My girlfriend recently told me that when she gets dressed in the morning, she asks herself: What can I put on that’s so comfortable I forget I’m wearing it?

I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. Here’s what I think she’s really asking: What can I wear that will let me be instead of perform? What will let me move through my day without the constant adjustment—pulling down a hem, unsticking a tag, feeling that slight wrongness of a waistband that seemed fine but reveals itself as torture by 2 pm?

This is the entire point of getting dressed. Not to look good (though that’s nice). But to forget. To put something on and then leave your body alone for a while.

I’m in a phase where I want everything in my closet to pass this test. So here’s what’s been working—the fall wardrobe essentials I’ve been wearing on repeat, with some instructions on how to think about them and what they’re really doing in your wardrobe.

1. The Cardigan

Favorites: Sézane Emile Cardigan, Sézane Gaspard Cardigan, Babaà

The cardigan is the most underrated piece in modern life. It’s a jacket that doesn’t try too hard. Too hot? Take it off. Too cold? Button it up.

The two Sézane styles I keep coming back to have that perfect French ratio of structure-to-slouch. Fitted enough that you don’t look like you’re drowning, loose enough that you can eat a full meal without regret. I’ve worked with Sézane over the years, and their cardigans just know. They understand that women need clothes that can go from desk to drinks without requiring a costume change.

Babaà makes pieces in local, natural wool that feel like a hug from someone who actually likes you. The kind you’ll wear for a decade (if you can protect it from moths!).

Instruction: Buy one really good cardigan. Then wear it three days in a row and see if anyone notices. (They won’t.)

2. The T-Shirt

Favorites: Frame, Kule

Can we talk about how much emotional energy we put into finding the perfect t-shirt? I’ve spent literal hours searching for one that fits right, feels right, makes me look like I didn’t try but also didn’t give up.

I’ve been living in oversized tees. The kind of style where you can tuck just the front into jeans, and suddenly you look like you understand proportions. My Frame tees are perfect for getting the baby tee look that doesn’t look like you’ve shopped the Juniors department. And Kule’s The Modern striped tees make me feel like I have a house in the Hamptons (I don’t).

There are also great options at Target and Walmart, but you need to keep an eye out for them and try them on if you have the chance in-store. And if you find one you like, buy a couple because they don’t continue to make the same styles indefinitely.

Instruction: Buy three of the same t-shirt in different colors. Congratulations, you now have a uniform, which means you’ve freed up mental space for more important things.

3. The Jeans

Favorites: Reformation, Maria Stanley, Mille, H&M

Here’s my controversial take, and it directly contradicts everything I just said about forgetting what you’re wearing: The perfect jeans are worth a little discomfort.

I know, I know. This goes against the entire thesis of this piece. But hear me out—some things matter more than ease. A great silhouette is one of them. I will tolerate a slightly snug waistband, a bit of restriction when I sit down, that feeling of awareness that I’m wearing denim, if it means my jeans actually look good.

This is where I draw the line between comfort and compromise. My Reformation Greer Mid-Rise Straight Jeans make my legs look like they go on for days. The Maria Stanley cuts do something architectural that cheap denim just can’t. Even my H&M Harper High-Rise Wide Leg Jeans—the ones I’ve worn into submission—still have that shape that makes me feel like I know what I’m doing.

There’s a difference between “I forgot I’m wearing this” comfort and “this is actively hurting me” discomfort. I’m not advocating for pain. I’m just saying: Sometimes you feel your jeans. And if they look that good, that’s the trade-off.

Instruction: Find jeans that make you look incredible, even if you’re aware you’re wearing them. Not everything has to disappear. Some things should announce themselves—quietly, but confidently.

4. The Sleeveless Mock Turtleneck

Favorite: Sézane

September’s “just browsing” purchase that turned into October’s “how did I live without this” essential. I’ve worn it 47 times in six weeks.

Sézane’s Yohan Jumper works under cardigans, over long sleeves, with silk skirts, and with ratty jeans, tucked into everything. The mock neck makes you sit up straighter and feel more pulled-together, even if you’re having an existential crisis.

Instruction: Buy one. Wear it seven different ways in one week. This is called being French.

5. The Belt

Favorite: Madewell

When I packed for a trip to Steamboat last month, I threw in this belt at the last minute, and it became the piece that elevated every outfit.

Here’s what I’m realizing: Belts are the difference between wearing clothes and wearing an outfit. They’re punctuation marks. A good belt adds just enough Western to a basic t-shirt and jeans. It says, Yes, I thought about this, but not too hard.

Instruction: You need one really good leather belt. Stop thinking of belts as optional.

