Outfit Details: Libertine Coat, Eterne Tank, Agolde Jeans, Prada Pumps (similar here and here), Saint Laurent Sunglasses, Chanel Bag

If there is one piece to add to your wardrobe that will do the heavy lifting this season, it’s a statement party coat. Think of it as the hero of a fall closet. Throw it over a white tank and jeans for an afternoon out and it already reads as a complete look, one that can carry straight through to dinner, while a slip dress takes on an entirely different character depending on what goes over it. The fun is in choosing the mood. Feather-embellished lean flirty and a little whimsical, crushed velvet brings the drama, and sequins, brocade, or fur-trimmed go full glam.

I like letting that first layer set the pace. A statement coat is one of those pieces that makes getting dressed for fall plans all the more fun, because it transforms whatever you already have in your closet. The best party layers earn their place by making the entrance part of the outfit too.