Fall Capsule Wardrobe: On Trend Mix and Match Fall Outfit Ideas

In this post: Looking for updated fall outfit ideas? This concise fall capsule wardrobe offers options to mix and match classic and on-trend pieces.⇒

I’m one of those people that gets super excited when the fall fashion issues hit the magazine stands. Oh, sure, I love to shop online. It’s a near obsession, in fact, that is sometimes the highlight of my day.

But nothing on the web can come close to the pleasure of receiving one of those huge, and ridiculously heavy, September issues. I have felt this way for as long as I can remember, and I think it stems from the days when my mom took me shopping for fall clothes at the beginning of the school year.

I love to pour over the trends and then, very deliberately, pick out the handful that I want to incorporate and set about finding pieces that fulfill those concepts. It’s all very intentional. “I need an hourglass jacket. I must add a wide leg jean.” Then, I leave the rest unabashedly behind. I fuse these few new items into an existing wardrobe that has been carefully curated over the years. I’m a die-hard capsule wardrobe girl!

So, when I put a capsule together for a new season, I try very hard to strike a delicate balance between classic and on-trend. By definition, a capsule should be comprised of timeless, wearable pieces that can live in your closet forever (or until they wear out). Yet at the same time, the whole point of refreshing your capsule each year is to touch on the newest looks that suit your lifestyle and shape.

As such, this Fall 2023 capsule keeps both of those goals in mind. As always, every piece can be worn in multiple ways with many of the other pieces. The color palette is tight and the emphasis on separates is what makes it so versatile. There are no outliers or one-offs that only work by themselves, and each of the trendier items has been carefully selected to blend in naturally with the tried and true classics.

What follows is an array of outfit suggestions, with an explanation of the tops trends and how they can be adapted into your existing wardrobe. But these are by no means the only ways to mix the items. Have fun with the interplay and come up with new combinations on your own to take you through the season. The options are limitless and there are some great new shapes to add freshness to your closet.

Fall Capsule Items

Oversized Pinstripe Blazer | Herringbone Hourglass Blazer | Knit Lady Jacket | Knit Cardigan | Biker Jacket | 7/8 Trench Coat | Oversized White Shirt | Button Up Vest | Silky Blouse | Sleeveless Turtleneck | Striped Boyfriend Shirt | Lace Edge Camisole | Plaid Wrap | Cable Knit Vest | Classic White Tee | Kick Flare Pant | Wide Leg Jean | Wide Leg Plaid Pant | Classic Button Front Jean | Plaid Pleated Skirt | Pleated Midi Skirt | Maxi Slip Dress | Lug Sole Chelsea Boot | Suede Platform Sneaker | Low Heel Mary Janes | Ballet Flats | Lug Sole Loafer | Red Sling Back | Western Booties | Croc Double Handle Bag | Patent Leather Shoulder Bag | Ivory Top Handle Satchel | Nylon Tote Bag | Red Top Handle Bag | Cross Body Saddle Bag | Suede Shoulder Bag | Sunglasses | Organic Cotton Cap

The Oversized Pinstripe Blazer

After many years of soft, unconstructed dressing, by far the biggest news of the past 2 years is a return to tailoring. As someone who has always been a blazer girl, I couldn’t be happier! And for those of you who are all about comfort, this particular structured piece will suit you just fine.

The oversized blazer took the fashion world by storm last year and shows no sign of slowing down this year, too. It merges the formality of tailoring with the relaxed posture of dressing for ease.

If you already bought a solid boyfriend blazer, consider adding a pattern this year, either in plaid or, for the freshest look, in pinstripes.

I’ve paired the boxy shape with slim kick flare pants, but you can easily wear it with anything from form-fitting leggings to the season’s many wide leg pants. Try it over a midi skirt, as well.

My favorite shoe to balance the voluminous jacket is a chunky loafer, but here I’m showing the ankle grazing pant with ballet flats. Last year’s hottest shoe looks great in a cap toe version, but there’s a new shoe on the block, so keep reading further.

The Hourglass Jacket with Wide Leg Pants

As a stark counterpoint to the oversized blazer, there’s an ever newer shape in jackets that’s trending this year. The hourglass blazer is quickly gaining in popularity and I just love it! There’s quite a bit of variety in the styles, from some that are simply fitted through the body, to others that are noticeably cinched or nipped in at the waist with an exaggerated loosening at the hip. This style says it best, and I would have included it in the capsule, but it’s sold out. I’ll leave the link here to best illustrate the shape, and in case it comes back in stock.

