Every autumn, there’s a point when getting dressed feels like a series of bad bets. Wear a jacket, and you’re too hot. Leave it at home, and you’re cold by lunchtime. Take the suede shoes out and, naturally, it starts raining.
The season offers plenty for the wardrobe, but predictable conditions aren’t among them. The answer is a little flexibility: layers you can shed, shoes that handle wet pavements, and outerwear suited to the weather you’re actually leaving the house in.
Most autumn dressing mistakes are easy to fix once you know what to look for. These are seven of the most common, along with the small adjustments that make all the difference.
Premature Big Coat Deployment
After months of T-shirts, the first brisk morning can feel like a personal affront. It’s tempting to reach straight for the winter coat and bypass every lighter jacket in the wardrobe. You’ll be comfortable for the first five minutes, then spend the rest of the day carrying something roughly the size of a duvet.
The fix: Give transitional outerwear its turn. A waxed-cotton jacket over a fine-gauge knit often provides enough warmth for a cool autumn day, plus some protection from passing showers.
A lightweigh...