Autumn is nearly upon us and as the air turns crisp over the next months it’s a wonderful time to rediscover the favourites that have been languishing in your closet this past year. What I love about this season is the ability to wear layers and create new interesting outfit combinations with what you already have.
It’s also a great time of year to wear stronger colours provided that they suit you. As is so often the case autumn/winter collections are dominated by rich colours with jewel tones and sumptuous fabrics. But even if the rich colours of the autumn palette are not your ideal hues you can add pops of colour to your wardrobe and incorporate different textures via your accessories. Think about adding a colourful belt or tights to your outfit.
You can also read my 5 Tips To Getting Your Wardrobe Ready For Autumn blog which contains a section on combining clothes.
If you need help interpreting the season’s colour palette to your style I can recommend booking in for a colour analysis with a trained stylist. Understanding your personal colouring makes shopping so much easier and will help you avoid costly mistakes. It’s a great gift too so bookmark the idea as we head towards the holiday season.
Colours
ColoursDark brown, blueberry navy, purple violet and foliage green will dominate the retail rails these coming months. According to Pantone, timeless tones and artful brights are set to be the stars of the upcoming season. The colours for Autumn/Winter 2022/2023 will be full of conventional contradictions; they will reflect our need for harmony and tranquillity while at the same time providing the opportunity to express our individuality without restraint.
Whilst being aware of the current colour trends is helpful it is more important to choose colours that suit you. Luckily purple and navy are colours that suit everyone so they are easily incorporated into your existing wardrobe.
Work Wear
Post-pandemic workwear trends have been more relaxed and casual than ever. This has proven a difficult space to navigate as judging what is expected has become harder. It has always been my advice to develop a signature style that suits you and your shape and is not too much driven by trends. Choosing quality investment pieces that can be worn season after season and that fit well will give you an edge and help to make you feel confident and competent at work.
In terms of silhouettes, this season is all about structured jackets, midi skirts and pencil dresses. Whilst the shapes are more classic you can experiment with different fabrics such as velvet, wool and subtle forms of embellishment – think adding a touch of sparkle with sequins or a well-placed brooch. The looks are feminine, polished and sophisticated. And of course, there will be autumn staples such as high-waisted jeans for an easy-to-wear casual look.
In the Dara Ford range of tailored separates for professional women, you will find the perfect structured asymmetric black wool blazer for the coming season. Also available in magenta pink for that pop of colour, French Navy and stunning Ivory, all with a draped collar and a double-breast. Wear with tailored suit trousers, a tailored sheath dress or with jeans for a dressed down feel.
Footwear & Accessories
For winter footwear, ankle and Chelsea boots remain a firm favourite in new materials with embellished details. Brogues, ballet flats, sensible sneakers, and loafers are all styles that blend fashion with functionality for the upcoming season. Swap these comfortable styles for your heels to create outfit ideas for evening events.
Another benefit of the evenings drawing in is that jewellery can really come into its own – catching the light and adding sparkle to your outfits.
Brooches continue to be a strong trend added to the lapel of blazers and worn on plain knitwear. Even if your taste in jewellery is usually more understated a fun brooch is an easy addition that will not feel over the top. If you would like to incorporate a current trend you could look for fauna and flora-inspired designs rather than geometric shapes.
Outerwear
The trend for oversized blazers is the perfect addition to your transitional autumn wardrobe. For much of this season, a full wool coat will feel too hot and stifling especially if you are having to travel to work on public transport again.
However, a well-cut oversized blazer in a houndstooth wool or tweed material is the perfect transitional piece to keep you warm and lightweight enough not to be cumbersome.
A leather jacket is also a beautiful autumn piece – especially when cut in a beautifully elegant design. You can look out for jackets that combine fabrics – a cloth body with leather sleeves for example.
Key pieces for any season
If the above has inspired you to add a special item to your autumn/winter wardrobe and you would like to explore ideas on how to bring it to life please get in touch. Whether you require a one-off outfit or would like to build a capsule collection of perfectly fitting pieces, I would be delighted to help.
My Couture Tailoring Service encompasses day dresses and couture jackets, perfect-fit trousers, stunning bespoke overcoats, and more. You can read more about how to prepare for a tailoring consultation with me here.
In addition to couture tailoring, I also offer Made to Measure tailoring. With a made-to-measure garment, you will be able to choose from a variety of garment styles, and the patterns will be adapted to your personal measurements. You can select from hundreds of clothes, linings and trim options.
To discuss your couture tailoring requirements please get in touch here to find out more.
