In my very own shopping cart (and now closet), there’s Mango’s leopard-print coat, which I’ve been wearing with everything from miniskirts to blue jeans, Gap’s festive Fair Isle sweater that is perfectly autumnal, and a fresh flannel shirt from Zara that’s a total twist on the classic but in the best way possible. Like most, I’m particularly obsessing over suede, from sumptuous midi skirts to polished penny loafers, and I’ve also included standout styles from Source Unknown and G.H. Bass, below.
You might be asking yourself “what makes a great under-$300 find?” or even questioning its quality. As an avid shopper both personally and professionally, my advice is to find your go-to retailer, one whose pieces you’ve tried, tested, and ultimately loved. I, myself, am a Mango girl, known to sport everything from their trendy coats to their chic cardigans. Each month, you’ll meet new editors and contributors whose style might align more with closely with Cos or Zara, or even contemporary labels, like Aligne and Pixie Market. Personal style—and the way and the where people shop—is a great way to get to know someone, and yourself, too.
Below, my ultimate under-$300 fashion edit for fall—pieces that can be worn together for a seriously chic look but also shine on their own just the same. They even hold up next to your most luxurious items!
Mango Leopard-Print Coat
Fall’s leopard-print mania is hard to ignore. The feline print has made its mark on everything from footwear to slinky slip skirts—the latter feeling especially nostalgic. While my personal style tends to lean more minimal, I’m no stranger to adding a playful print or two. So naturally, when I scrolled past this Mango print coat, it was an instant add to cart. I’ve styled it for dressier, more evening occasions with a black miniskirt and pair of kitten heels, and as casual weekend-wear with just a plain white tee and a blue jean.
Pixie Market Oversized Bomber Jacket
An edgy leather jacket is a style no-brainer in any cold-weather capsule wardrobe. And while there’s nothing wrong with a heavy metal moto jacket, slouchier styles are reigning supreme for fall. They first debuted on the runways—as most It items do—at Chloé, Saint Laurent, and Khaite, followed by total street style domination, spotted on nearly everyone from models off duty to Vogue editors alike. At just under-$300, Pixie Market’s leather bomber is the one to cop. With a relaxed fit and chic olive green fur collar, it adds an inherent coolness to any outfit in mind. I love how it looks styled atop a simple grey hoodie—very Miu Miu FW23-coded—or a sultry, lace-trim slip skirt à la Chloé.
Gap Fair Isle Cropped Cardigan
Festive Fair Isle sweaters go beyond the wood frame of snowy ski chalets to feel right at home in any wardrobe thanks to designers like Khaite, Loewe, Gucci, and even Gap, who incorporate the pattern into their core winter collections and show us how it can be worn well before (and after) the holiday season. Invoking a sense of nostalgia, Gap’s cropped cardigan is a heavy hitter in any fall wardrobe rotation, pairing well with everything from corduroy pants and velvet trousers to shin-grazing leather skirts. Not to mention that it’s just chunky enough, laying comfortably underneath any outwear option at hand. Its contrasting chocolate brown shades make it the new neutral I never knew I needed. Styling-wise, I’ll be wearing mine to and from the office with a tailored trouser and roomy trench coat, and on nights out with a little black miniskirt, slouchy leather jacket, and a strappy heel sandal. You can never be too cozy, after all.
Black Suede Studio Logan Leather Mules
Looking for a fabulous footwear find under $300? Black Suede Studio is Vogue’s go-to. With an array of sleek styles that include polished penny loafers and pointed-toe ankle boots, their perfectly polished kitten heels are the undeniable standout. Take the pair below, for example. With the same wearability as my trusty LBD, I’m eyeing these to wear with everything and everywhere this fall, from my 9-to-5 (or let’s be honest, 9-to-9) to elegant evenings out.
Zara Checkered Ruched Blouse
I’ve never been a particular fan of the oversized flannel shirt—you know, the ones pictured at pumpkin patches and apple orchards, layered over plain white tees and blue jeans. This fall, though, consider my fashion tune changed! I can thank the street style scene, in part, for showing me chic, unexpected ways to style the staple, as well as brands like The Row, Róhe, and Toteme, whose flannels feature new and improved silhouettes, which offer a more flattering, cinched-waist fit. It led me to finding Zara’s red-and-black checkered blouse, a fresh take on the look, which, with its asymmetric hemline and draped side detailing, is also one of the many iterations of the artful top we at Vogue—myself included—are loving for fall.
