30 Stylist-Approved Staples You Need in Your Wardrobe This Fall—From $20 at Amazon

When the leaves begin to fall and temperatures drop, resisting the urge to default to a tried-and-true pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt can be a challenge—who doesn’t love being comfy? With the fall approaching, you may be eager to incorporate fall fashion into your outfit rotation and prep for the upcoming season, and thankfully, we spoke with a style expert to help you curate a wardrobe that is fun, stylish, and suitable for cooler weather. “Autumn calls for neural staples and cozy layers,” Dina Scherer, personal stylist and color analysis expert, tells Real Simple. “Natural fibers for outerwear and key pieces like sweaters, coats and shoes will keep you cozy and comfortable.”

We turned to Amazon to find versatile essentials that you can use from the fall to the winter without breaking the bank. Whether you’re going pumpkin picking or hosting a casual Halloween party for friends, you’ll find options like straight-leg jeans and ankle boots that are perfect for all chilly occasions. Keep reading to find pieces you should have in your wardrobe this fall, according to a personal stylist. 

Straight-Leg Jeans

You can never go wrong with a solid pair of jeans, regardless of the season. But when the fall rolls around, Scherer recommends a straight-leg style, as it’s typically a more form-fitting and versatile option. Well-fitting, straight-leg jeans are “necessary for a well-rounded fall wardrobe,” she explains, adding that they’re “the most reliable and [have] a fairly universal, flattering style.” Jeans come in a variety of colors, and for the fall specifically, Scherer says to opt for a darker wash with less distress for a crisp, stylish look. Amazon has plenty of straight-leg options that fit the bill, like this pair from Lee, that has 5,600 five-star ratings from shoppers who praise its flattering style, stretchy fit, and soft material. 

Wrangler High Rise True Straight Fit Jean

This straight-leg style from Wrangler is a best seller, and for good reason. The jeans are made from a blend of cotton, polyester, and spandex, which allows for a comfortably soft feel and stretchy fit. They have a high-waisted design that helps conceal your mid-section and gives you support where you need it, while the straight-leg design can be styled with sneakers, boots, or heels to suit all occasions. “I have never had jeans I loved so much or that fit me so well, one five-star customer shared, adding, “I already have 5 pairs of different colors because they are SOOO comfortable, sooo cute and amazing quality.” Available in eight color options and sizes 0 to 18, these jeans are ones you’ll want to wear throughout the fall and beyond. 

Gloria Vanderbilt Classic Tapered Amanda Jeans

These jeans from Gloria Vanderbilt have nearly 44,000 five-star ratings for shoppers due to their stretchy, comfortable fit, and timeless style. Constructed with a blend of cotton, polyester, and elastane, the jeans provide plenty of stretch and feel smooth to the touch. They sit right at the waist, and include functional pockets (no fake pockets, here) on the front and the back to hold your phone, keys, etc. For those with different sizing needs, the jeans are available in short and long options, and come in sizes 2 to 20. One five-star reviewer praised the fit of the pants, and wrote, “These jeans feel as if they were tailor made for me.”

Cropped Shackets

Layering pieces like sweaters, cardigans, and jackets are essential for the fall, and among the many options available to keep you warm while looking chic, Scherer points to a cropped shacket to do the job. A fusion of the words “shirt” and “jacket,” a shacket is a combination of the aforementioned clothing pieces, and comes in handy during the fall when temperatures are in between comfortably warm and blustery cold. “A few years in a row we’ve seen them oversized and more a button-down shirt style,” she explains, adding, “Now shorter, more cropped, and slightly more tailored styles are becoming popular.” For a stylish way to build layers, grab a shorter, boxier shacket with a fun pattern or texture, like this one from Lviefent, which shoppers call the “perfect blend of cool but warm” for the fall. 

Yeokou Cropped Wool Blend Plaid Shacket

For cozy bonfires or weekend trips to the farmers market, this shacket will keep you warm and comfy. Featuring a blend of wool and polyester, the shacket is breathable and provides insulation when temperatures cool down. The warm brown, white, and black plaid design, along with the structured, boxy fit, makes it a great addition to your seasonal wardrobe. One five-star shopper who raved about the material and fit of the shacket wrote, “[The] fabric is really nice and not scratchy on the inside,” adding, “Perfect fit, not too warm but warm enough for chilly fall night!” Did we mention it’s also available in 10 plaid styles? 

