The End-of-Summer Wardrobe: How to Wear Matching Sets Into Autumn

There is always a point towards the end of summer when getting dressed becomes slightly more complicated.

It is still warm enough to reach for summer clothes during the day, but mornings feel cooler. Evenings start drawing in. Sandals suddenly do not work every day, but it is far too early for heavy knitwear and coats.

This is where I think matching sets really come into their own.

A good co-ord set does not belong to one season. Change the shoes, add a layer or wear the pieces separately and the same outfit that worked in August can carry on working well into autumn.

If you are thinking about what to wear during that awkward in-between period, here is how I would make your summer co-ords work harder as the seasons change.

What should you wear between summer and autumn?

The easiest transitional outfits are ones you can adapt throughout the day.

You might leave the house when it is cool, spend the afternoon in sunshine and then need another layer by the evening. Instead of dressing entirely for summer or jumping straight into an autumn wardrobe, think in layers.

A matching top and wide leg bottom set gives you a simple starting point because the outfit already works together. From there, you can add or remove pieces depending on the weather.

That might mean:

• wearing a lightweight denim or suede jacket 
  

• adding a fine knit or cardigan over the shoulders
  

The aim is not to start dressing for autumn before it arrives. It is simply to make the clothes you already enjoy wearing work for a little longer.

Start with the co-ords already in your wardrobe

Before buying an entirely new wardrobe for the change in season, look at the co-ords you have been wearing throughout summer.

A lot of summer pieces can move into early autumn with surprisingly small changes.

Our relaxed pink coord set can work particularly well during this in-between period. Wear it with a T-shirt underneath and leave the collar zipped down for a lighter, layered look. On warmer days, take the top off and wear the matching bottoms with the T-shirt on its own, then add the top back on when it gets cooler later in the day. It is an easy way to adapt the same coord set as the temperature changes.

This is one of the reasons I like coordinated dressing. You have the simplicity of an outfit that has already been put together for you, but you are not limited to wearing it in one particular way.

Swap summer shoes before you swap the whole outfit

One of the easiest ways to make a summer outfit feel more appropriate for early autumn is to change your footwear.

You do not necessarily need to stop wearing your favourite two-piece sets just because the temperature has dropped a few degrees.

Instead, try replacing sandals with trainers, loafers or a closed-toe flat.

It is a small change, but it can completely alter how seasonal an outfit feels.

A comfortable set with sandals can feel very much like a summer outfit, while the same pieces with trainers and an extra layer can easily work on a cooler day.

Wear your two-piece set as separates

One of the biggest advantages of buying a two-piece set is that you are not actually buying one outfit.

You are getting at least three.

You can wear the pieces together, wear the top with something else or style the bottoms with pieces already in your wardrobe.

This becomes especially useful at the end of summer.

The trousers from a summer co-ord set might work with a lightweight knit as the weather starts to cool, or with a thicker sweatshirt or relaxed oversized hoodie on colder days. The top can be worn separately with jeans or tailored trousers, giving you even more ways to wear the same set.

It is also why I think two-piece sets can be such a useful way to build a wardrobe. When the pieces work individually as well as together, you have far more outfit combinations without necessarily owning more clothes.

Think about colour differently as autumn approaches

You do not have to stop wearing lighter or brighter colours just because summer has ended.

Certain colours will always be associated with particular seasons. We tend to think of pastels and brighter shades for spring and summer, then browns, burgundies and darker neutrals as autumn arrives. But that does not mean your wardrobe has to follow those rules.

Who says winter cannot be bright?

A pink coord set does not suddenly stop working because it is October. Style it with trainers, a sweatshirt, an oversized jacket or a heavier coat and that same colour can feel completely at home in cooler weather.

The same applies to cream, beige and other lighter shades. Rather than changing the colour, change what you wear around it.

For me, co-ords should be pieces you enjoy wearing, regardless of what the traditional seasonal colour palette tells you. If a bright colour makes a grey winter day feel a little less grey, that is probably a good enough reason to wear it.

Can you wear loungewear outside in autumn?

Yes, particularly when the pieces have been designed to look like an outfit rather than something you would only wear at home.

The line between loungewear and everyday clothing has become much less rigid. A well-cut lounge set can work for travelling, coffee, shopping, casual lunches or a weekend away just as easily as it works for a slower day at home.

Comfort does not have to mean looking underdressed anymore.

What makes a good transitional matching set?

For me, versatility matters more than whether something has been labelled as a summer or autumn piece.

A good transitional matching set should be comfortable enough to wear for hours, easy to layer and made up of pieces you would genuinely wear separately.

Fabric matters too.

French terry cotton is one of my favourite fabrics for this in-between period, which is why you will find it across many of our signature pieces.

It has enough weight and structure to feel substantial as the weather starts to cool, while still being breathable and comfortable enough to wear on warmer days. 

For me, that is what a good transitional fabric should do. It should not belong to one particular season. It should give you different ways to wear it as the weather changes.

Very lightweight fabrics can be harder to carry into cooler weather, while extremely heavy fabrics limit how early in the season you can wear them. Something in between gives you more flexibility.

The same applies to fit. A two-piece set with enough room to layer underneath or add something over the top will generally take you through more of the year.

Thank you for being here and supporting Co-ords and Co. It truly means everything.

Co-ords and Co. is more than what you wear, it is how you feel in it. Effortless and entirely yourself.

With love,

Zara SA Momaya
Founder, Co-ords and Co.