Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the days of summer are coming to

a close. There's still time to eke out a little bit of life out of those linen dresses and flowing shorts, but we'll all be reaching for things with the words "knit" and "wool" as their descriptors before you know it. Now for a bit of good news: these last few weeks of blistering weather leaves just enough time to get a head start on figuring out your fall clothing situation. 

If you didn't realize already, the best closet is a well-curated one, and that certainly rings true when it comes to autumnal dressing. Before you end up with racks of blazers and pants you don't need (and hardly ever wear), a wise course of action is to plan out the key pieces you'll reach for over and over again, and build from there. If planning isn't your thing, we've laid out all of the essentials needed for a seamless wardrobe for the cooler months ahead. Comprised of timeless items, this capsule is like a shortcut to flawless outfits, every time. 

Another key point: everything is on the affordable side, under $125. Ahead keep reading to check out the full guide, and full disclosure: you'll want to bookmark this page.