There are certain adjectives we would all like to aspire to when it comes to building a winning outfit: stylish, effortless, elegant, cool, the list goes on. But, in our minds, “low-effort” and “high-impact” are the holy grail – a potent pairing that shows you’ve managed to select your style staples well and developed a thorough understanding of how your wardrobe operates as a cohesive whole.
Scroll through any fashion week street-style gallery, and it will quickly become clear who understands the art of low-effort, high-impact dressing. It’s the people who look comfortable in their clothing and whose pairings appear organic rather than an overthought.
Autumn tends to be a time when many return to foundational pieces, whether that be a pair of flat knee-high boots, cashmere crewneck or a leather bomber. The key to stopping these basics from looking boring is to be exacting about which items make it into your rotation of autumn outfits in the first place – this is an instance when it pays off to be incredibly fussy about fit and fabrication.
There are certain styling tricks that can instantly create a cohesive and polished overall look. Tonal dressing, whether wearing biscuit tones, navy or cream head-to-toe, makes any outfit look more considered, while doubling up on complimentary (but not matching) check prints is a popular play with stylists. As always it’s not just about what you wear, but how you wear it too, whether that’s a layer looped around the shoulders or a jumper tucked into the waistband of your jeans to create more shape. Take the below look where Vogue’s Lisa Aiken adds a softness to her pencil skirt by skipping a few extra buttons on her Oxford shirt to create a looser silhouette.
From relaxed tailoring to easy denim pairings, scroll down to see and shop our edit of low-effort, high-impact autumn outfits.
Cream separates + black accessories

Francesca Babbi
Navygrey
The Cotton Easy
The White Company
Portobello Barrel-Leg Jeans
Leset
Margo Cotton–Jersey T-Shirt
Marks & Spencer
Leather Jeans Belt
Allsaints
Hand-Stitched Leather Loafers
DeMellier
X Romee Strijd The Stockholm bag
Two knits + pleated miniskirt

Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Leather jacket + layered knits

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
H&M
Leather Jacket
Uniqlo
Lambswool Crew-Neck Jumper
With Nothing Underneath
Rampling Trouser
WHISTLES
Navy Cashmere V-Neck Knit
Chloé
Paddington Bag
Arket
Lacquered Leather Loafers
Shirt + pencil skirt

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
Polo Ralph Lauren
Embroidered Cotton-Blend Oxford Shirt
Boden
Cotton Crew Neck T-Shirt
H&M
Pencil Skirt
DeMellier
The Stockholm Shoulder
Le Monde Beryl
Babouche Crinkled-Leather Pumps
Alaïa
Rectangular Sunglasses
Trench coat + tailored trousers

Valentina Valdinoci
Blazer + argyle knit

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images
Marks & Spencer
Tailored Asymmetric Blazer
COS
Argyle Wool Alpaca V-Neck Jumper
Levi’s
Baggy Jeans
Fendi
Pre-Owned Canvas Baguette Shoulder Bag
Uniqlo
Colourful Socks 50
Marks & Spencer
Suede Bow Block Heel Court Shoes
Barbour jacket + pleated skirt

Moritz Scholz/Getty Images
Barbour
X A.P.C. Spey Waxed Jacket
Uniqlo U
Lambswool Crew Neck Jumper
Barbour
Gillian Tartan Mini-Skirt
Monica Vinader
Essential Diamond Huggie Earrings
Reiss
Leather Chelsea Boots
& Other Stories
Curved Leather Bag
Double checks + suede accessories

Vincenzo Grillo
