A week of transitional outfit ideas

Autumn. Spring. Two of my favourite seasons; mostly for the moderate to mild temperatures, and opportunity to really maximise what I have in my closet. One thing that keeps popping up has been transitional style dressing, so I thought as a complement to this reel, I’d talk through a week of transitional outfit ideas, and the styling tools I’ve leaned on for each of them.

OUTFIT ONE

Wearing H&M sweater (old but current version linked); Isabel Marant Etoile skirt (old but similar linked); Rag & Bone boots (old but similar linked); Chanel vintage classic flap

This is the outfit you wear when you want something that you can pair with or without tights. It’ll see you through the start of the season, and the end, just with some simple additions (or subtractions, depending). I’d typically wear some sort of tank, tee or long-sleeved top underneath the sweatshirt. This is the type of outfit I would have reached for in early summer in Wellington. And again at the peak of winter, with some seriously opaque tights, and my heaviest coat worn over top.

OUTFIT TWO

Wearing Everlane alpaca crew; Among shorts; Kindersalmon trench; Polene bag (review here); Arket socks; RM Williams boots

We all know that monochrome is kind of my go to styling hack for when I don’t know what to wear. The key is to incorporate different textures for depth. But I thought I’d make things interesting by juxtaposing summer and winter fabrics, as well as proportions. The long jacket isn’t something that you’d normally think to pair with an outfit like this, but I love the mix of big (the jacket and oversized knit), slim (the shorts), and skin (the bare legs).

OUTFIT THREE

Wearing Everlane tank; Everlane skinny jeans; Boden cashmere cardigan; Vaneli two tone pumps; The Curated shoulder bag

This is a pretty standard “mom” outfit for me. Easy layers, quite literally. Having a go-to base outfit which always works for you is something worth spending some time identifying; for me it’s generally a great pair of jeans and a singlet or crew-neck tee. From there, you can build out your outfit depending on the weather. Cardigans are a great option when it’s slightly warmer. Wearing it open means you have a bit less “extra” coverage on your front so you don’t overheat. And if it suddenly cools down, just button up the front and wear the cardigan like you would a sweater.

OUTFIT FOUR

Wearing RUBY open knit sweater (old but similar here); Marle sleeveless ribbed dress (also here and here in charcoal); Golden Goose sneakers; The Curated shoulder bag

For this outfit I wanted to show how we can transition some of our dresses. This is a sleeveless knit dress – cotton/merino mix – so absolutely perfect for this time of year. And you can easily layer it up to suit cooler temperatures. Here, I’ve thrown on a different kind of knit sweater over top; both in the texture, and the way it was woven. It adds a point of difference that’s visually interesting, while also keeping you warm. Love the big bell sleeves too! You could also add a belt, to give definition at the waist, and if you wanted it to lean a little more dressed up, switch out the sneakers for heels.

OUTFIT FIVE

Wearing Mott & Bow tee; Marle mila pants; Everlane blazer; Spurr slides; Fendi mama forever bag

Spring and autumn can be a great time to get experimental with fabric combinations. Which was really the basis for this outfit. I’ve paired a summery fabric, linen, with a more wintery one; wool. You also have that juxtaposition in styles, with the more formal natural of the blazer, to the relaxed feel of the linen pants. And in addition to that, I’ve used the three colour rule to keep a consistent colour palette. A lot to unpack in this outfit, but little tricks you can pull apart!

OUTFIT SIX

Wearing Re/Done tee; Witchery jeans; Everlane anorak; Everlane 40 hour flats; Quince crossbody bag

Another variation on the simple tank/tee and jeans combo, this time with a light jacket worn over the top. You could easily switch this for a blazer, a trench coat, a thicker wool coat (perhaps with a long-sleeve as your base instead). Essentially, I wanted to show what a good starting point this is and that you really can take it anywhere depending on what you have planned that day. The jeans I’m wearing have a distressed hem, so I dressed them up with a pointed toe flat. And then polished off with the all important crossbody bag – with a zipper! An essential as a mum.

OUTFIT SEVEN

Wearing H&M striped knit; Acne Studios trousers (also similar); Sam Edelman heels; Polene Number One bag

Final outfit is a take on business casual – leaning towards the colder end of the season. I’ve done two things here; first, I’ve opted for opposing proportions. This is a key element when building an outfit and balances things out. I have the super oversized knit, worn with a slimmer silhouette on my lower half. You could also reverse this and have something more fitted up top, and a looser trouser or silhouette on bottom. Then to add interest, I’ve worn stripes. They’re a great classic, and perfect if you prefer a more toned back pattern. I love that they also never feel old or dated.