My 12 “MUST-HAVE” capsule pieces that will work hard in any Autumn wardrobe, whether on trend, or not
Although I love looking at the catwalk trends for style & colour inspiration & to see what’s supposedly ‘in’ each season, I would never encourage a client (or myself) to build a wardrobe from trends that disappear as quickly as they arrive (plus so many recently have been too bonkers to hit my wardrobe, or too reminiscent of my teens to rekindle my love for them). Instead, I would encourage you that ones wardrobe should integrate everlasting staple pieces each season, with a smattering of ‘of-the-moment’ colours & prints, if you really like them of course! It is this clever balance which is key to ensuring your outfits always hit the mark & you feel confident, contemporary and comfortable in what you wear, year after year.
So, before I lay out the trends for the season (coming in next week’s blog) let’s consider the classic autumn pieces you’ll need ahead of the season to ensure that each of your outfits you create over the coming season will be stylish & timeless.
Hopefully many of these items are already sitting in your wardrobe or on your wish list / priority shopping list for the season (maybe they wore out last year or they don’t quite fit, not because you are bored & just want something new), so you don’t have to start from scratch and when the weather changes you can hit the ground running. Remember to invest, ensure a great fit and that each of these pieces are the quality needed to last; cost per wear should be super low on this must-haves!
1. The TRENCH:
Trench coats are the perfect autumnal cover-up, and a ‘must -have’ staple for any Autumn wardrobe. Forget feeling like a stripper, (why do they remind me of this, please tell me I’m not the only one as I have always thought this …. Was it Madonna in Dick Tracy, am I showing my age now?), the trench is a staple & coincidently bang on trend this year. So why are they so fab? Because they provide just the right amount of protection from the elements without making you feel too hot during this inconsistent weather. Plus, they're just so chic, very Parisian & now come in some incredible colour ways. I’m loving the khaki versions and there are some great examples on the high street at the moment, I will pop some on stories on my Instagram as I see them hit the shops.
2. The KNITTED DRESS
It wouldn’t be Autumn without the appearance of knitwear, and one of the most stylish ways to introduce knits at the start of the season, is in dress form. Whether paired with a sock boot or your humble Converse, these dresses are a must for a comfortable, stylish autumnal look for both smart & causal vibes (plus they are so comfortable too).
3. The STRAIGHT-LEG JEANS
My absolute favourite jeans (& you know what a denim fan I am) are the wardrobe staple, a pair of classic medium blue straight-leg jeans that will never go out of style. Wide -legs & looser fit denims are big this summer and continuing to go through to the autumn, but are definitely not the easiest to style up, so the straight leg should always be your go-to wardrobe superhero in my opinion.
4. The CHECKED SHIRT / SHACKET
Plaid, flannel or checked, however you refer to them; an overshirt or shacket are autumn wardrobe must-haves. Over the past few seasons, the ‘fashion people’ are now wearing them as their ‘go-to’ as the ultimate choice for autumn. Although working seamlessly with straight-leg jeans, I like the idea of tucking into a leather pencil skirt, or this season’s maxi slip skirt, or worn more smartly with a tailored blazer and your straight leg jeans.
5. The LEATHER MIDI SKIRT
I love that autumn is the ideal time to start reintegrating heavy textures, such as faux & real leather, into your outfit creations. And for me my leather midi skirt is a firm favourite staple. Whether worn with heels and my Oxford blue shirt, or a simple grey tee, my New Balance trainers & my camel coat, I’ll look forward to it’s reappearance this month.
6. The WOOL BLAZER
The outerwear conundrum starts from Autumn but don’t despair, during the months when it's still too warm for a full-on winter coat, a heavy-duty blazer is an ideal solution. The fabric enables you to keep warm when it’s a bit chilly, but the cropped length (as opposed to a full on coat) will keep your autumnal outfits from feeling too wintry. You know I don’t need to be convinced and have blazers for all seasons hanging in my wardrobe.
7. The ROLL-NECK
As much as I’m not the biggest fan of something around my neck (long story to do with an incident in my teens), it definitely pays to have a roll-neck or two at your disposal. My favourite way is to layer a ‘skinny’ version underneath dresses or cardigans when the temperature starts to drop, to add a pop of colour or print.
8. The BOOT
Whilst the chunky boots are still massively on trend (and yes my DM’s will come out soon), I believe an all terrain boot is a really important autumn fashion item to invest in, or maintain if you have the perfect pair already. This is the season of the Cowboy boot, but for me the ankle block heel will always be my go-to, although I’m tempted to dust off my OTK suede flats back out after seeing them all over the catwalks.
9. The V-NECK CARDIGAN
Cardigans aren’t just an essential layering piece for the colder months, but my personal favourite way to wear, whilst the temperatures aren’t too cold, is to style my V-neck cardigans as jumpers (done up of course) tucked into your denim (jeans or denim maxi) & with a blazer over the top, of course.
10. The TAILORED TROUSERS
2023 is undoubtedly the year of the tailored trousers, and the catwalks are full of all styles from the wide-leg to more tailored styles. These are a great choice to look elevated & classic, and certainly not just for the office. I’d suggest investing in a good fabric that both drapes and holds its shape. Play around with your colour selection, there are some great colour choices out there including deep rich tones - just remember to think about longevity & cost per wear of course. And don’t get me started on pinstripes, you can’t miss them this season!
11. The LOAFER
Your autumn outfits will absolutely benefit from any type of loafers; chunky platform soles, backless, patterns or plain. I like to keep it simple with double denim, a checked wool blazer and my black loafers for chic style and simplicity.
12. The WHITE SHIRT
The term "effortlessly chic" gets so overused in the fashion world but when it come to the classic white shirt it is absolutely applicable. No matter what your budget, or your sense of style, the white shirt is the ultimate wardrobe staple. Loved by all from Grace Kelly to Olivia Palermo. The Crisp white shirt will always look incredibly chic & on trend.
Autumn is definitely my favourite seasons for fashion, largely due to the fact that you can create so many looks with just a few key pieces, adding in your individuality through accessories, outerwear & footwear choices. But as summer hasn’t really got off the ground, to put it lightly, I have definitely been wearing my transitional pieces more than I would have usually so I will be investing in a few additions this season and will keep you posted on what I add into the mix.