5 simple ways to transition your wardrobe for autumn

by Kate Beavis

For many of us, summer feels like a long time ago; the kids have gone back to school, Strictly Come Dancing is back on the television and the leaves are falling. But just as you start to think about winter coats, the autumn sunshine comes out to throw us of course. Suddenly we are too hot in our coat, too cold in a summer dress and what do we wear on our feet? I used to have a rule that I wouldn’t wear tights until winter officially hit, but with this changing weather and the fabulous autumn fashions in the shops and online, I have had to rethink how I dress for autumn, which is indeed, my favourite season.

Autumn Colours

I love to wear dresses; I wear one 6 days out of 7 for their look as well as their ease. Many people think the opposite, saying they feel too dressed up, but for me, having to think about only one item rather than matching a top to a trouser is so much easier. This time of year, I simply change the colour of my dresses along with the shape, to ease me from one season to the next. Autumnal colours are key; think rusts, browns, ambers and burnt orange rather than a harsher black which I save for January! These colours are often ignored, described as boring but for me, I love the tones which remind me of the autumn environment, but also, they are less harsh against my pale skin tone. 

Autumn Shapes

Summer dresses tend to be floaty, maxi in length with thin straps, but a great autumnal dress adds a sleeve and a midi hemline, perfect to team up with a great pair of boots. I love the 1970s influenced shapes with slightly ballooned sleeves and a belt to nip in the waist; this era is on trend for autumn/winter but this tends to be my look of choice at this time of year, trend or not. Often these are designed in finer fabrics which means you may need to layer up to keep warm when that low sun goes in; I however choose a strappy thermal vest to wear underneath so as not to hide the wonderful patterns of  the dress. My dress of the season is this navy and mustard floral one by The House of Foxy, showing that pairing the autumn tones against navy rather than block really works.

Autumn coats

The new season’s coat collections cannot be ignored, every magazine is featuring their favourites for the two seasons ahead but I find it almost too early to wear a coat, wanting to hold back as long as I can. Don’t get me wrong; I love coats and have far too many but while the sunshine is out I prefer to wear a jacket or a long cardigan with my autumn dress. Long cardigans are cosy enough to keep warm this time of year and are really hard to wear when it gets really cold as they more often than not won’t fit under a coat, so now is the time! 

Autumn boots

My long leather boots are firmly on my feet and am so happy that the long boot is back in fashion as they always look great with autumnal dresses as well as with my vintage collection too. Choose autumnal tones to team with the rest of your look and save the black until later; I often wear long socks under mine when it is too hot for tights but am also loving the idea of mustard opaque tights too. My boots of the season are these chocolate suede ones by LK Bennett.

Autumn accessories

Layering with fluffy scarves and adding a matching beret is the way to go as both can be easily removed when it gets too hot. Choose an oversized scarf or cape which you can throw over your dress when needed and can be easily carried on your bag when you don’t need it. My scarf of the season is this soft brushed textured mustard one by Monsoon.

Autumn makeup

Now is the time to switch your makeup pallette to autumn tones too. Make up artist Kerry Curl from Cambridge Makeup Artist shares her tips to get the best look at this time of year. “It is a good idea to get a hydrating facial to balance the skin to prepare for autumn/winter foundations after the summer months. As the months draw colder you’ll feel the desire to reach for a richer shade of lipstick in plums and deeper shades which will compliment a smokey eye for darker nights out as well as the new autumn fashions.”

Enjoy wearing this look in the run up to Halloween and Bonfire Night as before long you will be choosing your sequinned dress for the Christmas party and tones of brown will long be forgotten, replaced with reds and the obligatory Christmas jumper.