These Are the 7 Items Making It Easier for Me to Get Dressed This Autumn
Every year when the cold comes around again and I free my knits from their vacuum-packed slumber, I seem to have totally forgotten how to layer. I also have to rediscover which boots to wear with dresses and which coats fit over my jumpers. Anyone else?
Don’t get me wrong—this time of year is undoubtedly my favourite time to get dressed, if only because classics reign and the power of a good coat completing an outfit can be fully appreciated. It’s just that we all need a refresh at the beginning of the season to inspire us again and bring life to those sleepy knits.
I took to Instagram for inspiration from some of the most stylish women I know, and I think I’ve cracked the formula for 2019 autumn dressing. I saw these seven items over and over, and they all seem to work together to make outfits feel really modern. If your plan is to invest in a few great pieces to update your look, let it be these.
1. The Oversized Trench
Style Notes: If you don’t already own a trench, I have no idea what you’ve been throwing over every outfit for the past few years. Although a classic style will always be chic, this season’s update is an oversized shape which makes you look instantly cool. I’ve fallen in love with this one from sustainable brand Bite and cannot stop thinking about it.
2. The Wide-Leg Trousers
Style Notes: Since seeing Katherine Ormerod’s tonal look for Paris Fashion Week, I’ve decided wide-leg trousers will be my preferred office attire going forward. As she shows, a cosy knit works just as well with them as a T-shirt and one of the above trenches would. We like them best with heeled boots for autumn.
3. The Knee-High Boots
Style Notes: I usually wait a few seasons before investing in a trend, just to check that it’s not fleeting. By those rules, the time has definitely come to invest in a pair of knee-high boots and I’m currently on the lookout for the perfect pair. Wear with all of those long-sleeved midi-dresses you have from last year or even with summer dresses and a chunky knit. It’s now acceptable again to tuck your trousers into them like this showgoer did in New York, meaning there are even more outfit options to try.
4. The Cropped Cardigan
Style Notes: No longer a tired old throw on, this season cardigans are coming to the forefront in their own right as Lizzy Hadfield shows us here. Wear cropped styles buttoned up as a solo knit tucked into your favourite jeans or try with one of the pleated skirts below. To nail the layered look, add a polo underneath and a tailored overcoat or trench as the temperature drops.
5. The Pleated Skirt
Style Notes: The pleated skirt has been top of my shopping list since fashion month, where I spotted so many showgoers making them look easy to wear. Whether paired with the knee-high boots above or mules like @modedamour, just tuck in a classic shirt or layer a knit over to complete the look. An uneven hem gives extra style brownie points.
6. The Leather Shirt
Style Notes: We all know how key a classic shirt is to an autumn layering outfit. We also know how expensive leather can make an outfit look, so what’s not to love about this season’s update which merges the two? Perfect to elevate a pair of jeans or tucked into wide-leg trousers. They are also being seen worn open over a vest or T-shirt like on Alexis Foreman, which I’m very much into.
7. The Utility Jumpsuit
Style Notes: A jumpsuit is such a no-brainer for this time of year when it’s not too cold and not too hot. It’s basically a full outfit, which makes it really easy to get dressed in the morning (especially as it gets darker and colder). There are a lot of utility boilersuit styles around, but this Kitri number is still smart enough for the office.
Next up, our autumn/winter trend report.
Emily Dawes is the very definition of a fashion multi hyphenate. An editor, stylist and writer with over eleven years’ worth of experience in the industry, Emily is known for her impeccable taste, elegant outfit choices and being able to spot the next big thing in fashion from a mile off. Our readers loyally trust her advice and shopping suggestions; so much so she began her own column documenting the most expensive-looking pieces on the high street, which has become a top-performing piece of content for the Who What Wear brand.
Emily has worked for Who What Wear UK since 2020 in a myriad as roles, spanning from contributing editor and branded content editor. Now, she holds the position of affiliate editor and is responsible for the brand’s overall affiliate strategy, ideation and content execution. Working closely with Who What Wear UK’s affiliate manager, Emily has been instrumental in securing and nourishing brand partnerships, surpassing her goals as standard. Leading the team in tentpole shopping moments including Black Friday and Peak Trading, with Emily’s guidance and leadership, team Who What Wear is in a stronger affiliate position than ever before.
Prior to joining the Who What Wear team, Emily served as YOU Magazine’s acting fashion editor where she managed the fashion team and oversaw all fashion content output for the fast-paced weekly title. Emily is a stylist in her own right, having worked with a slew of VIP clients including writer and television personality, Elizabeth Day, as well as styling and art directing several celebrity cover shoots for glossy print publication, Grazia. Her adept fashion knowledge means brands regularly sought out to work with her as a consultant: previously she has developed marketing and content plans for brands for Cocoon and Edge of Ember. Before entering the industry, Emily obtained a Bachelor of Arts in English and American Studies with International Study from Nottingham University. Fun fact: Emily spent a year studying in America which saw her join a sorority during her time there.
When she’s not working or tracking down the chicest, new-in items to share with our audience, you’ll find Emily bestowing her East London home with her stylish flair, reading everything from the classics to cowboy romance novels and escaping to the country with husband, baby boy and dog, Roo, whenever she can.
Emily is currently on maternity leave.
-
32 Timeless Knee-High Boots to Elevate Your Fall Wardrobe
The star of the show.
By Caitlin Burnett
-
Last Call: These 30 Fashion Finds From Amazon's October Prime Day Are Guaranteed to Make Your Outfit Look More Elevated
Chic and affordable? Yes, please.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
Taylor Swift Just Wore Another Polarizing Boot Trend to a Chiefs Game
You'll love it or hate it.
By Allyson Payer
-
Katie Holmes Just Wore a Mall-Brand Coat in the Pretty Color Trend That's the New Camel
It's the new neutral.
By Allyson Payer
-
30 Incredibly Chic Finds I Regret Not Buying This Week From Nordstrom, H&M, and Zara
So many gems. So little time.
By Jennifer Camp Forbes
-
This Boot Trend Is Considered Intimidating by Some, But Sienna Miller Just Proved How Chic It Actually Is
So nice she wore them twice.
By Natalie Munro
-
Move Over, Black Boots—33 Animal-Print Pairs Worth Purchasing for Fall
Walk on the wild side.
By Jasmine Fox-Suliaman
-
I Want a Rich-Looking Jacket for Fall—These 26 From Zara Are Perfect for the Job
Snag the suede coat before it's gone!
By Nikki Chwatt