At 40, I’m over trendy pieces.  So mohair and white sleeveless tanks are not on the menu in my house this fall.  But a lot of the must-have items for fall 2022 are basic pieces that work in any wardrobe.

A Camel Blazer // This Banana Republic jacket is the best blazer.  I own all the colors.  I will never stop having good things to say about this blazer.  If you don’t own one, get one.  It comes in petite and tall.  It runs pretty true to size.

Need one that’s a little more affordable?  J.Crew Factory has a tailored camel blazer that is worth a look.  Plus-size?  This one from Eloquii is the nicest one I found.

A Chunky Chain Necklace // This Coterie Chain Necklace is divine. Sadly, it’s a little more than I want to spend, but gosh, she’s pretty.  So if you think you might wear this style every day, give it a look.

For my own jewelry box, I’m looking at this rounded-link necklace from Verishop and this clip-style necklace from Verishop.  They cost about half, and are also really beautiful.  Need one under-$50?  I love this Madewell chain that has different sized links on it.

Ballerina Flats // Ballet flats are back in a big way.  Ones with little bows, like these from J.Crew.  Ones with more substantial bows, like these Kate Spades.  And one with elastic straps across the top, like these Miu Miu flats (which are back for their second shot at stardom).

Preppy Sweaters // So many of the sweaters for fall are giving me the Montauk-goes-prep-school vibe, and I’m not mad about it.  This Alex Mill cardigan is on my wish list (it reminds me of a Gucci jacket I wanted a few years back).  It’s very tennis in Nantucket followed by lemonades on the veranda.  I also like this camel cardigan from Amazon or this Forever21 varsity sweater in green with a striped trim (also in plus).

Stripe sweaters are also huge for fall.  The stripes help bridge the months between end of summer and the chill of winter.  Personally, I love this Gap sweater most of all.  This LOFT tunic is also fantastic.  Or if you want a less preppy way to wear stripes I love this black and camel Jaeger sweater.

Statement Belts // This is how I’m breathing new life into last year’s sheath dresses (no one saw them anyway with WFH).  I love a good belt, and this one from BeltBe is great.  I also love this sleek, sophisticated belt from Banana Republic.  And don’t miss this fantastic double-buckle belt from NY&Co for under-$25.

Chunky Boots // Last year, combat boots came back in a big way.  (Hello, Dr. Marten’s.)  This year, it’s just chunky boots.  This pair from Dolce Vita come in several neutral colors and they’re waterproof, which is a nice feature.  These black Naturalizer boots seem like they would be very comfortable for walking around the city.  And if you want to be winter-ready, these Marc Fisher’s come highly recommended.

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