Autumn ‘Capsule’ Wardrobe Essentials That Look Good With Everything

Our top picks:

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, Alessandra —allowing you to pick up some of these items for less).

• 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 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

Our autumn 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.

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 autumn outfits, which both minimalist and maximalist personal styles can appreciate.