For the past few sweltering months, the bread and butter of our wardrobes have been white tank tops, breezy summer dresses, strappy sandals, and denim shorts—summer essentials. But with the change in season on the horizon, we’re shifting our mindset to cozier basics, and I don’t know about you, but I cannot wait to get my limbs into some soft cashmere sweaters and sumptuous suede boots and swap shorts for some chic, tailored black trousers. So what fall basics do we need in our wardrobes as the temps start to cool? I tapped into my fellow editors to see what they’re adding to their arsenal this fall. From cozy cardigans to black jeans, these will prove to be the building blocks of your outfits once the leaves turn brown.
Black ankle boots are a must to take you into fall. I'll be updating mine for this chic suede pair with a trending statement buckle.
For the transitional weather—when it's not too hot and not too cold—a lightweight trench coat will become your sartorial savior.
A heritage print blazer will be your go-to for work over a pussy-bow blouse, and for more casual affairs, throw it on over a simple white tee. You can also cinch it with a belt at the waist for a trending fall 2019 look. This & Other Stories houndstooth blazer is one of our best sellers on Who What Wear.
"Come fall, I pretty much live in black jeans, and I just added this perfect straight-leg pair to my wardrobe.”
"I'll be wearing a cardigan as a top for the foreseeable future, and I love the vintage appeal this one has."
"Even though it's summer, I live in these black jeans already and don't see that changing in fall."
"I wore a pair of snake-print boots all of fall and winter last year, and with the print trending hard this season, I think I'll be adding even more to my rotation. I love this dark-toned pair for wearing with jeans and sweaters."
"I don't know about you, but I'm more than ready for colder weather to arrive, not least because I want to wear all the cute sweaters on the market right now. In particular, I'm obsessed with this '70s-tinged cardigan by Simon Miller."
"Shocker: another sweater I'm in love with. French brand Maje always makes the best cardigans, and this is the one I have my eye on right now."
"I already own Dôen's black Mary Janes, but when I saw that the brand launched ruby versions, I bought them immediately. Jewel-toned velvet always comes back every fall, and these shoes are the best way to try the trend."
"I never seem to have a jacket that's between a lightweight jacket and a coat, but that's really what you need for that September-to-November time period. I imagine I'd get a lot of use out of this new Reformation one."
"These look like chic black pants but feel like leggings, which means they're the type of thing I'd be tempted to reach for every single day."
"You can never go wrong with a lightweight turtleneck sweater in timeless black. To me, it makes an outfit look instantly more elegant. This one has a special surprise in the back too, a row of pearl buttons up the neck. Tie your hair back with a bow or barrette and you've got the makings of a really cute detail shot for Instagram."
"These tees are best sellers on Who What Wear for a reason. You can't beat the price, and they have the perfect deep but not too deep V-neck. I have been guilty in the past of letting white tees hang around in my closet way past their prime, so this season I am looking forward to refreshing this basic."
"I already own these jeans in a light-blue wash but just ordered the black pair that was just released."
Up next, I found 20 expensive-looking Amazon sweaters, and I'm feeling smug.
