By Roxy L. Rowton
Transitioning to the structured routines and schedules that come with the onset of autumn can be complex, but deciding which clothing to wear for a new season shouldn’t be. Stocking your cold-weather closet with an assortment of foundational and dependable core garments yields a simpler approach to tackling the question of “what to wear” for a variety of autumnal activities, as well as those capricious
weather conditions.
Moving toward a wardrobe that dresses to your best sartorial advantage requires a foundation of essentials. Piecing together the closet essential collection rests on two pillars: staples and basics. Each performs a significant role within the seasonal wardrobe and merits consideration. Staples are the
indispensable main garments of the closet essential collection and building blocks of the seasonal wardrobe.
Look for quality fabrics and textiles, main and neutral hues, thoughtful and practical details, suitable and comfortable cuts, as well as better grade craftsmanship and construction.
To effectively stock your cold-weather closet, start from the bottom up with an assortment of basic and dependable core garments. Identifying which garments are your best closet essentials makes a substantial transformation in your wardrobe. Below is a compilation of garments to consider as you select closet essentials for your cold-weather wardrobe. This is not to be confused with a universal “must haves” list. Rather it is an assortment of potential garments to keep in mind as you form the foundation of your cold-weather wardrobe.
The Autumn Roster of Closet Essentials
- Mid-weight coats and jackets: trench coats, denim jackets, leather jackets, field/barn coats, pea coats, quilted jackets, military jackets, capes
- Blazers: navy blazers, tweed blazers, hunting blazers, flannel blazers, double-breasted blazers, cord blazers, suede or quilted vests
- Layering pieces: turtlenecks, camisoles, tees, tanks, polos, rugbies, sweatshirts
- Tops: classic button-down shirts, silk blouses, tie-neck blouses, camp shirts, denim/chambray shirts, flannel shirts, Oxford shirts, tunics
- Trousers: chinos, cords, capris, cargo pants, jeans, leggings and joggers
- Knitwear: boyfriend cardigans, shawl cardigans, wrap cardigans, pullover sweaters, roll-neck sweaters, Fair Isle sweaters, cricket sweaters, shawl-collar sweaters
- Dresses: shirtwaist, wrap, slip, sweater, drawstring, sheath, tee, denim
- Skirts: leather, suede, midi, tweed, flannel, pencil, pleated
- Footwear: pumps, brogues, driving moccasins, booties, ankle to over-the-knee boots, sneakers, loafers.
Wardrobe and style consultant Roxy L. Rowton (rlrowton@everydayrefinement.com) spends much of her workweek in the closet or the fitting room helping women look and feel their best. She has two-plus decades in the fashion, apparel and beauty industries.
