The Official Racked Fall Shopping Guide

It's been over a decade since my last first day of school, and yet I’m still drunk with that new-things-for-fall anticipation by mid-August. Boyfriend sweaters, wool miniskirts, penny loafers — the season’s classics are everything I’d like to wear year-round (and, in cyclical fashion, everything I could wear year-round growing up in Northern California). In New York we get a week of real fall, maybe two if we’re lucky. A brief and blissful stretch during which you have a summer tan and you get to throw on an extra layer. Whether you celebrate with jeans or a pencil skirt, a blazer or booties, you can show off your favorite outfit without sweating through it or hiding under a coat. It’s the most wonderful time of the year — to shop. The past few years, however, as fashion’s started to panic and retail has descended into chaos, you might have noticed everything’s starting to look the same: This season’s off the shoulder top, fall’s velvet shoe, winter’s oversized puffer. To find something different, the Vetements-like rebelliousness without the Vetements-like price point, has become harder than ever. It’s why I’ve been scouring New York’s best consignment stores and Brooklyn’s hard-to-reach boutiques to feed my fever for something fresh. And it’s why our fall shopping guide might look a little different than everything else you’ve seen so far this month. There’s no trick to wearing what we’re showing off, no stylist necessary. You can throw these sweaters and boots on with what you already own and love and, more importantly, it won’t cost you a month’s rent to add most of it to your wardrobe. No one must-have here, just plenty of things that will make getting dressed in the morning more fun — which is what shopping should be. — Britt Aboutaleb, Editor-in-Chief [Head-to-Toe Denim] [Insert alt text here] Ad from our sponsor Denim has been getting a lot of affection from designers lately, maturing from the cocoon of jean jackets and 501s to more sophisticated silhouettes. “Casual” is in the fabric’s DNA, and this new breed of blue jean is never stuffy (even in hands of Victoria Beckham — proof is in the swingy minidress from the designer). [Insert alt text here] [Victoria Victoria Beckham dress, $470.] [Courtshop jacket, $188] [See more great denim looks here] [Where to Buy a Not-Boring Coat] Cold weather is so much more bearable when you’re wrapped in a coat you’re actually excited to put on. Break out of the cycle of depressing black outerwear; winter doesn’t have to be a months-long funeral procession. Colorful, textural coats like the seven we have here are more versatile than you might assume. Just pick a style that coordinates with the bags and boots in your wardrobe and you’ll be good to go all season long. [Insert alt text here] [Nika Tang jacket, $680] [The Arrivals bomber, $425] [Find more fall jackets here] Did a friend forward you this email? [Sign up for the Racked email newsletter]. Ad from our sponsor From around the web A selection from the editors at Racked [alt text here] [New Orleans Style] A visual meditation on style and color in the Crescent City. [Read More] [Fluid images] [Win a Dream Trip to Japan!] Enter our sweepstakes. [Read More] Ad from our sponsor [Facebook] [Twitter] [Instagram] [Change your preferences] or [unsubscribe]. Sent to {EMAIL}. For advertising, please visit our media kit or contact sales@racked.com. Vox Media, racked attn, 104 W. 40th St., 10th Floor, New York NY 10018. Copyright © 2016. All rights reserved.