It’s that time of year again. The weather is cooling down, the traffic is picking up and everyone is getting ready to head back to school. The fall has always been my favorite time of year, and picking my outfit for the first day back was always exciting. There are a few different things you can use to pull together the perfect outfit!

The Boyfriend Jeans

These became a fashion staple a few years ago and have clearly come to stay. Boyfriend jeans should be comfortable, distressed and faded. Ideally, yours will look like you borrowed them right out of your man’s closet. When picking your pair, go for a style that’s a little looser. I wear my boyfriend jeans when I want to feel comfortable – and on the first day of school – that is exactly the “look” I am going for!

The Flowing White Top

Nothing goes better with jeans – boyfriend or otherwise – than a simple and flowing white top. I have a few of these types of tops in my closet. I pull them out when I need something chic but low key.

The Staple Vegan Leather Backpack

The quintessential back-to-school accessory – the backpack! I chose this pebbled sandstone THIROS backpack because it is compact, animal friendly (vegan leather), and has travelled all the way here from Greece! And after years of horseback riding, and having to deal with residual back and shoulder pain, having something small that can carry the essentials is perfect.

The Leopard Print Pumps

These pumps are a personal favorite of mine – I own a lot of black, white and gray. Most of my outfits are designed to be comfortable, chic and low key. Which is why I love shoes – pumps in particular. I use shoes to accent a look, to pop the neutral colors I usually settle for in my day-to-day. If I could do my first day of school all over again, this lovely leopard prints would be my pick!

The Statement Necklace

Neutral colored tops demand bolder pieces. Lately, I have been sporting the fall collection of LILA Luxe Jewelry. It is full of deep browns, pearls and floral accents. This necklace in particular is an easy transitional piece to get me from summer to fall.

The Sparkling Shades

My eyewear is a relatively new purchase (I snapped them up while at a style conference in Chicago this past July) and they’ve quickly become a favorite! A great pair of sunglasses – at least for me – need to meet a few simple requirements. I like to stick with dark colors because they suit my dark hair and olive skin. Plus, if I can get my hands on tortoise shell, I definitely will. I found this pair to be especially covetable because they are covered in rhinestones. So fun and flirty! In my opinion sunglasses elevate any look – so don’t forget to grab your faves as you head out the door.