It may still be light at 8pm with a chance of blue skies making an appearance, but we’re hurtling towards that tricky time of year when it’s virtually impossible to know what to wear. As the golden embers of summer fade and temperatures start to fall, it’s a good idea to start figuring out how you’re going to adapt your wardrobe to cope with unpredictable weather and the prospect of dealing with four seasons in a day. With transitional trends, you don’t have to splash out on a brand new wardrobe.
The simplest and most effective way to make your spring/summer wardrobe stretch into autumn/winter is to learn to layer. By adding layers, you can adjust outfits to cater to the conditions and ensure you’re always prepared for the odd sunny day or a cold spell that comes out of the blue. With skirts and dresses, you can add a pair of tights and a cardigan or jumper. For pinafores and strappy dresses, you could also put a vest, tee or thin jumper underneath for extra warmth. For laid-back daytime outfits, you can pair jeans or shorts with an oversized shirt or cardi. For smarter outfits, for example, workwear, throw on a lightweight mac or duster if there’s a chill in the air.
Adding layers
Creating a capsule wardrobe
Many of us love to indulge in a bit of retail therapy, but we don’t necessarily have the funds to buy a whole new wardrobe for every season. If you love fashion, and you want to embrace and experiment with new trends without blowing the budget, creating a capsule wardrobe is a fantastic idea. The aim is to put a collection of items you can mix and match together to create an array of different outfits. Start by investing in versatile basics, such as plain tees and vests, lightweight jumpers, well-fitted jeans and trousers, a blazer and a few simple, chic skirts and dresses. From here, you can add seasonal statement pieces and accessories. If you’re shopping in the autumn, for example, you might want to add a camel, red, navy or grey coat or a pair of biker boots or leopard print Chelsea boots to tick off the latest trends. Take a look at styles like Portmans dresses, flick through magazines and look for inspiration online. Once you’ve got basics, you can use accessories and a small selection of new items to jazz up understated pieces. Take jeans and a white t-shirt as an example. You can go from casual to smart in no time simply by swapping trainers for heels, a shirt for a blazer and a cross-body satchel for a clutch. For work, you can dress up shift dresses or a plain blouse and midi skirt combo with belts, necklaces, bags, brooches and scarves.
It may still be summer, but we can’t always guarantee sunshine, and before we know it, the leaves will be brown and we’ll be heading for autumn. Transitional dressing can be tricky, especially when the weather isn’t playing ball. Hopefully, this guide will ensure you look and feel fabulous, whatever the forecast.
