The Five Best Fall Outerwear Pieces You Need

Everyone has their favorite seasons and mine is fall. Call me basic, I don’t care. The chilly weather that comes with fall is the best thing. I love warm drinks, the opportunity to bundle up, and the excuse to upgrade my wardrobe with new outwear items.

In fact, while I have a jam packed closet, it’s actually the coat closet that’s bursting from the seams in our apartment (my boyfriend may or may not have a coat obsession, but you didn’t hear that from me). I don’t have pictures of ALL of my fall outerwear, but I thought it would be good to share with you some of the best fall outerwear that you need in your wardrobe.

Old J.Crew Factory Plaid Puffer Vest (Similar, Similar, Similar)
Old J.Crew Factory Fisherman Sweater (Similar low price option, Similar, Similar)
Everlane High-Rise Skinny Jeans (Similar with a low price point (!), Similar, Similar)
Everlane Utility Lace-Up Boot c/o (Similar low price option!, Similar, Similar)

The 6 Best Fall Outerwear Pieces

Below are the 6 necessary pieces you need to build your fall outerwear collection. I put them in order of lighest to heaviest, aka what you’ll need at the beginning at fall when it’s not too chilly to what you’ll need at the end of fall, beginning of winter when it starts to get really cold!

Utility Jacket

I’ve worn the same Old Navy Utility Jacket for years and it’s so good that Old Navy essentially remakes the same jacket every year. I think it’s the perfect fall jacket.

What is a utility jacket and why is it the perfect fall jacket? It’s a cotton/canvas jacket that is made primarily to protect you against wind. If you go for the pricier jackets, they’ll be made with a tough waxed canvas to protect you against all elements (like rain, yay water proof).

A utility jacket also has a boxier shape, but some of the women’s designs will have a draw string near the waist so you can create the illusion of a waist (the Old Navy one does, at least).

For utility jackets, I typically stick to jeans when I’m styling them. They’re already pretty casual and they tend to look the best with jeans. Also, they have the reputation as an “outdoors” jacket, so anything else with them tends to look rather silly. It’s perfect to play in the leaves and then protect you from that surprise rain.

Leather Jacket

This is the one jacket that seems to have alluded me for so many years. I had a great one from Target for a few years, but then the inner lining started to rip and that was the beginning of the end. I’ve been on the hunt for a good one since, but I haven’t really found it.

ANYWAYS, the great thing about a leather jacket is that you have so many options, cuts, and colors to choose from. The most popular options are black and cognac. Don’t be afraid of the popular options though, they’re popular for a good reason. You can however get a leather jacket in a variety of colors, they just might be a little harder to find.

How could you style your leather jacket? Any way you want. It’s amazing. Wear it with jeans for a casual look, or throw it over a dress to toughen up your look a little. It will be one of the most versatile looks in your closet, I promise.

Below are some of the best leather jackets (and faux leather jackets) online under $200. If you have one you love, I’d also love to know where you found yours. I need help finding my own!

Trench Coat

I love a good trench coat. I was always iffy about getting one thought because I didn’t think that I could find one that could fit me well. Luckily I found two trenches from Everlane that changed that.

Trenches are perfect for Fall because not only do they block out the wind, but thanks to the cotton twill, rain rolls right off of them. (And we all need a good water proof jacket,) Also, you look super chic.

Now, you can pair a trench with anything and it will instantly elevate your look. But with that in mind, I love pairing it with collared shirts, cap toe shoes, or dresses. The combinations always look so classic and so beautiful. You always look like you’re trying when you wear a trench, which is why I always suggest throwing one on when you have the chance.

Quilted Vest

I never understood vests until I moved to DC. When I lived in the Midwest, you always needed sleeves. But in DC, where you’re walking everywhere, you get overheated easily and vests become a must. Quilted vests are the perfect solution to days when it’s chilly, but you know that you’ll be moving around a lot outside.

For quilted vests, you have a few different options, but I always feel like there are two primary ones: the conventional puffer and the more fabric/fur option. Both are great and both will keep you warm.

The key to picking a good vest is knowing how heavy you want it to be (how puffy), what material you want (poly exterior or knit vest), and what color you want. Then once you’re ready to style it, I typically build my outfit around the vest. I’ll do a pretty basic outfit (neutral top and jeans), and then a fun pair of shoes (unless the weather is crazy). Unless you’re planning on taking the vest off, you have to remember that the vest is going to be where the eye draws to on your outfit, so treat it well!

Wool Coat

I have a few great wool coats and trust me, you’re not living in winter without a great wool coat. Like a great trench, a good wool coat takes your outfit instantly up a few notches. It can be a pricier purchase, but a good wool coat will last you a while.

What should you look for when buying your wool coat?

• Fit: Your wool coat should be fitted. You don’t want one that’s bulky or too tight. This might mean taking it to a tailor, but it’ll make your coat look like it’s more expensive than it actually was. Now, you should have room under it for layering, but both can be achieved
• Color: Start with a neutral. Obviously I did not follow my own advice and I got a colorful jacket first, but I break my own rules all of the time. A tan wool jacket will be incredibly versatile and last you for years. Other great options are gray and black. If you want to pick up a colorful option after that, then do it it. But unless you find the coat of your dreams in a fun color, go for neutral first.
• Cut: The most popular cut for a wool cut is the basic button down, but the front tie (ala Olivia Pope) has become more popular in the last few years. To start, I would suggest sticking with a button down or zipper. But if you find a front tie that looks amazing, do it.

Puffer Jacket

Oh the puffer, the least fashionable of all jackets, but also the most important. The puffer is the jacket that’s there to keep you warm once the temperatures turn to freezing and all of your other jackets just don’t cut it anymore. But they’re also the least fun to pick out. I don’t have much advice for styling a puffer, but I get pretty opinionated when it comes to picking out your puffer. Thanks to growing up in Wisconsin, I have a few opinions.

Length:

Know what length you want. the further North you are and the more time you spend outside, the longer of a jacket you want. You might look ridiculous, but your warm legs will thank you. You can get puffers that go all the way down to your ankles, so if you need it, embrace it. I prefer either right below my butt or to my knees.

Pockets:

Absolutely necessary. Inner pockets are even better. If you don’t need to carry a purse in cold weather, your life will be better, just trust me.

Weight of the jacket:

You don’t need to have a heavy jacket to be warm nowadays. Thanks to technology, you can have a jacket that keeps you superwarm and is lightweight. I’m too short to have a jacket that weighs me down. Give me a light jacket please!

Packable is better:

I have a waist length jacket that you can easily pack up and shove in a suitcase. It’s amazing. Now this obviously won’t apply to every single puffer jacket, but it’s nice to know that I can shove this jacket into my suitcase and don’t have to carry it on planes when I’m traveling.

Did I forget something important about puffers? Someone from the Northeast or Midwest remind me!

So there you go! The 6 best fall outerwear pieces you need in your wardrobe! Did I miss any outwear pieces that you think are essential?

Plaid Vest Photos by Taylor Phillips Photography