There’s something about fall—the crisp air, the return of cozy knits, the smell of new (overpriced) textbooks—that brings out a bit of collegiate prep in this East Coast girl. A professional polish to my back-to-school style serves as a reminder that despite the piles of sand still lingering in all of my tote bags, it really is time to say goodbye to the beach and get back to business.
I drew my inspiration for this classroom-ready look from the Michael Kors fall 2015 ready-to-wear collection. “Modern classic” is a fitting description of Kors’ fall show, which featured traditional menswear silhouettes, tweed and crisp tailoring accented with luxe gold, fur and lace detailing. Loafers and ladylike handbags rounded out most of the looks, which were generally simple and accessory-free.
Taking a cue from this interplay of classic shapes and textures in the collection, I layered a tweed-like, menswear-inspired coat from H&M over a white button-down shirt. Also keeping with the masculine edge are my black leather loafers and tailored plaid pants, inspired by the teal and green tones present in the collection.
In the accessories department, I kept it simple and added a feminine touch to the otherwise borrowed-from-the boys look with a rose gold Marc by Marc Jacobs watch and a black leather kate spade cross-body bag. And I couldn’t resist topping off the outfit with my favorite black hat from Lack of Color.
As the temperatures drop, I’m excited to re-style this outfit in line with the collection by layering a chunky knit over the button-down, or swapping out my short coat for a longer, warmer version. With this polished and oh so collegiate look in my arsenal, I’m ready for whatever the school year throws at me. Bring it on!
Get My Look: 1. White button-down. 2. Menswear-inspired coat. 3. Tailored pants. 4. Loafers.
