I Spent $99 at Old Navy Looking for Fall Basics—Here’s What I Actually Bought
Photo Credit: @autumlovedaily
I went into Old Navy with a very specific mission: find fall basics I could wear in real life, not a pile of pieces that only look good under fitting-room lighting. I wanted denim I could sit in, soft layers that would work now and later, and colors that already made sense with my closet. Somehow, the total came to $99 which is exactly how an “I’m just looking” trip becomes a full try-on haul.
I am 5’1”, so length is never a background detail for me. A jean can fit beautifully through the waist and still look completely wrong if the hem lands at the awkward part of my ankle. I also pay close attention to what happens when I sit: whether the waistband rolls, the zipper creeps down or the front digs into my stomach. Those are the details product photos cannot tell you.
Here is what I actually brought home, what surprised me in the fitting room and the current Old Navy fall arrivals I would consider next.
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What I Bought at Old Navy
1. Mid-Rise Wow Baggy Wide-Leg Jeans in Long
The biggest surprise of the trip was buying the Long length even though I am 5’1”. I started with the Short because that is the obvious choice on paper, but the shorter inseam made the jeans look cropped and they sat right at my ankles. That was not the long, relaxed puddle-adjacent shape I wanted from a baggy wide leg.
I tried the size 10 in both lengths and the Short also felt smaller through the waist. The Long gave me the silhouette I wanted and felt better over my mom pooch. Most importantly, they stay zipped when I sit down. That sounds like a small thing until you own jeans that make you check the zipper every time you stand up.
I paid $22 during an in-store promotion. Because Old Navy promotions move quickly, I would not expect that exact price online. The current product description lists the style as mid-rise with a super-baggy thigh and a below-the-ankle length, which explains why changing the inseam changed the entire attitude of the jean.
How I would style them: with the fitted rib tank I bought, a cropped suede or leather jacket and a shoe with enough presence under the wider hem. A slim sneaker works for everyday; a pointed boot would dress them up.
Verdict: Bought—and proof that petite women do not always need the shortest inseam.
2. High-Waisted Bounce Fleece Wide-Leg Cargo Sweatpants in Chocolate Brown
These cargo pants were the comfort purchase that still looked intentional. The chocolate brown makes them easier to style like a trouser, and the pocket placement reminded me of my Aritzia pair. I want to be clear, though: these are not an Aritzia dupe. The fabric and job are different.
The Old Navy pair feels softer and more buttery, which is exactly what I want for errands, working from home and those in-between Chicago days when I want comfort without looking like I gave up. My Aritzia cargos are much thicker and warmer, so I still prefer those when Chicago is actually freezing. One does not replace the other.
How I would style them: with the light brown ribbed tank, a cropped jacket and slim sneakers now; later, with a fitted long-sleeve tee, wool coat and substantial sneakers or boots. Keeping the top closer to the body balances the wide leg and cargo pockets.
Verdict: Bought. Soft, elevated and useful—but not pretending to be something it is not.
3. Light Brown Ribbed Tank
This was the quiet basic of the haul, but it is the piece that makes the other purchases easier to wear. Light brown creates a low-contrast base with the chocolate cargo pants and warms up blue denim without the starkness of white.
For a ribbed tank, I look at the neckline, armhole and length before anything else. It needs to sit cleanly under a jacket without bunching, cover the bra at the sides and meet the rise of my pants without requiring constant adjustment. The warm neutral color is also useful beyond fall; it can anchor cream trousers, a satin skirt or black jeans.
How I would style it: tucked into the baggy jeans with a belt, worn tonally with the chocolate cargos or layered under a cardigan with a denim midi skirt.
Verdict: Bought. Not flashy, but it connects the haul.
4. Faux-Leather Pants—The $8.97 Clearance Find
At $8.97, the faux-leather pants were the wild card. This is the kind of clearance find that can either become a surprising wardrobe hero or live in the back of the closet because the fit is slightly off. I brought them home because faux leather gives basic knits and jackets a different texture, and the price left room to experiment.
I would wear them with a soft oversized knit and pointed boot, or with the ribbed tank and a relaxed blazer for an evening look. The styling key is contrast: because faux leather already has shine and structure, the other pieces should be matte, soft and uncomplicated.
