10 items you need in your Autumn Winter wardrobe

AUTUMN WINTER ESSENTIALS

I love autumn winter fashion, all the textures, the layering, and the deep autumnal colours. One of the main questions I get asked is what are the essentials to build an autumn/winter wardrobe around. Of course, this is my opinion, and nothing is stopping you from changing it around depending on your lifestyle, but there are the ten essentials that I have found myself reaching for these staples again and again, and building so many outfits around them. 

Black Boots

I’m starting with footwear, because, other than coats, this is got to be my favourite part of autumn winter. The thought of being able to put on a pair of cosy socks and then my favourite pair of boots excites me so much. Maybe I need to get out more. 

Now I’m not going to lie, I have a lot of pairs of boots in all kinds of colours and textures. But for the purpose of this blog post, which is solely about staples, I’m just going to talk about black boots. Having a pair of black boots in your autumn winter wardrobe is an essential, as black goes with everything. 

There are a few pairs of black boots that I personally consider staples. The first pair, is a pair of flat biker/chunky boots. These are the ones that I wear day to day, they can be worn with thick cosy socks to keep your feet warm, they can be worn in the rain, in the snow, whatever the weather they really are my go to throughout autumn and winter. 

My biker boot of choice is Dr Martens. They are a classic shoe that will never go out of style and I just love the look of them. If they aren’t your style, I also love the military/biker boots that Topshop, Zara or Dune bring out too. These work so well paired with black or blue jeans, with leather leggings, with dresses/skirts and tights and in the early stages of autumn, they work so well with bare legs too!

Here are my Dr Martens (I get the Pascal ones as they are a softer leather so don’t require any breaking in as I am just not cut out for the pain! I also have the patent ones in kids (which have a handy zip up the side but they come up shorter on the leg)

So still on the black boot bandwagon, another pair that I think are an essential in autumn winter are a pair of heeled black boots. These can vary from a small heel to a chunky heel, but I find these are the perfect thing to wear on an evening in the autumn winter. When it’s too cold to have your feet out, or the event is too casual to wear courts, these are my go to. They look gorgeous with dresses, skirts, and especially good with some skinny black jeans/leather leggings. I also love the patterned heeled boots, from western styles, to snakeskin etc, so have linked a few of those down below too!

Black Leather/Faux Leather Jeans/Leggings

These are my base for so many outfits. I wear them with shirts, with big roll necks, with t-shirts and cardigans. They are such a great option which makes any outfit instantly autumnal, by adding the leather or faux leather texture. I find they slim your legs too, with them being shinier and the light tends to reflect down the middle of the leg. Finding a good pair of these is difficult, as a lot of them do tend to start to slip down annoyingly. In my experience, the best ones are definitely the ones with a button, as the ones only with a zip are never as secure. Failing the button, make sure they have an elasticated waist.

Another option for wearing leather/faux leather on the bottom half, is the more straight leg or even jogger style trousers. These started to come in last season, but this season there seems to be so many more options! I love this look, as it’s comfy but also so chic at the same time. You can wear them casually with trainers or boots, or dress them up with a heel. Wear them with a tucked in t-shirt and a blazer, or with a chunky roll neck and a coat. These also look amazing on an evening with a tight body tucked in and a pair of strappy heels.

Chunky Knits and Roll Necks

I’ve mentioned these a few times already, I live in these throughout autumn winter. The thicker the knit the better. These are amazing for layering, and I particularly think a roll neck looks so classy and sophisticated, especially when you tuck your hair in and wear it with a smart coat. I have these in so many colours, but if you are looking to invest in just a few then I would say black would be an essential, as well as a cream/white and a camel/beige/brown. By sticking to neutral colour pallets you will be able to rotate these often and get way more wear out of them. Just be careful of make up transfer on to the lighter colour ones - use a setting spray! I also think having one thin ribbed black roll neck is another essential in your wardrobe. I wear these under everything! Slip dresses, shirts, boiler suits, blazers, sometimes I even wear under my knitwear if it is particularly cold! I am always reaching for one of these, and this is such a timeless piece, you will wear this every single year!

Coats

I am fully prepared to admit, I am a hoarder when it comes to coats. I love coats, whether thats big furry ones, teddy ones, smart ones, aviator style, you name it I love it. But, again, for the purpose of this blog post, which focuses on staples I’m going to talk about 4 styles that I think are essentials in your autumn winter wardrobe.

Firstly, the smart coat. I think smart coats are amazing at elevating your outfit. Choose a classic cut, that fits well, in a neutral tone. Wether thats black, grey, camel, beige or navy. A neutral tone will ensure you can wear it with the rest of your wardrobe. The great thing about a coat in a classic cut is you can wear it dressed up, over your shoulders with a pair of heels, or done up with a pair of boots, to work or any other formal occasion, but you can also dress them down, with a pair of jeans and a jumper and flat boots or trainers. I personally love them with a roll neck and a pair of jeans. In terms of length, I think the most flattering is just by your shins - make sure the coat has an opening at the back too, so it flows nicely when you walk and doesn’t drown you from behind.

My second favourite style coat, which is perfect for the warmer months, but can also be layered for the colder months is the trench coat. A great bonus for these is not only are they really on trend, but a lot of them are waterproof too! These give me such a french chic vibe, and you can get them in so many colours and materials! I’ve just recently bought a vinyl one from Topshop in khaki green and I am so excited to style it up! They are also amazing to wear most of the year, from autumn to winter to spring, so definitely something you will get your moneys worth with!

