I could never be as effortless as Françoise Hardy, but I can sure be inspired by her. I think we can all agree that this autumn is far from the one we’d dreamed it would be as soon as the last leaf fell in late 2019. If you’re like me, you got tired of wearing leggings about three months ago but are still searching for no-fuss staples to accommodate this new normal. In between the end of the quarter chaos and some huge life changes I have on the horizon, I’ve been doing a little shopping: secondhand luxury, Poshmark, and shopping my own closet. I’ve determined the pieces I’ll be wearing most this season and I think I found a formula that works.

01. A Killer Blazer

If you haven’t invested in a blazer, I highly recommend doing so this season. It’s a great way to elevate a “jeans and a tee” look. I got a great slightly-oversized vintage Pendleton blazer from TheRealReal, but if you’re looking for one similar, try this Double Breasted Blazer from Express or a Longline Blazer from Missmatched.

02. Sneakers

I don’t wear shoes in my home. That’s the kind of behavior that merited a flip flop to the head courtesy of mom. Because of this, I find myself slipping on whatever’s by the door when I leave the house to grab a cup of coffee, take Charlie for a walk, or just to sit outside on my stoop and stave off the existential dread with a few French-style drags from a stale cigarette. It might have been “so 2018” but I’m still loving the dad sneaker look. (Possibly because I’m currently shopping for a riding lawnmower related to those aforementioned life changes.) I searched for these Adidas Supercourt RXs and eventually found a NWT pair in my size on Poshmark. If you don’t want to wait for such a momentous occasion, you can buy them from Adidas here or these somewhat similar Reeboks I’ve also had my eye on.

03. A Wool Touque

My best advice for fall? If you have the means, splurge on a good quality touque. I love this one from Acne (it barely leaves my head once the weather gets chilly). For a more budget-friendly option, here’s a similar one without the “unenthused” face embroidered on it.

04. A Good Pair Of Jeans

You all know how much I love my Rag & Bone jeans. I recently traded my “dozens of pairs of okay jeans” for “a few really great jeans.” I’ve found the Maya jeans always fit perfectly. They come in every wash imaginable but this classic blue is my go-to.

05. A Statement Sweatshirt

Life’s too short to pretend to be too good for a graphic tee. Seriously, who doesn’t love ‘em? I love my Anine Bing Tiger Sweatshirt but also have some more budget-friendly vintage sweatshirts that I adore just as much. (If you’re in Philly, The Urban Exchange Project always has a great selection.)

06. A Bucket Bag

I’m convinced that a good bucket bag will never go out of style. My Mansur Gavriel bucket bag (black with Ballerina interior—purchased secondhand) has held up through quite a few seasons and it always finds itself as my go-to a few times a year. If you’re vigilant on the secondhand sites, you might be able to snag one at a great deal. Mine was in pristine condition, with the pouch included, for under $400.

07. An Animal Print Dress

I must admit, I was not on board with the sudden resurgence in animal print until very recently. I got this Ganni dress a few months ago while I was still optimistic that I might be able to go on a mini vacation for my birthday later this month. Silly me. Still, it’ll serve me through the winter. Or next fall. Or next winter. We’ll see how things go. For more budget-friendly alternatives, I love this tiger print wrap dress from ASOS, or for an even sexier option, this slip dress.

08. A Button-Down

This will go for every season. A great button down is truly worth it. I have a few of these (in different colors) linen ones from Everlane. Button-downs are also another great option to find at your local vintage or thrift store.

09. Mules

More shows, of course! I love the way mules look with pretty much everything. They’re perfectly “carefree French babe” with skinny jeans. They’re sleek with wide leg trousers. They’re flattering with skirts and dresses of any length, and they’re so satisfying to kick off at the end of the day. I can’t find them anywhere online anymore but I retail therapy’d some of the cutest brown croc-patterned block heel mules from Schutz last winter and I’m very excited to pull them back out in the fall. Here’s a similar-looking pair in a lighter color from ASOS or this cute black pair from & Other Stories.

10. A Scarf

A scarf is a must-have for later in the season. My autumn wardrobe tends to be more neutral so my bright red Acne scarf is a staple for me to keep me warm, chic, and bring a little color to my daily looks.

11. Black Ankle Boots

If you don’t take any of these other suggestions, I highly recommend getting a pair of black ankle boots. Why? They’re the quintessential autumn accessory. Reike Nen makes my favorite shoes, and I have a gorgeous velvet pair with a black O-ring on the back zipper. I can’t wait to wear them again. If you want something a little more practical than velvet, they also come in leather.

12. Gold Jewelry

This goes for any season, truthfully. Find some jewelry that you like and wear it every damn day, I wear my paperclip chain, my pendant with my father’s cross from when he was a child, a tarot bracelet from Mejuri, and my Aurate huggies. You will never find me without these. Unless it’s a special occasion and I’ve changed my earrings for it. Probably not any time soon though.

13. A Wool Fedora

This one is just for fun. I love my Lack of Colour wool fedora, I only wish it wasn’t too warm to wear in every season. As soon as the air takes on that special autumn briskness, you can find me with some kind of hat. (As you may have read earlier.) A good hat like this is hard to come by. Once you find one, cherish it.

14. A Striped Coat

And finally, a striped coat. The one pictured above is similar, though not exactly the same, as the Scotch & Soda one I found and swiftly purchased the other day. Here’s the link just in case it happens to come back in stock—if not, & Other Stories has a similar one.

And there you have it. A more-or-less-mix-and-max wardrobe in fourteenish pieces.

xo, e.m.