How to pare down your wardrobe for effortless pre-fall styling

Pre-fall is right around the corner, and now is the perfect time to organize our wardrobes and think about our everyday essentials. A crisp white shirt, our favorite denim, a soft cardigan—sometimes the makings of a great outfit are already sitting in the closet. They just need a little rearranging!

As we get ready for cooler mornings and afternoons that still feel like summer, keep things simple. Think light layers, familiar favorites, and a bag that can keep up with the day's plans. Here's a little outfit inspiration to get you started.

Pre-fall Starting Points:

• Build a pre-fall capsule wardrobe around favorites you already own.
  
• Light layers that take your favorite denim and dresses into cooler days.
• The Edith Fanny Pack suits lighter days; the Remy Hobo offers a roomier carry.
• Keep the colors, prints and accessories that make your outfits feel like you.

First, let's make a little room

A full closet and nothing to wear? Before we go looking for something new, let's give the pieces we already love a chance to shine. Start by pulling out the clothes you reach for most and putting them where you can see them.

Set aside anything that needs a wash, a repair, or a little attention. Special-occasion pieces can take a back seat for now, too. We're putting together an everyday wardrobe, not deciding the fate of every dress we've ever owned.

Next, try a few combinations. Does that white shirt work with your favorite jeans? Can the cardigan go over the summer dress you're not quite ready to put away? For a little more cold-weather inspiration, revisit our fall layering guide.

Make room for more wear, not more clothes. There doesn't have to be a strict number of pieces or a perfectly coordinated row of hangers. A smaller rotation that makes getting dressed easier is a lovely place to start.

A white shirt

There's a reason a white button-down keeps finding its way into outfit ideas. It can feel polished with trousers, relaxed with denim, or light and easy when worn open over a tee. One shirt, plenty of possibilities.

Try rolling up the sleeves and pairing the shirt with your favorite jeans for an everyday look. Add a cardigan when the morning feels chilly, then slip it off once the sun comes out. The outfit underneath still has somewhere to go.

If white isn't your thing, bring out the shirt you love instead. A soft stripe or a familiar print can do the same job. The point is to choose something you'll actually reach for—not something that looks like it belongs on someone else's essentials list.

Our favorite denim

Pre-fall is a good excuse to bring denim back into the everyday rotation, but there's no need to chase a new shape just because the season is changing. Start with the pair that fits comfortably and feels good when you sit, walk, and get on with your day.

Pair it with your white shirt for a simple, pulled-together look. Switch to a tee and an open cardigan when the plan is a little more casual. If you prefer trousers, let those take denim's place.

Keep the foundation familiar and change the finishing touches. Roll a sleeve, add a printed scarf, or switch how you carry your bag. A favorite outfit doesn't need a complete makeover every time we wear it.

A soft cardigan

A lightweight cardigan is an easy companion for this in-between weather. Layer it over a tee, button it over a simple top, or let it sit open over a dress. It's there when you need it without turning the whole outfit into winter wear.

Keep an eye on how the layers sit together. If the shirt sleeves bunch underneath or the neckline feels crowded, try a different combination. We want to feel comfortable, not spend the morning rearranging ourselves.

Our outfit starting point is simple: denim, a white shirt, and a dark cardigan. From there, there's room to play with texture, a little color, and a bag that gives the look its own personality.

A printed scarf

A scarf is such an easy way to bring a little flair to familiar clothes. Try a floral print against a white shirt, or let warm tones brighten up a dark cardigan. A simple outfit gives those details room to stand out.

We like the idea of keeping a favorite scarf in the rotation rather than saving it for a special occasion. Wear it loosely at the neck or try a smaller scarf in your hair when that suits your day. There are plenty of ways to make it your own.

And no, everything doesn't have to match. A smaller wardrobe can still have color, pattern, and a playful side. We're paring down the choices, not the personality.

Don't put away that summer dress just yet

Before the summer pieces disappear to the back of the closet, let's see what still works. A dress you love can take on a different feel with a cardigan and shoes suited to cooler weather. A skirt can do the same with a simple top and a light layer.

