Summer's Over, Fall's Here: Every Essential Item I'm Purchasing to *Finally* Transition My Wardrobe

      I understand, I understand: Spring is traditionally the time for a major closet overhaul, but for me, fall is the season when I refresh my wardrobe and eliminate all the unworn items I've accumulated. It's time to say goodbye to my overly worn, stretched summer essentials and replace them with new, contemporary alternatives for autumn and winter. I've already procrastinated on this task, letting fashion month divert my attention from my style responsibilities, but now that I have some time, I’m committing to it. Out with the summer staples; in with the fall ones, which I am ready to embrace wholeheartedly.

      While I’ll be restocking some of my fall and winter staples for 2025 with the usual items—like Uniqlo U crewneck tees and J.Crew cashmere sweaters—I’m also planning to update my wardrobe with particularly "now" items like V-neck knits, super dark-wash jeans, and boatneck tops. They remain essentials, but they offer a modern and relevant twist for the upcoming season, adding some excitement to my otherwise routine seasonal refresh. Scroll down to check out the other new basics I'm accumulating for the colder months ahead.

      Dark-Wash Jeans

      When I mention that I have 50 pairs of jeans, I'm absolutely serious. I really need to tackle the pairs I haven’t worn in ages, and there are plenty of those, especially since I'm ready to swap out many of my lighter-wash, wider-leg jeans for dark-wash options that have a more tailored fit. They just appear sleeker, especially in the fall and winter.

      Levi's

      501 Original Selvedge Jeans

      KHAITE

      Danielle High-Rise Straight-Leg Jeans

      Citizens of Humanity

      Zurie Straight Leg Jeans

      V-Neck Cashmere Sweater

      I own far too many cashmere sweaters, but sadly, only a few are in the V-neck style, which is my current favorite for layering over white tees. This season, V-neck sweaters feel more engaging and sophisticated than crewnecks and turtlenecks, which is why I'm investing in several new options from J.Crew, Nordstrom, and Almina Concept.

      j.crew

      Cashmere High V-Neck Sweater

      Almina Concept

      Wool V-Neck Sweater

      Nordstrom

      V-Neck Cashmere Sweater

      Slim-Fit Ankle Boots

      I've never been a fan of ankle boots largely due to their often bulky and wide design at the ankle, which looks awkward with slimmer jeans. However, this season I’ve seen plenty of slim-fit ankle boots that are convincing me to add a pair (or more) to my collection. I’m particularly interested in Khaite's Nevada boots, which have a subtle Western vibe, but Zara and Raye also offer fantastic pairs worth purchasing and wearing repeatedly.

      ZARA

      Leather Heeled Ankle Boots

      KHAITE

      Nevada Leather Ankle Boots

      Boatneck Tees

      While I will absolutely stock up on new plain white T-shirts for layering this fall and winter, I'm also looking to add boatneck tees to my wardrobe, a style worn frequently by celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter and Hailey Bieber. This style feels much more elegant and sophisticated than a basic crewneck, making it suitable for wearing alone—under a stylish coat, of course—rather than just as a layering piece.

      Flore Flore

      Steffi T-Shirt

      Cou Cou Intimates

      The Rina Long Sleeve: Cotton Jersey White

      Black Trousers

      I don't know about others, but many of my black trousers from previous years seem totally misguided for what I want in 2025. They might be too loose, puddly, or excessively high-waisted. Right now, I’m searching for slightly loose, lower-rise black trousers that feel relaxed yet polished, and fortunately, brands like Reformation and Rue Sophie have perfect options for the fall and winter.

      Reformation

      Vida Low Rise Pant

      COS

      Milano Straight-Leg Pants

      Collarless Blazer

      While I won’t completely eliminate classic blazers from my closet, I’m looking to replace some of my older styles with more tailored, collarless versions that better match my tastes and personal style in 2025. I'm particularly fond of Reformation's Morning Doug jacket in burgundy, which came from a collaboration with former Who What Wear cover star Nara Smith.

      Reformation

      Morning Doug Jacket

      Nordstrom

      Collarless Twill Blazer

      Aligne

      Daphne Waisted Blazer

      Burgundy Knee-High Boots

      If you’re considering knee-high boots for fall, let me persuade you to opt for a burgundy pair instead of black. I've been enamored with this color since spotting Saint Laurent's Françoise pair, which has nearly sold out everywhere. Fortunately, a new version called the Jill boots has now appeared on the brand's website, while Reformation and Zara have also released appealing options.

      Z