7 Under-$70 Fall Basics I'm Wearing to Make My Outfits Look More Expensive

There’s one thing that gets more play in my wardrobe than anything else: great basics. Sure, I’m always excited to experiment with the new trends of the season, but I spend most of my time shopping for basics that I know will be the building blocks of my wardrobe. I want my basics to be anything but boring, though, and I tend to gravitate toward pieces that have modern finishes that make them feel fashion-forward—and that’s exactly what’s lying in the new drops from our namesake clothing line.

I recently tried on some of the new arrivals and all of the pieces have the cool design elements and luxe finishes of pieces with a much higher price tag, but they all hit under $70. The leather top? A riff on a classic button-down style, but even cooler with its gathered, puffy sleeves. The checked pantsuit? An essential, but even better with a cinched waist jacket and trousers finished with a split hem zipper. Ahead, see how I’m wearing seven of the new fall basics for the season ahead.

Checked Suiting

When in doubt, a matching set is always my go-to outfit when I want to feel polished, and these pieces deliver. I particularly love the timeless checked print that this set is finished in. Here, I wore the jacket on its own with nothing underneath and accentuated the cinched waist with a belt. The pants are designed with a zipper along the front, which I opened slightly for a split hem silhouette.

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Puff Sleeves

I think leather tops are the ultimate transitional piece to wear when the season is changing and especially love this version because of the voluminous, puffed-up sleeves that instantly make it look elevated. This top feels especially luxe with the faux-leather finish. Right now, I’m wearing it with a few buttons undone at the top, tucked into a pair of loose-cut jeans. 

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Faux Leather

Like I said earlier, matching sets are something I always rely on in my wardrobe, and here’s another one I’m loving. A rich burgundy shade is always a color I gravitate to, so I was excited to slip into this faux-leather top and pants. The top is finished with gathered, voluminous sleeves, while the pants have a great loose fit.

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Relaxed Trousers

Here, I’m wearing the relaxed trousers from above and love how versatile they are. Yes, they work perfectly with the full matching set, but they’re also great with a simple tee. Moving into fall, I’d swap in a pair of chunky Chelsea boots and an oversize blazer.

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Printed Puffer

When temperatures start to dip, puffer coats are my favorite piece to wear. While I normally reach for a standard black coat, I immediately fell in love with this houndstooth print version, which is fun but still neutral enough to wear with practically anything in my closet. Here I styled it with a pair of jeans and added a belt at the waist to add a little shape.

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Knit Cardigan

I’ve pretty much been living in cozy sweaters recently, so I was very excited to add a new one into my arsenal. This style has a cool, retro vibe that looks great paired with jeans, but I can also imagine wearing it with a pretty slip dress.

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Next, see the eight fall trends I'm already wearing.