What To Wear: Between Seasons

Packed away your summer clothes but not quite ready to dive into heavy knits and cold weather gear? Navigate the changeable weather and its sartorial challenges in style with our guide to the hero pieces that will transition your wardrobe to autumn, from the fail-safe boots to the knits with endless layering potential.

The Lightweight Jacket

This is the jacket that you reach for just before you leave the house, safe in the knowledge that it will work with whatever you’re wearing and keep you just warm enough in the process. A bomber jacket, whether a version with polished overtones like SAGE NATION’s wool take or an irresistibly cool twist on the MA-1 flying jacket by Andersson Bell (which, it’s worth noting, has a fleece-lined hood that will really come into its own later in the season) is the perfect day-to-day choice. A denim jacket will work for now and can be layered up under your coat when the time comes, too. And if you’re in need of something smarter, look to a tailored wool jacket or relaxed-cut blazer that will add instant flair to anything you wear it with.

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Essential Knits

A between season essential, a great knit is your sartorial buffer between warm sunny days and winter months. Right now you won’t want anything too chunky so look for a soft, fine gauge sweater that will fit neatly with the maximum number of pieces in your wardrobe. Don’t feel that you have to play it safe with classic shapes and muted shades, either: bright colours, stripes and patterns – see Feng Chen Wang’s textural sweater vest – will elevate your chosen knit from the simply practical to the truly desirable.

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Seasonless Shirts

The best thing about a really great shirt is that it will look great no matter what time of year you wear it. A timeless long-sleeved button-up can be worn, sleeves rolled, over a T-shirt and shorts or jeans then styled under a lightweight crewneck and an overcoat when winter kicks in. Your favourite short-sleeved shirts can be put into year-round rotation too, layered up over long-sleeved tops and roll neck sweaters – with the added bonus that the most colourful and printed in your wardrobe will inject some much-needed joy into your cold weather looks.

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Failsafe Boots

The kind of shoe that you can invest in now and still be wearing in a decade’s time, an ankle boot – or ankle-adjacent in the case of Bottega Veneta’s super-luxe pair – will tie your whole look together. Mixing a utilitarian spirit with a fashion-forward twist are trophy Chelsea boots from the likes of Lanvin and MM6 Maison Margiela that are too cool to keep hidden so choose your trouser length accordingly. Ferragamo’s peerless tan leather pair have all the Italian polish you could desire, perfect for both daytime and after dark. And if you’re in need of something seriously practical, look to the technical expertise and utilitarian appeal of ROA’s suede hiking boots.

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Good Jeans

A no-brainer wardrobe essential no matter what the season, jeans are your friend day and night in the tricky between-season weeks thanks to the ease that they can be styled with almost anything. A timeless straight-leg shape in indigo or a vintage blue wash will sartorially stand up to the constant adding and removing of layers that characterise this time of year, and have an ease about them that will ensure you want to wear them on repeat. A white pair will bring a freshness to your look, even if you’re wearing them with a chunky knit and stomping boots. And a classic-with-a-twist pair like Kenzo’s striped cargos will bring an added element of interest to your looks along with the same unmatched versatility.

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The Great Cover-Up

Even if you throw it on over the bare minimum for now, it’s always a good idea to get a beautifully tailored coat into your arsenal as early as possible. The best have timeless appeal and impeccable style, from MM6 Maison Margiela’s wool overcoat to the lighter iterations by the likes of Jil Sander and Dries Van Noten. And if you like your outerwear with a bit more overt fashion flair, look to Maison Margiela’s houndstooth detailing – on a reversible coat for added versatility – or the dramatic, flowing silhouette of Alexander McQueen’s beautiful trench. Whichever you choose, wear with lightweight layers for now and knot a classic crew neck over the top for a nod to the coming cooler season.

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Words Emma Sells