What do you love most about autumn? Is it the crunchy bronze leaves littering the pavements? Or the assortment of “pumpkin-spiced” coffees in cafes at this time of year? I love the fashion in the colder months. I love being able to cosy up in comfy jumpers and coats and explore the practicality of fashion. Being able to stay chic during autumn and winter is super important to me- I’ve written posts about it before. But today, I’ll be sharing my style essentials for this season.
Claw clips
Claw clips have recently become my favourite accessories. I love how versatile they are in creating both casual and formal hairstyles. While studying, I like having my hair out of my way, but tight ponytails cause headaches. So, this loose hairstyle is perfect for me, it’s practical and chic at the same time. I also like to do a French twist for more formal outfits. I think the matte and tortoiseshell clips are especially autumnal, but you can’t go wrong with a plain black one. These go amazingly with jumpers (turtlenecks in particular!) or anything with a detailed neckline. I got these off of amazon, but you can find more unique ones on sites like Etsy from small businesses.
Boots
As the rainy and cold weather approaches, the boots that have been pushed to the back of the closet are given their time to shine. Whether you like classy thigh-highs or chic ankle boots, autumn is the perfect time for them. I love wearing Ugg style boots with jeans and a jumper or thigh-high heels with a jumper dress and tights. You can find boots for all occasions, and they are a brilliant way to jazz up a casual or plain outfit. Hiding a pair of ultra-fluffy socks under a pair of boots is also an amazing way to stay warm.
Prints and patterns
Patterns like plaids, tartans, argyles, houndstooth and animal prints (especially leopard print) are very fashionable in autumn. Skirts and trousers are perfect for adding patterns to outfits. Plaid trousers have been trendy for the past couple of years and are great for looking sharp for work or university, topped with a long coat. I love these statement leopard print trousers (pre-loved but originally from Pull & Bear) with a polo neck and silver jewellery. Scarves are also a brilliant way to add patterns to your autumn wardrobe, especially tartan ones! Now is the time to experiment with pattern-mixing (I would suggest starting with strips/polka dots with busier prints like florals).
Jumper Dresses
Nothing screams cosiness more than knitted jumpers, so why not upgrade to a jumper dress to add a level of chicness to your autumn outfits? These can be dressed down with a pair of leggings and Ugg boots or made more stylish with knee or thigh-high boots. You can find fitted jumper dresses that are perfect for formal occasions when you want to be cosy while looking smart (p.s. especially if you layer it over a white shirt). More commonly, you’ll find looser dresses with a polo or turtleneck. These are more casual but can certainly look just as fashionable. I layer fleece-lined leggings under my tights to keep my legs warm while wearing dresses in the cold. So I can remain super cosy while looking stylish.
Autumnal nail polishes
Nails can add a lot to your appearance and an extra layer to your outfit. Autumn colours can consist of neutral shades like browns and warm colours like oranges and yellows. I love Barry M nail polishes (especially shades Nutmeg, Iced Latte and Spicy Mango) along with a matte top-coat to give them a nice flat texture. Nails are a great finishing touch to any outfit, whether you get them done at the salon or do them yourself at home. I like to do my nails but love a good treat now and then.
Coats
There’s nothing better than wrapping yourself up in a warm coat in the rain. I like long, simple trench coats since they are super versatile and go with anything. Patterned coats (like tartans and plaids) look especially chic paired with some thigh-high boots and jeans. Although faux fur coats can be gorgeous, they’re not the most practical since they don’t do well in the rain (especially vintage furs, keep them dry!). Puffer jackets are trendy at the moment and can be worn throughout winter too, although they don’t suit me, unfortunately.
Cardigans
As you might’ve seen in “Secondhand September: My latest thrifty finds” blog post, I recently bought two knitted cardigans, and I adore them. They give a casual, cosy feeling to any outfit and can be worn under a coat if needed. They can add a little something to the plainest outfits and are easy to customise with a little embroidery thread. I love wearing my cardigans with vintage jeans and a long-sleeved top.
Autumn is my absolute favourite season, although it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. I hope this post gives you some outfit inspiration for this year’s “sweater weather” season. It’s the time of year that many of us are going back to uni or starting to think about what to get our loved ones for Christmas. So, I don’t blame anyone for having fashion near the bottom of their list of priorities. However, I think it’s the best time of year for fashion. Layering allows you to make outfits more interesting, and it’s not quite cold enough yet that you’ll have to cover your outfit with a massive, puffy jacket. Although, I’ll miss my summer crop tops and shorts dearly until next year.
Thanks for reading x
Thrifty Mango 