54 Fall Capsule Wardrobe Essentials That Are Perfect for Transitional Weather

The jackets, the denim, the layers — ask any GLAMOUR editor, and they’ll you the best time for throwing ’fits is autumn. A fall capsule wardrobe sets the tone for all your transitional looks, and we rounded up our essentials for you to shop for the season ahead.

Our top picks:

• Best T-Shirt: The Clean Cut T-Shirt, £25, COS
• Best Black Leggings: Align™ Super-High-Rise Pant 28", £88, Lululemon
• Best Bodysuit: Fits Everybody The T-Shirt Bodysuit, £62, Skims
• Best Button-Up Shirt: The Boxy Oxford, £82, Everlane
• Best White Sneakers: NEW BALANCE 550 Leather Sneakers, £130, Net-A-Porter
• Best Rain-Proof Boots: The Rain Boot, £78, Everlane
• Best Long-Sleeve Top: Scoop Neck Jersey Top, £29, Arket
• Best Jeans: Baggy Dad Jeans, £120, Levis
• Best Fall Wedding Guest Dress: ASOS DESIGN Lace Trim Midi Dress, £55, ASOS
• Best Sweatpants: Varsity Sweatpants, £49.99, Adanola
• Best Work Tote: Brompton Leather Tote in Black, WAS £199 NOW £79.60, Antler

Our fall must-haves are tried-and-true wardrobe essentials; in fact, you likely already have a bunch of these somewhere in your closet (and if not, consider now the perfect time to invest). We’re talking the usual suspects: comfy T-shirts, black leggings, well-fitting bodysuits, sneakers, sweatpants, and button-down shirts for every day.

Plus a few carryovers from our summer capsule make an appearance, like event-ready dresses and ballet flats for elevating casual staples. There’s something about this time of year that inspires more big-ticket purchases, like a new work bag (maybe a designer tote, or a crossbody from a mid-price emerging label), boots to wear through winter, and a lightweight autumn jacket. (It certainly helps that plenty of retailers are having big summer sales right now — hi, Arket —allowing you to pick up some of these items for less).

As you scroll through this piece, take stock of the pieces you currently own and think about what’s missing, what you have too much of, and what might need replacing. The whole point of curating a fall capsule wardrobe — or any seasonal edit, really — is to mitigate the cycle of clothing fatigue and overspending and instead lean into hardworking silhouettes that work for your lifestyle; pieces you can rewear, feel great in, and restyle with different accessories. You’ll probably get the most out of a neutral colour palette, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to black and white. Camel and earth tones add warmth to your fall outfits, which both minimalists and maximalist personal styles can appreciate.

Whatever kind of summer style you’re embracing, below is all the inspiration you need for fall.

The T-Shirt

Not everyone is a “jeans and T-shirt” dresser, but few can deny the appeal of a perfectly fitted white tee. The two below are Glamour editor and reader favourites. (If you prefer a V-neck over a crewneck, check out our edit of the best V-neck tees).

The Button-Up

Pop the collar, roll up the sleeves, wear it loose or completely buttoned-up — a striped or white button-down shirt is an easygoing layer that adds instant polish to straight-leg jeans and slip dresses.

Save when you shop with these Marks and Spencer discount codes.

The Black Leggings

You abandoned your leggings for shorts this summer, but now they’re back. Lululemon’s and Skims' styles can stand up to near-daily wear, though Everlane's are a close second.

The Long-Sleeve Top

When it’s too brisk for a T-shirt but not quite sweater weather, a basic long-sleeve top is the answer. Bonus: You can use it as a base layer later on if a turtleneck is too stuffy.

The Sneakers

A comfy sneaker style is one you can wear for 10,000 steps without thinking twice about it — the below two allow for that — and look cute to boot.

Save when you shop with these ASOS discount codes.

The Minimalist Hoops

Tiny hoops are an effortless way to zhuzh up an outfit, and while gold is a classic, we’re really vibing silver right now for a more modern take. Jennifer Zeuner’s Perla earrings exist in both materials (Hailey Bieber wears the gold ones a ton), as do Mejuri’s bestselling huggies that snuggle the ear just so. We're also loving Daisy Jewellery's Maxi Wavy Snake hoops for a contemporary take on the classic.

