5 Tips for Choosing Fall Business Attire for Women

I LOVE Fall.  While I enjoy the warmth and freedom of summer, I do not mourn its end as much as many because I love Fall fashion.  A lot of that has to do with being a Autumn (having Autumn coloring, see here).  The greens, browns, maroons….those are my colors and they permeate Fall.  I also love the staples of a Fall wardrobe, such as boots, scarves, and wool sweaters.  The only challenge with Fall is that, in many climates, weather is inconsistent (cold in the AM, hot in PM).  As such, this can make dressing for work a challenge.  The goal of this post is to provide guidance on Fall Business Attire for Women so you can look professional and feel comfortable as the weather changes.

Mrs. Type A’s 5 tops for choosing Fall Business Attire for Women:

(Note: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.)

1. Bring a cardigan (or two!)

I hesitate to bring a heavy coat in Fall.  It’s not quite cold enough (maybe earlier in the day, but not the whole day).  However, it’s not quite warm enough to go without any additional layer.  So, what I do is wear a heavy cardigan AND bring a lighter one.  That way, I can wear both if it’s cold in the AM.  Or, wear the light one only if it’s warmer in PM.  Or, wear just heavy one if it’s cooler but not freezing.

Here are some examples of light cardigans (in Fall colors!):

 

Here are some examples of heavy cardigans:

 

 

 

 

Note sure about the fur on this one, but otherwise it’s gorgeous!

NOTE:  if you intend to wear these over your lighter cardigans, you may want to get a larger size for these.

2.  Wear tights with skirts and dresses

By the time Fall comes around, I’m not quite ready to give up skirts and dresses just yet; there are only so many months a year they can be worn!  I extend the timeframe of wearing skirts and dresses by pairing them with tights.  I could probably write a whole post on tights; there are many variations and styles.

Most often, I opt for simple and classic, and thick / durable.  Here are what I wear almost daily in Fall:

 

Yes, these are very expensive tights.  But, they do last a very long time…much more than cheaper ones.  One pair lasted me 3 years.  I hand-washed them every so often, and they looked like new until I walked too closely to a chair which has a metal screw sticking out which left a run.  So, I feel like — over the course of a year — I will have spend more on cheaper ones that get runs.  Honestly, they are so durable that I think of them more like leggings instead of tights.

I have also found that I can extend the life of tights by putting booties on before pulling tights up.  By covering my toes, I don’t get any runs caused by toenails!  I put these booties on before I put on tights:

3.  Boots!!

Boots are also a great option to help with extending the timeframe of wearing skirts and dresses.  It is a staple of Fall business attire for women everywhere.  I pair them with tights to get almost as much warmth as with pants.  I particularly love the look of suede boots but leather is also a favorite.

Here are some great Fall boots:

I have found that suede boots can look worn rather quickly if you do not use a suede protector.  Here is the one that my cobbler recommends:

As much as I am dedicated to only having non-toxic items in the house (see here), I just haven’t found any suede protectors that I would try.  So, I do recommend putting this on your shoes outside (far away from windows and doors) and limit wearing the shoes worn inside.

4.  Carry a scarf

This can also help bridge weather that varies from hot to cold.  Scarves can also help keep your hair from looking too messy if it’s windy; you can wrap the scarf over your entire head, or just tuck your hair in as you put in around your neck (depends on the length of your hair).

I don’t have many scarves, just a couple that work with a range of colors.  Here are some that I am liking:

 

5.  Carry lotion and lip balm (if you don’t already)

Fall weather can dry your skin (as can winter).   I make it a point to carry hand lotion and lip balm (which usually stays with me through winter, after which I tend to lose it, haha).  I’ll do post on non-toxic personal care items for women…won’t give suggestions here so as to focus on Fall business attire for women only!

You may need to carry a bigger bag/extra bag to carry all these things.  My favorite — and a classic — is the Longchamp Le Pliage:

See here for additional information on why I like the Le Pliage and tips on selecting a bag for work.

So, those are my thoughts on Fall Business Attire for Women.  I’d love to hear from you about how you transition to Fall!  Please leave comments below!