4 Fall Outfits That Could Change Your Entire Wardrobe
I have a friend I consider a fashion icon. Someone once asked her where she was going, and she simply replied, “Out into the world.”
I’ve never forgotten that.
Sometimes we make getting dressed more complicated than it needs to be. You don’t need a special occasion or even somewhere specific to go. Sometimes you just need an outfit that makes you excited to get dressed and go out into the world.
That’s the idea behind my Capsule Wardrobe Kickstarters.
Two pieces. One great outfit. The beginning of an entirely new wardrobe.
I created these Kickstarters to help you discover your personal style, shop smarter, and reclaim your enthusiasm for getting dressed.
Every great fall outfit starts with one of these.
I’m sharing four of my favorite starting combinations, why I chose these particular pieces, and 16 outfit ideas to show you just how far they can take you. Think of these as inspiration, not a limit. The possibilities extend well beyond the outfits I’m showing you.
Let’s get dressed and go out into the world.
1. Jeans and a White Tee | My Favorite Outfit Combination of All Time
If I had to choose one outfit combination to wear for the rest of my life, it would be jeans and a white top.
The key for me is finding jeans I can wear every day. I gravitate toward full-length styles with a leg opening between 16 and 20 inches. That gives me enough room to wear just about any shoe, especially flats and sneakers, which are my default most days.
The Jeans
These are my favorite everyday jeans. They were expensive, but unfortunately, I’m a bit of a jean snob. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Amazon fashion finds, but some things are worth splurging on, especially jeans you can wear each and every day.
They have the look of vintage denim, which to me makes them feel more modern. They’re not super stretchy, and although they’re technically rigid denim, there’s nothing stiff about them. They’re incredibly soft, distressed in all the right places, and have a timeless wash you can wear year-round.
The full-length leg and versatile opening mean I can wear them with just about any shoe, especially flats and sneakers, which are my default most days.
I’ve also found a look for less under $60 with similar fit measurements that comes in gray, too.
The $21 White Tee
She’s 100% organic cotton with a subtle slub texture that keeps her from looking too serious. She’s long enough to tuck in, looks even better after washing, and has the perfect crew neckline for layering under just about anything this fall.
When she’s not with jeans, she has a way of bringing dressier pieces, even silky satin bottoms, back down to earth.
For $21, she’s one of the simplest ways to start building outfits around what you already own.
One of my favorite styling tricks is repeating a pop of color, like a sweater and baseball cap or a colorful blazer-coat and shoes. These outfit ideas also feature my favorite casual blazer, a $100 Veronica Beard-inspired look-for-less with a detachable hood. I keep circling back to this fun patent handbag and Alaïa-inspired flats. They’re so comfortable! My chocolate leather bomber jacket is new and one of nine pieces that make 80 outfits in my new October Capsule. Four ideas to get you started, with plenty more possibilities in your own closet.
2. Non-Sloppy Sweats | SPANX AirEssentials
These are the only sweats I’ll be seen wearing in public. I call them my Non-Sloppy Sweats™, and once you try SPANX AirEssentials, you’ll understand why.
There’s a reason AirEssentials made Oprah’s Favorite Things list. The fabric feels like pajamas but looks like something you’d leave the house in. It doesn’t stretch out or fade after countless wears and washes. Even after a 12-hour flight!
The wide-leg pants are especially flattering, with a clever seam across the back of the bum that helps prevent droopy drawers. They come in so many colors, and the half zip is just as good worn on its own as it is layered under a warmer jacket.
My favorites this season, though, are the all-in-one AirEssentials jumpsuits. Long sleeve or short sleeve, they’re about the easiest outfit you can put on.
There’s even a fabulous brown color arriving October 12. Perfect timing for fall travel and another excuse to wear my Non-Sloppy Sweats out into the world. Use promo code JENNIFERXSPANX to save on your first order.
With a classic cardigan around my shoulders and a Polo Ralph Lauren baseball cap, this has become my favorite travel outfit. I also love it with a sporty windbreaker, like this YSL-inspired Amazon fashion find without the designer price tag. A one-piece jumpsuit is just as easy to dress up. Throw an oversized cashmere sweater over it with a silk scarf and boots, or add ballet flats and a relaxed suede bomber jacket. Four completely different looks without changing the most comfortable piece in your closet.
3. The Canadian Tuxedo | Denim on Denim
This might be my second favorite outfit combination of all time. I’ve written several blog posts about the Canadian tuxedo because it’s one of the easiest outfit combinations to make your own. You can mix denim in similar washes, varying shades, and just about any shape, silhouette, or style.
This particular combination was a fun find. The button-up looks remarkably similar to the FRAME Gillian shirt that retails for over $200, but this one is under $100. The rich, dark denim is perfect for fall.
These cropped wide-leg jeans have a modern length that skims the ankle, with just enough width to slip over boots while still looking great with loafers or ballet flats. The leg opening isn’t so exaggerated that it overwhelms your proportions.
An added bonus is the super stretchy Transcend denim that holds its shape throughout the day. These jeans also come in three lengths, so whether you’re petite, regular, or long-legged, you can find your ideal cropped fit.
Wear these two pieces together for a modern Canadian tuxedo, then separate them and see how many more outfits you can make with what you already own.
I’m repeating my favorite pop-of-color trick, this time with red kitten heels and a cashmere cardigan. I love how the longer cropped jeans show off your shoes. The reversible quilted jacket from my capsule adds a fun print, while a fringed cardigan ( Promo code CC20) and western boots give this Canadian tuxedo a little cowboy flair. Then there’s my iconic Veronica Beard Miller blazer in navy with gold buttons an outfit repeat in the best possible way, and one I’m always feel great in.
4. Winter White | Head to Toe
If I’m not wearing denim head to toe, I usually have it on somewhere in my outfit. I love a slightly oversized, stretchy denim jacket layered over winter white. This one also happens to have a coordinating denim skirt I found, both under $120, for another take on the Canadian tuxedo. A head-to-toe column of color gives you room to play with proportions, like an oversized chocolate blazer. Tan and winter white are a timeless combination that designers like Ralph Lauren and Chanel revisit season after season. This Italian-made blazer with a convertible collar looks designer, but the price tag will make you do a double take.
Contrary to popular belief, white doesn’t make you look wider, especially when you drench yourself in it from head to toe in figure-flattering styles like these.
These are the best wide-leg white jeans I’ve ever found. Built-in shapewear with a 360-degree shaping panel holds in your tummy, stretch prevents gaping at the waist, and petite and long lengths keep your leg line looking long and lean.
The color is perfection. More dirty latte than stark white. I especially love the fine-wale corduroy version, nothing like the thick cords we wore as kids.
Use promo code JENNIFERXSPANX to save on your first order.
This winter white Kickstarter is also part of my new October Capsule Wardrobe. Pair these jeans with an ivory top, like my favorite Quince cashmere T-shirt, which I wear instead of a cotton crewneck when I want something softer than bright white.
Of course, this Kickstarter doesn’t have to be winter white. Any monochromatic, head-to-toe column of color can create the same flattering effect. Another fall favorite is chocolate brown. The chocolate craving that goes straight to your hips, but in the best possible way.
