The guide to easily choosing your autumn dress
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If you have read our previous articles, you know that we have started a series of seasonal posts to share tips to help you dress for this season.
After discussing hats, autumn sweaters, loafers, and even transitional clothing, it’s time to address a symbolic piece of the season: the autumn dress.
But which piece should you turn to? Which type of dress should you choose? For what occasion? In what style?
If you are asking yourself these kinds of questions, you are in the right place.
In this guide, I will answer the question of how to choose your autumn dress to be stylish. We will start by assessing your needs before looking at the options available to you.
I have crafted this guide to be as comprehensive as possible.
By the end, you will know which piece to turn to for the perfect autumn look with a dress.
Establishing the Basics to Know Your Needs
To know how to choose your autumn dress, you first need to ask yourself about your own needs. Otherwise, you risk turning to the first dress you see and being disappointed because it doesn’t suit you.
To avoid falling into this trap, question yourself about what you like, your body shape, your habits, and the occasions when you will be wearing your autumn dress.
Here’s a small list of questions that could guide you:
- On what occasion will you wear your dress: during the day, at work, for an evening, or even a special occasion?
- What type of dress do you envision for yourself? A long dress, a short one, vintage, modern, classic?
- How would you define your clothing style: casual, vintage, romantic, chic, workwear, sportswear, Y2K, etc. Or a mix of several styles?
- What type of piece do you like to wear: beautiful designer pieces, vintage finds from thrift stores, or trend-inspired ready-to-wear items? Or all three at once?
This list is not exhaustive. You can add to it or adjust it to your needs and preferences.
What Piece to Focus on When Choosing Your Autumn Dress?
Have you assessed your needs? The occasion, style, and your silhouette? It’s now time to get serious and choose the autumn dress you need. And when it comes to mid-season dresses, the women’s wardrobe is not lacking. To avoid getting lost in the multitude of choices, and to help you save time, here’s a list of autumn dresses based on their cut, style, and material.
The Type of Dress
The Mini Dress
The mini dress falls below the knees, making it the shortest type of dress.
This isn’t the type of dress typically favored for an autumn look, yet you might be surprised by the style it can give you. Where it can become interesting is by playing with textures or volumes. A fitted mini dress paired with tights, floral bloomers, and chunky boots creates a rebel chic and feminine look.
Another model that works: a short midi dress version, but with long puffed sleeves. This contrast of volume is very interesting and inevitably adds character to the outfit. If the dress is adorned with nice details like buttons, you’re assured a vintage/romantic effect.
The Midi Dress
The midi is the middle one. It’s neither long nor short. Its length is between the knee and the calf. It can be a bit intimidating. However, it is one of the easiest cuts to wear, and it suits many body shapes. If you accessorize it, you will quickly be charmed by its elegant, retro look because the midi dress hails straight from the 1950s!
While this type of dress flatters long silhouettes particularly well, it has the advantage of being accessible to everyone. In fact, its varied cuts highlight all body types. Straight cut, flared, fluid, everyone can find their autumn midi dress.
In terms of looks, the midi dress can be worn both during the day and in the evening. It suits a casual, relaxed style as well as a chic and elegant outfit. Accessories play a significant role in how you will style your dress. Pair it with flat ankle boots or knee-high boots to elongate your silhouette. And for outerwear, a trench coat is a safe bet, just like a tailored jacket. The pitfall here is to pair it with a mid-length jacket that could weigh down your silhouette due to similar length layering.
The Long Dress
This is the most appreciated cut for autumn/winter for two reasons.
First, because it offers the most coverage. Unlike a mini dress, the long dress reaches down to the ankles. It’s a practical option to protect against dropping temperatures, but also very comfortable. You can move freely in an autumn long dress. You can bend down without risking revealing anything, and you can be active without disturbance. Well, where it’s not very comfortable is on a bike or… on horseback! All other occasions are good for wearing this type of dress.
Secondly, because in terms of style, it’s a cut that fits perfectly with the season: fluid and light, but not too much. Elegant while being casual. I find that it offers a good compromise for mid-season, allowing you to dress well without too much effort.
The long dress is a bit like the midi. You can wear it with ankle boots or a pair of loafers for mid-season, and high boots in winter. A long coat works just as well as a short jacket. But no mid-length jackets.
