Autumn Outfits: 20 Easy Ideas for Women and Men

The easiest autumn outfits combine three layers you can take off as the day warms up: a light top, a jumper or cardigan, and a jacket that handles wind and showers. Add trousers or jeans in a warm neutral, boots or loafers, and one autumn colour such as rust, olive or burgundy. Below are 20 ready-made combinations for women and men.

British autumn rarely settles. A bright cold morning turns into a mild wet afternoon, so the best outfits are flexible rather than heavy. Think in layers and in a small palette, and dressing becomes quick.

How to build autumn outfits that work in the UK

• Base: a long sleeve top, a shirt or a fine-knit.
• Middle: a cardigan, a half-zip or a chunky jumper.
• Outer: a lightweight jacket, a trench, a quilted jacket or a windbreaker.
• Colours: camel, cream, brown, olive, navy, rust and burgundy.
• Shoes: ankle boots, loafers, clean trainers.

10 autumn outfits for women

1. Cropped cardigan, white T-shirt, wide-leg jeans, loafers. The perfect transitional look; see our womens cardigans.
2. Utility jacket, striped long sleeve top, black leggings, chunky trainers for weekend errands.
3. Cream cable knit, brown wide-leg trousers, ankle boots. Our wide leg trousers come in brown, black and white.
4. Trench coat, grey fine-knit, straight jeans, ballet flats.
5. Quilted jacket, hoodie, joggers, trainers for dog walks.
6. Leopard print midi skirt, black jumper, knee boots for the office.
7. Khaki shacket, cream roll neck, black trousers.
8. Long cardigan coat, ribbed top, flared leggings.
9. Hooded windbreaker, sweatshirt, cargo trousers for the coast.
10. Burgundy jumper, denim mini skirt, tights, Chelsea boots for a night out.

For the jacket, start with our autumn jackets for women: light hooded windbreakers, utility styles and denim.

10 autumn outfits for men

11. Harrington jacket, grey half-zip, dark jeans, white trainers.
12. Overshirt, plain T-shirt, chinos, suede loafers.
13. Navy cable knit, Oxford shirt, stone trousers, brown boots.
14. Utility jacket, hoodie, cargo trousers, trainers for the weekend.
15. Bomber, roll neck, black trousers, Chelsea boots for evenings.
16. Quilted jacket, check flannel shirt, straight jeans.
17. Windbreaker, sweatshirt, joggers for walks.
18. Cream crew neck, olive trousers, brown Derby shoes.
19. Knitted polo, pleated trousers, loafers for a mild sunny day.
20. Soft-shell jacket, quarter-zip, dark trousers for the commute.

Most of these use one jacket from our men's lightweight jackets and two or three knits.

Autumn colours and textures

Autumn is the season for texture. Ribbing, cable knit, corduroy, suede and quilting add depth to even a neutral outfit. If you prefer quiet colours, use cream with brown, or navy with grey. If you like warmth, add olive, rust or burgundy in one piece. Our guide to old money style shows how far a calm palette can go.

Layering without overheating

Choose a thin top rather than a thick one, and a middle piece you can remove indoors. A cardigan or zip knit is easier to take off than a pullover. Keep the jacket light but wind- and shower-resistant; save padded coats for colder weeks. On truly changeable days, a packable windbreaker in your bag beats a heavy coat you will carry all afternoon.

Shoes for autumn outfits

• Ankle and Chelsea boots for wet pavements.
• Loafers for dry, smart days.
• Leather or suede trainers for weekends; protect suede before the rain.

An autumn capsule: 10 pieces, 20 outfits

Every outfit in this guide can be made from a small set of clothes. If you are starting from scratch, these ten pieces cover the whole season:

1. A light jacket: trench, utility or Harrington.
2. A quilted jacket or windbreaker for rain and wind.
3. A cream or oatmeal jumper.
4. A cardigan, cropped or long.
5. Two long sleeve tops, one plain and one striped.
6. A shirt or overshirt.
7. Wide-leg or straight trousers in brown, black or olive.
8. Dark jeans.
9. Ankle or Chelsea boots.
10. Loafers or clean trainers.

Early autumn vs late autumn

In September and early October, keep everything thin: a T-shirt or long sleeve top under a cardigan or overshirt is usually enough, with a packable jacket in your bag. From late October, nights turn cold and the middle piece becomes a proper jumper, the jacket gains padding or a hood, and boots replace trainers on wet days. By November, a thermal top and a scarf make the same outfits comfortable outdoors for longer.

Outfits for rainy autumn days

Rain changes the shoes and the jacket, not the whole look. Pair a hooded raincoat or windbreaker with dark trousers that hide splashes, choose boots with a grippy sole, and leave pale suede at home. A water-resistant quilted jacket over a hoodie is the most practical weekend combination for the British climate.

Accessories that finish an autumn look

A wool-look scarf in a warm colour, a beanie for windy days and a structured bag in brown or black do more than another new jumper. Gloves with touchscreen fingertips make the first frosty commute bearable, and a simple leather belt in the same shade as your shoes pulls the whole outfit together.

From Maria and Denis: lay out tomorrow's three pieces the night before. Autumn mornings are far calmer when the decision is already made.