1. Materials Matter

When it comes to fall fashion, fun patterns and materials are your friends. Flannels, knits, corduroy and plaid are some of my personal favorites to spice up a fall wardrobe. No matter how boring or basic the rest of your outfit may be, adding a patterned piece immediately cultivates immaculate fall vibes. A flannel over a t-shirt is essentially part of the unspoken “uniform” of the season. Chunky knit sweaters can bring out the cozy feel of fall. Patterned pants are a great way to make an outfit more fun — try plaid pants for a more studious look, or corduroy pants for a retro fall feel.

2. Layering is Key

Elevating your style for fall is as simple as wearing more clothes — kind of. If you ever find yourself looking for ways to make an average fall outfit feel more put together, the key is to add layers. When most people think of layering, they think of throwing a jacket or cardigan over what they’re already wearing, and while they’re not totally wrong, there are more ways to layer an outfit. Wearing long sleeve tops like turtle necks, collar shirts or plain t-shirts under short sleeve or sleeveless tops, wearing sweaters or sweatshirts over collared or high-neck shirts, or simply wearing socks that peek out over the top of boots can add layers to an outfit. If nothing else, layering is essential for fall in Arkansas where the weather can change by the hour. 

3. Invest in good denim

If there is one article of clothing to invest in for your fall wardrobe, it should be good denim. Jeans have been around for what feels like forever, and while a certain cut or wash may go in and out of style, they don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. On just about any fall day, you could reach for a pair of jeans and create the perfect outfit for whatever the occasion, whether it be going to class, the pumpkin patch or a coffee date. It’s always important to have classic, blue denim in your wardrobe, but it’s also fun to have a pair of colored denim in your wardrobe too. Black jeans and blue jeans are both perfect staples for fall. Jeans are a good base for any outfit, so it is worth the not-so-pretty price to buy a quality pair that you can wear all season, and year, long. 

4. Comfort comes first

Fall is the ultimate comfort season, so let your wardrobe reflect that. There’s a common misconception that comfortable clothes can’t be stylish; however, just because you’re dressing comfy doesn’t mean you can’t be stylish too. Most of us live in sweatshirts, sweatpants and leggings when fall weather rolls around. Sweatshirts and sweaters can be styled with jeans or fun pants or layered as previously mentioned. Those of us that love leggings know that they can easily be dressed up or down, depending on what type of top and shoe you style them with. If you can find ways to style your “comfy clothes” for different occasions, you’ll be living the best of both worlds in your fall outfits.

5. When in doubt, wear neutrals

Every season has a color palette that people associate it with, and a quick trick to perfectly dress for a specific season is to follow that color palette. Fall is associated with a neutral color palette, which makes dressing for the season super simple. Reaching for tan, black, brown, cream and rusty, burnt oranges will put you on the right track for achieving your desired fall look. These seasonal neutrals are easy to style and will match just about everything. Neutral-colored clothes can be easily styled with any of the previously mentioned tips for a perfectly festive yet fashionable look.