It’s hard enough to think of what to wear for a new season, let alone to do so in the erratic state of the climate. Take a cue from the street-style set who attended July’s Couture and menswear shows. In the heat of the season, Emmanuelle Alt, Veronika Heilbrunner, and others were snapped pairing designer wares from Louis Vuitton and Altuzarra with ultrabasic, seasonless outerwear pieces like classic trench coats, denim jackets, and cool double-breasted blazers. So normal they may be already hanging in your closet or in need of a quick refresh, these outerwear staples are key to taking one’s seasonal wardrobe into the next. Click the slideshow ahead to see six ways to wear transitional outerwear. In September, it’s easier to wear than a new wool overcoat.
Emmanuelle Alt opted for a black trench, classicly tied at the waist, during July’s Couture shows. This lightweight, airy style will seamlessly take you from an Indian summer to the cooler fall months. Styles that lean on the drapey side, like H&M’s silky petrol-blue trench, can work as a longer jacket worn open (and perhaps allowing a flashier shirt to peek out from underneath).
Tied around her Altuzarra dress, Veronika Heilbrunner’s denim jacket worked as an accessory that could double for actual necessity: warmth. Try for mid-blue washes that are evergreen, like Mango’s well-priced jacket, and wear around the waist or buttoned-up with a pencil skirt.
Tina Leung stood out at the Paris men’s shows with her lilac double-breasted blazer layered over a simple gray crewneck sweater and jeans. Look for neutrals like navy and gray wool to make this menswear-inspired piece even more seasonless. Consider this a new fall uniform.
Miroslava Duma was one of the first at Fashion Week to sport Nicolas Ghesquière’s debut collection for Louis Vuitton. Her ski-sweater-meets-’70s-track-jacket zip-front knit can easily translate to a cropped bomber style. Pair with a high-waist skirt while it’s still warm, and later fully-zipped with your jeans and booties for that L.V. cool-girl aesthetic.
Between Couture shows, the longer duster coat was spotted here, in eggshell pink, on the streets of Paris. Update the summery shade to a cool lilac or deeper, dusty pink to ultimately pull a look together. The relaxed shape allows for experimenting with layers, giving this piece the legs to last the whole season.
An oversize sweater is a great transitional piece, not far from the silhoutte of Lily Stewart’s Chanel bouclé jacket. To get the look, wear Tibi’s navy mohair sweater with a blue printed dress, or try Acne Studios’ fuzzy gray offering with a midi skirt and loafers for a great fall work outfit.
