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Essentials You Need in Your Closet for the Fall to Winter Transition

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois State chapter.

Everyone knows that the wardrobe that you chose your clothes from on a daily basis changes by the season. Well if you’re anything like me, you love to shop for new pieces to welcome in the new season, but your wallet certainly doesn’t love it as much as you do. If you play your cards right with the clothing pieces you choose, you can find versatile pieces that will make a seamless transition from fall fashion to winter fashion. You will definitely save a hot dollar on purchasing less pieces and look stylish in the process. These articles of clothing are ones that can be worn throughout the entirety of both the autumn and winter seasons, yet look intentional for each separate season with how you dress it, layer it, and accessorize it. Here are a just a few of my absolute favorite fashion must-haves for the chillier months:

Straight leg jeans

I’m sure you’ve heard of the traditional boot cut jeans and the oh so popular skinny jeans, but the straight leg cut is where it’s at this season. Versatility is key for both the fall and winter seasons, and the straight leg jean cut is the way to go. They are the perfect cut to roll the bottom cuff and wear with booties for a night out to eat (with a mask on, of course). They are perfect with a bit of distress in the denim for an effortless, chic look to pair with a pair of comfortable sneakers. Even better, they are also great to pair with some cute sandals for the warmer days that we’ve been having lately here in the Midwest. I cannot stress the versality of these jeans in addition to being comfortable for wearing all day in addition to the vintage aesthetic it gives off.

Neutral tones

Anything with warm, earthy, neutral hues? Oh yes, count me in! Clothing pieces in these colors are so versatile and can be lovable well beyond the fall and winter months. The best part about including neutral tones in your wardrobe is that you are not limited to any certain style or piece by creating a color palate based on the season. Basing your choices of pieces that you purchase on specific tones and colors allow you to venture out of your typical selection of styles while still making your outfits appear intentional and cohesive.

Chunky heel ankle booties

Coming from a tall girl herself, these shoes are still an absolute MUST. The chunky heel is a great source of additional height without being too much additional height, and it’s also great for additional support since the heel you’re walking on isn’t thinner than a toothpick (but you still get that benefit of wearing stilettoes that make your calves POP). The ankle length of the bootie is extremely flattering and provides a bit of additional support if you are not used to walking in any sort of heel. But not to worry, most chunky heel booties will not exceed 2 ½ inches of height. So, they are definitely not too much of a heel but still a nice height supplement regardless of how tall you are.

Knit turtleneck sweaters

Knit sweaters are cozy, turtlenecks are cozy, and the combination of both is just perfect for wearing during the chillier seasons. I love warm weather just as much as the next gal, but sometimes I wish it would get colder a bit earlier here in the Midwest so I can spend more time in my cozy sweaters! The best part about sweaters with a chunkier yarn knit makes them even better for more seasons than one. The chunkier knit causes bigger gaps in the piece, meaning the sweater will be breathable for the warmer autumn days. However, the material of the chunky knit yarn tends to be very soft and hold in heat for the chillier winter days. Versatility of these pieces is the key to making them perfect for fall, winter, and all of the time in between!

Sherpa coats 

Sherpa is the material of every fashionista’s dreams as the temperature outside starts to drop! Sherpa is so warm and gives such a cozy, animal fur appearance without the guilt (since it obviously isn’t animal fur). The material is so versatile as it can be worn in a number of styles in a number of different colors and patterns. Many different stores and companies sell Sherpa coats ranging from parka length to cropped collared jackets. They are also offered in colors ranging from neutral tans (you can never go wrong), monochrome blacks, whites, and greys, and bolder hues in pinks, blues, and greens to add a pop of color to your seasonal neutral wardrobe.

If there’s one thing you took away from my fashion essentials for the transition from fall to winter, I hope you learned that versatility is key! Versatility will be so helpful in saving a bit of cash when selecting new pieces from the store, as well as saving you time when scanning through your closet looking for the perfect outfit to wear. This will allow you to mix and match pieces within your wardrobe easier, all the while looking intentional and on top of all the latest seasonal trends.

Morgan Day

Illinois State '21

Morgan Day is a senior public relations major and student-athlete on the softball team at Illinois State University. When she is not doing classwork, writing for HerCampus, or on the softball field, Morgan enjoys to sing, paint, and cuddle with her cat, Moose.
Contributor account for Illinois State