3 essential autumn outerwear pieces you need in your wardrobe

I’m sitting on my couch in the lounge room of our timber Queenslander home. All the windows are open. Wide open.

There is a pleasing light breeze filtering through. I feel it in my feet. Thanks to my dodgy old thyroid, my feet are the barometer from which a judge whether a season has changed or not.

Friends, my feet don’t lie. Autumn is here. Even in south-east Queensland.

Out have come the boots, on have come the jeans and up top I’ve embraced autumn-weight outerwear pieces.

We’re not talking thick, chunky knits and heavy coats here. We’re talking light, outer layers that can work easily over a tee or tank for subtle warmth – layers that can be removed when it heats up during the day and put back on as the sun goes down.

Apart from the delicious feeling of being able to actually add a layer without melting into a sweaty mess, layering in an outfit can create interest.

Just adding one thing to an outfit will achieve that. When that one thing also includes different textures and embellishment, the interest levels rise several notches.

The three essential autumn outerwear pieces you need in your wardrobe are:

1. A relaxed jacket

2. A blazer

3. A shrug or poncho

Relaxed jacket

Think boho, bomber or waterfall, this is the style of jacket you want in your everyday casual wardrobe. Look for a lightweight fabric that has texture, details or pattern and add it over a simple jeans and tee outfit. Suddenly the outfit is transformed.

Bohemian Traders waterfall jacket with bronze tassels 

Blazer

Never underestimate the power of a blazer when it comes to taking an outfit from MEH to marvellous. Blazers are my work-from-home, secret wardrobe weapons. I can be in the most casual of outfits, tippity tapping at home on the computer, but, if I have to head out to a meeting, upping my outfit game is as simple as adding a blazer. This season, look for a blazer with detailing like these gold buttons.

 Bohemian Traders black blazer

Shrug

Once you embrace the shrug, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without one. This piece folds up compactly so it can be tucked into a handbag, at the ready for when an evening cools down. It makes the ultimate travel companion because it’s lightweight but super warm and cosy. Style-wise, you can wear this shrug a multitude of ways, simply by positioning it on different angles, once placed around your neck. When it really cools down, loop it to the front to create a neck-warming scarf. Choose a knit fabric in a natural fibre such as merino or cashmere for breathability and warmth.

Everyday Cashmere shrug

Join our online style program

Want to get more ideas on how to create an autumn-winter wardrobe that works FOR you and takes the stress out of the daily “what to wear?” question?

The Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe online style program is back to give you a clear style road map for the season ahead.

Registration closes April 20 but we’ll be sharing our first outfits from Monday, April 10, so the sooner you join, the more you’ll get to know others and get more from the program.

In a nutshell, the autumn-winter 2017, six-week online style program is based on a 30-piece capsule wardrobe that can be adapted for any lifestyle, budget, shape, size or age. I’ll show you how.

You are helped to “shop” your wardrobe for alternatives to my suggestions and I have links to buy for those wanting to mindfully update their wardrobes with a solid plan.

I’m also hands-on in the dedicated Ultimate Capsule Wardrobe Facebook group supporting this program, taking you through each day’s outfit suggestions and being there to personally answer your specific style questions. It’s like having your own personalist stylist on speed dial. 

Here’s what some of this season’s “Capsulers” are saying about the program:

I’m a first time capsuler and have a 3.5 month old baby! I am looking forward to updating my wardrobe with pieces to suit my new body shape and make deciding what to wear in the mornings quick and stress free!! – Katrina

Very excited to be starting the second capsule challenge. The first one was so much fun and I really enjoy choosing outfits in the morning each day now. I live in Sydney, but originally from Melbourne, so a very large portion of my wardrobe was made up of “black” items, and the rest of my wardrobe consisted of items that didn’t work with many other pieces, so I shop much more mindfully now to make sure anything new will go with lots of other items. Looking forward to getting my winter wardrobe into shape with a couple of purchases I may have made from the Styling You shop last week! – Fiona

I’m a first time “capsuler”. I am a busy mum from Melbourne and work as a social worker so my clothing choices are usually casual. I have a wardrobe full of clothes, yet have nothing to wear. I’m so looking forward to getting some idea of mix and matching items I already have plus adding a few, because who doesn’t like adding. – Sam

I’m back again and very excited. Loved the last challenge, especially having the courage to try things I usually wouldn’t, and getting out of my rut. Also love the online shopping options. – Lizzy

More information HERE. If you have any questions about the program, please email us: [email protected]