Feel free to add accessories to cinch the waist, for example. We also love hair up with pretty jewelry with this type of dress. It highlights the contrast. And for the perfect autumn look, don’t forget your headwear.
The Materials
When it comes to materials, while it seems obvious to choose warm and comfortable fabrics, it’s still important to remind you. The advice is to avoid materials like polyester that ultimately don’t protect from the cold. Prefer viscose, a more natural fiber that helps retain the warmth that radiates from the body.
During your quest for an autumn dress, I also recommend opting for:
- silk for a luminous look,
- cashmere for an elegant finish and supreme comfort,
- linen for an airy and light feel.
Ultimately, you can turn to all noble fabrics, including wool or organic cotton. Because by investing in this type of piece, you will give more sentimental value to your dress. And that’s the best way to take care of it and keep it for a long time.
The Atmospheres
The Bohemian Universe
The presentations of the autumn/winter 2022-2023 collections showed the strong return of 70’s inspiration. Cowboy boots on feet, platform sandals, paisley patterns, patchwork pieces, and not to forget the must-have bohemian dress that is fluid and light. With its warm colors, folk prints, and play of volumes, it captivates with its authenticity.
If you love the vintage look, choosing a bohemian autumn dress is a great option. To style it, make sure to follow the trend by pairing it with knee-high leather or suede boots, cowboy boots, or a pair of mules. With a leather jacket, it dresses up, as the two universes balance each other surprisingly well.
Among the colors, the long bohemian dress shines in light shades like beige or warm tones like cream, brown, powder pink, and so on.
The Retro Universe
Just look at the runways to understand that vintage is back in style. And when it comes to trendy oldies, we have choices. But among the dresses, there is one vintage dress that perfectly fits the mid-season vibe: the prairie dress. Characterized by flowers, it is long or midi-length. It has long sleeves and a high collar to cover the torso. If you want to picture it, it comes straight from Little House on the Prairie.
It flatters the poetic and romantic types, but can be twisted once again with a pair of boots to balance the look and avoid falling into the cliché of the farm girl.
The Minimalist Universe
Here, I immediately think of the knit dress, the ultra-trend of the season. It is characterized by two elements: comfort and sexiness. It’s a dress that fits close to the body to highlight curves. While it can stand on its own, we still love to accessorize it with a belt or a statement bag. And with a pair of chunky boots on your feet, you bring a rebellious side to the outfit. It’s a super combo!
In terms of colors, the knit dress is worn in neutral chromatic shades like gray or black.
A Few Tips to Avoid Autumn Fashion Faux Pas
The first piece of advice I mentioned above is the layering of clothes. With a midi to long dress, avoid mid-length garments. They will weigh down your silhouette, taking away from the enhancement you deserve.
Next, pay attention to colors. An autumn dress, by definition, fits perfectly into the season. So, opt for warm shades that inspire softness and coziness. Beige, brown, powder pink, mustard, and black are reliable shades for the season. Conversely, flashy or cool shades should be avoided.
Final point: the choice of model.
We step a bit away from the context of fashion faux pas, but the choice of brand is ultimately important for a good selection. Many ready-to-wear brands offer dedicated sections for autumn dresses. Pretty and affordable, they are often not accessible and offer a wide range of models. However, these pieces are not really ethical and are mostly produced under questionable conditions. Fashion is evolving, and you have the choice to turn to sustainable pieces, made in France or Europe, whose value will increase over time as you wear them.
There are also designers and luxury labels, but if you don’t have the budget, you can turn to an equally legitimate alternative: thrift stores. This might be the most suitable place to find a vintage autumn dress loaded with history, for almost nothing… So, don’t hold back.
Choosing Your Autumn Dress: The Final Word
You have reached the end of the guide.
I hope you have found elements to help you make a choice that corresponds to both your needs and your body shape. But if I were to emphasize one point to remember, it’s to blend into the season to find the piece that will highlight you.
And above all, don’t hesitate to take a look at our Instagram for inspiration looks or even Pinterest.
💡 Additionally, to complete your autumn look, discover which other pieces to invest in to create your autumn wardrobe. Also, how to wear the paisley pattern, a must-have for the season.
Cover image: © Sandra Semburg
