As the seasons change and summer rolls slowly into autumn, the temptation to buy a whole new wardrobe is so strong. Those cosy knits, heavier fabrics and autumnal shades may be calling your name but if you’re into sustainable fashion, it’s pretty easy to start styling summer outfits for autumn.
Not only is transitioning your summer dresses to autumn a great way to reduce, reuse and recycle but it can help with budgeting, too. Making your existing wardrobe work way harder all year round will free up your funds for other things – how about an autumn city break or that pricy perfume you’ve had your eye on?
In this guide we’ll share our expert tips on styling summer outfits for autumn, from layering and accessorising to upcycling.
Layering Techniques
The quickest and easiest way to transition summer dresses for autumn is to try some clever layering. Layering clothes for autumn makes them appropriate for all weathers, from those sunny end-of-September days right through to chilly November nights.- Start with a simple technique and add a t-shirt under your favourite summer dresses. While it’s still warm out, a short sleeved tee under a strappy dress will give you a bit of extra coverage. As we move through the season, a long sleeved tee will prolong the life of your summer dresses even more.
- Add a trench coat to your wardrobe! A trench coat is the perfect accessory that matches dresses of all different lengths. A trench coat is an autumn staple which will pair with all of your summer dresses to give them a more autumnal feel.
- We love the look of adding an oversized, knitted sweater on top of a summer midi or maxi dress. If you have a ditsty floral or printed dress, pair with a chunky plain sweater. For plain summer midi or maxi dresses, add a vibrant sweater over the top to make it look more cosy and autumn ready.
- Fine knit polo neck jumpers are perfect for layering under lightweight jumpsuits to give them that autumn edge.
- Not ready to pack away your maxi dresses just yet? Sneak a pair of leggings on underneath and add a cropped denim jacket over the top. Autumn outfit sorted!
Autumn Accessories
Sometimes a few added accessories can really change the tone of an outfit. Not only can autumn accessories give that extra layer of warmth, they’re also an easy way to introduce a new season colour palette without buying new pieces.- Use a scarf in a deep jewel tone like emerald, ruby or garnet to give your summer outfits an autumn vibe.
- Swap out your straw sunhat for a felt fedora in warm caramel brown to help with styling summer frocks for autumn.
- Chunky boots will give any outfit an instant seasonal update – we love stompy Doc Martens paired with floral tea dresses and tights.
Incorporating autumn colours
Adding autumn colours to your wardrobe will help you switch into the new season with ease. And you don’t need to buy new pieces to do this, either – bring your darker pieces to the forefront, concentrating on those jewel tones mixed with earthy browns and classic black. Your autumn colour palette can include things like brown leather boots and plaid wool scarves.
DIY tips and tricks
Upcycling summer clothes is a great way to tap into the concept of sustainable fashion and give your outfits a second life for the new season. Here are our fave DIY autumn clothing ideas…
- Got an old maxi dress that you didn’t wear much over summer but still really love? Chop off the bottom so it falls just below the knee, hem the edge and wear with tights and boots through the autumn instead.
- If that printed tee you’ve worn to death this summer is looking a bit worse for wear, use the fabric to add detail to patch pockets on autumn dungarees.
- If you want to get more wear out of light-coloured pieces, why not dye them? Darker colours tend to be easier to wear all year round, so those baby blue jeans might work better with a dark blue wash.
- And if you’re really feeling the autumn clothing DIY vibes, why not take up knitting or crochet and make yourself a cute knit for the colder months?
These expert tips should help you repurpose your summer frocks for autumn, whether you keep it simple with seasonal accessories or really go for it with a crafty autumn DIY.
Transitioning summer dresses to autumn is a great example of sustainable fashion and will help with saving money on your autumn wardrobe, too. So give it a go this year and see how far you can stretch your summer styles!
