The window between early autumn and the full dawning of winter is filled with endless joys: walks through golden leaf-strewn parks, cosy pub lunches, candle-lit dinner parties, the return of cashmere, and Christmas being on the horizon once more. But Britain's weather often has other ideas, keeping us on our (soggy) toes with spontaneous rainstorms, gale-force winds and the five-times-a-day switch between sunny and mild or blistering cold – making this between-seasons stretch a particularly tricky one to figure out style-wise.
This year, however, there’s something different in the air – and it’s not just the strangely temperate climate and ominous drops of rain. Having spent the best part of two years largely stuck indoors, lamenting the lack of events, social engagements and opportunities to ‘dress up’, my once-barren calendar is filling again at an alarming pace and I’m struggling to keep up – in the dressing department above all.
On the one hand, there’s the voice telling me to make the most of this hard-won freedom and embrace the joys of fashion once more. The post-pandemic ‘revenge dressing’ mood has seen the return of unadulterated glamour in all its forms: feathers, sequins, sky-high heels, miniskirts, party dresses, OTT embellishments, corsets, 'eff-off' jewellery, bright colours, and a whole lot of flesh.
Read Next
It’s exactly what I dreamt of during the various lockdowns, when the most fun we could have with fashion was adding a statement earring to our loungewear get-up, or blowing a whole month’s shopping budget on a pair of cashmere joggers.
On the other hand, I can’t seem to shift a yearning for the simpler days of dressing to impress absolutely no one; selecting clothes based solely on their capacity for comfort and ease. Lockdown dressing might have been monotonous, but it was also, in many ways, a relief.
All the associated social anxieties evaporated: no more worrying about whether something was flattering or occasion-appropriate, whether I looked cool enough, stylish enough, or whether I’d worn a particular look too many times before. And the tricky transition season weather? It didn’t even cross my mind.
Now, besides having to muster the energy to actually attend all these events and be my most sparkling social self, there’s the added complication of re-figuring out how to dress for them at all. Somewhere between caring too much, not caring at all and genuinely not remembering how we used to do it so easily, there’s a grey area where the once-simple act of dressing has become a constant tussle – one that feels overwhelming.
According to the experts, the trick lies in keeping things simple. ‘Transitional dressing can be a tricky and frustrating task, especially when the weather has a mind of its own,’ says Libby Page, Senior Market Editor at Net-A-Porter. ‘It’s best to start with the wardrobe basics: hero pieces you can turn to regardless of the weather, which can be styled and layered in multiple ways. The hardest-working items in my wardrobe right now are my white t-shirt from The Row, a Loewe tank and chic multi-purpose jeans from Agolde.’
The hybrid working model adds an extra layer of complexity: swinging between extreme comfort one day and smart office attire the next means constantly rewiring our brains and approach to dressing. It’s little wonder we’re feeling so fatigued.
Page suggests applying the same ‘simple is best’ logic here, too: ‘An easy white shirt worn over a plain tee is great for days in the office, particularly if there’s a chill in the air. I also love a minimal blouse that can be taken straight from day to night, worn with jeans or tailored trousers depending on the weather and formality.’
At this time of year, it's particularly important to have a few failsafe ready-for-any-weather pieces on hand to complete the look too – but practicality needn't come at the expense of style. Think water- and wind-proof outerwear: a classic trench, cool parka, or oversized puffer will do the trick, and keep an eye out for styles featuring internal straps so that you can wear them over the shoulders if you start overheating. Knee-high leather boots, meanwhile, will keep feet dry and you looking bang on trend all at the same time – while those thinking of jumping on the UGGs trend should make sure to also invest in some waterproof boot guards (hot pink preferable).
Shop Transition Season Staples
Barbour x GANNI Spey Wax Jacket
£395.00
Frankie Shop Teddy Oversized Quilted Jacket
£247.00
Burberry Detachable Hood Trench Coat
£950.00
ZARA Reversible Water Repellent Padded Coat
£49.99
Bamford Explore Parka
£475.00
&Other Stories Collared Jacket
£135.00
UGG Boot Guard
Was £35.00
Now £23.99
Tiffany Hsu, VP womenswear buying at Mytheresa, advises investing in quality leather trousers or high-end denim to keep it chic: 'They're so versatile and functional, and you can dress the up or down for the occasion. My favourites right now are the logo jeans from Loewe and McQueen's high-rise leather pants.'
For me, it’s all about pushing aside the pang of guilt that arises each time I reach for yet another uninspiring, failsafe outfit and leave my most fabulous pieces behind. A black Wolford body, wide-leg 7 For All Mankind jeans, oversized Frankie Shop blazer, trainers, gold jewellery and I'm good to go practically anywhere – no overthinking required.
Sometimes I’ll add a designer bag, statement earring or sparkly shoes to feel a little more dressed up, but the days of suffering for the ‘fit are long gone. Post-Covid, it’s all about prioritising how clothes make us feel rather than just how they make us look – and if comfort and ease are the recipe for sartorial confidence and joy this transition season, isn’t that the greatest ‘revenge look’ of all?
Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