The hourglass jacket looks fabulous with this season’s other premier silhouette, the wide leg pant. In the outfit above, I’m showing the fitted herringbone blazer with a wonderful wide leg jean, but you can also do the full suit for true menswear flavor.

On the flip side, the same nipped jacket looks great over slimmer pants tucked into tall boots.

The Vest with Plaid Wide Pants

Continuing with the concept of wide leg pants, be sure to check out options beyond simply jeans. A plaid baggy trouser looks super chic, especially when worn with either platform sneakers or chunky boots. Try the lug sole Chelsea boot for comfort and style.

I love this look with a fitted vest, either worn as a top or with a silky blouse underneath. ( I selected a lovely blouse to go with this grouping, but couldn’t fit it into the collages, so be sure to find it in the links below.)

The shorter trench is the perfect topper, as the structured vest doesn’t require a blazer. The look we’re aiming for is mixed separates, not a three piece suit.

The lariat necklace makes a fun statement when wearing the button vest as a top.

The Lady Jacket with Slim Jeans

With all this talk of structured jackets, you might think that sweater jackets are over, but this is not the case. The “lady jacket” is still going strong, both in woven tweeds and in knit plaids. The one I’ve chosen for the capsule is on trend for its patterning, and also offers the benefit of comfort.

Dress it up with a skirt, or take it more casual with jeans. A straight leg looks great with perhaps the season’s most ubiquitous shoe trend, the Mary Jane. Offered in every iteration from flats to stilettos, I’ve chosen a low stacked heal with a double strap for our capsule. This silhouette is one I find both flattering and versatile. I’d roll the cuff on the straight leg jean to expose some ankle.

Finish the look off with a multi-strand pearl statement necklace and a ladylike top handled purse. The quintessential lunch date ensemble.

The School Girl Plaid Skirt and Cardi

The school girl skirt is always one of my favorite looks and this year’s selection is accessible to most everyone. The plaid skirt is a bit longer than the tiny minis that are typically available, making this a nice alternative to the more serious pencil skirt.

Pair it with an oversized cardigan for a fresh update and be sure to include another one of this season’s ‘must-haves’, the lug sole loafer. I love this pair with the stylized horse bit, but there are so many options out there, you’re certain to find one you like.

And since I enjoy mixing classic patterns, I’m showing the understated plaid with a classic oxford stripe shirt. For more layered interest, add a simple white tee underpinning and leave a few of the buttons open.

The cross body saddle bag is the school-girl icing on the cake.

The Gothic Night Out

Lest you think this fall season is only about menswear suiting and patterns, the look above features some of the more feminine sides to the seasonal trends. For one, we have the of-the-moment skirt silhouette, the pleated midi skirt. While it can certainly be dressed down, I’m showing it for a fun night out, with Gothic influences like the faux leather biker jacket and a lace trim cami. Lingerie touches have made a big comeback and work best when mixed together with edgier pieces (so it’s clear you did not forget to put on your shirt!)

The other trend represented here that I absolutely must mention is the inclusion of red accessories. The very clear ‘color of the season’, I prefer to use it sparingly with a mostly neutral palette. Find a great red scarf, bag, shoe or earrings and enjoy the surprise of color. This is not a place I would invest in quality pieces, but if you have dark hair and olive skin, go for it. It will always look good on you, long after the trend has passed.

If red is not for you, you can try the range of burgundies that are prevalent as well this year.

The Slip Dress with Wool Plaid Wrap

And that brings us to our final look from the capsule. The silky slip dress is back again this year, updated in my capsule with a chunky plaid wrap. Alternatively try a woolen draped scarf or similar cozy cover up. Wear it with western booties and accessorize simply.

This go-anywhere dress is a great candidate for a capsule, as it can be worn so many different ways, from casual weekend wear with a textured sweater topper, to an elegant evening party with a heel and jewels.

You likely have many of these pieces in your closet already, but if you’ve been doing it right all along, you can select a few of the newer silhouettes and put a current spin on the whole enterprise.

And if it turns out you need a fresh white shirt or a new pair of Levis, you can find those here, as well. That’s what capsule dressing is all about.