I purchased this maxi dress (still available but only size 10 left) from Hush at the beginning of Spring. You can see me wearing it here. It has been very useful over the last few months. I have worn it on many occasions. Now it is time to pack away my linens and cottons and get my warmer clothes out of storage. I intend to keep the items that I think can be adapted to the cooler weather in my wardrobe. So I thought that I would write a post about how to adapt a dress for the autumn season.
The first thing that I have done is to add one of my favourite bright burgundy red fedora hats, a red belt and my Longchamp red holdall. I am also wearing my brown knee-high boots which automatically gives this outfit a wintery feel. I have small feet and wide calves which is always a challenge when buying boots. Hotter have some excellent ones.
How to adapt a dress for autumn
If you don’t want to start wearing your winter boots just yet I think the dress looks just as good with a pair of sneakers. The ones I am wearing are Veja. They are a new addition to my wardrobe. I have wanted a pair for ages, having seen them all over Instagram. At first, I considered them a bit pricey, then I found these on Net-a-Porter for £90. I know that you can find cheaper trainers but I do think that these are worth the money.
They are extremely comfortable and are made from sustainably sourced leather. I chose the low top as opposed to the high top as I found that the high top version rubbed my ankles. Net-a-Porter has a large collection of Veja trainers in different styles and colours.
For warmth, I have added my navy jacket from Arket. It is part of their 2-in-1 series from Arket and can either be worn alone or as a lining for my fishtail parka as seen here. This years version.
Another way to adapt a lightweight dress for the winter is to add a sweater. Either a longline crew neck one in a similar toned colour as I am wearing above or a polo neck sweater, which will transform your dress into a skirt. Navy sweater some years old from Cos (similar).
I trust that this has given you some inspiration about how to get the most out of your wardrobe and transition some of your pieces from summer to winter.
If you have any other tricks or tips on how to get the most wear possible out of your wardrobe do leave them in the comments below.
PS. There are still some bargains available at our scarf shop.
All photographs were taken by Laura Hines. Follow her on Instagram
Location Richmond Park
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Some good ideas here, Josephine, and you look lovely, as always.
I note you said you had wide calves – so do I, and can recommend Jilsen boots. You just measure your calf and order accordngly. They fit perfectly and don’t have that elasticated strip that wide calf fittings usually have, There are also bargains to be had in their sale.
Hello Anna
Duo Boots also offer a similar service and I have had boots from them before.
A maxi dress looks good with a coatigan this time of year. Smartly casual!
You are right a very good idea to add a coatigan
Or do I mean casually smart?
What about opening the dress up and wearing it with a jumper and trousers underneath in a tonal colour. Gilet on top for extra warmth if needed.
Hello Joanne
Thank you for your contribution. A good idea. I often do this in the summer but it would work just as well in the winter months.
All these ideas are appealing and practical. Today it is not very cold and I’m wearing a black underlayer of stretchy pants and and long sleeved yoga top, with a brown and black print above-knee-length dress purchased in Denmark three years ago; can add a mustard wooly shawl when it’s colder. I like the idea of wearing dresses that are a little too short at this point, by layering them over skinny pants even in the summer, and this idea works well in the fall too.
Hello Francie
Your outfit sounds very chic. I also wear a lot of tunic style dresses over skin pants both summer and winter.
I was just mulling over this very thing. I bought a lovely dress from Toast (at a sale price!) over the summer to help me feel different when I had more work type zoom meetings and I love it so much I want to extend its wear I to the autumn.
It’s good to focus on extending our wardrobes and the impact of our clothes on wellbeing as we knuckle down for what is likely to be a tough winter.