The rules of transitional dressing

'Transitional dressing' is an expression we hear often in the fashion industry to describe that difficult period when one season morphs into another. Right now, we're all looking over our collective shoulders at the last vestiges of summer and looking forward to the first signs of autumn. In real terms, that can mean mornings of bright sunshine followed by hailstones in the afternoon; balcony bathing one day, and running for cover the next. It's why you need a flexible approach to dressing, one that focuses on lightweight layers so that you don't overheat on the good days, but are well prepared for the bad.

In a nutshell, that means layering effectively. So think tees and jerseys, shirts, overshirts, and lightweight jackets and blousons, the latter in waterproof or technical fabrics. You can easily add or remove the excess layers as and when the weather changes, while the technical outerwear is light enough that it'll cope with all temperatures.

The cotton layers do a great job of moisture-wicking when the weather takes a turn for the better, or if you're moving between indoors and outdoors frequently. Similarly, a lightweight cotton overshirt, such as our Eltham shirt or Hockney jacket can prove a smart move on those days when you can guarantee dry weather.

When it comes to countering wet weather in Autumn, the last thing you want to be wearing is a big thick overcoat because the temperatures just don't warrant it. Instead, you'd be much better off opting for a coat cut from a technical waterproof cloth such as our Bermondsey bombers or our Grandpa coats. The latter is definitiely the more effective in rain thanks to the three-quarter length, but you won't believe how light it is, so if the weather improves you can either carry on wearing it or fold it into a bag. 

Click here to shop Oliver Spencer's Autumn collection now.