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Staple Pieces for any Girl’s Fall Wardrobe

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at U Iowa chapter.

The weather is cooling down and the malls are filling up with plenty of new items marketed towards another season.  Here are a few basic pieces you should make sure you have on your next trip to the mall.  They’ll keep you warm while ensuring that your style shines through. 

Classic blazer
This time of year, it is important that your wardrobe has pieces that can be accessorized for a professional or casual setting.  A classic blazer, like the one shown here, is a perfect signature look that can be dressed up, down and all around by the rest of your outfit to flatter your midsection and make you look like a true fashionista.  You can shop around and find these at plenty of your favorite stores, such as Express, Yonkers or even Forever21. 

Flattering jeans
A good pair of jeans can be a girl’s best friend.  As long as you pick a flattering color, size and cut, they can easily make you look pounds lighter and inches taller.  Here are a few basic tips we can all learn from when shopping for that fall denim:

  1. The size doesn’t matter, the fit does.  No matter what the number is, you should be able to move comfortably in your jeans while showing off your figure at the same time.  Avoid buying a size you’ll need to work to fit into.  Rocking a pair of jeans that fits you now, is going to help your style and self esteem ten times more in the long run.
  2. Avoid lots of rips or lots of pocket decoration.  A classic denim look is what’s always going to do the job.  Distressed jeans can look good occasionally, but often end up detracting from your look as a whole.  The same rule applies for back pocket appliqués. In moderation, it can be a flattering look, but it’s often overdone by clothing designers everywhere.  Keep it simple and you’ll end up looking like a million bucks.

  3. Basic colors are key.  They’ll be in style forever and can last almost as long when treated right.  Jeans in basic shades of blue, as well as black or white, are a great addition to any cool-weather wardrobe.  These colors look great on all body types and can be worn in a variety of ways to increase your styling options.

This is the kind of piece that can make your outfit any day when done right.  Check out styles at the Gap, Express or any department store for the most part.  These are places you can find cuts and styles that will work for anyone.

Basic cardigan
A cardigan sweater is one of the best ways to style up an outfit all year round.  A wide range of colors and fabrics can be found, making them an easy fit no matter what your style is like.  You can use them to provide extra warmth over those cute summer camisoles and create a perfect new fall look.  JCrew has a wide variety of cardigans that can fit into most budgets fairly easily, sadly not all of us can afford cashmere.  This is another item you can find in many department stores though.     

Brynne Schweigel is a senior studying Journalism and Mass Communication as well as Political Science at the University of Iowa. She currently contributes fashion pieces to the University of Iowa Her Campus branch's blog. She writes weekly for the University of Iowa's Center for Global and Regional Environmental Research's blog, the Iowa Environmental Focus, and had pieces published in The Daily Iowan. She spent the Spring 2010 semester interning at the state capitol in Des Moines. In her spare time, Brynne enjoys shopping, reading, running, listening to music and playing with her puppy, Bonnie.  She will graduate in December 2011 and hopes to move somewhere that never has snow.