5 Styling Principles To Transition Your Outfits Into Autumn
Okay, so what do you even wear when the weather can’t make up its mind? One day, it’s 25°C, so you’re happily reaching for your sandals, seersucker dresses, and ordering an iced coffee. But then the afternoon hits and it’s all grey skies, goosebumps and extra hot pumpkin spice lattes!
This weird in-between bit of the year can leave you and your wardrobe feeling all over the place, and maybe a bit sad that you’re about to bid farewell to some of your most treasured summer items as they get relegated to the back of the wardrobe until the snowdrops are peeping from the ground next spring.
And then there’s the whole “what do I even wear in autumn?!” spiral. Do I need to buy a whole new selection of autumnal colour clothes so I look current?
If any of that sounds familiar, keep reading because I’m going to give you five styling principles that will help you navigate through all of this and offer you some new ways to approach your autumn dressing to make things less frustrating and expand your outfit options without buying a ton more stuff!
1. Don’t pack away all your summer clothes
Hold off on grabbing your hoover and unfurling the vacuum pack bags; we’re not there yet! Just because the calendar says it’s autumn doesn’t mean ALL your beloved summer dresses, linen trousers, and floaty favourites need to be banished to the back of the wardrobe.
Some of those pieces could be the unsung heroes of your transitional (and new season) dressing. In my experience, some of them can be perfect for layering and can actually help make autumn outfits easier and more interesting.
Example of summer items mixed with autumn/ winter outfits
💡 Stylist Tip: Instead of doing a full wardrobe swap, ask: What can I add to make this work now? A jumper over the top, a blazer thrown on, boots instead of sandals, done.
2. Reflect on last year’s autumn outfits
Before you start frantically adding autumnal knits and chunky loafers to your cart, press pause. Instead of going full steam ahead into new-season shopping, take a quick scroll through your camera roll or pull out last year’s autumn faves.
Ask yourself:
What did I actually wear on repeat?
What felt a bit flat or forced?
Which outfits gave me that little f*ck yeah bop when I caught myself in the mirror?
What silhouettes did I love / not love:
Did some of your outfits last year feel a bit too restrictive— all slim-fitting tops and neatly nipped-in waists? Maybe this year, you’re curious about trying something a bit more oversized or relaxed.
Or maybe it’s the opposite — maybe everything felt a bit swampy and you’re craving more shape. Either way, it might be time to play with proportions in a way that feels fresh and more you.
Because here’s the thing: we tend to gravitate toward the familiar, so if we don’t take stock, we can end up buying more of the same, even if it didn’t really work last year!
And even if you do really love an item, it’s worth asking: will adding another only slightly different version actually expand my options? Or would it be smarter to invest in a strategic wildcard piece that opens up more styling possibilities and brings a fresh twist to what I already own?
Then take the pieces you genuinely wore on repeat and think about how you could remix them. That way, you’re not just repeating last year’s “fine” outfits, you’re evolving them, and opening up space for more f*ck yeah moments when you get dressed.
These are a couple of examples of outfits I wore last autumn/ winter that I won't be repeating! If you want to see why, check out this post from my Outfit Autopsy Series over on Instagram.
💡 Stylist Tip: Before you buy something similar to what you already own, ask yourself:
What different outcome am I actually hoping for with this piece?
Am I just going to wear it in the same way as the others I already own?
Could my money go toward something that unlocks new outfit combinations instead?
3. Play with juxtapositions
If you’re feeling a bit meh about the contents of your wardrobe, and your outfits feel a bit samey or boring, you might just need to add a little tension into the mix!
Creating contrast and tension, or what’s also known as juxtaposition dressing, is one of the easiest ways to make an outfit feel interesting and fresh without buying anything new.
This is all about taking items from your wardrobe and mixing them in ways that are a little (or a lot) outside the box! We are going for less matchy-matchy and more unexpected combos that weirdly work.
There are so many ways to do this by mixing different items, aesthetics and or vibes, for example:
masculine + feminine
sporty + classic
tailored + casual
And it could be a quiet whisper (like a trainer with a suit) or a full-on scream ( like an adidas track pant, suit jacket and a kitten heel!) Experiment until you find the tension that gives you that FYeah feeling!
