Shopping

Unless you’re somehow a regular in the gala scene, weddings are one of the few events of adulthood that allow you to get dressed to the nines and feel like absolute gold. 2020 can stop a lot of things, but if you’re attending a socially-distanced wedding this fall, it shouldn’t stop that feeling—it just has one teeny, tiny addition: a mask.Instead of dreading pairing a mask with a wedding look, swap your mindset to thinking of it as another opportunity to make a statement with an accessory (if the Real Housewives of New York could do it, so can we). 
Of course, if you’re invited to a wedding anytime soon that you’re thinking about attending, you should only attend if you’re absolutely comfortable. Read up on your state’s COVID-19 guidelines and consider whether or not they’ll be followed at the wedding. Those getting married in 2020 are facing a hard choice in whether or not to keep their wedding dates, but you as a guest should never have to feel uncomfortable in order to attend. 
If you do decide to safely attend a wedding, put away your disposable mask for the night, and instead pair a fabulous fall wedding guest dress with a mask that will actually make you want to wear it (yes, they do exist!). 

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If I’m being honest, I jumped the gun and ran out of summer about six weeks ago, while the temps were still in the 80s and people had yet to celebrate Labor Day (not that you’d be able to tell from my apartment, which had the AC blasting at a crisp 65 and Folklore playing on repeat).But, ladies (and possibly a gent or two, one of which is probably my dad), according to the calendar, fall is officially here. It’s 57 degrees in Chicago today, the leaves are starting to change, and pedicures are no longer a necessity—it’s closed-toe shoe weather.
Besides Trader Joe’s petite pumpkin-spiced frosted cookies and my “Leaves” candle from Bath & Body, fall shoes are without a shadow of a doubt the best part of the season. Everything from chic, fun sneakers to ultra-cool boots take your basics from blah to “Who is she?” faster than you can queue up Hocus Pocus. But you can save your fears for the spooky movies you’ll watch all season, because we found the most versatile, investment-worthy fall shoes of 2020, all under $100—you’re going to want to see these.

Boots

Source: Mango

Loafers and Flats

Source: Madewell

Sneakers

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Skinny jeans: you know them, you love them, you wore them every day from 6th grade to 9th grade. No matter what denim trends come and go (mom jeans, boyfriend-fit, flared leg, etc.), you know that skinny pair in your closet will be there for you season after season, year after year. And since it is, after all, skinny-jeans-and-booties season, we put together 10 trends that pair perfectly with the slim silhouette to update your autumn uniform for 2020.These outfits are so good (and the trends are so affordable), we won’t blame you if your skinny jeans became second skin by December. Look cute, stay comfortable, and save your money for more important things (like PSLs and renting every Harry Potter movie from Amazon Video)–we’ve got you covered with the cutest, most affordable pieces to pair with your skinnies this season. 

1. Sherpa Jacket

Source: @crystalinmarie

Is there anything cozier? We’d even go so far as to say that the sherpa jacket is the it-coat of the season. Luckily for our skinny jeans, the oversized nature of this fuzzy jacket pairs perfectly with a slim silhouette. Some of our favorite affordable brands are embracing the trend this season with versions that are high-quality and comfortable, but won’t break the bank. 

2. Peasant Blouse

Source: @fashion_jackson

Whether the temperatures are already dropping or you live in year-round sunny weather, we’ll have the peasant blouse on repeat all season long. An ivory top with pretty ruffles, feminine details, and puffed sleeves is the perfect fall piece to wear on its own or under your go-to jacket. The ideal pairing for a peasant blouse? You guessed it: skinny jeans, which balance out the proportions of a voluminous top. 

3. Jean Jacket

Source: @chrissyford

In case you missed the memo, head-to-toe denim is not just a killer Halloween couple’s costume (an ode to 2001 Britney and Justin, of course); it’s a fashion trend. The infamous Canadian tuxedo has made its way into the hearts of fashion girls like Chrissy Rutherford and celebrities like Bella Hadid. Keep your jacket slim fit and in the same wash as your skinny jeans for a sleek, sophisticated, and on-trend OOTD. 

4. Puffed-Sleeved Sweaters

Source: @raeannlangas

Maybe it’s because we’ve been wearing loungewear for the past seven months in a row, but style stars are opting for luxe cashmere and warm knit with interesting details. Puffed-sleeves have become so popular, they just might be the #1 trend of fall 2020. And if you haven’t guessed it yet, the perfect pairing for voluminous details is a slim silhouette (AKA skinny jeans) to balance out proportions. Wear with knee-high boots for extra trend points.

