9 Pieces To Buy Before Autumn Really Starts

It happens fast. One day you’re spending your Saturdays in the garden or at the park, airing your arms and legs with gay abandon. The next, you’re thinking about turning the central heating on in the morning. It’s the same story year after year – summer turns into autumn without announcing itself, and by the time you’ve noticed, your wardrobe is already woefully underprepared.

Our best advice is to beat the changing of the seasons to the post. There’s still enough warmth left to give you time to get what you need before the cold really starts to bite. The tricky part is choosing where best to spend your money.

Below, we’ve rounded up a few pieces we always like to make sure we’re armed with in anticipation of autumn’s arrival. Think versatile layering pieces, rain-friendly outerwear and footwear that’s substantial enough to handle a bit of inclement weather. From wool tailoring to waterproof jackets, these are the pieces to have at the ready.

Do-It-All Wool Coat

Velasca

The garments you’ll get the most wear out of are the ones that require the least thought. A big wool coat falls squarely into this category.

If you know it works with everything, you can just throw it on with full confidence, whether you’re wearing tailoring or tracksuit bottoms. Particularly if you choose one with raglan sleeves for a nice relaxed silhouette that won’t look too stiff when paired with casual clothing.

Proper Waterproof Jacket

Finisterre

Stop messing around. If you cheap out here, you’re going to get wet and end up buying twice. When the heavens really open, a good three-layer Gore-Tex jacket is what you want. It’ll keep you bone dry even in heavy rain while allowing sweat vapour to escape so that you don’t end up wet from the inside.

Naturally, all of the big outdoor brands – think Arc’teryx, Patagonia and The North Face – have multiple options in this department, but there are options for those whose personal style leans classic too.

Veilance and Nanamica both make jackets that take the same formula used by alpine climbers but apply it to outerwear that looks more at home in the city than at a mountain summit.

Grey Heavyweight Hoodie

M&SS

A good grey hoodie is about as close as menswear gets to a universal layering piece. Wear it under a wool coat, a shell, a bomber or a chore jacket and it just works.

The key for autumn is to go heavyweight. You want thick, substantial cotton that holds its shape rather than something thin and floppy that looks like it belongs in a gym bag. A slightly boxy fit helps too, particularly if you’re planning to layer underneath it.

Stick to classic heather grey and you’ll have something that works with denim, chinos, fatigues and tailoring-adjacent trousers without ever requiring much thought.

Long-Sleeve Tees

Lestrange

A simple piece, but a useful one, and a fitting replacement for the short-sleeve tees that have been the foundation of your wardrobe for several months now.

It’s substantial enough to take the edge off a chilly morning while remaining light enough to layer comfortably when temperatures drop later in the day. Look for heavyweight cotton with a nice thick collar and a relaxed fit, then stock up.

White, navy, grey and washed black are difficult to get wrong, and stripes are always worth having if your wardrobe could use a little more visual interest.

Raw-Denim Jeans

Asket

Heavy, rigid jeans can feel downright masochistic during the warmer months, but once the temperature drops, that extra weight becomes a virtue. Better still, autumn and winter give you several uninterrupted months to properly break in a new pair.

Go for a straight or gently tapered fit and wear them with everything from chunky knitwear and loafers to hoodies and boots. They’ll soften, crease and fade as you live in them, eventually becoming completely unique to you.

Just don’t expect them to be particularly comfortable for the first few weeks.

Do-It-All Brown Leather Boots

Velasca

If sandals and sneakers are summer’s default footwear, boots are autumn and winter’s.

The best ones are substantial enough to take a battering from the elements yet versatile enough to work with most of your wardrobe. Bonus points if they’re easy to take on and off.

Something along the lines of a Blundstone ticks all of these boxes, offering a good mix of versatility and weather protection. For a lace-up alternative, look to brands like Red Wing, Danner and Paraboot.

Insulated Liner Jacket

Finisterre

Autumn temperatures can be extremely variable, so layering is the way to go. A simple cotton overshirt or unlined jacket can feel fine on milder days but leave you wanting more on colder days.

This is where a liner comes in handy, offering some light insulation without making everything feel overly bulky and awkward.

Taion and Stan Ray are both great options, or Uniqlo is hard to beat if your budget is a bit tighter.

Navy Wool Suit

Velasca

Wedding season might be winding down, but that doesn’t mean your tailoring should go into hibernation. A navy wool suit is arguably more useful in autumn than summer, particularly if you choose something with a little texture and enough weight to keep its shape.

Wear it as intended when the occasion demands, then split it up for everything else. The trousers will work with knitwear, loafers and even sneakers (if you’re careful), while an unstructured jacket can be thrown over a tee or fine-gauge crewneck.

Look for hopsack, flannel or another textured wool rather than anything too smooth and corporate, and you’ll get far more mileage from it.

Knitted Ecru Sweater

A Day’s March

A simple crew-neck sweater in a light, neutral colour is a must when the weather starts to cool down. You can wear it on its own over a T-shirt or layered underneath a jacket or coat to provide extra insulation on cold days.

Its simplicity makes it extremely easy to style too: use it to add warmth to tailored looks or throw it on with a pair of jeans and some boots at the weekend.