6. The Black Slacks

Favorite: Ruti

Everyone is raving about The On the Loose Work Pants from Ruti right now, and I hate to admit when the internet is right, but the internet is right.

Here’s the thing about The Slacks—and yes, they get a capital T and S because they’ve earned that level of respect—they occupy this perfect space between “I’m trying” and “I’ve given up.” They’re tailored enough that you look like an adult with a retirement account. They’re relaxed enough that you could absolutely take an unplanned nap in them if the situation called for it.

I’ve been reaching for my Ruti black pants on days when jeans feel too casual, but I refuse to wear anything that requires dry cleaning or conscious thought. They work with the sleeveless mock turtleneck. With a half-tucked oversized tee. With mules when I want to feel like I have my life together, or with sneakers when I want to feel like I’m fooling everyone into thinking I have my life together.

The genius of The Slacks are that they look intentional without being precious. They photograph well, which matters more than we want to admit. And they come in black, which means they go with everything and hide the fact that you’ve worn them four times this week.

Instruction: Buy The Slacks everyone’s talking about. Wear them on repeat. Realize that sometimes the hype is justified and the algorithm actually knows what you need.

7. The Sweater

Favorites: American Vintage, Maria Stanley, Babaà

I have a sweater collection that could clothe a small village. But the ones I actually wear are the American Vintage East crewnecks that manage to be both substantial and light, the Maria Stanley Ryan knit that feels like a hug, and the Babaà pieces I’ll probably give to my children.

These aren’t the sweaters you save for special occasions. They’re the ones you live in and watch get better with age.

Instruction: Buy fewer sweaters, but better ones. Quality is just cost-per-wear spread over a decade.

8. The Sneakers

Favorites: New Balance

I live in the chunky New Balance 9060 sneakers. I have them in gray and tan, and I genuinely can’t remember which pair I wore yesterday. They work with yoga pants, jeans, and dresses, and are what my body automatically reaches for every morning.

Chunky sneakers gave us permission to stop pretending comfort and style are mutually exclusive. They’re the footwear equivalent of admitting that sometimes practicality is the most stylish choice.

Instruction: Buy sneakers you can walk in for hours. Stop apologizing for prioritizing your feet.

9. The Flats

Favorites: Alex Mill x Margaux Mules, G.H. Bass Loafers, Everlane Flats

Mules are the shoes I reach for when I want to feel like I have my life together. They slip on in two seconds. They make lazy outfits look considered. They’re the adult version of slippers. I have a pair from Alex Mill x Margaux that are so beautiful, I briefly considered not wearing them outside.

Instruction: Invest in one pair of mules that make you happy every time you look down. Accept that you’re now a mule person.

10. The Leather Bag

Favorites: Vintage Louis Vuitton, Rag & Bone

The bags getting the most love right now are my vintage Louis Vuitton bucket bag and this Rag & Bone bag that’s become my practical favorite.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: Sometimes the best bag isn’t the prettiest. It’s just the one that makes your life easier. The Rag & Bone is the perfect size—I don’t lose my keys in its depths. This is the kind of boring criteria that actually matters when you’re living in a bag every day.

Instruction: Find a bag that makes your life easier. Functional is better than pretty. A bag that does both is the dream.

11. The Scarf

Favorites: Bembien, Vintage find from Japan

Scarves have been having a moment for approximately 2,000 years. The French never stopped wearing them. They’ve always known: The fastest way to make boring look interesting is to tie something around your neck.

I keep a simple Bembien scarf in my bag for emergencies (when I’m wearing all black and feel like a void). And my brightly colored vintage scarf from Japan for when I need a mood boost.

Instruction: Buy two scarves—one neutral, one not. Learn exactly one way to tie them. The slight imperfection is the point.

12. The Coat

Favorites: Sézane, Maria Stanley, Barbour

The coat is where you either look like you know what you’re doing or like you grabbed the first thing by the door. There’s no in-between.

The Sézane Will Jacket makes me feel Parisian without trying. The Maria Stanley Milo Jacket is effortless in a way that probably took someone years to figure out. And the Barbour Beaufort® Waxed Jacket is practical and slightly masculine—the one I actually wear when the weather turns and I need something that works, not something that poses.

You need at least two fall coats. One that makes you feel like the best version of yourself. And one you don’t think about at all.

Instruction: Invest in one coat that makes you feel like you’ve figured something out. Buy another you can forget about. Alternate based on whether you’re trying to impress yourself or just stay warm.

This fall, my wardrobe has become a tool for forgetting. Not in a bad way—but in the way my girlfriend meant: Putting something on and then letting it disappear.

The goal isn’t to have the most interesting wardrobe or the most current pieces. The goal is to get dressed and then move on with your day.

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