How to Reduce Your Fall Wardrobe to 15 Pieces

I grew up in Arizona and spent most of my adult life in California, so I’m a summer girl through and through and love nothing more than warm, sunny days and the outfits that go along with them. Recently, though, something inside me kind of clicked, and I’ve been craving all things fall. Sure, it’s easy to blame it on the unrelentingly scorching weather we’ve been having in L.A., but really, the thing pushing me over the edge is the fashion waiting on the other side of this season.

As an editor for Who What Wear, I’ve been evaluating the fall 2018 fashion trends for upward of six months—and now that all of the pieces I first spotted on the runways in NYC and Paris are trickling into stores, naturally, I’m ready to put a real-life spin on them and add the pieces to my own closet.

That being said, my approach to trends is always measured, meaning my wardrobe is a healthy mix of pieces I’ll wear year after year and some of the key trends of the season. With autumn in mind, I’ve developed a capsule wardrobe built around the pieces I’m planning to wear. Ahead, learn about the rules I follow to make smart purchases and limit my wardrobe to just 15 items.

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(Image credit: @chrissyford)

Trends are where I dedicate the least amount of money since I don’t want to spend much on items with a short shelf life.

Modern Cowboy Boots

Leopard

Belt Bag

"New Age" Sneakers

'80s Revival

Slouchy Boots

Rule 2: Invest in Shoes and Bags

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(Image credit: @trustmebuythis)

Now, this is where I end up splurging. Each season, I’ll land on a few investment pieces in the form of shoes and bags. These are always items I know I’ll have in my closet for years to come (e.g., my Chanel slingbacks), so I choose them carefully before making a purchase. These are some I’ve landed on for fall 2018.

Rule 3: Build Out All of Your Staples

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(Image credit: @styleheroine)

Here’s the foundation of your wardrobe, where it’s important to have items you can mix and match into different looks.

A Great Sweater

Versatile Trousers

A Top for Layering

Dark Denim

A Slip Skirt

Rule 4: Outerwear Is Key

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(Image credit: @annarvitiello)

Fall style is all about the jacket or coat you’re wearing since it usually ends up being layered over your other clothes. I always pick pieces that are versatile and can be worn with a range of outfits.

Shearling Coat

Faux Fur Coat

Next: Shop the 19 best things I wore this month.

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Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.