I'm the Brunch Connoisseur of My Friend Circle—10 Outfits I'd Wear Out
Brunch season doesn't stop just because summer is over. While we're still tapering off that seasonal heat at this very moment, I've already mentally jumped ahead to the crisp air of fall. Quite frankly, it's my favorite brunching weather of all. Without the beating sun, sweltering temperatures, and muggy humidity, I'm free to put my best fashion foot forward. Ahead of actual winter chills, there's nothing that sounds better than a little fresh air as I eat French toast and drink Bloody Marys with my crew of friends on a Sunday morning.
Lucky for you, I'm well versed in this kind of thing. As the resident brunch expert of my friend group, I've learned the ins and outs of what to and what not to wear when it's time to down a stack of pancakes and plates of eggs. Whether you're heading to a diner or an exclusive spot, the key is to be comfortable and stylish. With either a fancy midi skirt and T-shirt, an effortless two-piece set, a dress, or vintage-inspired blue jeans, you'll be good to go. Below, find my thoroughly endorsed brunch outfits for fall.
1. OVERSIZE BLAZER + KNIT MINIDRESS
If it's still slightly warm where you are, a knitted minidress and an oversize blazer make for the perfect combination. Add patent-leather Mary Janes for a French-girl twist.
2. COLORFUL KNIT SET
When you're pushing back plates of pancakes, nothing beats the comfort of a cozy knitted set. Opt for a vibrant color for extra pizzazz.
3. PLEATED DRESS + LEATHER BLAZER
If it's a five-star brunch spot, a chic pleated dress works every time. Throw on a cropped leather blazer for an extra hint of sophistication.
4. WHITE TANK + PLAID MIDI SKIRT + PLATFORM MARY JANES
Equal parts trendy and elevated, this look will get you all the compliments. The platform Mary Janes prevent this from feeling too sweet.
5. GRAPHIC PRINTED SET + COLORFUL HEELS
When you're looking to turn up the sartorial heat, a graphic matching set will do the trick.
6. MAXI SWEATERDRESS + BALLET FLATS
Sometimes, you just want to chill with your food baby in peace. In that case, I can't recommend a roomy, long sweaterdress any more. For a look that feels more intentional, style it with square-toe ballet flats and narrow sunglasses.
7. CARGO PANTS + MICRO-CARDIGAN
The opened cardigan, or "micro-cardigan" as I'm calling it now, is at fever pitch, so take advantage of its trendiness and style it with cool cargo pants for your next brunch outing.
8. LIGHT-COLORED BLAZER + LEGGINGS + TALL BOOTS
Don't be deceived by the dressiness of the blazer and boots—this outfit still manages to incorporate leggings, which is a holy-grail piece when comfort is key.
9. PLEATED PANT SET
In my book, this is an ideal outfit as far as brunch looks go. It's not tight at all yet still looks utterly luxe.
10. STATEMENT FAUX-FUR COAT + JEANS + LOAFERS
Cold weather be damned. This coat-and-jeans pairing will have you ready for any reservation.
Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.
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