Tricky Weather Dressing. There are three states of being at this time of year…

• A little too hot

• A little too cold

• Or perfectly balanced (but reaching perfection usually means an on-again, off-again approach to dressing).

Tricky Weather Dressing

To stay sane in this in-between season, three items are essential:

Light Weight Knits

The hardest knits to find — and the most useful. They’ll keep you warm, but when the sun comes out you can just as easily shove them in a bag or tie them around your waist. I lean towards a crew neck over a cardigan, but both work.

Jackets

I have a ‘never too many philosophy’ when it comes to jacket buying. That’s partly because I stick to simple tops and let jackets do the heavy lifting for interest. If you’re a “statement top” person, then choose jackets in versatile colours. Beyond the trench, think barn, chore, blazer, funnel neck, leather, or suede.

Shoes

Here’s the rule I give clients when they send me outfit photos: no shoe, no outfit. Sounds obvious — you can’t exactly leave the house barefoot — but what I mean is: at this time of year, lean into shoes over boots or trainers. Ballet flats, loafers, lace-ups, and anything in between will give you variety and depth before we all default to boots-and-trainers-only season.

As tricky as this transition might feel, I think it’s the most satisfying time for outfits. You get to play with weight, texture, and combinations. And for me, as long as I’m not in a proper coat, I’m happy.

So, how are these categories looking in your wardrobe? If they’re a little light, that might be why you’re struggling to dress right now.

(And yes, — a raincoat deserves a place in this list. That’ll be for another newsletter.)

Get your wishlist started here.

— Penny

P.S. We’re wardrobing stylists… that means we build workable wardrobes around your lifestyle and style. Big picture or small brief, we have you covered. For specific items we have our Dedicated Shopping service — we hunt down that one piece that makes everything else click. Past hunts have included shoes, trousers, jeans, jewellery, knitwear. Basically, the missing puzzle piece. Book your call here to solve your problems.

Photo credit: Rohé