Fall is considered by many to be the best time of the year for fashion. The obvious timing of New York Fashion Week aside, the cooler temperatures allow us to layer up and flaunt the heavy coats and edgy leather jackets that would have been miserable to wear in the summer. If you have an eye for style and already have a closet full of cute fall clothes to boot, this season can be a fun time to express your own personal style. 

As for the rest of us less fashion-inclined folks, it can be difficult to know where to start. To save you from outdated fall outfits and autumn fashion faux pas, we’ve found four of the most common style mistakes that people make when building a fall wardrobe — plus, how to avoid them. Keep reading for wardrobe stylists’ favorite tips for creating a functional fall wardrobe that you’ll be excited to whip out year after year. 

Don’t: Pair Slim Pants With a Fitted Top

Do: Balance Them Out With an Oversized Sweater

Now, no one’s saying you have to ditch your favorite skinny jeans from 2014 — but pairing them with the wrong type of top can make them look more outdated than you might have hoped. Fitted tops emphasize the bodycon silhouette of slim-fitting pants, thrusting them back to a time period where avocado toast was a major talking point. 

Stylist and creator Regan Heinrichs, founder of The Wardrobe Edit, shares that one way you can give skinny jeans an “updated” look is by pairing them with oversized tops, like a menswear vest, or an oversized jacket. If coziness is priority No. 1 for you, opt for a roomy sweater, like this Free People oversized turtleneck sweater, on sale for $96, or this $33 oversized knit cardigan on Amazon. Adding more visual weight on top balances the appearance of slim-fitting pants out, and doing so can instantly breathe new life into your skinny jeans.

Tip: this advice can be applied to leggings, too! 

PrettyGarden Women’s Oversized Cardigan

Free People Swim Too Deep Oversized Turtleneck Sweater

Chyrii Oversized Long-sleeve Knit Polo Pullover

Don’t: Chase Fleeting Microtrends

Do: Invest in Timeless Staples

If you feel like you have to start your cool-weather wardrobe from scratch every time fall rolls around, it may be because you spend each season buying trendy pieces that’ll be out of style in a few months, rather than classic silhouettes that never go out of style. Thanks to the popularization of TikTok and fast fashion, it can feel more difficult than ever to not fall victim to short-lived microtrends. When we only buy into these ultra-niche styles (remember the viral micro-bag trend of 2020?), our wardrobes begin to feel stale season after season. 

To build a fall wardrobe that you’ll be excited to wear year after year, try focusing on timeless, tried-and-true staples first. Stylist and CEO of Outfit Formulas Alison Lumbatis shares that you can create “outfit formulas” out of just five basic items: tops, toppers (layering items), bottoms, shoes, and accessories. Once you have these outfit building blocks, says Lumbatis, then you can style them up with gotta-have-em trending accessories and statement pieces. 

Instead of hopping on the ultra wide-leg jean trend, we suggest opting for a more classic silhouette like these Levi’s Classic Straight Jeans, on sale for $36. If you need a new “everyday” handbag, opt for a minimalist shape that can go with just about anything in your closet, like this lush faux-leather shopping tote from Mango. As for footwear, Lumbatis says she lives in “flats, loafers, and mules” in the fall months. We love these timeless Sam Edelman loafers, which go great with jeans, skirts, and workwear alike. 

Levi’s Women’s Classic Straight Jeans

Sam Edelman Lorraine Loafers

Mango Faux Leather Shopper Tote

Everlane The Oversized Blazer

Don’t: Buy Your Basics at High-end Stores

Do: Stock Up on Lower-priced Alternatives

The price of, well, just about everything seems higher these days, and quality clothes are no exception. It might make sense initially to buy all of your basics — as in, the versatile clothing items that act as the foundation of an outfit — at high-end stores, since a higher price point typically correlates to a higher quality.

But fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content creator Shalonda Miles says that it’s just not worth trying to “keep up with the Joneses” when it comes to basics, and we’re inclined to agree. For essentials like T-shirts and layering tops, Miles says there are plenty of budget-friendly options worth reaching for. Instead of buying your basics at high-end retailers, save some coin and shop budget-friendly options like this three-pack of long-sleeve layering tees, $33, or this simple $15 cotton T-shirt from Abercrombie & Fitch. 

Automet Women’s 3-pack Long-sleeved Layering T-shirts

Abercrombie & Fitch Essential Polished Body-skimming Tee

Efan Women’s Oversized Crewneck Sweatshirt

Don’t: Sacrifice Foot Comfort for Style

Do: Build a Reliable Rotation of Comfy Shoes

It can be tempting to throw comfort out the window if you’re a shoe lover, but prioritizing style over function can lead to a closet full of beautiful shoes you never want to wear. Besides, whoever still uses the phrase “beauty is pain” must not know how many comfortable and adorable shoe styles are on the market these days. Case in point? These posh ballet flats from Madewell. Available in 11 gorgeous colors and fabrics, The Greta Flat is versatile enough to dress up jeans and compliment flowy dresses. 

Stylist and fashion content creator Kenzie Welch shares that one of her favorite comfy fall shoes are these suede Birkenstock Boston Clogs, which she reports “look good with everything.” In the same vein, self-proclaimed fashion girlie and creator Olivia Sara admits that these exact clogs are her “daily drivers” — they’re comfortable, easy to slip on and off, and can transition between all four seasons. 

Birkenstock Boston Suede Clogs

Madewell The Greta Ballet Flat

New Balance Women’s 515 V3 Sneaker

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