Four easy updates to beat summer style fatigue
HOW TO DRESS LIKE A GROWN UP
GENERAL alert: these are the most dangerous weeks in fashion. We’re sick of summer clothes, can’t face another sale rail, and there’s a distinct back-to-school feeling in the air.
All it takes is a picture of a rangy catwalk model in glossy leather knee boots and a belted wool coat, or an advert for leg-shaping black opaque tights, and we’re raring to shop.
After months of drooling over kaftans, a glimpse of flecked grey tweed or a buttery cashmere roll neck is like rain after the drought. We just can’t wait, but wait we must. The best autumn wardrobe decision you will ever make is the easiest: hold off.
Based on the evidence of every other year, it’s a huge mistake to go too early and buy the first desirable piece of clothing that catches your eye.
Everything is irresistible at this time of year and we don’t have anything like the full range of options to choose from yet.
A much smarter idea, is to get some ‘inbetweeners’ to tide you over and satisfy that urge to shop.
We’re talking about clothes that get you out of your tired summer uniform, that you’ll wear now, instead of putting them away until the day autumn strikes. Clever bridging clothes, if you like.
THIS year the lifesaver inbetweener is a jumpsuit. Not just any jumpsuit: an M&S Collection khaki cotton blend jumpsuit (€75,
marksandspencer.com). This one is perfect because it’s long-sleeved, waisted, the ideal summer-into-autumn colour — and lightweight. It looks good with sandals or trainers now, boots later; worn by itself or over a thin sweater.
All things khaki are great for summer, but come into their own in these inbetween months. And while jumpsuits are not for everyone, this style is as flattering as it gets.
If you don’t do jumpsuits, and even if you do, a wide leg, cropped trouser in khaki is a good way to ease into the new season.
The best of the bunch is Iris’s Raya trousers (€105, iris
fashion.co.uk): cut on the waist, wide-legged, but crucially on the slim side of wide and just slightly cropped — this is the new trouser shape that’s super flattering and easy to wear. Zara does a
cargo pocket style in khaki (€49.95, zara.com) and Marks & Spencer have a high-waist wide-leg cropped jean also in khaki (€34, marksandspencer. com).
Next on the list for itchscratching has to be the spoiling sweater that we’ve been missing for reasons of softness and saturated colour. You can’t beat Marks & Spencer’s Autograph cashmere for price and range of colours (€120, roll necks; €109, round and V-necks, marksand spencer.com).
Alternatively it does a cool, block-coloured sweater in camel, burgundy and saffron (€135), which would look great with khaki, or black and brown later on. Other places to pick up good cashmere at these prices are Zara and Uniqlo.
This is also the right time, if you haven’t already, to get those Vejas you’ve been eyeing up all year (€127, office.co.uk) or another brand of white/offwhite trainers.
The white trainer is officially far smarter than a regular trainer (for some reason it outsmarts black by a mile) and fits in more like a loafer. A bit of a chunky platform is popular, too (€119, Laney trainer, kurtgeiger.com).
Finally, you’ll want an inbetweener coat. It’s too early for those mouthwatering tweeds, padding or dark colours, but late enough to need something light and shower proof.
Massimo Dutti does a gowith-everything classic cotton trench in airforce blue (€149,
massimodutti.com) and Rains is the cool brand for waterproof belted macs which come in several colours (€186, Rains at net-a-porter.com). Otherwise, Arket has a smart, beige, car coat (€150, arket.com).