Greetings, fellow fashionistas! Allow me to introduce myself: I’m Keya Teklu, one of the Weekender’s resident fashion columnists, and today I’m here to give a little lesson on sweater weather. That’s right, it’s time to say goodbye to flip-flops, tank tops, and booty shorts. (Well, that’s not entirely true. This is California after all, and I’m pretty sure you could get away with wearing all of these things well into December.)

Nevertheless, the fall season is finally upon us, so I’ve taken it upon myself to list some of this year’s fall wardrobe essentials, and how to wear them with style.

1. Sweaters: It’s called “sweater weather” for a reason. Nothing says cool, comfortable and classy like a nice cable-knit sweater. If you want to go oversized with it, go right ahead! The larger the sweater, the more “effortlessly cool” you’ll look. One of my favorite things about sweaters is how ridiculously easy they are to style. Just pair them with leggings, jeggings or jeans, a funky statement necklace and you’re good to go. Or go sans-jewelry for a simple-but-chic look. You literally can’t go wrong with sweaters, which is why they’re my number one.
2. Scarves: I must admit, I have a slight weakness for scarves. And by slight, I mean that if I see a scarf anywhere in my vicinity, I will drop whatever I happen to be doing and dive for that sucker like Tom Daley at the London Olympics. But can you blame me? Scarves are perfect for fall, and what’s really special about them is that you can wear scarves 365 days a year and still look appropriate. They will never go out of style (the day that happens, I might go on strike), and just like sweaters, they are so easy to wear.

As Stanford students, we just don’t have the time to dilly-dally every morning trying to figure out what to wear. For most of us, leaving our dorms fully clothed is an accomplishment on it’s own. Ain’t nobody got time fo dat! Scarves understand this. Scarves feel the struggles we face every morning trying to look presentable, and they comfort us by looking good with just about anything. T-shirt and jeans? Add a scarf to transform boring and plain to exciting and trendy. How do scarves work in such powerful and mysterious ways? It’s actually not that mysterious. They simply add instant texture, print and color to an outfit, making the look more aesthetically pleasing. There is a certain science behind putting together an interesting outfit, and scarves are the best “enzymes” (can you tell I’m a HumBio major?).

1. Boots: No fall-inspired outfit is truly complete without a nice pair of boots. The great thing about this wardrobe essential is that there are plenty of styles to choose from: riding boots (by far the most popular choice for fall attire), ankle boots, high-heeled boots, leather boots, over-the knee boots, cowboy boots — the list goes on and on. You can really customize as much as you want with boots, and you’ll still look appropriately “fall.”
2. Trench coats: Nothing, and I mean nothing, is classier than a person in a trench coat. Think of the most sophisticated human being on planet Earth, and they will probably be wearing a trench coat right now. Although it isn’t quite cold enough here during the day to comfortably pull them off, Stanford nights were made for trench coats. The best thing about them is that you don’t need to put as much effort into the rest of your outfit. As long as you’re wearing that trench coat, it really doesn’t matter what you wear underneath (pajamas, sweats, even nothing at all — if you’re into that). It is the perfect piece to complete a look super put-together without actually putting in the effort.
3. Leather: I know this is a controversial wardrobe essential, especially considering the vastly different opinions people have on leather. (Some argue that if we use animals for food, why not for fashion, while others feel that manufacturing leather is unnecessary and cruel to animals, and that vegan leather is a much friendlier alternative. However, some say that even purchasing vegan leather still supports the leather industry by perpetuating the look of leather in street fashion.)

Politics aside, leather is a great way to transition yourself into the fall season. It’s warm, classic and adds a hint of edge to any outfit. I wear strictly vegan leather (mostly because I’m broke), and it can be worn in a multitude of ways. Leather jackets are a popular choice, but most recently the trend has been to incorporate leather into bottoms, such as skater skirts and leggings. Adding leather to an outfit will unequivocally state to the world that you are ready for fall.

That’s all for my list of fall wardrobe essentials. It is, of course, by no means exhaustive, and there are many other clothing items that are staples for the fall time, but I hope you will have a fun time styling these classic pieces in the upcoming months. I can’t wait to see some fine-looking fashion on the Farm!