The Essential Pieces for Fall, According to an NYC Editor

I personally love outfit formulas. Getting dressed feels so much easier when I have a few reliable combinations to fall back on.

Ideally, I’d take it one step further and digitize my wardrobe into a spreadsheet or my Notes app—organized by season. I know that sounds absurd to the majority of people, but I’ve seen TikToks about this, and it always makes me feel less alone. The idea of logging everything means that on those days when you don’t know what to wear, you have outfits to choose from all in one place. It also feels like it saves me from pulling out a bunch of things from my closet or having to try a bunch of options on.

In the spirit of that, there’s one formula I always return to every fall: a sweater (often a turtleneck), a skirt, tights, knee-high boots, and a coat. I can’t think of a single time I’ve put it on and not felt good. It’s easy, timeless, and dependable.

Shop the Outfit Formula

Sweaters

Admittedly, my J.Crew Rollneck has been getting the most wear the past couple weeks. Beyond that, I tend to rewear my cashmere sweaters on repeat.