Verdict: Bought. The final review will depend on how they feel after a full sit-down-and-walk-around wear test, but the styling potential is there.
The Old Navy Fall Arrivals I’d Buy Next
5. Cropped Barn Jacket
A barn jacket is one of the easiest ways to make jeans and a tee feel like a fall outfit. The cropped length would work particularly well with my baggy wide-leg jeans because it gives the waist some definition without requiring a full tuck. I would choose olive, brown or another grounded neutral and wear it with denim, cargos and knit dresses.
6. Full-Zip Faux-Suede Harrington Jacket
Faux suede brings warmth and texture without relying on a print. The Harrington shape is cleaner than a shacket and less precious than a tailored blazer. I would pair it with dark jeans, the ribbed tank and loafers, or use it to sharpen the fleece cargos.
7. Funnel-Neck Denim Jacket
The funnel neck makes a familiar denim jacket feel new. I would wear it with black or chocolate bottoms rather than matching blue denim, then let the neckline replace a scarf on milder days. This is a good example of a basic with one strong design detail.
8. The Arc Mid-Rise Barrel Jeans
Barrel jeans can be polarizing, but the curved leg creates a useful change from straight and wide-leg denim. I would style these with a fitted top and a low-profile loafer or sneaker so the shape has room to show. The mid-rise also makes them worth trying for anyone tired of waistbands near the rib cage.
9. Extra High-Waisted Cuffed Wide-Leg Jeans
A large cuff makes denim feel styled before you add anything else. I would keep the top simple fine knit, fitted tee or cardigan and choose a substantial loafer or pointed boot. Petite shoppers should pay close attention to where the cuff lands because that proportion can either lengthen the leg or cut it awkwardly.
10. High-Waisted Bounce Lite Drapey Wide-Leg Pleated Pants
These would fill the polished-comfort gap: more fluid than the fleece cargos, but easier than a rigid trouser. I would wear them with the ribbed tank and a blazer, or a close-fitting sweater and sneakers. The drape is what makes a wide leg look elegant rather than bulky.
11. Ruffle-Collar Pointelle Cardigan
This cardigan adds romance without requiring a full statement blouse. Buttoned as a top, it would work with dark jeans and loafers; layered open, it could soften the faux-leather pants. I would keep the jewelry small so the collar remains the focus.
12. SoSoft Ribbed V-Neck Sweater
A V-neck is useful when a crewneck-heavy fall closet starts feeling repetitive. The open neckline creates space around the face and works with a necklace or a tee layered underneath. I would choose a color that connects to my existing bottoms rather than automatically buying another beige sweater.
13. SoSoft Cropped Crew-Neck Cardigan
The cropped cardigan is a natural partner for baggy and wide-leg jeans because it meets the waistband and restores proportion. Wear it buttoned as a top, open over the rib tank or draped over the shoulders. This is the kind of basic that can repeat without looking identical every time.
14. Slim-Fit Ribbed Turtleneck
A slim turtleneck is the layering piece that makes jackets last deeper into fall. I would wear it under the barn jacket, faux-suede Harrington or a blazer, then pair it with jeans or the chocolate cargos. Black, cream or deep brown would give it the most mileage.
15. Mary Jane Ballet Flats
Mary Janes add a feminine shoe to all the relaxed bottoms in this haul. With baggy jeans, I would let the hem nearly meet the shoe so the strap appears as a small detail. They would also work with a denim skirt and tights when the weather cools.
16. Oversized EveryWear Tunic T-Shirt
An oversized tee is not exciting on the hanger, but it can be the base of a good layered outfit. I would wear it with leggings and the barn jacket, or use a partial tuck with the cargo pants. The key is choosing a weight that hangs cleanly instead of clinging.
17. Mid-Rise Dynamic Fleece Textured Wide-Leg Sweatpants
If the Bounce cargos prove as wearable as I expect, a textured fleece wide leg would be the next comfort category to test. I would avoid buying it in a color too similar to the chocolate pair; charcoal, cream or deep navy would create a different outfit lane.
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