The Fall Outfit Refresh That Doesn’t Require a New Outfit
Okay, I have a confession. The second fall starts showing up, I suddenly feel like I need a whole new wardrobe. New bottoms. New sweaters. New boots (ohhhh my obsession). And somehow, I’ve convinced myself that I also need to completely change my style because… you know like I want to be stylish cozy. But I’ve gotten a little smarter about this over the years. Instead of buying a whole new fall outfit every time the seasons change, I’ve started thinking about the coat.
My fall rule is pretty simple: Buy the coat, not the outfit. Because honestly, a good coat can make the clothes you already own feel completely different.
Same outfit, different coat
Take your favorite jeans and a basic sweater. You could wear that combination a hundred times. Now put a classic wool coat over it. Totally different. Swap the wool coat for a leather jacket. Different vibe, right? Throw on a barn jacket and sneakers? Now you’re giving weekend coffee run. And that’s what I love about coats. They can change the entire vibe of an outfit without requiring you to buy an entirely new wardrobe. Which is especially helpful when you’re trying not to constantly buy new clothes just because something is “in” for the season. Also, I live in the Pacific Northwest, so a coat is basically part of my personality from October through… let’s be honest, April or May.
The classic wool coat
A classic wool coat is one of those pieces that I think is worth having if you find the right one. I love a simple shape in black, camel, brown, gray, or another neutral that you know you’ll actually wear.
Throw it over jeans and a sweatshirt when you’re running around town or put it over a dress when you want to look a little more put together. And this is definitely something I would look for secondhand. I’ve found that coats can be one of the best things to thrift because you can come across really beautiful fabrics, interesting vintage details, and silhouettes you don’t necessarily see in every store. Plus, I love when something has a little history to it.
The trench
The trench coat is another one I keep coming back to. It’s perfect for those weird fall days when it’s cold in the morning, warmer by lunch, and then suddenly raining because hello it’s Portland. I love wearing a trench with jeans, a simple top, and sneakers. Nothing complicated. And somehow the trench makes it look like I tried. Which is always a win.
The leather jacket
A leather jacket is probably my favorite way to make an outfit feel a little less basic. Wear it with jeans and a sweatshirt. Put it over a dress. Add trousers and sneakers. It just gives an outfit a little something. And again, I love looking for these secondhand. A vintage leather jacket that’s already broken in can have so much more personality than something brand new.
If you see one at a thrift store that fits you really well, don’t automatically walk away just because it isn’t the “perfect” color or style you’re currently seeing everywhere.Trends come and go. A good jacket can stick around for years.
The barn jacket / chore jacket
This is probably the most casual option, and I am very into it but don’t have my hands on one yet. There’s something about a slightly oversized barn or chore jacket that feels very fall without trying too hard. Jeans. Sweatshirt. Sneakers. Jacket. Done.
It’s the kind of outfit I can actually see myself wearing while running errands, grabbing coffee, walking around the neighborhood, or doing all the random things that seem to fill up my days. And because these styles have been around forever, they’re also really fun to hunt for secondhand.
And then there’s the practical coat
Let’s not forget the coat that isn’t necessarily the cutest one in your closet but gets the most use when the weather decides to be terrible. You know the one. The raincoat. The puffer. The waterproof jacket. The thing you reach for when you look outside and think, Yeah… I’m not wearing my cute suede jacket today. Living in the PNW has taught me that sometimes fashion is simply dressing appropriately for the weather. And honestly? Being dry is a vibe okay?!
You don’t need all of these
I also don’t think you need to go out and buy five new coats. That’s kind of the opposite of what I’m getting at here. Start with what you already have. Pull your jackets out of the closet and actually look at them. Maybe there’s one you haven’t worn in a year that suddenly feels fresh again. Try it with your favorite jeans. Try it over a dress. Try it with a sweatshirt underneath. Change your shoes. Add a scarf. Sometimes a little styling experiment is all it takes to make an old piece feel new again.
So this fall…
Before you convince yourself that you need a whole new wardrobe, shop your closet first. You probably already have the jeans. You probably already have a sweater. You definitely have something you forgot about hiding in the back of your closet. Maybe what you actually need is just a great coat to pull it all together. So this fall, I’m buying the coat,not the outfit. And if I happen to find a really good vintage one while thrifting? Well now that’s a different story.
