Tired of blending in with everyone else from the Tri-State Area? While leggings and chunky sweaters are in-season for the fall, pick up some closet fresheners for your back-to-school wardrobe. Just a few new pieces will make your entire closet feel new.
We’ve boiled it down to the top five musts for your updated back-to-school wardrobe.
1. If you buy one new piece this fall, make it something in oxblood – the perfect color to welcome the cooler weather. The dark wine shade, whether it’s a dress, separate or pumps, makes clothes look richer while still keeping a classic feel.
2. Stand out from the crowds that sport oversized Louis Vuitton totes by carrying more understated designs, like Marni’s Bucket Hobo Bag in Dark Sea Green and Carbon Black or MICHAEL Michael Kors Large Selma Studded Saffiano Tote. The natural colors – forest greens, tans and charcoals – are perfect for autumn. For a less expensive option, check out Madewell’s Camden tote in dusty burgundy or black.
3. Store your miniskirts and shorts in your closet for the season and buy some knee-length skirts. Look for a T-shaped skirt that cinches your waist and flows out for a 1950s-esque shape. If the hem grazes your knees, it will give you a modest look that works with the fall weather and your fall internship on Capitol Hill or K Street.
4. Instead of another day in flats, don a pair of wingtip oxfords. Whether you choose a deep-colored leather or a more eye-popping shade, the shoes will add life to any over-worn outfit. For an extra-drab day, pick a quirky sock pattern. Nothing is too zany when paired properly.
5. Assuming a leather motorcycle jacket is already hanging in your closet, your next outerwear investment is a vintage bomber jacket. The best ones won’t be found in a department store: Mine is a hand-me-down from my mom, who picked it up in France in the 1980s. Hunt for one at vintage stores like Dr. K, a well-stocked shop near U Street brimming with everything from 1950s Hawaiian shirts to prom dresses straight out of a John Hughes movie.
