I Live in NYC—These Are the 5 Essential Pieces I Rely On Every Fall

I personally love outfit formulas. Getting dressed feels so much easier when I have a few reliable combinations to fall back on.

Ideally, I'd take it one step further and digitize my wardrobe into a spreadsheet or my Notes app—organized by season. I know that sounds absurd to the majority of people, but I've seen TikToks about this, and it always makes me feel less alone. The idea of logging everything means that on those days when you don't know what to wear, you have outfits to choose from all in one place. It also feels like it saves me from pulling out a bunch of things from my closet or having to try a bunch of options on.

In the spirit of that, there's one formula I always return to every fall: a sweater (often a turtleneck), a skirt, tights, knee-high boots, and a coat. I can't think of a single time I've put it on and not felt good. It's easy, timeless, and dependable.

Shop the Outfit Formula

Sweaters

Admittedly, my J.Crew Rollneck has been getting the most wear the past couple weeks. Beyond that, I tend to rewear my cashmere sweaters on repeat.

j.crew

2025 Rollneck Sweater

LOULOU DE SAISON

Bruzzi Oversize Wool & Cashmere Sweater

falconeri

Ultrasoft Cashmere Crewneck Sweater with Set-in Sleeves

Banana Republic

Cotton V-Neck Sweater

Gap

100% Cotton Oversized Sweater

j.crew

Perfect Cashmere Crewneck Sweater

Banana Republic

Lightweight Cashmere V-Neck Sweater

Skirts

It's funny to see how my preferred skirt length changes with time. I was all about minis for years, then went full-length for the majority of last spring, and now I'm gravitating toward knee-lengths. There's room for them all, but the latter feels particularly perfect this season.

Free People

All or Nothing Half Slip

Charlie Beads

The 90's Bias Mini Skirt

Olga Joan

Bias Knee Skirt Pois Bianca

Tights

When it gets chilly, I wear 20- or 40-denier tights until the New York weather inevitably forces me to start wearing thermal ones. I've always felt most myself in a dress or skirt with tights, maybe from growing up dancing or my mom dressing me in them. Last year, I experimented with red and baby-blue tights; this season, I'm into the wild card micro-trend of argyle.

Swedish Stockings

Svea Premium Tights

Calzedonia

50 Denier Total Comfort Soft Touch Tights

MeMoi

Classic Large-Print Argyle Sweater Tights

Sheertex

Black Classic Sheer Rip-Resist Tights 4" Waistband

Black Knee-High Boots

I was recently gifted the iconic Frye Campus Boots—the pair every girl I know in New York and L.A. seems to own. They're the ideal durable boots for fall and winter. Another on my wish list are Vagabond's Blanca Tall Boots.

Vagabond

Blanca Tall Boots

Tory Burch

Cap-Toe 55mm Leather Knee-High Boots

Carel Paris

40mm Starter Leather Boots

Coats

On warmer days, I throw this outfit on with a trench; when it's colder, I reach for my Filippa Hägg wool coat. For a statement, I love the Florence by the British brand Josephine Jones.

Filippa Hägg

Oversized Coat

Peachy Den

The Cheri Trench