The colours that do the heavy lifting
White is a neutral, which means it technically goes with everything and therefore gives you no guidance at all. Three pairings do most of the work in autumn. Chocolate brown is the current favourite for good reason — deep brown against cream reads rich and slightly nineties, especially in suede or a fine knit. Charcoal and black are the sharpest option: a black polo neck, black boots and cream jeans is about as clean as an outfit gets. And camel, oatmeal and taupe together make a tonal look that flatters almost everyone, as long as you vary the textures so it does not turn into one flat beige column.
If you want a colour rather than a neutral, burgundy, forest green and rust all sit beautifully against cream. Keep the bright, high-contrast summer brights out of it; that is where the outfit tips back towards a beach holiday.
Shoes are where it goes right or wrong
Sandals and white denim is a summer sentence. Boots and white denim is an autumn one. An ankle boot in brown or black, a loafer with a substantial sole, a knee-high boot worn under a straight leg — all of these change the whole reading of the trousers. Trainers can work, but keep them clean and structured rather than slouchy.
Length matters too. A jean that grazes the top of the boot or breaks just slightly looks intentional; one hovering awkwardly mid-ankle with a gap of bare skin looks like you have been caught out by the weather. If your pair is too long, a simple hem alteration is one of the best returns on a small spend in your whole wardrobe.
