35 (Secretly Affordable) Tops That Go With Your Skinny Jeans

Spending over $100 on a top? Not today. Although it would be just lovely to go full Pretty Woman for the new season (i.e., overhaul my entire wardrobe with a credit card–maxing shopping spree), the reality is that by now, I own enough of those investment staples that I no longer feel like I need a massive refresh each year when things get chilly. I'm mostly just in need of a handful of affordable, on-trend, upper-half updates that work with my much-thrashed vintage Levi's.

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Skinnies, straight-legs, relaxed-fit ankle grazers… Whatever your denim vibe, it's high time to give your go-to jeans outfit a little update for these cooler temps. All it takes is a fresh new top, so saddle up: Everything below is a bona fide $100-or-less steal and 100% ready for your denim styling pleasure.

MOCKNECKS

Not quite a turtleneck, not quite a crew neck. Mocknecks are the perfect in between for a laid-back look.

HALF-ZIPS

We're making a case for half-zips being the new hoodie. The combination sweater and sweatshirt is the perfect way to stay on-trend while also remaining incredibly comfortable. Plus, they look great with any style of jeans.

BUTTON-DOWNS

A button-down is an elevated wardrobe staple that goes perfectly with everything, even your most worn-out jeans. 

FALL TEES

Tees are a year-round go-to but there's always room to upgrade. This fall we're opting for more oversized options and tees with longer sleeves to mix up the typical tee and jeans look.

KNITS

Fall is sweater weather, and knits are the key to staying warm and looking chic when the temperatures begin to drop. 

ATHLUXE

DAY-TO-NIGHT

And last but not least, the day-to-night tops that you can wear from work to weekend. Dress up your jeans with these more formal options. 

Looking for a fresh take on those skinny jeans? We're making a serious case for skinny corduroys this season too.

Natalie Cantell
Executive Director, Brand Studio

Natalie leads the style direction for the all content we create in partnership with our friends at various brands plus the legendary team of editors who work on those shoots and stories. She loves collaborating and storytelling, so it's a really fun role for her. It's also the first full-time job she's ever had⁠! She started out in her career as a very mediocre model who agreed to her first styling job to impress a photographer she had a crush on, which led her down a happy path of contributing to Vogue Australia and working as a stylist, fashion writer, and creative director for all sorts of brands and titles. She has a bachelor of communications, but most of her career opportunities came up thanks to some fleeting and accidental street style moments. She's been at Who What Wear for three and a half years and still loves to work as a freelance consultant with brands and designers to shoot their campaigns in NYC. She's originally from New Zealand, and Bondi Beach is her second home, but like just about every other 20-something, she fell in love with New York at some point. She lives in Williamsburg with her fiancé and their weird little dog, Ruby. If you ever need reccies for feel-good fashion, legit coffee spots, politics podcasts, or non-intimidating yoga studios, she's very much your girl.