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Fall Wardrobe from Scratch: 3 Traditional Staples You Need to Add to Cart

Niyathi Kolli Student Contributor, Brown University
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If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent the new season working on your fall wardrobe, stuck debating between whether it was warm enough for you to rock that summer babydoll top or if you needed to break out the winter sweaters. Getting used to the Providence weather has been a rough transition—the polar opposite of the weather I’m used to back home in Arizona. But even though that part hasn’t been fun, what has been fun has been building my fall wardrobe (practically from scratch since I’m from Arizona, which only has two seasons- summer and mild summer). From sweaters to knee-high boots, this article has all the fall staples you need to add to cart to start building the perfect capsule wardrobe.   

Cardigans

I’ve quickly learned in the past month that cardigans are one of the most versatile fall items. You can wear it buttoned up with a pair of jeans or unbuttoned over your favorite tank. Better yet, for those dressier days, use your cardigan to top off a dress, instantly transforming a summer dress into a fall staple.

Here are a few of my favorite cardigans that I couldn’t recommend more:

  1. Princess Polly’s Denmark Cardigan

            I love pairing this gray cardigan with a navy tube top and light-wash jeans—the perfect outfit for warmer fall days.

  1. Aritzia’s Shelly Cardigan

This cardigan’s scalloped edges are such a cute and fun detail!

Boots

Walking around campus the last month has made me realize how unprepared I was stepping foot on campus without a pair of boots. In case any of you out there are in the same position I was in a month ago, I wanted to share a few different options:

  1. Sam Edelman’s Sylvia Knee High Boot

            There are so many different color options, but a personal favorite is the Spiced Pecan        Leather 

  1. Coach’s Block Heel Boot

This is a shorter ankle boot option with a thicker heel that would pair so well with jeans!

  1. Hedda Knee High Boot

When deciding between the black and chocolate leather options, I’d definitely go with the latter. Brown leather pairs so well with denim, especially for a fall outfit.

Belts

A stylish belt is the perfect way to level up any outfit. When thinking about your capsule wardrobe, and especially for the fall, I’d recommend having a good mix. Get different leathers (black/brown), different thicknesses, and different buckle options. Here are a few different options!

  1. Mango’s Brown Leather Rectangular Buckle Belt
  2. Coach’s Classic Buckle Embossed Crocodile Belt
  3. J Crew’s Thin Spazzolato Leather Belt

Happy shopping and good luck building your perfect fall capsule wardrobe, full of staples that will last you through college!

Niyathi is a freshman at Brown University, studying Biology and International and Public Affairs. She is originally from Arizona, and although struggling, is excited for the New England weather! In her free time, she loves exploring new coffee shops or baking a new recipe.