Falling for Back to School Essentials

by Rachel McCarthy
back-to-school-outfit-ideas
Happy Wednesday! I guess this week should have been declared “Back to School” week here on ABM {you can read yesterday’s packable lunch recipe HERE}! And whether you or your kids are heading back to school or college or you are just ready for a new season, there are a few staple pieces that every girl needs in her closet. And the best part about these pieces is that they can be mixed and matched to create several different looks. Super helpful if you are in college and have limited space. Do you remember how tiny your closet space was in your dorm??

**The above picture was from a post last year when we were back visiting my alma mater! You can read that post HERE. I’ve updated all the outfit details so you can find some similar pieces 🙂 

best-fall-clothes
long cardigan {available in 7 colors} | striped tee | chambray top
cropped jeans | skinny jeans {only $9.99!} | black leggings {I wear these all the time!}

Two of my very favorite tops in my closet are a striped tee and chambray shirt. Not only can they be worn in multiple seasons, but they look perfect with blanket scarves {I just ordered THIS one and cannot wait for it to arrive!} or layered under sweaters and cardigans. Speaking of cardigans — it’s all about the layers in the fall and having a few cardigans on hand is a great way to achieve that cozy fall look, and stay warm!

My go-to pants for fall are skinny jeans and black leggings. I’ve mentioned this before, but THESE leggings are my very favorite. I have one pair for working out and another for dress up. They are a little thicker than most leggings and they are perfect to pair with oversized sweaters and tunics. As for jeans, I will always love skinny jeans {can you believe these are under $10?!} but I have already jumped on the “cropped jean” bandwagon! I have a pair in black that are similar to THESE, but I’m thinking about adding more colors to my cropped jean collection. Wear these trendy jeans with flats or ankle boots. And speaking of shoes, that leads me to my next category…

best-shoes-for-fall

ankle booties {available in 10 colors!} | pointed flats {under $50} | comfy heels | lace-up flats

When it comes to shoes, I have a serious weakness. Especially if they are fall shoes. Since this is a back to school/fall essentials post, I wanted to break down my favorite styles that are a necessity in any closet. You can never go wrong with ankle booties because they can be styled so many different ways! I have loved THESE ankle booties for over a year now {they come in several other colors, too} but I ended up buying THESE perforated booties during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale {since they were less expensive during the sale}. I love the ones I bought, but THESE are still calling my name! 

Comfy heels are definitely a necessity if you have a 9-5 job and these are already on my wish list! I had a similar pair of heels {with this chunkier heel} that I wore for years. They were my very favorite, but I literally wore them to death. THESE would be the perfect replacement! 

Lastly, you can never have too many flats, since they are the ultimate in comfort. I love THIS pointed toe solid shoe and couldn’t resist sharing THIS cheetah lace-up flat! You can never have too much animal print, right? 😉

back-to-school-accessories
winged satchel {available in 3 colors & under $80!} | leopard pencil case | wool hat | color pens | hanger paper clips {aren’t these cute?!} | 17-month agenda | laptop case | watch | acrylic stapler & tape dispenser | marble iPhone case

Growing up, I always loved back to school time. I obviously loved shopping for clothes, but my very favorite was picking out school supplies and accessories! I am actually in the process of re-organizing my home office, so a lot of these office accessories are already on my wish list. How cute are these hanger paper clips?! And I love the acrylic stapler and tape dispenser. When it comes to clothing accessories, a fall hat is always a must in my book and a large satchel or tote scream back to school and fall. THIS faux leather and suede satchel is also available in cognac/black and eggplant/black. A seriously hard decision!

What are some of your back to school and/or fall essentials? Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

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25 thoughts on “Falling for Back to School Essentials”

  15. These are all such great suggestions for heading back to school in style, girlie, and I adore your outfit! All of the pieces are definitely essential and can so easily be mixed and matched to create various looks, like you've mentioned. I also love those supplies, how cute are those paper clips!? Thanks so much for sharing, beauty, and I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

    XO,

    Jalisa
    http://www.thestylecontour.com

  16. YES to everything! I LOVE everything you shared, especially those ankle booties, so pretty!
    I'm all for a good, colorful pen! And I'm so with you as well…I loved going back to school shopping, it was always so much fun!
    xo, Lily
    Beauty With Lily

  25. I loved getting to pick out school supplies when school first started too! It was so much fun to get new pens and notebooks! And I love all of the staple pieces that you picked out for back to school! They're so stylish but comfortable too and perfect for walking around campus!

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