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This Wardrobe Basic Should Be The Key To All Your Best Autumn Looks
From casual weekends to big nights out, this essential layering component is the key to sartorial success.
There’s a lot of stuff out there, and not all fashion pieces are created equal. Luckily, the ELLE editors know their way around a shopping rail, and when it comes to helping you find those niche brands worth knowing to high-street hits of quality, and a few vintage treasures too, our ELLE Edits showcase the very best of the season.
If you’ve mastered the art of the capsule wardrobe, it’s likely you’re already well-versed in the unending appeal of the bodysuit. Once an intimidatingly revealing, often unflattering piece best reserved for those whose first and last names both begin with a K, the bodysuit has come of age in recent seasons, and there are now plenty of all-in-ones out there that’ll form the base of endless looks.
The bodysuit is a supremely versatile thing, working just as well with casual joggers or jeans as it does a slender silk-satin skirt. It’s also perfect for pairing with all of autumn’s perilously low-rise waistbands, keeping you covered and contoured and negating the need to be anxiously pulling up your waistband like a teenage boy. But don’t just save your bodysuit for casual days, either: a good one will work for dinner dates and nights out just as well.
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There’s a moment in this month’s Netflix hit, Nobody Wants This, that sums up the appeal to perfection, when Kristen Bell’s protagonist Joanne pairs an Abercrombie & Fitch bodysuit with a pair of simple grey jeans, all tied together with a gilded belt (from Khaite, no less). It’s one of the more low-key looks she wears throughout the season, and yet the one we’re all most likely to copy ourselves (in fact, the piece in question swiftly sold out).
A quick consult in the group chat at ELLE HQ only adds to the options above: one team member wears her plain-black iteration under sheer, mesh-fine dresses after dark, while another highlights the appeal of teaming one with a cocooning coat (the skin-tight layer both keeps you warm and doesn’t shift around under bulky top layers).
Low-rise jeans are a common denominator, while voluminous tailored trousers are also a perfect match for a pared-back base layer. However, a caveat: not all bodysuits are made equal. You ideally need two things, both of which aren’t a given when you’re shopping on the high street in particular. Firstly, good stretch: nobody likes a saggy bodysuit. Secondly: an opaque fabric (unless Hailey Bieber-esque sheerness is what you’re going for). Many lesser bodysuits turn irritatingly translucent once you’ve wriggled into them, leaving you feeling exposed.
Practical advice considered, here are the bodysuits we’re calling on all autumn long.
In nine tones of nude, plus more vibrant seasonal shades, Skims’ classic Fits Everybody bodysuit is an obvious winner. It’s made from a super-soft technical fabric with plenty of elastane, meaning it will hug you all-over – and hug you tight. The high neck comes with modest appeal, the thong back less so.
A bodysuit is also a great move for mums-to-be, offering you all the support and coverage without compromising comfort. Bumpsuit is the brand of choice for the likes of Margot Robbie and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and, after experiencing their four-way stretch fabric, you'll soon see why.
The exact bodysuit seen on Joanne in Nobody Wants This may have speedily sold out, but this one is the next best thing. The shoulder-baring shape is evening-ready without leaving you feeling over-exposed, while the body-contouring fit works with both casual jeans and more voluminous separates.
A surprising winner, this affordable option from Zara is made from a supremely soft cotton and modal blend (seriously, it feels almost like cashmere) and looks far more expensive than it really is. Do size up though: it runs frustratingly small.
Ninety Percent has long been our go-to for basics of brilliant quality, and this bodysuit is one such winner. Available in both taupe and black, it's made from a ribbed fabric made sustainably from wood and seaweed in the brand's own factory.
The sheeny, super-stretch lycra may give this one figure-skater connotations, but the twisted front and shoulder-baring silhouette mean it feels more like something you’d see on Kendall Jenner than Tonya Harding.
For something that makes a touch more of a statement, consider Marine Serre’s organic-cotton option. With the brand’s embroidered logo and waistband, it’s a classic with a twist.
We’re at risk of veering away from our capsule wardrobe focus here, but if it’s something for nights out you’re after, Jean Paul Gaultier’s irreverent design fits the bill. The slogan is a reference to the designer’s seminal 1996 runway show, which cemented his position as a stalwart of the LGBTQ+ community.
One for supremely cosy days, Lululemon's black bodysuit is made from a merino-wool blend to ensure both warmth and breathability. Not just a joy to wear, it looks great too, thanks to the high, round neckline and extra-long sleeves that you can pull down over your wrists.
Another winner from the comeback kid of the year, this just-sheer-enough option features a shoulder-sloping asymmetric neckline: that's another key AW24 ticked off, then.
Roberta Schroeder is the Senior Ecommerce Editor at Harper's Bazaar, ELLE and Esquire, overseeing shopping strategy and content across fashion, beauty, and travel. Roberta has reported on everything from market-leading skincare brands to the world’s most iconic fashion pieces, while also regularly updating a range of shopping guides, including LED masks, heritage cashmere brands and niche new dress brands to know.
Roberta has more than 15 years' experience in the luxury sector, spanning editorial consultancy, trend forecasting and journalism. Over the years, she has worked for global brands including Farfetch, Chanel, and Vogue.
When not testing beauty products, trialling trends and curating content that spotlights the very best in fashion and beauty, Roberta can usually be found trawling resale sites and vintage stores for a long-coveted designer find. Follow Roberta on Instagram at @roberta__schroeder
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