Tina's List of Fall Must-Haves
Tina, here.
I've been waiting to share my fall must-haves with you! And I'm so excited. You know how much I adore fall and fall fashion. I visit my leather sometimes during the summer just to make sure it knows I still love it. And my cashmere. And my boots. And my coats. And I'm just getting started.

A local TV show here in Nashville interviewed me shopping for fall fashion. The host, Meryll Rose, has become a sweet friend of mine. You can watch us talking fall fashion here.
Today I'm giving you my top must-haves. These pieces fall into the trendier side of the classics; they're fun, so the price-points are super friendly. To shop my entire list of 12 Modern Must-Haves, you can join the Style Vault.
Shop entire outfits right from home, and save up to 20% off. There's a bonus issue, too, this month, The Perfect Fall Shoe Wardrobe, with the 12 styles every woman needs now. Only $7.99/month. Cheaper than Netflix :)
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Tina's Fun Fall Must-Haves
1. Blanket Coat or Blanket Sweater

I've been collecting vintage Ralph Lauren blanket sweaters for years. They're back. Just make sure you get one that isn't too full around the hips. The sleeker the better. Shop this one inside the September Style Vault, Style Notes section.

The key to wearing a blanket coat or sweater is to pair it with something skinny on the bottom. You can do an ankle pant or bootcut jeans, as long as they are fitted through the hip and thighs. And I prefer you in heels when you wear a longer sweater or top.
2. Adult Plaid
Not to be confused with juvenile plaid school uniforms across the globe. Here there is a fine line, ladies. It has to do with negative space vs. positive space, proportions, color combinations, fabric, cut and shape, etc. In my expert opinion, you need an expert to help you choose the right plaid. Unless you have a family plaid that comes with its own crest. In that case, you can wear it however you want to.

Surprise, surprise, I've been scooping up men's plaid flannels for years and having them tailored to fit me. Now you can find plaid everywhere, which means the margin of error is great. This is a great plaid (and I don't typically like red) because it's got the right amount of negative space so you don't get dizzy when you look at it. I like how much white it has, too, to balance the color. I just added it to the Style Notes section of the September Style Vault so you can get one, too!

Go full on cowgirl with jeans and boots, or I also love a plaid shirt tucked into a slim pencil skirt with heels. Hmm, that actually sounds like a good blog - how to wear plaid.
3. Slim Bootcut Jeans
The new bootcut is either one of two silhouettes: full-on flare or sleek and slim. I leave the flares to boho hippies and very tall women who can pull it off well. I like the baby bootcut, as it is also known. But you can't get every bootie under it. Some, yes, but not all. And cowboy boots and knee boots definitely don't fit under them like they do regular bootcut jeans. And for sure don't try to tuck these into your boots. This pair below is one of my 12 Modern Must-Haves in the September Style Vault. If you're a member, sign in and shop now. They're under $100.

A shoe that is open on top of your foot works really well with a baby bootcut. A bootie that isn't too bulky will also work under it. (Get some great animal print flats and heels in the bonus issue of the Style Vault this month, all about the Perfect Fall Shoe Wardrobe.)
4. Something Merlot
The Pantone color of the year is technically marsala. But I like this deep plum color and we call it merlot. Color experts, don't judge me. It's pretty against most skin tones, and I treat it as a neutral because it's a color you'd see in the sunset. There are some gorgeous tops and dresses in this merlot color in the Style Vault.

I have started wearing silky tops more often during the day. I think it's because I'm tired of waiting to wear them for a special occasion. I rarely have time to change before meetings or dinners in the evening, so I've gotten (that never sounds like an actual word to me) more bold with my daytime outfits, like this silky top with dark rinse dressy jeans and heels.

Pair anything with merlot. Colors like black, browns, greys, ivory, even dark pine green or deep midnight blue. You will want to change your makeup to a fall palette. I just added this beautiful silky blouse to the Style Notes in the September Style Vault.
5. Shearling Vest
Faux is fine. Even preferable because of the cash you'll save! But it has to be good faux. Bad faux is sticky and gets roughed up pretty quickly, like a wet dog's coat that's dried in the sun. Good faux will be a bit more, but will be worth it over time. It will feel soft to the touch, and won't tangle and shed everywhere.

A vest can go with jeans (duh), but the right vest can also go over the right dress. Emphasis on right dress and the right vest. Keep the collar in proportion to your frame - don't let it overwhelm your face. I have a gorgeous shearling vest in the Style Vault, a bit more luxe than this one, but I also just added this one to the Style Notes.
6. Grey Accessories
I'm serious, sometimes I think I should be tapped as a forecaster. I've been buying grey suede shoes for a few seasons now, when I could find them (sometimes I just don't want to wear nude or black). Now they're everywhere. Also plaid, fringe, army green, anything Navajo, and the list goes on. Can we say white jeans anyone? The bootcut? All pieces I've hailed for years and years before they went mainstream. Now I just sound like I'm boasting. But it is a weird gift. Anyway, grey is huge this season. If you can't wear grey against your face, choose accessories.

Yes. Fringe is still in. Don't overspend on it. It's a classic that is on trend, so it will be relegated back to classic status before too long, and those of you who move on to the next trend will be sorry if you overpaid. So I just added 2 styles of this fab grey fringe shoulder bag to the Style Notes in September's Vault. It's selling out fast.
Thanks for reading, dolls! Time to update your tried and true classics? You might need us in your closet, or if you can’t do that, get inside the Style Vault and start shopping. Join the Style Vault today.
* the charcoal pant inside the September Style Vault sold out, but I found it somewhere else and just updated the link inside*
Best Vault Ever! I got fabulous things – thanks to you! Best $7.99 I spent all month!
~ another happy Style Vault insider
Thanks for reading and all the best,
Tina
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