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Those tricky transition weeks between summer and autumn are here. It’s still too hot to wear a jumper, but it’s definitely time to put away your “summer wardrobe”.
However, fashion lovers tend to get excited about the change of season, as it is the perfect opportunity to refresh their style and set the tone for what they will wear from now until winter.
And the solution is a transitional midi dress: light enough for humid September days, effortlessly chic, and versatile enough to be endlessly styled and restyled in the months to come.
We’ve rounded up this season’s most sought-after styles, from celebrity trends to catwalk shows and expert advice from leading British brands. Simply pick your favourite and you’ll have an autumn uniform ready to wear…
Shirt dress with puffed effect
A shirt dress is a wardrobe staple, as its silhouette flatters almost everyone. This season’s versions are loaded with bold colours and prints – forget summery white and go for bold.
J Lo looks effortlessly glamorous in her Dior shirt dress and strappy ballet flats
Boden’s best-selling dress is the new ‘Alba’ shirt dress, with over 20,000 units sold in six months, from £135.
Take a cue from J Lo, who looked effortlessly glam in her Dior shirt dress and strappy ballet flats, or dress it up with heels.
The best trick for styling a shirt dress is to make sure the length doesn’t reach your knee or you’ll risk looking frumpy. A little lower is ideal, and if it doesn’t come with a belt, add one to cinch in the waist.
Boden’s best-selling dress is the new ‘Alba’ shirt dress, with more than 20,000 units purchased in six months.
For fall, they’ve built on their continued success with two new colors and a soft drawstring. The retro print is fun and the darker colors keep it from being too summery.
Essential flyers
Chloe’s autumn/winter collection has put boho style on the agenda for the coming years. Creative director Chemena Kamali’s catwalk was full of extravagant blouses, fringes and, of course, ruffles upon ruffles.
There’s one dress every fashionista wants to get their hands on: this gorgeous brown Chloe dress, worn with over-the-knee boots.
At £65, this High Street ruffle sleeve dress from John Lewis is more affordable.
And there’s one dress every fashionista wants to get their hands on (pictured). Daisy Edgar Jones wore the sleeveless mini version one day, followed by the baby blue cut-out style the next.
John Lewis has a more grown-up, longer peach-hued imitation that’s ready to be the street dress of the season – just add a pair of knee-high leather boots.
The ingenious wrinkle remover
If there’s one thing Me+Em founder Clare Hornby is clear about when it comes to dresses, it’s that comfort is key, but that shouldn’t mean sacrificing style.
Crafted from soft jersey, this dress has just the right weight to cover your hips and thighs without highlighting them, £175, Me+Em
This dress is part of their “travel tailoring” collection, designed to take the wearer effortlessly from desk to departure lounge, thanks to smart fabrics that are easy to care for and simply won’t wrinkle, no matter what you do to them.
But you don’t have to hop on a flight to reap the benefits of this soft fabric, which is also just the right weight to cover your hips and thighs without highlighting them.
Elegant khaki
When you put away your summer clothes, it’s easy to inadvertently put away all the color in your closet, too.
Resist the temptation to go back to navy, black and grey and instead try khaki green as your transition colour of choice.
Fendi’s Fall/Winter runway was filled with earthy khaki tones.
Wear this chic poplin dress with a jacket when the weather cools down, £22, Tuesday at Sainsbury’s
If you’re not convinced, look no further than Fendi’s Fall/Winter runway, which was awash in earthy tones.
Sainsbury’s Tu says it has sold twice as many dresses this year compared to last, and this one, in cool poplin, is its best-selling style (£22). It’s lightweight, but perfect for layering with a jacket when the colder weather arrives.
Female flare
A-line and flared cuts will be in fashion: flattering on everyone, feminine without being overbearing. Look for a high neckline and a fitted bodice that hugs the upper part of the figure and then gently glides from the hips.
With flared sleeves and a ruffled hem, this is a classic with a twist, £250, aspiga.com
Valentino showed a classic black fit-and-flare dress on the catwalk, but high street brand Aspiga has the perfect alternative in navy or a lighter blue, for £250.
A source at the brand tells me they sell twice as many of this style as any other dress in the fall. Why? It’s a classic with a twist (note the flared sleeves and ruffled hem) and it’s also super stretchy.
Luxury leopard
We have designer Ganni to thank for our love affair with leopard print, which shows no signs of going away this season.
Isabel Marant Fall/Winter 2024: Leopard print shows no signs of disappearing this season
Embrace your wild side in this Nobody’s Child dress, which has recently been back in stock after selling out for the first time in a week, £75,
But you don’t have to spend a lot of money on the Scandinavian brand to embrace your wild side. This Nobody’s Child version has recently come back into stock after the first time it sold out within a week, so hurry.
What’s the key to its success? It’s a loose yet luxurious and very glamorous style that will allow you to effortlessly transition from the office to cocktail hour.
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