Source Unknown Lidiane Suede Midi Skirt
Texture thrives during the fall months, but none are as sumptuous—and easy to style—as suede. While suede jackets took over our shopping carts earlier this season, suede skirts are now dominating the scene. When looking for under-$300 fashion finds that deliver both in price point and quality, Source Unknown has the Vogue editor seal of approval. Its seamed suede midi skirt is the perfect example. This fall, I’ll be elevating the essential by styling it with a matching suede boot, lightweight cardigan, and oversized outerwear option. Not to mention that it also transcends seasons—the ultimate 365 staple.
Aligne Satin Long Waistcoat
UK-based brand Aligne is the contemporary label on everyone’s—and we mean everyone’s—lips this fall. Need more proof? Fashion’s favorite It girl, Katie Holmes, is a particular fan of the need-to-know brand, sporting several of their key styles, from outstanding (and affordable!) outerwear options to their viral drawstring jeans. I, on the other hand, am drawn to their sleek tailoring takes, which include button-up waistcoats and collarless blazers. I plan on making the below style, in an elegant satin, the centerpiece of my holiday wardrobe. I imagine it will add a chic touch to festive sequin skirts, a pair of luxe velvet pants, or even a matching satin miniskirt. Fall and winter temperatures don’t exactly scream “sleeveless,” so I’ll be layering in a cropped faux fur jacket or tailored wool overcoat for some much-needed added coverage.
Banana Republic Vida Slouchy Suede Bag
If there is an item that I get stopped about the most or receive the most compliments about, it’s this slouchy suede shoulder bag from Banana Republic. It looks as luxurious as it feels and is roomy enough to fit all my necessary purse essentials. I could wax poetic about its star status in my cold-weather wardrobe for hours, but I’ll save you the sappiness. My final word of advice? Shop it now while you still can!
Aligne Marcus Corduroy Horseshoe Trousers
A cool pair of chocolate brown corduroys is a fall wardrobe mainstay for a reason, but this year, Aligne’s cherry red cords are the color pop I’ve been searching for. With an oversized horseshoe shape, they’re casual by design, making them the ultimate off-duty staple. And if you ask any of my Vogue coworkers, they’ll tell you that I’m not necessarily a pants person, but with these, I’d have to beg to differ. I added them to my everyday lineup earlier this season and never looked back.
Rails Cherry Lace-Trim Satin Slip Skirt
I love an unexpected closet combination, and this FW24 season, I felt inspired when seeing how labels like Chloé, Saint Laurent, and Khaite styled their edgy leather jackets with romantic, lace-trim slip skirts and dresses. Needless to say, the juxtaposition of the two fashion moods had me hooked, and more importantly, racing to my already overflowing shopping cart. I was drawn to Rails’s lingerie-inspired skirt almost immediately and have visions of styling it à la the runways with a leather bomber jacket, as well as with a chunky knit sweater, a styling duo particularly loved at Vogue HQ.
G.H. Bass Layla Weejuns Loafers
I know, I know, I don’t need another penny loafer, but this tassel-adorned suede style from G.H. Bass might just be my It buy of the season. Pairing well with almost all items, from worn-in Levi 501s to modern workwear, they embody that trend-to-wardrobe-essential pipeline we all strive for when making a purchase. Adding these to your cart? Trust me, you won’t regret it.
The Frankie Shop Kate Vegan Leather Shorts
Back to that “I’m not necessarily a pants person” proclamation. If I had to choose between a perfectly tailored trouser or an ultra-miniskirt or short, I’m picking the latter over and over again. And more specifically, these vegan leather short shorts from the Frankie Shop. During the fall and winter months, you can find me sporting the ones below with everything from chunky sweaters and oversized jackets to sheer black tights and loafers. It’s my unofficial official uniform and I’m sticking to it!