I'm a 55-Year-Old Former Nordstrom Buyer—These 8 Fall Basics Work for Everyone

When we're looking for classic yet forward style inspiration, we consistently turn to Susie Wright. You might already be familiar with her, but she's a 55-year-old stylist, influencer, and former Nordstrom buyer. Essentially, she just gets it thanks to her fashion résumé and sleek personal style. And no, age has nothing to do with what you should or shouldn't wear, but her sartorial point of view over 50 is also intriguing since she's been able to spend years fine-tuning her style. On that note, we thought we'd tap her expertise in building a perfect fall wardrobe. And given that basics act as the foundational pieces in any flawless closet, we wanted her thoughts on the simple fall items she swears by.

There are actually eight fall basics Wright relies on and wears often because she thinks they really could work for everyone given their versatile nature. To highlight further, Wright shared a bit of outfit inspo below showcasing the basics in action. If you're shopping at the moment, there are inspired recommendations as well.

1. Oversize Blazer

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"An oversize blazer works easily over any T-shirt you own. And when the weather cools down, switch to a cashmere tee for a bit more polish and warmth."

2. Shirt-Jacket/Utility Jacket

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"A shirt-jacket is an easy piece to add for a seamless transition into fall. I love it with denim or even over a dress, belted. Casual but super stylish." 

3. Faux-Leather Separates

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"Wear faux-leather anything—shirt-jacket, jumpsuit, or blazer—and it instantly adds a cool vibe to any fall outfit." 

4. Faded and Light-Wash Jeans

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"Faded denim has been a favorite wash all year. As we head into fall, I’ll be wearing all my faded denim with blazers, printed tops, and cozy sweaters!"

5. White Shirt

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"A white shirt is a staple no matter the season. Heading into fall, combine with a cardi and your favorite denim for an instant, classic look." 

6. Bootcut Jeans

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"I love bootcut jeans because they are super flattering. Who doesn’t want a leg-lengthening style that looks great with most any top?" 

7. Printed Dress

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"A chic dress and white booties are a favorite fall combo. Sophisticated and easy and perfect for most occasions." 

8. Black Denim

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(Image credit: Susie Wright)

"Black denim is foundational for any fall wardrobe. I can't imagine getting dressed without a good pair. They're the starting piece of any outfit!" 

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated. Next, check out more items Wright swears by to look chic.

Bobby Schuessler
Market Director

Bobby Schuessler is a fashion editor with over a decade of editorial experience covering shopping, style, and beauty. He's spent over seven years at Who What Wear, currently leading the market team to deliver highly covetable and convertible content. He creates data-driven shopping guides featuring top retialers like Nordstrom, Shopbop, and Net-a-Porter and is at the forefront of Who What Wear's shopping tentpole strategies, including Amazon Prime Day. He also works on branded content initiatives and appears on camera in video and shopping livestream franchises. He has also worked across a variety of other media brands and fashion retailers like Refinery29, PureWow, Men's Health, and Gilt covering commerce, trend reporting, women's and men's fashion, home, and lifestyle.