The next type of coat I wan’t to talk about is the fluffy, furry, teddy bear, whatever you want to call it coat. There are sooo many different styles of these, but I absolutely love these for adding some texture into your wardrobe. These go with everything, and can be worn in a maxi style with a pair of boots and skinny jeans, or opt for a jacket style version, and wear with a hoodie and a beanie. Another benefit of these is they keep you so warm and cosy!

Lastly, and some may find this one a bit boring (but it doesn't have to be at all) is the waterproof/puffa coat. Lets be real, most of us reading this will live in the UK, where it rains a hell of a lot. Or for any other countries reading this, I’m sure you encounter a fair share of wet and cold weather. For me, a coat like this is such an essential, for running errands, walking to work, walking the dog, whatever it is, you’re going to need a waterproof or something warm. These are generally boring, but more recently more styles have come out to make them that little bit more exciting. I usually go for an oversized, or longer parka or puffa-style coat just to make it look that little bit more fashionable.

Blazers

Another thing that I hoard, all year round is blazers. That’s one of the reasons why I love blazers, is that they can be worn all year, just in different fabrics and colours. In the winter, thicker blazers are the way to go. In deeper colours like blacks, browns, camels, dark checks and houndstooth, greys etc. I would say if you are looking to invest in a blazer that you will get use out of for years to come, start with a black one. These can be worn during the not so cold days with t-shirts or roll necks during the day, or pair it with a body suit or a blouse on an evening. These also work really nicely styled under a thinner coat, like a trench coat. 

Cardigans/Coatigans

This is a more recent staple, something that I’ve found myself reaching for over the last few years. I love the more ‘coatigan’ style, the thicker, maxi style cardigans which you can wear when it isn't too cold. It provides a nice option instead of wearing a coat every day. These are also amazing for travelling, as they feel like you are pretty much wearing your dressing gown, and I am all for that. I think they work perfectly for those days when you don't want to put too much effort into your outfit, but still want to look put together. Wear them with jeans and trainers for a casual vibe, or wear it with a thin black roll neck and boots, belting it in the middle to cinch yourself in for a more slick dressed up look. 

I’ve linked my favourites here:

Leather Jackets

I love leather jackets, and wear them all year round. I pair them with knitwear, dresses, blouses, etc all through the year. I love adding in a different texture and I love how a leather jacket and jeans is such an easy outfit, but still looks fashionable too. Paired with a big pair of sunglasses, it gives me off duty model kinda vibes. I invested in an All Saints leather jacket around 4 years ago and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. It’s an expensive purchase but its such an investment, as leather jackets are so timeless, and only get better with wear. Go for a classic shape and style, and personally I would always go for black first and make sure you get your wear out of that one, before you invest in another colour. Also think about shapes that suit your style - I personally would rather a leather jacket be more oversized so I can wear it with knitwear, but if you have a more tailored style, then think about getting a more fitted jacket. 

Comfy Clothes

So I’m not sure if these are a staple in anyone else wardrobes, but as it gets colder and the nights get darker, I find myself living in comfy clothes in autumn winter. If I’m heading out to the cinema then I will always chuck on a pair of joggers and a hoodie, if I’m going out walking in the cold then always a pair of skinny jeans and an oversized hoodie, and if I’m chilling at home then a nice cosy loungewear set. Again, these are all things you will wear every single year, because let’s face it, theres nothing better than being comfy. 

I’ve linked my favourite cosy clothes here:

Occasion Wear

Now, there’s a reason that I’ve put occasion wear after comfy clothes and thats just because when it comes to autumn winter, I pretty much hibernate. I love being inside in the warmth in front of the fire, and going out just doesn't appeal to me too much… Apart from when the month of December hits, and all of a sudden I’m warmed by festive spirit and I actually leave my house past 8pm. December is party season, whether that’s Christmas do’s, office parties, new years eve, whatever it is! And I looove autumn/winter occasion wear, I love all the sequins and the glitter, and the velvets and the deep colours like navy and burgundy, paired with metallics like silver and gold. So, I thought it had to be in the staples list, even if you only go on one night out the whole of winter, I thought I’d cover it in here, as trying to find an outfit that is appropriate for cold temperatures is so difficult. And thats not even thinking about autumn/winter wedding guest outfits, they have to be the hardest of them all!

I’ve linked some of my favourite occasion wear pieces for the upcoming autumn winter months, and will keep updating this as shops start to bring out more and more.

Accessories

Something that I feel often gets overlooked, is winter accessories. I’m talking hats and scarves. There’s no better feeling than putting on a cosy scarf and wrapping it round yourself and smelling the perfume that you had on last time you wore it - honestly one of my favourite feelings. I also love wearing hats in the winter, from beanies to fedoras, I think adding accessories like this not only keeps you warm, but also elevates your outfit and brings another dimension to your look. One item on my wish list is an acne scarf, as I love how oversized and chunky they are - so big that they are pretty much an outfit all on its own. It’s also a great way of adding a bit of colour to your outfit, say if you are wearing all black, then adding a camel scarf is a nice way of easing colour into your autumn winter wardrobe.

I’ve linked my favourite hats and scarves for the season here: