The Timeless Fall Staple Parisians and New Yorkers Wear on Repeat

Fun prompt for you: close your eyes and imagine the visual embodiment of fall. Did you see bright orange, yellow, and brown leaves scattered across the park? Or maybe you saw yourself snuggling up with a Pumpkin Spice Latte? For me, envisioning fall evokes all of these images, but I dream primarily of one specific thing: blazers.
Fall fashion generally can have me daydreaming for hours—who wouldn't want to think about knee-high boots, chunky knits, and leather pants? But there's something about blazers that captures what fall is all about. And I know I'm not the only one who feels this way. From Paris to New York, the fashion set swears by this year-round staple. A blazer is one of the best things you can buy for fall. It's the sauce that can take any ensemble from simple to spicy. Need proof? Ahead, I've rounded up 13 fall blazer outfit ideas from New Yorkers and Parisians that prove how this staple serves every time. Plus, I've shopped out each look, so you'll be able to master the recipe for yourself.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, blazers are the fall staple because of their ability to work for transitional weather. For those early fall days that start cold and end hot, throwing a blazer over a fun slip dress is the perfect outfit idea.
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Zebra print is big for fall, so this is the ideal dress to pair with your favorite blazer.
Do you know those days when you don't know if you still want to dress for summer or are ready for fall? Enter the ensemble above. Get more wear out of your shorts by styling them with a leather blazer and boots.
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Nothing will beat the blazer-and-denim combo. It's a tried-and-true ensemble. But if you want to spice this staple up, pair it with jeans in a trending silhouette (like low-rise or overly relaxed) and fun accessories.
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The past few seasons have shown us that, like blazers, leather separates have earned their rightful spot in our forever wardrobes. So it only makes sense that leather blazers have continued to be a must-have among the fashion set. If you have yet to invest in one, I recommend picking one in a neutral hue. The blazer will always be a statement piece, but if you want to up the ante, style it with a turtleneck, jeans, and boots in a contrasting hue like the look above to make this piece pop.
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When in doubt, the easiest way to style a blazer for fall is by leaning into the suit look. But if you think that look is a little passé, think again—it all comes down to the details. Opt for a blazer with interesting tailoring, layer on the jewelry, and add fun statement shoes to avoid the stuffy-suit trope.
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Just because blazers are a staple doesn't mean they're boring. Case in point: the outfit above. The key is to make this staple feel trendy. Simply opt for a blazer in the season's biggest color trend or style it with other trendy items of the moment to make it feel fresh.
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Cobalt is a major color trend for 2023, so why not embrace the hue in blazer form?
If you can't imagine yourself donning a vibrantly hued blazer, the look above may be more your speed. Pairing a plaid blazer (in neutral hues) with a sweaterdress and loafers perfectly balances minimalism and maximalism.
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Blazers, button-downs, slip dresses—they're all strong staples in their own right. But when you style them all together? It's a power move that will have you feelin' yourself.
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The best fall outfits can balance timeless pieces with trends—like the look above. Pairing a black blazer and white button-down with a pleated plaid miniskirt and platform boots is the fall 'fit you didn't even know you needed in your life until now.
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Prep enthusiasts, enter here. The ideal way to style this fall staple is by re-creating the look above. Pair a blazer with a matching skirt (printed or otherwise) and sneakers and you'll earn extra-credit points.
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I love a skirt-suit moment.
Shop the matching Pencil Skirt ($68).
Consider this a public service announcement. Just because blazers are a suiting separate doesn't mean you always have to get matchy-matchy with it. In fact, if you want to spice things up, pair a denim button-down and jeans with a leather blazer and ballet flats for a polished "suit" look with a little edge.
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If Canadian tuxedos are not your thing, another way to get the same feel without denim is by mixing and matching separates. Pair a waistcoat with your blazer and mismatched trousers for a look that's formal and fun.
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Lean into the full suiting look by adding a waistcoat underneath your blazer.
You've made it to the final outfit in this story and have hopefully concluded that blazers are worth buying every time. They can elevate the simplest ensembles or add a little edge to them. They're truly the best staple you can buy for fall, no matter what zip code you reside in.
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This post was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.
Jasmine Fox-Suliaman is a freelance writer and editor living in New York City. What began as a pastime (blogging on Tumblr) transformed into a lifelong passion for unveiling the connection between fashion and culture on the internet and in real life. Over the last decade, she's melded her extensive edit and social background to various on-staff positions at Who What Wear, MyDomaine, and Byrdie. More recently, she’s become a freelance contributor to other publications including Vogue, Editorialist, and The Cut. Off the clock, you can find her clutching her cell phone as she's constantly scrolling through TikTok and The RealReal, in search of the next cool thing.
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