Fall Fashion Classics You Need to Own

The influential fashion designer Coco Chanel once said, "Fashion is made to become unfashionable." Yet although most trends come and go, some manage to hang on year after year. Fall features many styles with staying power, from menswear-inspired trousers to classic schoolgirl plaids. These styles come back into fashion every autumn, somehow seeming fresh and appropriate again as soon as the leaves begin to fall. Keep these style staples in mind when investing in your wardrobe to avoid wasting cash on short-term trends. Here are a few of the fall fashion classics you need to own.

Fall Fashion Classics - Riding Boots

Among fall's regular trends is the equestrian look. Fitted blazers, crisp high-necked blouses and other styles a dressage champion might wear lend stylishly affluent details to the season. The high boots favored by the riding crowd are also a stylish look for fall, which hit between mid-calf and the lower knee. These are usually worn in dark, supple leather, or a synthetic equivalent for those with ethical aversions to genuine leather.

Riding boots are typically worn for riding with slim pants called jodhpurs tucked into them, but look great for everyday wear with skinny jeans or leggings tucked in. Other boot styles are also fall fashion staples, including high, heeled leather boots and leather or suede booties.

Fall Fashion Classics - Frame Bag

After the summer parties and holidays, fall signifies the return to work. By the end of the Indian summer, chances are your beachy totes and hobo bags have lost their charm. What better way to get down to business than a serious handbag? Flip your style in a different direction with a structured frame bag, such as a satchel, bowling or doctor's bag. These are the perfect complement to the ladylike, tailored styles that fall into fashion each autumn. To get the most from your investment, choose a quality bag in a neutral color that suits your wardrobe or matches your coat.

Fall Fashion Classics - High-Necked Sweater

What could be more cozy than a warm sweater in the fall? Sweaters show up in all shapes and sizes every fall, but they aren't created equal. Cardigans are a good way to help summery short-sleeved tops transition to fall, and baggy pullovers are ideal for keeping warm on a rainy day. These are useful sweaters, but don't usually get the mileage of a good high-necked sweater.

Turtlenecks (or mock-necks for those who don't like the folded look of a turtleneck) and cowl-neck sweaters are a stylish way to keep warm without the extra bulk of most sweaters. Sweaters with a high neck can keep your neck warm without having to wear a scarf, and draw attention to the face by covering the neck and upper chest. High-necked sweaters are often made from light, body-hugging fabrics, making them ideal layering pieces to wear with heavier sweaters, vests and jackets.

Fall Fashion Classics - Dark Denim

A good pair of jeans is a staple in any woman's wardrobe, as important as a simple pair of black pants or a crisp white shirt. Though shapes and washes vary as the years go by, a well-fitted pair of jeans never goes out of style. Dark denim jeans are universally flattering, unlike light or colored alternatives. Go for a pair that fits throughout the body, in a slim or straight-leg style.

Basic jeans in a flattering fit will go with almost anything, from a dressy blouse and heels for date night to a threadbare t-shirt on a lazy weekend. You may need to do some searching for the brand that fits you best, but classic standbys like Levi's and Gap are good places to start experimenting with styles and fits. If you're between sizes or have other special fit needs, a tailor or seamstress can easily alter clothing to your shape.

Keep these fall fashion classics in mind on your next shopping spree, or use them as a guideline to find what flatters you. Invest in classic shapes and quality fabrics, and you'll never go wrong. Though you'll pay a little more per item, you'll see significant savings over time by not having to replace your wardrobe every year.