25 September 2025

15 Must-Have Fall Pieces to Build Your Wardrobe From Scratch!

Susie in light wash jeans, black strappy heels, black jacket, with black leather woven handbag.

Fall pieces: Rag & Bone blazer | Mother jeans | Bottega bag | Sandals

15 Must-Have Fall Pieces to Build Your Wardrobe From Scratch!

Now is the perfect time to start planning your fall wardrobe. We all want a stylish closet that feels effortless — and it all starts with the right essentials. Foundational pieces are key to making your outfits come together easily, but here’s the thing: they don’t need to be boring! When you find elevated basics you truly love, it makes getting dressed much easier.

In today’s post, I’m sharing the ultimate guide to building your best wardrobe. These 15 essentials are the fall pieces I recommend you buy first. Think of them as the starting point of every solid wardrobe! From there, it’s super easy to add on until your collection is complete. I thought about each piece long and hard, and have included options depending on your preferences. Building an amazing wardrobe takes time, so start now 😊 Cheers!

Recent posts, ICYMI

The Fall Outfit Edit: 10 Looks to Copy This Season

My NYFW Packing List: Fall Outfits That Always Work!

Susie’s Outfits

So Susie outdoors in a chic fall outfit with camel coat, layered sweater, and wide-leg jeans.

Susie in a black poncho with dark wash denim jeans, black booties, with a woven leather black handbag.

Susie in a white jacket with black wide leg jeans and a black leather woven clutch.

⭐️Current discount codes⭐️

Cinq a Sept: SUSIE15 | Zoe Chicco: SOSUSIE15 | Rag & Bone: SOSUSIE20 | Frame: SUSIE15

The 15 Fall Pieces to Buy First

Denim & other bottoms: Black denim | Blue denim | Black ankle flare pants | Leopard skirt

Layering pieces: Wrap sweater | Fair isle cardigan | Ivory blouse | Elevated knit

Dress/Skirt: Any versatile dress or skirt

Why These 15 Essentials?

⭐️My highest recommendations ⭐️

Wardrobe essentials chart with blazers, coats, blouses, skirts, cardigans, and jeans.

Row 1: Long coat | Bomber jacket | Camel coat | Blazer

2: Cardigan | Dark denim | Barn jacket | Scarf coat

3: Black pants | Sweater | Silk skirt | Blouse

#1 – Wool coat: This is one of the best investments you can make for your fall/winter wardrobe. This new double-faced wool coat is amazing quality, and it’s available in several colors. This blue one runs big, so size down. Other options include this one by Fleurette, this best-selling Reiss one, and this more affordable one.

#2 – Bomber jacket: To keep things looking modern, a bomber jacket of any style is a great addition. It could be anything from an embellished one like this, or a plaid one like this new Veronica Beard one. I’m also eyeing this one from Zara — talk about versatile! As you can see, you can never have too many jackets 😉

#3 – Camel coat: There’s something about the color camel that always looks elegant and sophisticated. J.Crew has the perfect shade of camel, so does Max Mara and Reiss — both favorite coat brands.

#4 – Classic blazer: Truly a wardrobe staple (substitute navy, ivory or black if that’s a better color for you). Love this one by Rag & Bone (code: SOSUSIE20) that actually feels more like a sweater, but looks nice and polished like a blazer. You can’t go wrong with a relaxed blazer like this cool girl Anine Bing one. For something more classic, the Veronica Beard Miller jacket and Cinq a Sept Khloe are still favorites.

#5 – Trench coat: Every wardrobe needs a gently oversized trench coat. I found this new one by Oak & Fort recently, and it’s one of my highest recommendations. It’s a little flowy, super versatile, and comes in several colors — all are good! While a Burberry is a classic, there are many equally stylish options at a fraction of the price. Check out this Sam Edelman one and this one by Favorite Daughter.

… keep reading for 5 more

#6 – Elevated knits: Think Fair Isle sweaters, argyle patterns, and any other interesting knit that catches your eye. Love this pink sweater by Frame, as well as this gorgeous navy cardigan — both are currently on sale. This Veronica Beard is amazing — the colors are super versatile.

#7 – Wide-leg blue jeans: The most important thing here is to find a pair that’s modern and fits you perfectly. Right now, longer lengths are trending, so I suggest a longer length in both black and faded blue. My current favorites that fit everyone include the Paige Anessa, or Mother Hustler Roller. Pro-tip: If you’re 5’4″ and under, many brands are now making petites. Look at the Mother website, Nordstrom and Frame. Talk about a total game changer!

#8 – Barn jacket: If you only buy one jacket this season, the barn jacket has to be it! There are many versions, including these Barbour ones and this best-selling J.Crew one. This light blue one caught my eye for something a little different, and I immediately added it to my shopping cart.

#9 – Brown wrap sweater: This might be one of my favorite pieces! Love the cool wrap style, and it looks great with denim and also with skirts. This one is also available in gray.

#10 – Black jeans: I wear black jeans all year around (except in 100 degree weather), in both longer lengths and ankle lengths. The blackish/grayish wash is always a nice choice, especially if you wear a lot of black. It gives a little contrast instead of a solid black jean. Options include this Paige Anessa in the wash Viper Black and this Mother style in the color Night In Venice. For a great solid black, the Frame Le Slim Palazzo and Reboot are very flattering.

And here are the last 5!

#11 – Kick flare pants: A few months ago, I wrote an entire blog post on the pant suddenly everyone is wearing. You can read it here, and see an Instagram post I shared here. Three favorites include this Vince one (I own these myself), this J.Crew best-selling one and the Insta famous High Sport one.

#12 – Cashmere sweater: This is a must-have in our wardrobes! There are several styles I recommend, including this $50 Quince one, this short sleeved version, and this cardigan. No matter what time of year it is, I pack a crew style for vacation and wear it every single time. Last summer in St. Tropez, I wore it most evenings tied over my shoulders for extra warmth. Then, this past spring when it was chilly in LA, I wore it 7 days in a row layered over a basic tee. You get the idea 😉

#13 – Leopard skirt: This season, leopard is having a moment (!!) and I can’t think of an easier piece to add to your closet. This cool Anine Bing one is a great option, and so is this more affordable version.

#14 – Classic silky blouse: I always recommend a black or soft white silk blouse to everyone. Black is a go-to, especially when you don’t know what to wear but want to be a bit dressed up. Love this button front one by Vince. For something more feminine, this Frame one is another personal favorite. Find one you love — you’ll have it for years and will be covered for all occasions.

#15 – Versatile dress: If you’re looking for one dress that you can style many different ways, I recommend this Veronica Beard black knit dress. I shared it in this recent Instagram video. You can easily wear it to a business lunch and then straight to happy hour. It works most seasons, and the styling options are endless.