packable black down coat is great for almost every day in the fall and winter. I have the Patagonia nano puff jacket but I also like this Eddie Bauer packable coat which is more affordable! And you can also return your Eddie Bauer at any time for any reason if something becomes messed up, and they replace or fix it.

For a heavier coat, I got this Miss Metro II Hooded Water Resistant Down Parka by North Face. I know I’ll appreciate how heavy and warm it is since we spend a lot of time in the mountains.

Outfit linked here

Outfit details

My picks:

5. Casual sneakers 

While I practically live in boots and booties, there are a few other pairs of shoes I think are absolutely necessary. I love casual sneakers –– not running shoes, but true day-to-day sneakers. And I’ll love this option even more for lots of stroller walks!!

Here are my casual shoe picks!

Happy fall!

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