There’s a reason the trench-and-boots combination is fall’s most reliable formula: it bookends any outfit with polish, making whatever you wear underneath look considered and elevated. The fall edit: why the formula works, how to build it, and how to make it feel fresh each year.

Why the Formula Works

The power of trench-and-boots: the it-bookends-the-outfit (the trench-and-boots framing any-outfit with-polish from the fall-transitional-layering chapter — the the-bookend; the frames-the-outfit), the it-elevates-what’s-underneath (the the-formula elevating whatever’s-underneath from the fall-wardrobe-essentials chapter — the the-elevation; the elevates-underneath), the the-reliable-fall-formula (the trench-and-boots as fall’s reliable-formula from the fall-outfit-ideas chapter — the the-formula; the reliable), the the-transitional-hero (the the-trench for transitional-fall from the fall-transitional-layering chapter — the the-transitional; the transitional-hero), and the reframe (the trench-and-boots as an-outfit-bookending, elevating, reliable fall formula).

How to Build the Formula

Building the trench-and-boot formula: the the-great-trench (the a-great, well-fitting trench from the fall-wardrobe-essentials chapter — the the-trench; the good-trench), the the-right-boots (the the-right boots (knee, ankle, or Chelsea) from the boot-investment-decision chapter — the the-boots; the right-boots), the the-what’s-underneath (the jeans-and-a-knit or a-dress underneath from the sweater-weather-capsule chapter — the the-underneath; the underneath), the the-tonal-or-contrast (the tonal or contrasting trench-and-boots from the fall-color-palette chapter — the the-palette; the tonal-or-contrast), the the-belt-the-trench (the belting the trench for shape from the fall-transitional-layering chapter — the the-belt; the belt-it), the the-scarf-and-accessories (the a-scarf and accessories from the scarf-season-styling chapter — the the-scarf; the add-a-scarf), the the-layer-appropriately (the layering under the trench for warmth from the fall-transitional-layering chapter — the the-layering; the layer-under), and the the-boot-and-hem-proportion (the the-boot-and-hem proportion working-together from the boot-investment-decision chapter — the the-proportion; the proportion).

How to Keep It Fresh

Keeping the formula fresh: the the-vary-the-trench (the varying trench-colors-and-styles (reinvented) from the fall-wardrobe-essentials chapter — the the-trench; the vary-the-trench), the the-vary-the-boots (the varying boot-styles (knee, ankle, statement) from the boot-investment-decision chapter — the the-boots; the vary-boots), the the-change-what’s-underneath (the changing the underneath-layers from the sweater-weather-capsule chapter — the the-underneath; the change-underneath), the the-a-bold-trench-or-boot (the one bold trench-or-boot for a-statement from the bold-fall-statement chapter — the the-bold; the bold-piece), the the-updated-styling (the updating the styling yearly from the fall-outfit-ideas chapter — the the-styling; the update-styling), the the-transitional-and-cold-versions (the transitional and cold-weather versions from the fall-transitional-layering chapter — the the-seasonal; the by-temperature), the the-invest-in-quality (the quality trench-and-boots that last from the boot-investment-decision chapter — the the-quality; the invest), and the frame (the trench-and-boot-formula as a-great-trench-and-right-boots bookending-the-outfit, varied-yearly — makes any outfit look considered. Work the fall trench-and-boot formula — a great belted trench and the right boots (knee, ankle, Chelsea) bookending jeans-and-a-knit or a dress underneath, tonal or contrasting, with a scarf — kept fresh by varying the trench, boots and underneath layers each year: the two-piece combination that makes any outfit look considered.

There’s a reason the trench-and-boots combination is fall’s most reliable formula: it bookends any outfit with polish, making whatever you wear underneath look considered and elevated. Build it — a great belted trench, the right boots (knee, ankle, Chelsea), jeans-and-a-knit or a dress underneath, tonal or contrasting, with a scarf and appropriate layers (minding the boot-and-hem proportion). Keep it fresh — vary the trench, the boots and the underneath layers each year, add one bold piece, update the styling, and invest in quality. The two-piece combination that makes any outfit look considered.