I Tried On 8 Beautiful Fall Basics and All I Have to Say is Wow

Welcome to The Great Try-On. With fall on the horizon, we seized the opportunity to try on some of the best fall pieces from some of your favorite brands, documenting the process along the way. We believe that the most foolproof way to shop online is to see an item IRL and to read candid reviews, so we hope that this leads you to some successful fall purchases.

I know I’m not the only one who prefers to see what my potential purchases look like on a real person (and not, ahem a stylized model) before going all in, which is why I’m doing my own version of a try-on haul: Who What Wear Collection edition. If you’re a casual WWW reader, you probably know full well that we launched a clothing line a few short months ago. And if you’re a regular to the site, you’d know that the line is filled with elevated wardrobe staples, the kind of pieces that are exciting to put on in the moment but are meant to be worn for years and years. Believe me when I say that the quality of these pieces simply can’t be explained. It has to be experienced.

I won’t lie, I may have gone a little overboard and ordered every single cute thing I liked but since we don’t have all day (and because no one wants to scroll through 20+ outfits), I’m editing down my favorites to just seven standouts. On paper, these may be on the more basic end of the spectrum, but once I tried them on all I had to say is wow. From the cutout dress that’s already a hit on my Instagram feed to a luxurious ribbed knit skirt set that I never want to take off, continue on to see the results of my try-on haul and read my reviews of each piece.

My review: Not to get all “every wardrobe needs a knit polo” on you, but…every wardrobe needs a knit polo, and it just so happens this is a really really good one. The material is on the thicker side so it really holds its shape. I especially love the sharp line that the shoulders make—it says “I mean business” but in a totally chill, WFH-friendly way, you know? In fact, this vibrant shade of sky blue might just be the update my Zoom attire desperately needed.

My review: My obsession with this dress truly cannot be understated. Let’s cut to the chase (sorry, had to)—these cutouts are the star of the show. They may be subtle, but a little bit of exposed skin makes a big impact. The shoulder placement of the cutouts ensures it’s one of the most wearable ways to get in on the trend but at the same time, the simple midi shape is one that I know I’ll be wearing for years down the line. As far as the material goes, I’ll be honest that it is less forgiving than I had anticipated, so if you’re in between sizes I’d recommend sizing up. 

My review: There are bodysuits that enhance an outfit and then there are bodysuits that are the outfit. The Kia Ribbed Bodysuit from Who What Wear Collection falls squarely in the latter. This ribbed wonder adds a touch of polish to really any bottoms you wear it with. Whether you style it with trousers à la Kristen, with jeans like I did, or a slip skirt, it will quickly become one of the most hardworking staples in your arsenal.

My review: This knit top is an absolute dream. It’s such a special piece that I can see myself dressing up with a slip skirt as I did here (or, ahem, our Lulu Midi Skirt) and heels for a fall date night or even wearing casually with jeans. The open neckline is really flattering, and the fabric is on the thicker side and really holds you in in the best way, making this a subtly sultry pick and one you’d be wise to invest in.

My review: Before we get into the details of this skirt, I need to point out that this knitted duo has major RME or Rich Mom Energy. It’s luxurious, it’s chic, and it looks ridiculously expensive. Just like the top, the Lulu Midi Skirt has this beautiful herringbone texture that sets it apart from other more basic knit skirts. I’m usually not a fan of midi skirts as they always cut off my calves in an awkward way, but this actually hits at the ideal length. I wanted to show how to dress it up a tad with strappy heels but it also looks amazing flowing over tall leather boots which is how I plan to wear it all throughout the fall.

My review: If there’s one thing you need to add to your closet right now, it’s this sweater-vest. Layering this piece is a genius idea, but I’d also like to point out how good it looks solo paired with simple jeans and loafers. It’s a little boxy, a little cropped, and so easy to wear.

My review: The rumors are true, this knit bustier is an entire vibe. As soon as it dropped, it created quite a bit of buzz amongst our editors so I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately. And let me tell you, it did not disappoint. 

My review: Everyone likes to think that they’ve created the perfect T-shirt and I, for one, like to think that I own it (my T-shirt collection is dangerously close to hoarding territory). So suffice it to say that it takes a lot for a basic tee to impress me, but impress me this little baby tee did. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the holds-you-in kind of fabric is unmatched in my opinion. It’s snug but stretchy and ever so slightly weighty and with a contrasted lettuce trim it pairs flawlessly with ’90s-inspired staples like knee boots and slip skirts.

This outfit trend is about to everywhere this fall.

Just the right amount of relaxed.

This print and color, though.

I think shackets should be in everyone’s fall wardrobe.

Perfect on its own…

But even better underneath the coordinating cardigan.

Found: your newest going-out top.

I’m not the only editor on Team WWW who’s in love with this ruched number.

Speaking of Who What Wear Collection, see how our editors are styling the pieces from our new fall drop.