 
5. Trench Coat

Source: @kayla_seah

Ah, the trench coat: the piece that feels just as Parisian-chic as it is minimalist and cool. The lightweight (but warm) outerwear can be worn from the first day of fall until the last day of spring, making it the perfect investment piece. Luckily for our wallets, you don’t have to spend $$$ to score a high-quality trench. Pair the timeless piece with your skinniest jeans, heeled booties, and a simple tee (or knit when the weather gets cold). 

6. Plaid Blazer

Source: @gabbywhiten

Forget boring black basics! This season, we’re channeling our inner Blair Waldorf (everybody has an inner Blair Waldorf) and switching out our plain work blazers for more stylish plaid versions. Wear with dark wash skinny jeans, loafers, and a thin turtleneck for a work outfit formula you’ll want to wear to the office every day (or when you need to look extra professional over Zoom). 

7. Buttoned-Up Cardigan 

Source: @meghandono

Is it just me, or is every blogger, celebrity, and fashion girl wearing cardigans as shirts by buttoning up the front? Maybe it’s because we’ve outworn all of our pull-on sweaters, or maybe the style just looks so cute, but either way, I’m mad at myself that I didn’t think of this earlier. The best part about pairing this trend with your slimmest pair of pants is that you can opt for an oversized sweater to pair with booties, or wear a tighter, cropped cardigan with heels for a date night look. Either will go with skinny fit!

8. Graphic Tee

Source: Wait, You Need This

Skinny jeans are not only the perfect basic pair of pants, but they serve as an ideal background for statement pieces. Graphic tees are one of our favorite go-to pieces to spice up any outfit while staying comfortable, and a pair of skinnies ensure all the attention is on the tee. Throw on a pair of booties and a blazer or jacket for a weather-appropriate OOTD.

9. Bright Colors

Source: @theplussizedprep

That’s right: bright colors aren’t just for summer. As much as we love neutrals and plaid come fall, rich jewel tones are gorgeous for the season. Think emerald green, bright red, cerulean blue, and bright magenta. Look for them in accessories, sweaters, or floral blouses (because romantic florals are in for fall!). 

10. Faux Fur

Source: @stephanietrotta

Starting September 1, all we want is to be warm and cozy. Lucky for us, faux fur is on-trend in a huge way. And lucky for our skinny jeans, nothing goes as well with an oversized fuzzy coat as a slim pair of jeans (but you already knew that, right?). Opt for a ripped pair to make any glam faux fur a little more casual, and wear with a cozy knit to be as warm as possible. 

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How are you styling your skinny jeans for fall? More

Have you ordered your first hot drink of the season yet? I sure have, and I’m absolutely living and breathing for it. I’ll be honest: I like fall, it’s great and all, but I live for winter and the holidays. But this year, I’m doing everything I can find the bliss in the cooler temperatures, the spooky movies, and—you guessed it—the fall fashion. But we’re not quite living in a typical fall-fashion world right now, so how do I balance my aching need for cozy clothes with the practicality of saving my money for a rainy day (i.e. when I can travel again!)? I shop the sales. And boy have we found a good one! Our editors are new fans of Verishop, an online retailer carrying both brands we already love (like AGOLDE, Girlfriend Collective, and Vince) and new-to-us labels we’re dying to try. Ready to shop fall fashion as much as I am? These fall must-haves are all 25 percent off right now with the code VERIFRIENDS. Time to get shopping!

use code VERIFRIENDS

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Of all the fashion advice I’ve ever received, the greatest is this: when you don’t know what to wear, pick a jacket and build your outfit from it.I follow this advice on more days than I can count. When I’m scrambling to get ready in the morning, a jacket can take a pair of jeans and basic T-shirt from “I just woke up” to “I picked this out last night, can’t you tell?” In my opinion, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—worth investing in more than a good jacket, and you can fact check that based on my closet. When you find one that speaks to you, you wear it for years to come, and it’ll be adhered to your body from September until May.
Of course, fall 2020 has no shortage of incredible fall jackets. From this season’s ever-popular “shacket” (yes, you read that right, and yes, it’s a shirt/ jacket hybrid) to classic moto jackets you’ll wear time and time again, these are the best jackets of the year. More

I’m going to be honest: I’ve officially hit a point in quarantine where my sweats just aren’t cutting it. Never did I think I’d see the day that real clothes sound better than loungewear, but I suppose that six months of sitting on the couch can change you in the weirdest of ways.I’m at a point that I need to put on some semblance of presentable clothes during my workdays. I don’t need to be wearing what I’d actually wear to the office, but the reminder that I’m a living, breathing human that does indeed have clothes that don’t involve six-year-old sorority clothes can be exactly what the doctor ordered. The catch? Comfort still needs to be a priority.
That’s where these pieces come in: presentable ones that look like real clothes, but feel like your sweats. Plaid pants that are made out of the same material as your sweats? Say no more. More