As the seasonal tides turn, the switch-up in weather poses a serious challenge to a long-adored wardrobe hero. Requiring little to no effort, dresses are the foundation of endless summer outfits, but who’s to say our love for this throw-on-and-go wonder can’t extend into the cooler months? With a few well-chosen pieces and styling tricks, we think you’ll find that this autumn, dresses are here to stay.
Can you wear dresses in autumn?
A summer dress holds a special place in our everyday edit. However, the changeable weather and a sudden longing for loungewear, soft knits and chic coats shouldn’t dampen our love for dresses come autumn. Dresses can effortlessly be styled to prevail over the cooler temperatures with much-missed cardigans and jumpers, plus trading your sandals for boots on wetter days.
A waning in social events can also question this staple’s longevity, with less occasions to wear such an outfit. Yet, even in the autumn, dresses for weddings are an essential on many shopping lists, not to mention autumn occasionwear for the usual birthday gatherings, after-work drinks, and nights out in the run-up to party season.
How to wear a dress in autumn
1. Adding layers
The easiest way to extend the life of your dress collection is with clever layering. Particularly for a casual autumn dress outfit, achieve an instantly put-together look with a simple sundress, chunky cardigan, and directional footwear.
For those with more formal plans this season, the layering hack can still come in handy. If you prefer the relaxed, carefree qualities of summer styles that can be lacking from autumn wedding guest dresses, add a tailored jacket or coat for some welcome warmth come evening.
2. Picking patterns
Can you wear a floral dress in autumn? We think yes. In fact, we defy anyone to find a reason not to wear these mood-boosting prints all year round. While flowers are most often associated with spring, an autumn floral dress is a must-have in your transitional outfit rotation. To keep your florals in bloom until next summer, look for prints with deeper, darker tones for a seasonal update on a classic print.
3. Go long
As our closets transition from summer to autumn, midi dresses are an essential find. Not only is it a wearable and flattering length, this hemline is inherently versatile, styling just as well with sunnies and sandals as with boots and outerwear. Bringing practicality and style together, an autumn midi dress is the new staple for standalone outfits.
When to wear autumn dresses
Whether midi or maxi, patterned or plain, autumn dresses are a savvy investment for the season because of their sheer versatility. We’ve yet to find a dress code that can’t be met by this one-styler wonder…
1. Everyday outfit
For an off-duty look, a simple autumn dress is a welcome alternative to the usual top-and-jeans formula, not to mention far easier to throw on. Zero styling is required if your day demands low effort, but you can opt for a more curated finish with a statement bag and complimentary cardi.
2. Wedding guest outfit
With ‘save the dates’ still pending on the calendar, wedding season is far from over, and you may soon find yourself on the lookout for the best autumn wedding guest dresses. Outdoor events will likely mean longer sleeves and skirts are a deciding factor, but there are cover-ups which add both style and warmth to sleeveless silhouettes.
3. Smart casual
Dinner out or date night; a dress has you covered. It might be too soon for sparkles - although the countdown to party season is on! - but you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to autumn dresses in rich, jewel tones and luxurious fabrics.
4. At the office
To forgo any pre-commute closet meltdowns, a solo-styler outfit is all you need. Your best dress for office days is the one which offers you all-day comfort and style. Tailored fits are a great choice, whether a shirt dress or pinafore, but consider a fun autumn floral dress to brighten the workplace when your schedule permits.
5 must-have autumn dresses
Florals for fall? Now that’s ground-breaking. Although our ditsy prints, pastel shades, and strappy styles are packed away for another year, an autumn floral dress injects vibrancy into our wardrobes when we need it most. Allay the wetter, windier days this season in our Avery Burn-Out Midi Dress, with printed dresses like the Brook Eco Delphine Shirt Dress in keeping with the season's bold hues.
2. A work dress
Shirt dresses are a workwear winner for their sartorial elegance, tailored fit, and easy-to-wear fabrics - this Clara Meadow Jersey Shirt Dress is a case in point -, but our workwear collection is never short of options. Prefer a pinafore? Try the Harry Suiting Midi Dress, perfect for layering with your favourite shirts and knitwear. Or, for an autumn midi dress that ticks all the boxes, combine this season’s hardest-working fabric and silhouette with one of our ribbed Mari Knit dresses.
3. A day dress
A single-item outfit is ideal for everyday styling. Whether for weekends or dressed-down days at the office, a casual autumn dress like this Floral Short Sleeve Shirt Dress is a foundational piece in your capsule wardrobe. To get the most of a day dress, pick a classic cut in neutral tones that pair well with the rest of your daily outfit rotation.
As we move into autumn, mini dress styles can feel less wearable as temperatures drop, but our hemlines are staying high. A-listers from Hailey Bieber to Emily Ratajkowski have rekindled our love for strapless iterations like our Echo Crepe Mini Dress, but longer-sleeve versions will keep you feeling warm and looking cool on a night out. For extra coverage with an autumn mini dress, find a longline blazer or coat that compliments rather than conceals your finished ‘fit.
Proving that longline silhouettes aren’t reserved for vacation, an autumn maxi dress is the star of the show at countless formal events this season, from upcoming nuptials to black tie dinners. Despite the weather, there’s plenty of scope for stylish autumn occasionwear. By inviting a darker, more opulent palette into your wardrobe, florals can continue to make an appearance as autumn wedding guest dresses, like our Bronwyn Aleeya Satin Midi Dress.
On the search for autumn dresses? Our dresses collection includes just-in styles with cross-seasonal appeal.
Looking for editor's picks or what's trending? Get inspired when you read more over on our blog.
