You know those mornings when you wake up, stand in front of your closet and then just, like, frown? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve picked up a sleeve or a hem, looked at it, sighed loudly and wished my Fairy Wardrobe Mother would poof into my closet and dress me fabulously in the blink of an eye.

To wait out the time until my FWM becomes a real thing, I came up with a more realistic solution: collecting multiples of pieces that I know will always fit and give me confidence when my sartorial inclinations fail me.

As a lover of classic and menswear-inspired looks, I feel that when you need a fall-back look that can work for any occasion, a button down shirt, blazer and skinny jeans is about as easy as it gets. It’s a timeless look that will never fail you, I promise. These three pieces manifest themselves in so many colors, patterns, fabrics and cuts, it’s easy to keep your ensemble feeling fresh with every combination. Try tucking and untucking your shirt, rolling the sleeves, or buttoning it all the way up and adding a chunky necklace on top. And if you’re anything like me, you’ve already amassed a pretty significant collection of skinny jeans, so that part should come easily!

Get the look

A good place to start is with a high-quality basic that can be a dozen ways. I love this Equipment Signature silk blouse because the cargo pockets give it an everyday feel, but the lux fabric gives it instant sophistication. It has a pretty relaxed fit, so wear it with a more fitted blazer like this buy-now-wear-forever Theory Gabe blazer.

For something with a little more flair, I love this Elizabeth and James metalic blouse. Wear it with super-dark skinnies and a neutral, understated wool jacket like this one from Boy by Band Of Outsiders, and minimal jewelry.

On chilly weekend days, layer up with a cool, double-breasted tweed jacket (I’m smitten with this Marc By Marc Jacobs one) and chambray shirt.

Do you have a go-to uniform for the fall season? What do you wear when you have nothing to wear?

*ESD does not endorse smoking; it’s just a fact of life in NYC.

(Source: www.eatsleepdenim.com )