How to Get Your Closet Ready for Fall Fashions
September alert! This is the time of year when fellow fashionistas fall into one of two distinct categories:
The first, all of you who are still savoring these waning weeks of summer. Holding on by celebrating warm evenings, rotating through your assorted summer dresses and sandals, while sipping mimosas and Trulys.
Then there is the second category, the one that I fall under, comprised of all you fellow fall-obsessed women anxious to put away the flip flops and pull out a pair of leather boots or even clogs instead, thrilled by the options of layers and the newest cut of dark denim.
What type are you??
Whether you prefer to stay in summer mode until the day the kids go back to school, or you’re already rotating your wardrobe, now is the best time to take a (deep) dive inside the closet to assess what needs to go, what gets to stay, and what else you need. Of course we can help you with that! In the meantime, check out our mini list of must-have basics that should be in your closet:
• Blazers
Oversize is especially relevant right now. Yet the beauty of the blazer is that you can wear it to transition those summer slip dresses into fall. You can also toss them over a t-shirt and jeans to create a look of effortless chic, or pair them with a pair of equally tailored trousers. If you’re unsure where to begin, start by revisiting your wardrobe with the tips in Tackle Your Closet Editing for Spring. You’ll get a clear picture of what layers you already own and what’s worth adding.
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• Button downs
Chances are you have a button-down in your closet. If not, a crisp white one should be your first purchase for the upcoming season. Striped, navy, khaki, black or even vegan leather could be your second, third shirt you pick up. My new favorite way to wear the button-down is to think of it as another jacket or cardigan, or tucked in like a wrap top.
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• White tank top
The tank is (and will always be) an essential basic, but this year it has earned its place on the top 10 list of items for fall. Understated as a go-anywhere, do-anything piece, there’s nothing you can’t pair it with. And it’s the fastest way to dress-down any look. If you’re unsure how to make pieces like this work harder for you, see our 7 Expert Tips to Creating a Wardrobe You’ll Love.
• Tee shirts
The LWT is another foundation piece that has a prominent place this season. Make sure yours still looks fresh and white. It can be slightly slouchy and oversized or slim and sleek. Best looks are underneath your favorite blazer, but they’re also great for layering with that slip dress, cardigan or button downs.
• Boyfriend cardigan (or pullover)
Bigger is better. And since it’s currently an “it” piece, you don’t have to steal it from your guy. It’s simple to wear and totally versatile. Other than that, check for moth holes. If your knits are looking worn or your closet feels cluttered, A Quick Guide to a Closet Cleanup can walk you through a fall-ready refresh.
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• Black pants
While wearing your trousers a little slouchier is the new trend, you should still own a pair of black pants that is versatile enough to dress up with a heel and cool enough to be worn with a sneaker. To build a closet that functions with fewer, better staples like this, Unfoldid’s Capsule Wardrobe Concepts can help guide your next purchases.
• LBD
The piece that needs no introduction. If it’s in your closet already and it’s going to stay there, the only prerequisites are that it fits and flatters YOUR body, has minimal enough detailing, and that it can be dressed up or down for almost any occasion.
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Now that you know what you should have, follow these steps to see if you have them in your closet.
Give yourself an hour or more to try everything on in your closet.
Only hang up the pieces that you still love AND that fit you well and make you feel good when you put them on.
Create a pile of items to donate, and another of still-fashionable items that are in good shape that you can consign.
Organize the things you’re keeping by category so they are easy to see in your closet.
Keep an ongoing list of pieces that you’re missing = the shopping list
Not sure what to let go of and what to keep? Wardrobe Edit – What Should You Keep breaks it down step by step so your decisions feel easy.
Enjoy the remaining warm weather and cheers to fall!