Fall is just about to start here in Virginia. Within the next week or two we will enjoy the trees in their fall colors. The temperature has dropped and we have some chilly, rainy days. It’s definitely time to get the fall wardrobe ready!

Last week, I posted my wardrobe essentials for professional women and today I wanted to post my fall casual staples. These are not necessarily the Vogue-worthy pieces but rather the pieces that don’t seem to go out of style and I find myself turning to year after year. After much thought, I decided that my fall casual wardrobe basically revolves around 5 types of outfits.

I actually had to think a little harder about my casual selections than my professional ones, even though that is what I am wearing most often these days! At the moment, due to the recent birth of my son, I am between sizes– somewhere between maternity clothes and my regular size. So what I am truthfully currently wearing is the oh-so-attractive combination of maternity pants with a belt to hold them up!

But what would I like to be wearing?

The Steve Jobs Look – Jeans, turtleneck and boots. I probably wear this outfit the most often in fall and winter. My body freezes below about 70 degrees so I definitely need to cover up to stay warm. I like that this outfit can be either casual or semi-formal so it can adjust to the preschool run or dinner out with friends.

Leggings & Tunic – For more casual days, I like to wear leggings and a long tunic-style top, which can be anything from an oversized sweatshirt to a long sweater. I pair this combination with athletic shoes if I am headed for a workout or cute boots if I am not.

Skirt & Sweater – This is the outfit I keep hoping I will wear more often but it takes more energy to put on so I usually default to the previous two looks! It is also a great causal/dressy adaptable style. Comfortable sweaters are wonderful in fall and winter. At a minimum, I like to have one Aran-style (usually a neutral color like white, cream or beige, with cable patterns), one Nordic style (two-color patterned knitting) and a solid color in a plain style without any details. I would pair this outfit with either a fun clog or ankle boot.

Pants and Sweater – This is a more formal outfit great for situations like Thanksgiving dinner or church services. I would pair this with heels, probably the same ones from my professional wardrobe.

Formal Dress

For formal occasions like a company holiday party, it is great to have a long sleeve long skirted dress that you can dress up or dress down as the situation warrants. If it is really cold outside, pair it with leather boots or otherwise a cute pair of heels.

Undergarments

Last but not least, the staple for all of these garments when the weather gets REALLY cold….long underwear! If you are the kind of person who is always cold, long underwear is a must. I don’t tend to wear the bottoms very often unless I am going to be outside for a long period of time but the tops get worn all the time.

So now it is your turn!

Ruly Challenge: Think about your own fall casual wardrobe and see if you can recognize any outfit patterns that you wear all the time. Remember these patterns the next time you are organizing your closet or shopping. If an item of clothing is not something in your regular pattern, it might not be worn as often. Less worn clothes are prime targets for uncluttering efforts.  When shopping, you might not want to spend much money on something you don’t wear a lot.

What are your cold weather casual “uniforms”? Please share in the comments.