I'm a Fashion Editor—Here Are the Fall Basics I'm Getting Major Compliments On

Shop Like an Editor is aBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing column where our senior editor Kristen Nichols shares her latest fashion finds.

I’m always the most inspired to get dressed when a new season rolls around. Yep, it means that many of the trends I’ve been eyeing from the runways are finally starting to drop and I can start mixing them into my personal wardrobe. And that’s exactly what I’m doing this fall. While I would normally be snapping up more statement-making pieces, I’ve been interpreting the trends by restyling many of the basics sitting in my closet and adding in a few fresh finds for the new season.

One thing I can guarantee—all of the pieces ahead earn major compliments every time I wear them. From the Instagram-inspired way I’m styling a sweatsuit to the comfortable jeans I can’t stop wearing to the boot trend I won’t stop talking about, here, see how I’m wearing some of my favorite fall fashion basics this season. You may just find some new essentials to add to your closet.

Trench + T-Shirt Dress + Rubber Boots

One of my favorite shoe trends for fall? Knee-high rubber boots. In the past, I would normally only wear them in rainy weather but after spotting them on the F/W 20 runways at designers like Bottega Veneta and Prada, I've been inspired to mix them into my fall looks. Here, I'm wearing them with a T-shirt dress and trench for a transitional look.

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Blazer + Ripped Jeans + Heels

I ordered this blazer at the beginning of the year and it is still one of the most special pieces in my closet. While I usually wear it with legging-like pants, I decided to swap in loose, ripped jeans—the comfortable denim trend I can't stop wearing right now. To finish off the look, I added a pair of vintage Manolo Blahnik slingback heels that I've had my eye on for years and finally ordered.

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Padded Tee + Relaxed Trousers

Padded shoulder T-shirts have become one of the defining trends of 2020 and it's easy to see why. A modern update to a standard basic tee, the shoulder pads instantly make it feel fresh and cool. It's a personal favorite piece I wear for my Zoom calls. Here, I'm styling it with a pair of relaxed trousers from Tove that have the best fit of any pants in my closet.

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Square-Toe Boots

Square-toe boots have been around for a few seasons now but feel just as cool as they did when they first emerged on the fashion scene. That's one of the things I love about them most—they feel very on-trend but have major staying power. This pair from Manu Atelier has become a staple for fall even though I've had them since last year. The style is so popular that they continue to bring them back in new colors.

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Polo Sweater + Loose Jeans + Polished Bag

Knit polos are having a major moment right now. They're a mainstay in the fall collections but I found an amazing affordable version from H&M. The camel piece I'm wearing here sold out in record time but they just dropped this beautiful cream version that I highly recommend ordering before it sells out. Here, I'm pairing it with loose jeans—yep, a favorite as I mentioned above. I also added this stunning bag from Ferragamo—a timeless investment piece that I'll own forever, which also lines up with the polished bag trend that's everywhere this season.

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Sweatsuit + Oversize Blazer + Tube Socks + Sneakers

We're all living in sweatsuits right now, right? At least, I am most days when I'm working from home. As they've become a main staple in my wardrobe, I've been trying to rethink how to style them. Here, I added an oversize blazer, tube socks, and my go-to sneakers.

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Colorful Blazer + Split Leggings + Chain Belt + Kitten Heels

I have to admit that I haven't always loved the idea of wearing leggings for anything but a workout but my thoughts on that have completely changed. Sleek black leggings have become a mainstay in my wardrobe and I especially love the split versions that have an open seam at the ankle. I ordered this cult pair from Totême before they quickly sold out and can confirm that they are worth the hype. They just restocked so I would recommend adding them to your cart. While I tend to stick with neutrals, I love an unexpected pop of color like this magenta blazer, which I topped off with a Chanel belt and my go-to vintage Prada heels.

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Next, shop 25 cool fashion finds I'm obsessing over right now.