What to Wear in Fort Collins This Fall: A Local Style Guide

If you've lived in Fort Collins for more than one October, you know the drill: you leave the house in a jacket at 8 a.m., and by 2 p.m. you're carrying it. Our falls are my favorite time of year, but they ask a lot of our closets. Crisp mornings, sunny afternoons, and the occasional surprise snow mean the secret to dressing well here comes down to one word: layers.

Here's how I'm dressing for a Northern Colorado fall, with a few of my favorite new arrivals at Style Curated.

Start With a Jacket You'll Actually Live In

A good fall jacket has to work hard here. It needs to keep you warm on a chilly walk to coffee and still look polished when you take it off at lunch. The Rails Deidre Jacket is the one I keep reaching for. It's cozy, easy and goes with everything from jeans to a dress.

If you want something a little softer, the Michael Stars Bree Knit Jacket feels like a sweater but looks like outerwear. It's perfect for those in-between days when a coat is too much and a cardigan isn't quite enough.

Layer for Crisp Mornings and Warm Afternoons

The best Fort Collins outfits are built so you can peel off a layer as the day warms up. I love a great cardigan for this, and the Rails Diane Cardigan is a true wardrobe workhorse. Wear it buttoned up in the morning, then drape it over your shoulders in the afternoon.

For a cozier knit, the Rails Rhea Sweater pairs beautifully with denim like Favorite Daughter's The Valentina jeans. Want something a little dressier? Try Joe's Jeans Vegan Suede Inez Trouser. It gives you all the richness of suede with none of the fuss.

An Afternoon Stroll Through Old Town

Fall in Old Town Square is magic: golden trees, patio lunches and window shopping on Linden and College. For a day like this, I'd go with a knit, great jeans and a bag that does it all.

For strolling, I always reach for a crossbody. It keeps your hands free for a coffee and all the window shopping. The Clare V Petit Moyen Messenger in Caramel is soft suede with whipstitch detail in the perfect fall shade, and the Clare V Midi Sac w/ Pocket in Twilight is a compact, hand-woven leather crossbody in a deep twilight navy, with an outside pocket for your phone so it's always within reach. Finish with the Favorite Daughter Dakota Belt to pull everything together.

Heading Up the Poudre Canyon

A scenic drive up the Poudre to see the aspens and cottonwoods turn is a Fort Collins fall tradition. You don't need to dress like you're summiting a fourteener to enjoy it, but you do want to be comfortable.

The Beek Sandpiper Sneaker is my go-to here. It's stylish enough for lunch in town on the way back and comfortable enough for a short walk along the river. Toss on the Deidre Jacket and you're set for a cool breeze in the canyon.

CSU Game Days and Brewery Evenings

Whether you're heading to Canvas Stadium or catching up with friends at one of our many local breweries, fall evenings call for something that's casual but still put together. Think a soft sweater, your best jeans and a statement accessory.

This is where jewelry does the heavy lifting. The Kozakh Carabiner Large Necklace and the Kozakh Aninna Earrings take a simple outfit from everyday to evening in seconds. If it's one of those warm October nights, the Beek Stilt Heeled Sandal is a fun way to squeeze in one last bit of sandal season.

My Best Fall Styling Tip

Buy pieces that work together. When your jacket, knits and accessories all speak the same language, getting dressed on an unpredictable Colorado morning gets so much easier. That's exactly what I help women do every day in the shop.

Come See Me in Old Town Square

Nothing beats trying things on in person. Stop by Style Curated at 1 Old Town Square, Suite 104, in Fort Collins (visit us), and I'll help you put together a fall look that feels like you. We bring in limited quantities of each style, so if something catches your eye, don't wait too long.

Want more one-on-one help? Book a personal styling session and we'll build your fall wardrobe together, piece by piece.

Not local? You can shop all of our New Arrivals online anytime.

See you in Old Town!

Jenna