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September is a nonsense. One minute it’s warm. The next it’s cold. You can experience multiple climates over the course of a few hours. Summer is over, but it’s sort of not – and how to nail transitional style becomes the most pressing question in your morning routine.
It’s not about having a Marie Condo style wardrobe clear out either. Instead, you’ll want to spend some time investing in some key pieces of clothing (you probably already own them!) that'll make dressing right now (and up until mid-October when Winter proper becomes a mainstay) a lot easier. So to help you out, we've made a comprehensive list of the grailed products you need in order to really nail the oddity that is transitional style.
The OG transitional product. The Holy Grail of the outerwear world. Overlooked, but never unappreciated when thrown on. It's lighter than most other coats, but does the job of keeping you warm and dry, as well as looking really, really slick. There's a reason Burberry's zoned in on it for almost two centuries – and why people still wear them.
Right, you might be thinking that shorts are the sole reserve of a summer wardrobe. But actually, shorts are what can make a transitional wardrobe. Just take a look at the fit that Skepta wore to the Burberry show in Highbury Fields, where the sun was creeping out from behind grey rainclouds. Baggy black shorts, which kept things cool for patchy 20-degree climes, and a knit and shirt. That's transitional style.
Perhaps the handiest piece of clothing you can have in your transitional wardrobe as a guy. Cardigans are back, and that's a great, great thing, because you can throw one on with pretty much anything and everything. Look to the likes of Shawn Mendes and Harry Styles, who have made them front and centre of their autumn uniforms, for inspiration. Worn with jeans and thrown over a thin vest, a cardigan is the easiest transitional item you can buy.
Chelsea boots have no place in summer, really. Especially when it's hot. Warmer temperatures and a higher ankle only result in sweaty calves. But when September comes around and the move towards winter gains haste, Chelsea boots become your best friend. They're smart, sturdy and rain-proof and will work as well right now as they will in the depths of winter. Pair with a pair of baggy slacks or wide-legged jeans for an easy fit.
Kendall Jenner was recently seen running around New York City in a brown chore jacket-cum-trucker from The Row. “Queen of Transitional Dressing!” we shouted. It was lightweight, made from a stiff canvas-denim material – and every single guy can wear it.
Because the chore jacket is light enough for unexpectedly humid climes, but warm enough to keep you snug in the autumn chill. But you don't need to have a supermodel budget for The Row to get one on your back. Brands such as Dickies, Carhartt and Universal Works do exceptionally good ones.