The Bodysuit

Even though you can get away with wearing a sleeveless (or short-sleeve) bodysuit in the warmer months, fall and winter are where this classic garment really shines, since it can act as both a standalone top and mid-layer underneath a knit sweater.

The Cosy Sweatshirt

We love Anine Bing's oversized organic cotton sweatshirt throwing over everything (without feeling sloppy), as well as Adanola's sweatshirts from their sell-out athleisure drops for chic sporty vibes.

The Even Cosier Sweatpants

Is it really fall without joggers so comfy they make going pantsless feel overrated? Absolutely not — and both Vuori and Nike have great options for your autumnal and winter capsule wardrobe, while Gym Shark and Adanola's sporty iterations are perfection on rest day.

The Cargo Pants

Cargo pants are wide-leg jeans’ cooler sibling, and you can find them at a range of prices and in different materials and colours. If you've not already taken a peep, make a beeline for M&S this season, 'cos their unassumingly-good (and very flattering) cargo pants are selling out with speed.

Save when you shop with these Marks and Spencer discount codes.

The Jeans

Jeans are seemingly wider and baggier than ever, but to offset the roominess of it all, brands are introducing exaggerated cuffs that also fulfil another purpose: Preventing the hems from dragging in puddles of rain. Win-win.

The Slip-On Shoes

The window for wearing mules is a short one, so maximise this time with a design that’s foolproof to style. Birkenstock’s Boston clog is an obvious choice (try the oiled leather if you’re over the suede), or opt for something dressier from Vagabond to ground your look.

Save when you shop with these Net-A-Porter discount codes.

The Sweater

You don’t need to fill your closet with 10 different cardigans and cashmere sweaters; just buy one or two really good knits and wear them on repeat.

The Go-Everywhere Tote

Back-to-school shopping, but make it for adults. If you're after something specifically for the office, we've got a round-up of epic work bags over here.

The Crossbody Bag

Fanny packs and unobtrusive crossbody bags are great when you’re rushing out the door and need something a little more sophisticated than a canvas tote. Uniqlo's Crossbody bag has been the undeniable winner of the season, and while you will be able to pick it up in corduroy for AW, we're also rating their chunky zip nylon number. Make the trends, don't copy them.

The Shoulder Bag

We've seen some really good fashion launches this summer — especially in the accessories department — and two timeless additions really stuck with us as pieces we could take through to winter: Calvin Klein's recycled hobo bag and the Gucci Aphrodite.

Save when you shop with these Net-A-Porter discount codes.

The Blazer

Linen blazers are one of those summer carryovers you can wear well into the initial few weeks of the fall season; for the latter half, consider a leather jacket or woven plaid blazer for warmth and versatility.

Save when you shop with these Net-A-Porter discount codes.

The Statement Jacket

Jackets tend to sell out really fast once the weather turns, so now’s your best bet at grabbing one you really want.

Save when you shop with these H&M discount codes.

The Autumn Wedding Guest Dress

Something for when the occasion calls, so you don’t find yourself freaking out in a dimly lit changing room at the eleventh hour.

The Weatherproof Boots

Let this be the year your shoes don’t get unexpectedly soaked in the rain. Hunter makes one of the most popular Chelsea boots in the game, and Everlane has a cute one for under £100.

The Loafers

Want to put Allison Bornstein’s wrong shoe theory to the test? Try pairing a sharp loafer with a moody floral dress or denim skirt.

The Ballerina Flats

For the classic dressers among us, there’s no going wrong with a simple ballet flat.

The Knitted Dress

Unless they’re moody floral prints, too-colourful dresses just don’t hit the same way this time of year. A knit one, on the other hand, delivers the same ease as your favourite summer midis, just in a cosier material.

Save when you shop with these Mango discount codes.

The Trousers

When styled with relaxed pieces for contrast, trousers prove their worth by making you look both put together and completely relaxed.

The Statement Necklace

Accessories that wear themselves.

The Belt

The unassuming accessory to tie your fall wardrobe together.

Save when you shop with these ASOS discount codes.

The Transitional Extras

Subtle wardrobe tweaks can also help you make that mental switch from summer to fall. If you’re in the market, we love Coconut Lane and Burga for phone cases that look too good to be hidden behind the camera. Mirror selfie game, strong.

This story originally appeared on GLAMOUR US.

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