What to Wear to All the Fall Events | Fall Outfit Formulas for Women Over 40

I know you hipsters consider August 30 the (un)official start of fall, because that’s the day that Starbucks came out with the Pumpkin Spice Latte.

But I don’t drink coffee. (Don’t unfollow me!). I’m a tea drinker. So I’m using the day after Labor Day, aka today. I’m traditional like that.

I was so excited to look ahead to fall and dream of all the fall festivities and fun, and of course the fall fashion. I’ve already attended my first concert of the season (One Republic on September 2!), and yes I did wear a version of the concert look shown here (same jeans, different concert tee) but didn’t get a picture because of the torrential rain! (It stopped for the show, but not before I got drenched!)

Anyway, with all the fall fun coming up, you’ll need things to wear, so I created these outfit formulas using items currently available at Dillards. The idea is not to buy everything here, although I wouldn’t blame you for being tempted. It’s to recreate these outfit formulas with items from your own closet and fill in the gaps with some strategic new purchases.

You can shop all of these items right here in my catalog.

So here, 8 outfit formulas for fall to take you through an entire season’s worth of fun events.

Chili Cookoff: Printed Blouse + Colored Denim + Mules

A casual potluck, dinner at a friend’s house, a food truck rally, an outdoor art market… these are all opportunities to pull together a casual but still festive fall look. I paired a printed blouse with jeans in an unexpected fall shade for a look that is easy to reproduce. A pair of comfy Vivaia mules completes the look.

Fall Festival: Fall Floral Dress + Knee High Boots

I’m wearing this fun fall dress from Antonio Melani with my favorite H&M boots from a couple of seasons ago, but as soon as I get a new pair of knee-high brown boots (either a riding or a scrunched style), I’ll swap these out. I love a fall dress with boots. It’s such a classic and so pretty and easy.

Tailgate: Henley + Shacket + Jeans + Booties or Mules

This cute outfit is perfect for those casual fall occasions, from football games to hayrides to anytime a laid-back layered look is called for. It starts with a sleek henley and jeans, and topped with a cozy shacket in the same deep green color for a monochromatic look.

Concert: Fun Denim + Graphic Tee + Boots

Pair your most fabulous jeans with an edgy chic concert tee for an easy and comfortable concert ensemble. I added my platform boots (of course!) both for height and because they looked cool.

Fun Night Out: Printed Blouse + Faux Leather Bottoms + Boots

A girls’ night, casual party, or wine walk are all fabulous opportunities to pull out your faux leather (or real leather) bottoms. These shorts are a fresh take on the faux leather trend, especially when paired with this pretty feminine blouse and boots.

Ladies Who Lunch: Classic Dress + Pretty Pumps

This classic knit dress from Ming Wang is just the thing when you need to look elegant but subtle. The trim and gold buttons give it a Chanel for less vibe, and it would be the perfect choice for a lunch meeting, a work event, church, or even a funeral.

Cocktail Party: Cami + Slip Skirt + Pumps

These versatile and affordable pieces can be worn together or separately. Worn like this, they work as a comfortable but stylish dress. Add a blazer for an office party or a moto jacket to edge it up. Sparkly accessories and strappy shoes make this a cocktail-ready look or keep it simple like I’ve shown here.

Wedding: Jewel Tone Dress + Heels

A wedding guest look should be all about a pretty dress. It should be special enough for a wedding but not too flashy or over the top. A pretty dress in a jewel tone always works for these occasions, and is great to have on standby in your closet. I paired with my black Sarah Flint pumps, but you could also do an evening shoe or a strappy sandal.

What events do you have on your calendar for fall? And which of these looks is your favorite? Let me know in the comments!