What to Wear This Autumn: Five Pieces That Do the Work

Autumn is the season that rewards planning. The weather cannot make up its mind, the light goes early, and the clothes that survive are the ones that work in three combinations rather than one. This is the capsule we keep coming back to.

Start with the denim

A light blue denim jacket is the most useful thing in an autumn wardrobe. Worn open over a tee it reads casual; buttoned under a longer coat it becomes a mid-layer that costs almost nothing in bulk. Buy it a half size up if you intend to layer.

One shoe, three occasions

We are unromantic about footwear: a single pair of clean, low-profile shoes in a neutral colour will carry you from the office to dinner. Keep the party shoes for the party.

If a piece cannot be worn three ways, it is a costume, not a wardrobe.

Our buying team

Finish with something that lasts

The pieces people keep longest are rarely the loudest. A well-cut bag or a plain watch outlives the trend that sold it, and both are worth the extra spend when everything else in the capsule is deliberately simple.