My Fall Color Palette Is Elevated Neutrals—32 Chic Items in My Cart
At Who What Wear, we have an unofficial motto we love to share with the world: Buy it once and wear it well. In a world full of fast fashion and endless trends sweeping our Instagram feed, it's no surprise our editors love to stick to the basics while experimenting with colorful bags, shoes, and accessories to make our looks feel more on-trend. If you walk into our office on any given day, you'll find a mountain of timeless, elevated neutral basics—like structured jackets, investment denim, and white T-shirts—that make up the majority of what we wear. If you're anything like me, though, wearing neutrals all day, every day can prove to be a bit daunting.
While I'm still fine-tuning my personal style at 25, I like to experiment with patterns, colors, and textures to create an untraditional look that turns heads when I'm on my way to press appointments or fashion-week events. That's why I challenged myself to wear the Who What Wear uniform for a week: chic neutrals that go with everything. My color palette over the last seven days has been nothing but white, black, khaki, blue, and gray, and I've been surprisingly shocked at how put-together and confident I've felt while stepping out in the streets of SoHo. Plus, getting ready in the morning has been an absolute breeze. Who doesn't want that?
Shop all of the best fall neutral basics below.
Outerwear
The viral Anthropologie leather jacket that almost every editor I know has.
This jacket might be from the menswear section, but trust me, it's universally flattering.
This beloved quilted jacket from The Frankie Shop is a silhouette I reach for time and again when the temperatures start dipping below 70ºF.
Knitwear
I recently added this Axel Arigato cardigan into my fall wardrobe, and yep, it's just as good IRL as it looks online.
This TikTok-famous cable-knit slouchy sweater is one of the most-used in my closet.
Tops
The ideal layering piece for leather jackets and cozy cardigans.
Our fashion editor Jasmine and I both constantly wear this chic chocolate waistcoat with ballet slippers and jeans.
Bottoms
Alexa Chung's collection with Madewell is such a lesson in great suede dressing.
Corduroy pants just scream fall to me, so this pair of neutral barrel-legs will be on heavy repeat this September, October, and November.
No joke, I've had this miniskirt for almost two years at this point, and thanks to the dozens of fall tights I have in my arsenal, I never get tired of it.
J.Crew is coming in hot with the timeless fall finds.
Ana Escalante is an award-winning journalist and Gen Z editor known for her sharp takes on fashion and culture. She’s covered everything from Copenhagen Fashion Week to Roe v. Wade protests as the Editorial Assistant at Glamour after earning her journalism degree at the University of Florida in 2021. At Who What Wear, Ana mixes wit with unapologetic commentary in long-form fashion and beauty content, creating pieces that resonate with a digital-first generation. If it’s smart, snarky, and unexpected, chances are her name’s on it.
-
French Women Buy Their Basics Here, and Now, I See Why
I'm afraid I'm now hooked.
By Michelle Scanga
-
Sorry, White Tops—Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber Are Making a Case for This Elegant Alt
It girl approved.
By Nikki Chwatt
-
We're Fashion Editors—Everything We Saw, Wore, Did, and Ate During NYFW
Let's dive in.
By Anna LaPlaca
-
I'm Refining My Wardrobe—36 Staples I'm Eyeing for 2025
Polished is the word.
By Caitlin Burnett
-
I Just Got Back From Europe, and Now, I Want to Shop These Trends From H&M, Nordstrom, and J.Crew
Think effortless elegance.
By Caitlin Burnett
-
Jenna Lyons's World: Her Go-To Red Lipstick, Her Latest Eyewear Collab, and the J.Crew Pieces She Still Wears Today
A true fashion icon.
By Judith Jones
-
Not Into Trends? Renée Zellweger's Winter Outfit Combo Is 100% Classic
Just as you are.
By Drew Elovitz
-
I Own $400 Leggings, But This Under-$40 Pair Looks and Feels More Expensive
No, I'm not lying.
By Nikki Chwatt