Try the outfit with the layer on and off. If both versions feel comfortable, you've got something that can move through a changing day without much fuss.

You don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe to mark the season. Sometimes the next outfit is just a different pairing of pieces we've been wearing all along.

A bag for the way we spend our days

Of course, the finishing piece should be useful, too. Before choosing a bag, take a look at what comes along with you. Phone, wallet, keys, and glasses? Or does the day call for a notebook and a few extras?

Our Edith fanny pack and Remy hobo offer two different ways to finish the same everyday wardrobe. The Edith keeps things compact and gives you several carrying options. The Remy brings a roomier, relaxed shape for days when you need more space.

Here's a quick look at how they fit:

The Edith - Convertible Fanny Pack

Best for: Lighter days and just-the-essentials outings

Carry it your way: Fanny pack, crossbody, or clutch

Remy Slouchy Hobo

Best for: A roomier everyday carry

Carry it your way: Shoulder or crossbody with an adjustable tie strap

There's no need to have a different bag for every outfit. We suggest starting with your daily routine, then finding the shape and carrying style that feel right for you.

Keep it light with our Edith fanny pack

White tee, favorite jeans, button-down left open. Add our Edith as a crossbody, and you're ready for a coffee stop or a few errands with your hands free. We like the warmth of the oak leather against blue denim—it adds a little contrast without asking the shoes to match.

For a different look, pair a dress with a light cardigan and try the Edith at your waist. If that placement feels awkward when you sit or move, switch to crossbody. The options are there to make life easier, not give us another set of styling rules.

Heading from daytime plans to dinner? Keep the outfit and carry the Edith as a clutch. A change in how we wear an accessory can be enough to shift the mood.

Our Edith has two accordion-style compartments, an interior zipper pocket, and a removable adjustable strap. Its top grain leather exterior has a suede accent, with a cotton lining inside.

The Edith is best for lighter days and flexible styling. If your day calls for larger belongings, you'll want more room than this little bag offers.

Meet your new favorite bag: the Remy hobo

The Remy Slouchy Hobo is a slightly oversized leather bag with an easy shape and a knotted adjustable strap. Wear it over your shoulder or as a crossbody, depending on your outfit and what feels comfortable. It's a lovely way to bring a relaxed finish to a white shirt, denim, and a cardigan.

We like the oak Remy with the pieces in our outfit inspiration: blue jeans, a white button-down, a dark cardigan, and a printed scarf. The clothing stays simple while the scarf adds pattern and the bag brings warmth and shape. No new wardrobe required!

For a workday look, switch the jeans for relaxed trousers and roll the shirt sleeves. Prefer a skirt? Keep the top simple and let the skirt's print or texture have its moment. Our Remy doesn't need a complicated outfit around it.

Inside, the cotton twill lining has a zipper pocket, a slip pocket, and a credit card slot to help keep the little things together. Check your larger belongings against the opening, and try the strap with the layers you plan to wear.

The Remy hobo is best for a roomier everyday carry and a relaxed finish. If you're only heading out with a phone and keys, you might prefer something smaller. And just because there's extra space doesn't mean we need to fill every bit of it.

Same favorites, a fresh combination

Once we've found an outfit that works, why not enjoy it again? Keep the jeans and shirt, then change the layer. Bring out a scarf you've forgotten about. Try a different carrying style with your bag.

This is where a smaller wardrobe starts to feel useful. We're spending less time wondering what goes together and more time wearing the things we like.

Before adding something new, ask: what would I wear it with tomorrow? If the answer involves several more purchases, give it a little time. There might already be something in the closet that does the job beautifully.

Simple questions to ask yourself before getting dressed

Ready for a little closet inspiration?

Let's start with what you have. Pull out the favorites, try a few pairings, and see how a light layer or a different bag changes the feel.

Getting ready for the season doesn't have to mean starting over. Sometimes a little rearranging is all you need.