Gihuo Corduroy Cropped Shacket

Corduroy has made a bit of a comeback in the fashion world, and this corduroy cropped shacket is bound to become your newest statement piece. Outside of the plush cotton and polyester material, it stands out thanks to its ribbed texture, oversized front pockets, and eye-catching buttons. Speaking of buttons, the best part about the shacket is its versatile styling options, as you can opt to wear it open for something more breezy or button it up on cooler days. One five-star reviewer called it “The perfect layering piece,” and wrote, “I love to put it with a jumper or romper; add a hat and you’ve stepped up your casual outfit to something else entirely!”

Ankle Boots

Stylish boots are great for the fall season, as they can be worn with virtually everything and look good no matter what. Ankle boots in particular are “an absolute staple,” according to Scherer, and “can be styled in a variety of ways with skirts, dresses, jeans and even overalls.” When shopping for ankle boots, Scherer recommends shorter, bootie styles that land just above the ankle to highlight the narrowest part of your leg, “create better proportions, and allow for varying styling options.” Picking ankle boots in a neutral color, like a taupe, gray, black, camel, or brown, gives you more freedom to mix and match clothes with different patterns, textures, and colors, too. These booties from Lucky Brand, for example, are made with 100 percent leather, and have a warm brown hue that can match with any piece in your closet. 

Amazon Essentials Ankle Boot

Amazon Essentials is known for its budget-friendly yet fashionable clothing and accessory options, and these ankle boots are no exception. For starters, the boots are designed with a two-inch heel that has a flexible, non-slip sole that prevents you from sliding or falling. They are made with durable alternative leather materials, with a faux kid suede upper and faux leather lining that look as expensive as authentic leather, but without the high price point. For ultimate comfort, the boots have a padded memory foam insole to cushion your feet as you wear them. “Super comfortable, very cute, and great for wearing daily at work when you have to do a fair amount of walking,” one five-star customer shared.  

Cushionaire Rodeo Western Ankle Boot

Shoppers love these Cushionaire Western-inspired ankle boots for a few reasons. They feature a plush memory foam inner padding that contours your feet and provides plenty of comfort with extended wear. As far as design goes, the boots are crafted with a two-inch genuine leather heel, premium vegan leather upper, and a side zipper to help you slide them on and off with ease. They also come in both faux leather and faux suede options in black, tan, white, and brown colors, so you have plenty of options to choose from. One five-star shopper praised the comfortable properties of the boots, and wrote, “Very comfortable… [I] can wear them for hours, all evening, no issues.”

Fall Dresses

While dresses are normally associated with warmer seasons like spring and summer, they are perfectly suitable for the cooler temperatures of the fall. “Fall dresses are another great season must-have,” Scherer shares. Fall dresses come in a plethora of styles, patterns, and colors, but Scherer suggests shopping for dresses with a fall floral pattern, as they “add a touch of whimsy for the season.” If florals aren’t your style, warm plaids and animal prints like cheetah, leopard, and jaguar are also great, because “they naturally have a built-in Autumn color palette.” This lovely wrap dress from PrettyGarden comes in a reddish-brown color and features a leopard-style pattern that looks equal parts fun and timeless. 

Btfbm Long Sleeve Wrap Maxi Dress

Florals aren’t something you normally think of in terms of the fall season, but Scherer says florals, incorporated with rich autumnal colors like “terracotta and pumpkin oranges, chocolate browns, deep eggplant purples, true navy, and olive greens” work well for the season. This stylish dress from Btfbm comes in 20 colors, but this dark wine color is one you want in your wardrobe this fall. It features a darling design, with a cross V-neck, flowy lantern sleeves, ruffle details, and tie-belt at the waist for a flattering, feminine look. “I wore this to a November wedding and got a lot of compliments on it! It’s very cute & lightweight so you won’t get hot when wearing it,” one five-star reviewer wrote. 

Zesica Floral Ruffle Maxi Dress

For something with more of a boho vibe, we love this dress from Zesica. It’s adorned with a lovely pattern of flowers and leaves in light and deep brown colors that capture the essence of fall and make it a perfect piece to wear throughout the season. Subtle details, like the puffed sleeves, ruched bust, and pleated skirt help tie the dress together and polish your look. One final five-star customer applauded the versatility of the dress, and wrote, “It’s perfect for spring, summer, and even fall occasions…The square neck design is flattering, and the dress is incredibly comfortable to wear.”