Re-style your summer clothes into autumn with these easy tricks

Save for my shorts, there isn't really anything in my summer repertoire that I don't wear all year round. My wardrobe gets a bi-annual seasonal switchover: when the shorts go away, the knitwear comes out. Everything else is on rotation for all 12 months, meaning it's far more likely they'll meet that magic 30 wears we're all meant to aim for that makes an item truly worth buying.

Mastering wearing your summer clothes in autumn is all down to layering. Whether it's under or over, having a few reliable pieces and adopting some clever styling can transform the way you look at summer garments, particularly dresses. A slimline roll-neck here, a fluffy gilet there… and you're all set.

The dress over trousers

Full outfit: Ella sheer stripe dress, £135 , and Layne cotton-linen trousers, £135 , both by Beyond Nine

This summer I've seen a lot of styling involving dresses over trousers, and I very much approve. In the early Noughties, one of my favourite office looks was a striped dress from Topshop that hit just below the knee, worn with a pair of black trousers underneath. It had a split on one side, which facilitated a pleasing swish of my wide-leg strides as I walked. So successful was this formula that I wore it a lot: once an outfit repeater, always an outfit repeater.

Naturally, I am thrilled that this vibe is back. Autumn is an even better time to wear it than summer (especially after the summer we've had. Who would have worn extra layers unnecessarily in 2026?). The key here is to find the correct trousers. I've always favoured a wide leg to make the whole outfit swing. Try a print dress with patterned trousers, or vice versa.

Try these: Obregon gingham trousers, £65, Lucy and Yak ; Mason jeans, £150, LF Markey ; wide leg culottes, £89, Albaray

The summer-dress-transforming jumper

Full outfit: Wicklow wool jumper, £159, Plumo

Perhaps save for those overtly seasonal prints like pineapples and palm trees, you might want to consider not packing away your favourite summer frocks this year, because simply throwing a well-chosen jumper over the top will transform it into an all-season skirt. Look for something unfussy and plain in colour to avoid fighting for attention with any bright patterns; block colours also work a treat over a white dress. Ditto anything with a silky finish.

I like a crew neck, which is especially nice over a shirt dress if you can pop the collar out to marry with the bottom half of your outfit. It's also really nice to size up your jumper slightly so you get a louche, relaxed look. Maybe borrow one from a man in your life. To balance the heavier texture of your jumper, finish your outfit with a pair of chunky boots.

Try these: Anvon recycled wool jumper, £115, Finisterre ; Ada lambswool sweater, £180, Elwin Studio ; lambswool crewneck, £87, Community Clothing

Pop a printed shirt under a pinafore

Full outfit: Cairo mini dress, £80 , and Solana shirt, £65 , both by Damson Madder

Blink and you'll miss it: there's only a small window of opportunity to enjoy bare-legs-and-boots weather, and I like to do it with a pinafore dress. Its design means that it's really versatile, so as well as wearing on its own over the summer, you can layer it up later and prolong its seasonality. While it's still mild, try popping a printed shirt underneath. Stripes are always a winner; a checked shirt in the right colours will feel nicely autumnal.

I am a big fan of socks (see below), but with a pinafore I like a more streamlined look with my Chelsea boots, so I opt for an invisible sock. Stance's tab socks have excellent staying up power and no one will know you're wearing them… which is a good job, because they're pretty brightly coloured!

Try these: Hope Cottage check blouse, £55.95, Seasalt Cornwall ; Janey top, £129, Aligne ; relaxed Forever shirt, £165, Me and Em

Just add socks

This is one of my favourite ways to prolong those summer shoes that have served you so well since June. While I appreciate that wearing socks and sandals isn't for everyone (though personally I am a fan of a Birkenstock Arizona with thick socks ), a clog/sock combo is a much easier look to pull off.

I think this works especially well with thicker socks. I prefer ribbed ones in a plain colour, but a Fair Isle-style pattern also looks great. There's something in the psychology of a warm ankle that gives your whole body a toasty hit; it means I can bare my legs with a skirt, as pictured here, well into late autumn. And when temperatures drop a bit further, you can still do this look with a pair of "secret shorts" underneath: my cycling shorts get worn more for this purpose than they do on a bike.

Try these: Mabel socks, £24, Rock and Ruby ; Caledonia Fairisle socks, £25, Penelope Chilvers ; Donegal short socks, £30, Turtle Doves

The power of the gilet

Full outfit: Borg gilet, £75, White Stuff

A few years ago, I bought a cream borg gilet second hand at a clothing sale event. It was £5, and it probably has the lowest cost per wear of any item in my wardrobe. This humble little woolly vest has the power to take much of my wardrobe successfully into another season. It goes with everything from a striped long-sleeve tee (of which I have many), to a romantic, flowy dress, as pictured below.

Frida wool gilet, £260, By Søren

The great thing about a gilet is that it continues to work hard when it gets much colder, too. I wear mine under a winter coat on really cold days, and when I'm working from home, you'll usually find me wearing it at my desk rather than turning the heating up. As well as borg styles, look for quilted versions and, if you're lucky, gilets made from vintage blankets.

Try these: Reversible gilet, £70, Rapanui ; merino wool gilet, £135, The Small Home at John Lewis

Slim roll necks with everything

Full outfit: Silky roll neck, £45, Kettlewell Colours

My oldest skinny roll neck is at least 10 years old. It comes out of summer retirement in early autumn and doesn't stop being worn until my shorts are unpacked. This is by far my most-used trick for making multiple pieces in my wardrobe worn all year round, and as such, I feel like somewhat of an expert on the subject.

I wear skinny roll necks under long-sleeved floral summer dresses. They look great with a linen waistcoat over the top. Any kind of all-in-one, like the jumpsuit pictured above, longs to be paired with a slimline roll neck. Even other long-sleeve tops aren't immune to being worn over my trusty roll necks. Lavender Hill is my first port of call for these handy tops (I love the striped ones they have, as well as the plain one pictured above), and I'm a big fan of Kate Barton's polo neck, which gives the same look without being too roll neck-y if it's not that cold just yet.

Try these: Cord jumpsuit , £195 with a cotton tee , £70, both by Toast; roll neck, £79, Lavender Hill ; the Polo, £45, Kate Barton

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Come back tomorrow for the next piece in our September Reset series on how to boost your sex life in one month

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