It seems that as soon as summer temperatures start to dip, my urge to book a trip goes up—and that’s when I start thinking about my fall capsule wardrobe. Sometimes it’s the Cotswolds, with its charming limestone cottages covered in ivy, calling me, the same way a long weekend of antiquing and sipping cider in the Hudson Valley or climbing rocky Atlantic coastlines in Maine does when chillier mornings appear. Summer travel may get all the hype, but seasoned travelers know that autumn is one of the most magical times of year to experience the world, no matter where you’re headed.
They also know the challenges that come with trying to dress—and pack—for chillier months. (It’s true: Packing for fluctuating temperatures can feel almost as restrictive as carry-on requirements.) The good news is that building a fall capsule wardrobe works just as well on the road as it does in your closet at home. From thermal layers to trenches, each of these staples in our shoppable list makes for an easy throw-and-go uniform, so you spend less time on outfits and more time wandering through charming small towns, strolling local festivals, or settling in for an aperitivo. Below, 13 staples to build out your travel capsule wardrobe this fall.
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The perfect tee
Possibly the essential of all essentials, the white tee. I start here because I believe every outfit should do so for ease. Have a funky trouser that needs a match? A wool skirt that feels impossible to pair otherwise? This is the basic you can pair with nearly everything you own–jeans, trousers, skirts, leggings, you name it. Best of all, these super-soft tees from Madewell, Everlane, Buck Mason, and Vuori have that lived-in feeling right from the start.