I'm a Modest Dresser—Here's What I'm Shopping (and Wearing) for Autumn

As a modest dresser, autumn just happens to be my favorite season. While I've figured out the formula to layering in the warmer months, I love the ease of throwing on a blazer or cardigan without having to worry about sweating. While I like to add a few trendy pieces to my closet each season, it's the staples that I've been prioritizing. I keep them on rotation more often, and they make my more out-there pieces much easier to style. If you're someone who is always down for a statement piece, it's important to invest in simple items that you can style your fun pieces around. It's all about balance.

Below, I've rounded up the items that I've been shopping (and wearing) as September approaches. I've included a variety of price points and styles, so you have plenty of options to choose from. Keep scrolling for your fashion download.

Loose Trousers

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

I can't stress enough how important loose trousers in your most-worn colours are. While I love a denim or printed moment, it's the staple trousers that I come to rely on again and again. Don't be afraid to play around with the texture or silhouette as I did with this plissé pair.

Shackets

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

Shockingly, I didn't own a shacket till this year. I always thought they'd make me look bulky, but I was wrong. They have the perfect boxy-but-structured look, and I love how you can wear them as a top or open them up over a T-shirt. It just looks so polished, don't you think?

Vests

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

Vests are no longer a trend in my book. They're a full-on wardrobe staple. Knit or suited, I love them. They're perfect for modest dressing because they can provide coverage if I'm wearing a fitted top or dress underneath and if I want an extra layer but don't want to put on a jacket.

Oversize Blazers

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

If you haven't found the perfect blazer, your search has come to an end. Many retailers have finally perfected the loose silhouette of your dreams, so if there's any time to get your hands on one, it's now. You can opt for neutral tones or leather with a pop of colour if you really want to dive in.

Knit Sets

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(Image credit: @thatgirlyusra)

I was recently told my style is described as "cozy and cool," and I'm proud to hold such a title. My secret? Finding comfortable pieces in sophisticated silhouettes, like a button-down knit set. 

Associate Fashion Editor
Yusra Siddiqui is an editor who resides in New Jersey but bounces between the suburbs and NYC. (She's a Jersey girl at heart.) After interning at Who What Wear in 2019, she found her way to the team after graduating from LIM College in 2022 with a fashion media degree. She's also spent time writing and working for publications such as Fashionista, Coveteur, and Nylon, but she always knew that Who What Wear was where she was meant to be. When she's on the job, she's perusing runway shows, analyzing the latest thing fellow Gen Zers are up to on the internet, and sharing what she can about the modest-fashion market. You can also catch her dabbling in entertainment, talking about the costume choices of the latest Netflix series or diving deeper into how the plotline affects the viewers in a myriad of ways. Lastly, she likes to create content for Who What Wear's TikTok. Her personal time is spent doing similar but also different things—deep diving into almost every new TV show (Bridgerton, Gilmore Girls, and Stranger Things are favorites), planning her next local getaway (whenever that may be), and reading the latest Emily Henry or Sally Rooney novel in one sitting.