Where Bloggers Live: 5 Simple Fall Outfit Formulas with Pants

Welcome back to the monthly edition of Where Bloggers Live! I am lucky to have joined a terrific group of bloggers who give a peek into the places and spaces where they spend their time.

Today's topic is 5 Simple Fall Pleasures I Live For...and I have a list that is probably similar to many other people's:

1. Cool weather

2. Fall color and falling leaves

3. Soups/stews

4. Autumn/Halloween decor (note: I do not decorate for the season myself)

5. Fall fashion

Since I talk a lot about fashion on this blog, it's no surprise that I'm going to delve a bit farther into that topic. I have reviewed my fall outfit of the day photos for the last several years and identified my top 5 simple fall outfit formulas I rely on that specifically include pants rather than skirts. Though I do start to wear some skirts with tights outfits in fall, I love to take advantage of this intermediate weather season before the snow arrives to wear pants on repeat.

In no particular order, here are my 5 fall outfit formulas:

#1: Long-sleeved top + Skinny/slim leg pants + Long vest

While this long over lean silhouette was more popular in the past, I like it so much that I will continue wearing it as I embrace the ethos of what Angie Cox calls a "structural shift in fashion" in 2026 to something that is "fragmented, fluid, and consumer-led" with the "Do Your Own Thing (DYOT)" concept reigning supreme. She says:

Dress in ways that suit your needs and preferences without worrying about being “out.”

Of course, with the return of skinny jeans and other slim leg pants to Fall 2026 high fashion, some people may view the formula back on trend again. Regardless of where the trends are, I like this formula for its easy layers and as a way to start moving into weightier fabrics like sweater knits without being too chunky, bulky, or warm.

OOTD 12/1/2023

See more on my long over lean outfit formula here.

#2: Pullover sweater + Jeans + Print Scarf

This is a straightforward, timeless formula that creates a basic backdrop for wearing wonderfully personalized accessories. You can repeat the same sweater and jeans combo over and over again as your base layer while tweaking the accessories each time for a totally different look.

OOTD 11/30/2021

See more about how to wear scarves here (5 easy ties) and here (no tie methods).

#3: Simple top + Print pants + Denim jacket (optional)

If you have a pair of print pants, why not let them shine in your outfit? (If you don't have any because you're afraid they will make you "look bigger than you are" etc., remember that not all prints are the same; I wear several different pairs of print pants and they don't have any appreciably impact on my perceived size.) I love how the cooler fall weather makes layering a denim jacket over an outfit so much more comfortable to do, and this particular outfit formula is very well suited to it because your layering piece doesn't have to "match" your pants in any way because denim is the ultimate neutral.

OOTD 10/13/2024

See more print pants fall inspiration here.

#4: Print top + Solid pants/jeans + Cardigan/jacket

This outfit formula is very easy to put together because it draws on pieces that just about everyone has in their wardrobe. I like that it puts layering at the center of the look, using a topper layer not as an afterthought but as an integral part of the outfit. You can certainly use a seasonally on-point print like my long-sleeved fall foliage blouse, but it's also a way to bring print tops from your summer wardrobe into the new season.

OOTD 11/21/2024

See some tips for including prints in a fall/winter capsule wardrobe here.

#5: Solid top + Solid pants + Cardigan

This easy outfit formula gives you the opportunity to play with different color combinations whether you prefer your outfits to be more color blocked or like to tie the colors together with a print accessory (like a scarf, perfect for fall). This formula is extremely versatile because you can combine the silhouettes, style vibes, colors, etc. that you like best. While each piece can be a different color, you can also get milage from any matching/similar color items to make outfit creation even easier, such as this brown "modern twin set" color formula.

OOTD 11/15/2025

See fall outfit creation ideas using color formulas here.

Next month's topic is My Favorite Style Era...and I can think of a few different contenders for this depending on the category (home, fashion, etc.). Though I will say that it's hard to beat the current Do Your Own Thing era in fashion!

In the meantime, visit these lovely bloggers as they share their 5 simple fall pleasures:

Bettye at Fashion Schlub

Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks

Em at Dust and Doghair

Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style

Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After Again

Iris, always in our hearts, from Iris' Original Ramblings

Now to you: What are your favorite fall pleasures? Have your favorite fall things changed based on your age or where you've lived at different points? Do you have any outfit formulas you rely on for fall? Which of the 5 formulas in this post do you like best?

Blogs I link up with are listed here.