A reminder that the iconic Bobbi Brown and I will be going live this Thursday, 26th September, with a bridal makeup tutorial. A replay will be available. More info here!
We love to talk about transitional styling. That time when you’re in between seasons and neither seasonal dressing codes quite apply.
September is the epitome of the in-between dressing season. Unless you live somewhere much warmer than the UK, it’s normally a time when the warmth of summer starts to wane but that chill of autumn is yet to fully set in. It’s a time when you may leave the house in a jumper and boots, only to find yourself sweating by the afternoon and peeling off all your layers.
In a way, it’s quite a tricky time of year to get dressed but in a lot of ways, I think it’s the most interesting. Now is the short window of time when we can mix items that wouldn’t normally “go” together: sandals with a thick jumper, cosy cashmere with light silk, or wool trousers with a pair of flip-flops.
did a great round-up recently of autumnal styling, showing how Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen and Zoe Kravitz navigate this season so well: by always showing a bit of skin. They could be wearing an oversized jumper and wide-leg trousers but they’ll offset that with sandals that show off the feet. Or they’ll go for bare arms, ankles or necklines to balance out their bigger, heavier clothing. I found myself nodding a lot throughout reading Kelly’s piece and thinking about how I dress at this time of year too.Tips for early autumn dressing
Wear layers that you can easily shed. Think light jackets you don’t mind carrying or a good base layer under your jumper on the occasion you need to take it off.
Speaking of layers, go for lighter fabrics such as light or mid-weight cashmere, jersey and cotton that won’t make you overheat.
Take a leaf out of Kelly’s book and show a bit of skin. Push the sleeves up on your jumper, shirt or jacket or keep your feet unrestricted in a pair of sandals or flip-flops.
Blend dark and light colours. I’m a firm believer that you can wear whatever colours you like at any time of year. But I love mixing more obvious autumnal shades like burgundy or chocolate brown with whites and light greys.
Here’s that in action…
Look 1
This is my ‘lighter fabrics’ tip in the flesh. The dress is Raey (RIP), a classic black jersey maxi with long sleeves. It covers everything but the light jersey stops me from ever feeling too hot when I’m wearing it — plus, it’s just one of those very easy foundational pieces that goes with everything. In this instance, I’ve paired it with my light trench from UK-based Louisa Charlotte Oates. The fabric is quite thin but in the best way — it protects me from that early autumn chill but I’ll never feel super hot in it plus I can fold it up and pop it in my bag if I really need to, without worrying that it’s too bulky.
Look 2
Knitwear and flip-flops must be my favourite combination at this time of year. Am I hot? Cold? A bit of both during the course of the day? Yes to all three! It’s the blend of the two seasons that I love, complemented by a pair of heavy linen trousers that epitomise that transitional period from summer to autumn.
The jumper is a wonderful rich plum colour, made from Merino wool and knitted to order in Spain. It’s thick and cosy without feeling cumbersome and is soft enough that you can push or roll the sleeves up and tuck the hem into the waistband with ease. Just make sure you pop a good T-shirt on underneath in case the sun comes out and you desperately need to shed a layer.
Look 3
You may have seen this jacket in a few different outfits here on The Jones Report. I’ve worn it open with cream-coloured trousers, and worn it tied around the waist over a dress when I underestimated the temperature on a recent trip to Zurich.
It’s made from a cotton and linen mix and it’s pretty light so I’ve been able to tuck it into my skirt here too, almost like a thick shirt. I’ve pushed the sleeves up to give it a bit more ‘shape’ and not look like I’ve forgotten to take my jacket off, and on those days that are still warm, having a bit of exposed arm stops me from feeling too hot too.
Look 4
This is another mix of light(ish) fabrics that works so well during the weeks we navigate the last of summer and the beginning of autumn. The jumper is a lightweight cashmere — I sized up for a looser fit — while the trousers are silk. The pushed-up sleeves on the jumper show that bit of skin, as do the sandals, preventing the look from going deep into autumn territory.
Look 5
I wore this outfit recently when it was about 16°C but the sun was shining and the air was still. There was no cold wind and when the sun hit it felt warm, but duck into the shade and all of a sudden it felt a lot cooler. I needed some layers that kept me warm but didn’t make me overheat and I didn’t want an all-black look that appeared too wintry.
The top and jumper are both light and made from pure Merino wool. Layering the dark red top underneath the black jumper added that bit of colour I was craving, gave me an extra layer, and looked good on its own if I ever needed to take the jumper off. The trousers are cotton and wide-leg, so they’re not too hot to wear, and the sandals add the juxtaposition that I reach for in this in-between season.
Any items marked with * have been kindly gifted by brands. All thoughts, picks and reviews are my own.
This post contains some affiliate links. If you buy something through those links, I’ll earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Can’t wait till my new trench arrives, seeing this one makes me so excited for fall! You look
Great!!!
I stole look 2 for myself this morning; though it's supposed to warm up as the day goes on so I have a t-shirt underneath (to go along with your first tip for layers). Thanks for the mention, pinching myself that your stylish self liked that!!