5 Best Autumn Dresses

As the seasonal tides turn, the switch-up in weather poses a serious challenge to a long-adored wardrobe hero. Requiring little to no effort, dresses are the foundation of endless summer outfits, but who’s to say our love for this throw-on-and-go wonder can’t extend into the cooler months? With a few well-chosen pieces and styling tricks, we think you’ll find that this autumn, dresses are here to stay. 

 

A summer dress holds a special place in our everyday edit. However, the changeable weather and a sudden longing for loungewear, soft knits and chic coats shouldn’t dampen our love for dresses come autumn. Dresses can effortlessly be styled to prevail over the cooler temperatures with much-missed cardigans and jumpers, plus trading your sandals for boots on damper days. 

A waning in social events can also question this staple’s longevity, with less occasions to wear such an outfit. Yet, even in the autumn, dresses for weddings are an essential on many shopping lists, not to mention autumn occasionwear for the usual birthday gatherings, after-work drinks, and nights out in the run-up to party season. 

 

 

1. ADDING LAYERS

The easiest way to extend the life of your dress collection is with clever layering. Particularly for a casual autumn dress outfit, achieve an instantly put-together look with a simple sundress, chunky cardigan, and directional footwear. 

 

For those with more formal plans this season, the layering hack can still come in handy. If you prefer the relaxed, carefree qualities of summer styles that can be lacking from autumn wedding guest dresses, add a tailored jacket or coat for some welcome warmth come evening.

 

Can you wear a floral dress in autumn? We think yes. In fact, we defy anyone to find a reason not to wear these mood-boosting prints all year round. While flowers are most often associated with spring, an autumn floral dress is a must-have in your transitional outfit rotation. To keep your florals in bloom until next summer, look for prints with deeper, darker tones for a seasonal update on a classic print.

As our closets transition from summer to autumn, midi dresses are an essential find. Not only is it a wearable and flattering length, this hemline is inherently versatile, styling just as well with sunnies and sandals as with boots and outerwear. Bringing practicality and style together, an autumn midi dress is the new staple for standalone outfits.

Whether midi or maxi, patterned or plain, dresses are a savvy investment for the season because of their sheer versatility. We’ve yet to find a dress code that can’t be met by this one-styler wonder…

For an off-duty look, a simple autumn dress is a welcome alternative to the usual top-and-jeans formula, not to mention far easier to throw on. Zero styling is required if your day demands low effort, but you can opt for a more curated finish with a statement bag and complimentary cardi.

 

 
With ‘save the dates’ still pending on the calendar, wedding season is far from over, and you may soon find yourself on the lookout for the best autumn wedding guest dresses. Outdoor events will likely mean longer sleeves and skirts are a deciding factor, but there are cover-ups which add both style and warmth to sleeveless silhouettes. 

 

Dinner out or date night; a dress has you covered. It might be too soon for sparkles - although the countdown to party season is on! - but you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to dresses in rich, jewel tones and luxurious fabrics.

 

To forgo any pre-commute closet meltdowns, a solo-styler outfit is all you need. Your best dress for office days is the one which offers you all-day comfort and style. Tailored fits are a great choice, whether a shirt dress or pinafore, but consider a fun autumn floral dress to brighten the workplace when your schedule permits.

Florals for fall? Now that’s ground-breaking. Although our ditsy prints, pastel shades, and strappy styles are packed away for another year, an autumn floral dress injects vibrancy into our wardrobes when we need it most. Allay the wetter, windier days this season in our Carina Eco Delphine Georgette Mix Shirt Dress, with printed dresses like the Ella Eco Rose Long Sleeve Shirt Dress in keeping with pops the season's bold hues. 

 

 

Shirt dresses are a workwear winner for their sartorial elegance, tailored fit, and easy-to-wear fabrics - this Diandra Devore Maxi Dress is a case in point -, but our workwear collection is never short of options. For effortlessly structured style, try the Gemma Twill Waistcoat Dress, perfect for taking you from desk to dinner or after-work drinks, simply layer with a cardigan to combat the office’s air-con. Or, for an autumn midi dress that ticks all the boxes, combine this season’s hardest-working fabric and silhouette with one of our soft knitted dresses.

 

 

A single-item outfit is ideal for everyday styling. Whether for weekends or dressed-down days at the office, a casual autumn dress like this Chambray Button Through Denim Shirt Dress is a foundational piece in your capsule wardrobe. To get the most of a day dress, pick a classic cut in neutral tones, or a print you know you can count on, that pairs well with the rest of your daily outfit rotation.

 

As we move into autumn, mini dress styles can feel less wearable as temperatures drop, but our hemlines are staying high. A-listers from Lady Gaga to Hailey Bieber to Emily Ratajkowski have rekindled our love for leopard print, making our Emina Chiffon Long Sleeve Mini Dress a not-so ‘wild card’ choice for daytime dressing. Longer sleeves help to balance out mini dresses for the season, keeping you feeling warm and looking the part for any evening plans. For extra coverage with an autumn mini dress, find a longline blazer or coat that compliments rather than conceals your finished ‘fit.

 

Proving that longline silhouettes aren’t reserved for vacation, an autumn maxi dress is the star of the show at countless formal events this season, from upcoming nuptials to black tie dinners. Despite the weather, there’s plenty of scope for stylish autumn occasionwear. Satin, sequin and stand-out prints are our go-tos for special occasion frocks, switching up from summer soiree dresses by inviting a darker, more opulent palette into your collection, such as our Tarissa Mesh Sleeveless Maxi Dress.

 

 

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