💡 Stylist Tip: Basically, if something feels meh, try adding something that wouldn’t usually be paired. Often, where the FYEAH outfit magic happens!
4. Rethink colour rules
Just because the leaves are turning doesn’t mean you’re only allowed to wear rust, camel, and various shades of conker brown on repeat. Sure, those “autumnal" pallets are lovely, but they’re not the law!
We tend to associate certain colours with certain seasons, but at the end of the day, those rules aren’t set in stone. Colours don’t actually care when you wear them. So don’t feel like you have to pack away all your bright, juicy summer shades just because the temperature’s dropped!
In fact, mixing your summer brights or soft pastels with more autumnal tones can give your outfits a fresh, interesting twist.
Here are some colour combos I will be playing with this season...
💡 Stylist Tip: Use the colour wheel to come up with new colour combos to try. Read how here
5. Use Your Accessories To Their Fullest Potential
To me, this time of year isn’t about flipping a seasonal switch; it’s about adding, tweaking, and stretching what you’ve already got so it extends beyond its designated season. And accessories are great teammates to help you do this!
Because they aren’t just finishing touches. They are an opportunity to sprinkle more of you in and express mood, seasons, play with contrast and become part of your style signature! (like me and pearls!)
So the questions to always ask are:
1.What do I want these extras to reflect?
Playfulness?
Prim, Proper and Polished?
Edgy and a bit unexpected?
2.What do I want them to add?
Contrast?
Cohesion?
Something practical like warmth?
Structure?
Interest?
3.Reflect on your accessory choices from last year.
Were you happy with the selection, or do you want to amp it up and play with some newbies and if so, what do you want experiment with?
Bold earrings
Layered necklaces
Fancy socks
Scarves
A particular style of hat
Or maybe you want a signature, something that becomes your “thing” and you wear with everything, like my pearls. Consider these and experiment accordingly!
If you want some inspo or just want a peek into my accessory desires, check out my Pinterest Layered accessories board here . Or click the image below.
Transitioning your wardrobe to autumn isn’t about buying more
It’s tempting to think a new season means a new wardrobe, but honestly, the best way to transition into autumn isn’t to keep adding or buying more; it’s to remix what you’ve already got.
And the through line to creating transitional outfits you love is actually layering.
Layering is what makes your summer clothes stretch into autumn, what gives you new proportions, what helps you discover fresh colour combinations, and what keeps your wardrobe playful instead of predictable.
Once you start layering with intention, the options multiply, and that’s when the f*ck yeah outfits start to appear.
So before you rush out to buy more, try remixing and layering what you already have. You might be surprised at how much potential lies hidden in your wardrobe. And if you want some lessons on how to layer, check out my free Layering Guide Series right here
Or if you want support beyond the DIY, I've got you!
If you’ve already got a stack of style freebies gathering dust on your hard drive (no judgment, I have a stack of my own unused freebies!!), maybe it’s time to get a fresh set of eyes on your wardrobe.
That’s where I can help virtually:
The Style Power Hour – a focused 2-hour virtual session where we hang out in your wardrobe/bedroom and I help you create new outfits and unlock styling ideas from what you already own. At the end, you'll walk away with a lookbook of outfits you can start wearing straight away!
The Edit – a digital personalised lookbook created just for you, showing you multiple ways to remix your wardrobe with ease.
You tell me where you want to wear these outfits, and how you want to feel in them, and I will take the contents of your wardrobe and remix 10 new outfits which match your goals.
More details about both those services can be found here
Ok, that's all! Happy weird weather dressing!
See you next week,
Sarah xx
Author Bio
Sarah Duff: Visibility Style Coach, founder of The Holistic Personal Stylist & creator of F*ck Yeah Style.
I help ambitious women find their Fck Yeah personal style so they can show up magnetically everywhere — from big life moments to everyday magic. ✨ Your Fck Yeah Style is calling. Come say hi on Instagram @theholisticpersonalstylist or explore the style tools above.
