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Fall Weekend Casual Wear: Corduroy, Flannel, Shackets & Straight-Leg Denim Alternatives
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items Skip the fifth pair of jeans this fall: corduroy pants, a real flannel, a shacket and a few smart non-denim trousers do more for a casual weekend wardrobe. These 23 pieces from Madewell, Free People, Abercrombie, Anthropologie, Aerie, Athleta and Lul...
If I could only own one pair of fall pants that is not denim, this stretchy wide-leg cord would be it. It has a high rise that stays put when I am bending down to deal with the dogs, and it looks intentional with just a white tee and sneakers.
Madewell The Wide-Leg Pant in Corduroy
A true cotton flannel is the cheapest way to look pulled together on a cool Saturday morning, and this oversized one is the kind I leave unbuttoned over a tee or tie at the waist. The weight is substantial enough to wear alone, so no extra jacket is ...
We The Free Ashley Plaid Shirt
My bold take: a corduroy shacket beats a puffer for every day between 50 and 65 degrees. This long ribbed one has chest pockets for your phone and keys, and snaps up fast when you are walking out the door to the school pickup line.
Abercrombie Corduroy Shirt Jacket
The Hadley has patch pockets and a relaxed boyfriend cut that sits nicely with straight-leg trousers instead of jeans. I like plaid flannel in softer colors for fall because it reads cozy but not lumberjack, and it layers under a chore jacket without...
Pilcro The Hadley Relaxed Plaid Buttondown Shirt
A longer chore jacket in striped canvas twill is a fall workhorse and the one I would spend on if I could only buy a single utility layer. It covers the hips, goes over a hoodie, and the horn buttons make it look more expensive than it is.
Madewell Long Chore Jacket in Stripe
Not every flannel has to be oversized, and the Winnie has a tapered, fitted silhouette that tucks into a high-waisted cord without adding bulk at the waist. I would style it with the Madewell wide-leg pants for a clean outline that still feels weeken...
We The Free Winnie Plaid Shirt
Athleta calls these utility pants, and they are the closest thing I own to jeans that never feel tight. The pockets hold real things, the stretch moves with you on a hike or a school-event day, and they dress up easily with a clean tee and loafers.
Athleta Wander Utility Pant
The cropped cut is what saves this one: it hits at the waist so your high-rise pants stay visible and the jacket does not swallow you. The contrast collar and button flap cuffs give it real workwear detail without feeling stiff or heavy.
Pilcro 100% Cotton Cropped Utility Jacket
If you still want that jean shape but in a softer texture, these cord jeans are the compromise I recommend. The dropped, slouchy cut feels more current than a skinny leg, and cord in a warm brown goes with every sweater in my closet.
We The Free Deep Trance Dropped Corduroy Jeans
A snap-front shirt jacket with front pockets is the layer I grab when I do not want to think about a coat. Throw it over a long-sleeve tee and leggings or trousers and you are set for the farmers market, errands or a morning at the park.
Abercrombie Cozy Shirt Jacket
This is the one athleisure layer I would slip in with the flannels, since the oversized Define cut works over a tee and cords just as well as over workout gear. I like that it is soft and has pockets, so it does a coffee-run and a walk with the dogs.
Lululemon Define Relaxed-Fit Jacket *Luon
The point of a layering tee is that you forget it is there, and this one is made to slide under flannels, shackets and sweaters. It is slim through the arms so the sleeves do not bunch, which matters most when you are layering three pieces in a row.
Free People Everyday Layering Long Sleeve Tee
Straight-leg is what most people miss when they switch from jeans to cords, and this longline cut keeps the classic jean silhouette in stretch cotton cord. It is final sale, but the walnut shade is worth it if you want a pair that stands in for dark ...
Madewell The Longline Straight Pant in Corduroy
The tuckable length is the whole selling point here: it stays tucked into high-rise pants all day without riding up. I buy a few basics like this one so a flannel or jacket over it always has a clean, soft base layer underneath.
Abercrombie Essential Long-Sleeve Tuckable Baby Tee
The contrast corduroy collar is what makes this chore jacket feel special, and the wind and water resistance means it handles a drizzly morning with the dogs. Zip and button closures give you options, and the patch pockets are big enough for gloves.
Abercrombie Chore Jacket
A plaid shacket is the easiest way to get the flannel look with real outerwear weight. I would reach for this one on a day when a sweater is too warm and a coat too much, then tie it around the waist when the afternoon heats up.
We The Free Down For You Plaid Shirt Jacket
Here is my pick for the non-denim straight leg that you can wear to a school event and then a casual dinner. The Venice stretch fabric has a clean, flat look, and it pairs well with a layering tee and a shacket for a polished weekend outfit.
Athleta Venice Straight Leg Pant
This lightweight utility jacket has delicate lace trim, which is a sweet detail against its workwear shape and keeps it from feeling boxy. It works as a first-cool-days layer, over a tee and cords, when a full chore coat would be too warm.
Free People We The Free Outset Jacket