Making the transition…
How to make the transition into the autumn
Dressing at this time of year is often something people find tricky. Summer with a dress and sandals or a pair of shorts and a tee is easy but what to wear for this ‘in-between’ type weather?
Usually the reason people struggle now is because they are lacking in one or more of these three areas. So if you’ve been wondering what on earth to wear now the seasons are changing, then this should help.
1. Lightweight layers
This is the biggest and most important area to focus on. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that your heavy weight puffa jackets/ coats or your winter wool coat will do the job for you now. Because it just won’t.
You need some lightweight jackets that work for your lifestyle (and style/shape etc which goes without saying) which you will also be able to wear as you transition from winter to spring and basically well into summer too if you like in the UK!
In all likelihood you will need more than one option here and you do need to consider a mix of lengths and end uses so you have different proportions to work with different bottoms.
Consider the following:
- Casual, hooded, water repellent/waterproof styles.
- Smart/casual option(s) you can wear with jeans but that you could also dress up for an evening/night out/dinner etc – this may be a longer length option like a blazer or something shorter like a bomber jacket/cropped trench.
- This is the time when a trench coat comes into its own. Wear it now or it’ll be too cold later in the season.
- The great news is that there are lots of different styles to choose from across the high street at the moment but now is your time to buy them. Miss the boat now and you will need to wait to catch it in the spring next year!
2. Knitwear
…and I don’t mean chunky, bulky knits nor do I mean cosy cashmere, as both of these will be far too hot. It’s much the same premise as the jackets because you’re after some mid-weight options.
- Cotton – the ideal yarn for this time of year.
- Short sleeve knits – I used to think these were a bit of a chocolate teapot – not fit for purpose but they make total sense now. Just think of these as a slightly heavier weight version of a t-shirt. They also tend to look a bit smarter too so are versatile pieces you can wear to work as well as with jeans.
- Cardigans – never underestimate how useful a cardigan can be. For now it can do the job of a lightweight jacket over a vest top or tee, but later you’ll just layer a coat over the top. You can wear them in different ways and if you have a large bust a cardigan is the perfect option.
- Long sleeved tops – not knitwear at all but thought it was worth mentioning that some long sleeved tees/Henley type tops can be super useful for this time of year too.
3. Footwear
I see this time and time again – people have winter boots, trainers and sandals….but they are missing an entire tranche of shoes which is what you want on your feet now!! It’s definitely not boots weather, I’m not ready for socks either and I have been wearing a few pairs of shoes on repeat:
- The ballet pump – a classic that will never date.
- Mary Janes – the strapped version of a pump, still around everywhere.
- Pointed flats – my personal style preference for a chic and leg lengthening look.
- Loafers – another timeless classic you can dress up or down.
If you are after some current options then I have a dedicated reel coming out on Instagram but do look back either at my grid or on LTK as I have been covering all these areas over the past few weeks.
It’s never a case of needing an entirely new wardrobe when the season changes, just making sure you have covered a few strategic pieces which you can bolt on or swap in to extend the life of your summer wardrobe.
And next week, it’s the turn of the invisible layers that will probably end up being the most worn items in your wardrobe and the best money you spend!!
Naseem Weston
Thank you so much for this in between time. Really helpful.