Dressing for the in-between
Your guide to stretching every ounce of joy from your summer wardrobe while easing into autumn’s charm.
The end of summer is can be a tricky style moment. The sun still has her warm days in rotation, but evenings are cooler, and shops are whispering about knitwear and boots. The temptation to run straight into cinnamon infused fall is, well, tempting. Now I do recommend you think about the season ahead, for which I have you covered in last week’s letter, all you need to be a fashionably prepared queen.
But before you pack away your summer dresses and strappy tops, here’s how to keep wearing them beautifully into the next season...
Gently introduce knitwear
I like to have a couple of knits on hand for breezy summer evenings, so when we edge toward September, those same cardigans and light sweaters start working harder. Layer them over the dresses that got you through the heatwave, or drape one over your shoulders as an easy nod to autumn.
Style tip: Match your knit to one of the colours in your dress for a pulled-together feel, and stick to medium or lightweight knits so the outfit still reads “late summer” rather than “deep winter.”
Coming next week for paid subscribers: 7 outfit formulas for making summer clothes work in autumn, using what you own.
Autumn accessories
An easy way to hint at the upcoming season, without prematurely going full pumpkin spice, is to swap out your lighter summer accessories for hints of richer deeper tones.
burgundy, chocolate, forest green — in your bag, belt, or shoes can subtly anchor a summer outfit for autumn.
Style tip: Coordinate a couple of accessories so they work together and keep the look cohesive. You can learn more about this from my Outfit Conversation Method.
Autumn colours, summer cuts
If you’re an autumn lover, chances are those classic fall tones carry through your wardrobe. This is a great time to lean into that by wearing your favourite summer silhouettes, but play with autumn’s palette. Think rust camisoles with white jeans, mustard blouses with linen trousers, or olive greens paired with cream. It’s an easy seasonal update that works even on warmer days.
Summer colours, autumn textures
Flip the formula. For the summer lovers and the playful colourists: keep your breezy summer tones, but introduce textures with more weight. A pastel blouse with wide-leg corduroys. A white cotton dress under a camel trench. You’ll feel like you’re nodding to autumn while keeping your summer freshness intact.
Transitional style doesn’t have to mean buying a whole category of “in-between” clothes you’ll only wear for a few weeks. I believe in transitional outfits, not transitional items: matching your favourite summer pieces with autumn ones, rather than investing in clothes that only work for this short window.
It’s about reimagining what you already own, using colour, texture, and layering to bridge the seasons.
If you’d like personalised help creating transitional outfits from your own wardrobe, my Main Character Styling Sessions are 25% off until the end of August (USE CODE LAVIEIN) book now to make the most of your closet all year round.
I’ll be sharing more easy, real-life transitional outfit ideas over on my Instagram and TikTok, so come join me there if you want even more inspiration.
And if you’re ready to make transitional dressing effortless, I’m putting together a downloadable guide for paid subscribers, packed with outfit formulas you can create with what you already own -landing in your inbox next week!