Autumn is approaching. The country weekend walks and cosy pub lunches are calling. But we may yet experience a last hurrah of sunshine. So, what to wear?
The Princess of Wales has already packed away her summer dresses and brought out the checks if a recent sighting of her in Balmoral is anything to go by. She arrived at a church service wearing a light-checked Holland Cooper trench coat with an olive felt Hicks & Brown trilby hat – no doubt her suede Chloé walking boots and light Fjällräven mac were also packed in her suitcase for casual walks during her stay.
The thing about all of those pieces – perennials which the Princess has been photographed wearing year after year – is that they are all just autumnal enough. Now is not the time to pile on your proper winter country warmers – you will boil in a Barbour, swelter in a sweater.
The intermediate style solutions offer the best of both worlds; acknowledgement of the change of seasons, whilst still allowing for any potentially nice weather. Clever layers, strategic use of lighter versions of “country” colours, and heritage patterns, are key to getting it right in the countryside in September.
“When the seasons switch, so must our style,” confirms Alice Joule, head of creative services at high street brand Joules, who lives in a rural village near Market Harborough. “Yet with summers starting later and heatwaves in autumn, we’re blending our warm and cold weather wardrobes more than ever.” Her country essentials for this transitional season, she says, are a “cord or tweed baseball cap and a rugby shirt” – pieces that balance summer shapes with autumnal fabrications.
Wearing any sort of coat still feels – thankfully – out of the question, but taking the chill off is also important. Here the gilet becomes another staple buy – but rather than diving straight into a dark padded, quilted style, which will feel too hot and look too heavy, why not consider a lighter cotton one in a brighter heritage print?
“The gilet is a staple in the transeasonal wardrobe,” attests Emma Hill, founder of the British brand Damson Madder, which currently stocks its signature tie-front sleeveless jackets in 20 different print and colourways. “They are perfect to add that layer of warmth over a T-shirt. As the days get cooler, move to a longer sleeve – an enduring classic is our Leopard Tilly gilet over a timeless white blouse or a style like our white Romeo with an oversized collar.”
While some country fashionistas are all about artful layering techniques, others prefer to use accessories to put their own fresh twist on a piece as simple as a cotton shirt. The jewellery designer Monica Vinader, who is based in Holkham, Norfolk, says that she pairs sculptural pieces with timeless country clothes, for a fresh juxtaposition.
“One of my favourite pieces to reach for during this time of year is a denim shirt, which works no matter what the weather is doing,” she says. “Because it’s a classic, I like to go bold with accessories. Right now, I love pushing the sleeves back and completely loading my wrists up with bangles, mixing metals and playing with size and shape. Another great way to update is by pairing an accessory you wouldn’t expect to see with a more casual shirt – like statement cufflinks.”
The wrong footwear choice, too, can be a fast track to overheating – there’s no need to transition directly from sandals to boots when you can go via loafers and driving shoes; in browns, rather than blacks.
The last word on autumnal country style is your hat choice. The straw and raffia fedora that saw you through summer may now feel redundant, yet you may want some sun protection – or, let’s face it, the rain.
Joule’s decision to go for a cap is an on-trend one, but a felt fedora is also a more traditional choice and looks pretty with printed dresses, bare legs and ankle boots.
“Whilst there is no hard and fast rule on when to switch from wearing straw hats to wool felt ones, once the temperature drops below 20C, felt hats provide more warmth and are ideal as the weather becomes cooler and more unpredictable,” advises Alice Leet-Cook, co-founder of Hicks & Brown, maker of the Princess of Wales’s favourite casual hats.
“They offer better protection against light rain too. September is all about layers, felt hats pair wonderfully with a [cream] sweater, jeans, and loafers. The felt adds an autumnal touch that balances the remaining lightness of summer fabrics. If we are lucky to have some warm sunny days in the month, choosing a neutral shade of hat such as camel, olive or grey, will still provide protection from the sun without clashing with late summer wardrobes.”
Even if you are not a country dweller, and are just visiting say, the Cotswolds, for a weekend away, you should still make an effort to look the part, advises Alice Hare, stylist at Schöffel.
“Felt hats scare most people, making them worry they’ll look too try-hard or are at a Robin Hood cosplay convention,” she jokes. “But you don’t have to wear them with head-to-toe tweed and a shotgun slung over your shoulder.”
The thing about a felt hat, she says, is that “you’ll feel like an idiot the first time you wear one.” Especially after a summer spent on a beach in the Med. “But, trust me, get through that first outing and you won’t look back.”
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