Seven Autumn Uniforms For If You Feel Like You've Lost Your Style

Here's how to ALWAYS have something to wear that you love...

Whenever I post one of my monthly Style Clinics, the question that crops up the most is about feeling a bit ‘lost’ style-wise. Whether it’s down to body fluctuations, you’re growing a human, or you just birthed one, or you’re just not feeling yourself, the change of seasons can exacerbate the whole thing. I feel like this is a topic that I want to dive deeper into, but in the meantime, here’s a task that will take you around an hour, doesn’t involve buying anything and will give you a handful of outfit formulas that you can deploy throughout the season ahead and leave you feeling prepared and ultimately LOVING what you’re wearing…

Liza originally coined this ‘Seven Uniform’ approach, and it is something that I’ve done at the start of every season for over a year now (on the topic of uniforms, my friend Rachel did a great post on this recently too!). The idea is that you have a think about what occasions crop up most in your diary and you create a uniform for each one. Maybe you need more than seven, maybe you need less? This time round, I’m doing six as I’ve removed my ‘Evening Work Event’ category because I don’t go to all that many because 1) I like to go to sleep at 9 pm, and 2) The highlight of my day is watching Slow Horses. So have a think, and feel free to tweak and create the scenarios that fit best for you. Here are my six:

• Childcare drop-off

• Errands

• Working from home

• Working from home - filming day

• Daytime work meetings & events

• Weekend

I’d suggest taking a full hour when you’re not in a rush, when the majority of your wardrobe is clean, washed, ironed and hung back up and sticking on your favourite music (I’m having a Hot Fuss renaissance right now). Really try to hone in on the practicalities of every outfit, and if you put on something and it doesn’t feel right, then try again. Don’t snap the final uniform until it’s something you’re genuinely excited to wear - your future self will thank you for that one.

If you’re a Southern Hemisphere babe, then you can find the spring version of this post here!

CHILDCARE DROP-OFF

Earrings* / jumper* / coat* / jeans* / vintage loafers (similar*)

BIG EARRINGS + JUMPER + WOOL COAT + JEANS + LOAFERS. Ultimately, I need this outfit to be quick and unfussy. Something that I can throw on in two minutes flat. So, accessories-wise, that means just a chunky earring, and it’s not something I need a bag for, either. I do, however, need a warm coat for the early mornings and slightly hardier shoes than usual for if it’s raining. So I’ve stuck to a suede-free option, although if it were pouring down, I’d throw on a leather lace-up boot or my Converse.

ERRANDS

Earrings* / jumper (similar*) / trousers (similar*) / shoes* (dupe*) / bag*

BIG EARRINGS + OVERSIZED JUMPER + LINEN TROUSERS + ANIMAL PRINT FLAT + SUEDE BAG. I love this outfit and the mix of textures - that’s the best part of autumn: mixing chunky knits with softer, light linens, throwing in a suede bag and calling it a day. I love the earthy palette here, too; it just has a lot of ease to it. And that’s important because, for a day of errands, I tend not to layer up too much during the shoulder months. I’m usually in and out of supermarkets, post offices, and dry cleaners, so I don’t want to be lugging extra layers around. Instead, I’d layer under this with a t-shirt or vest top if needed. The main requirements here are a big massive bag for all my bits and bobs and comfortable shoes.

WORKING FROM HOME

Necklace* / cardigan* (ad - gifted) / trousers (similar*) / shoes*

STATEMENT NECKLACE + CARDIGAN + SILKY TROUSERS + SLIM FLATS. This uniform is the most important out of the bunch because working from home is what I spend the majority of my week doing. I feel like year-round, these trousers are a feature in my working-from-home uniform because the elasticated waist and wide-leg cut just make them so comfortable. Ultimately, that’s what I need - comfort with a hint of polish that tends to up my own personal productivity levels. Navy, black and khaki is a classic combination and the silk fabric dresses up an otherwise basic outfit. I always find that adding in a big necklace or pair of earrings makes me feel ‘done’ enough for whenever I have video calls, too.

And if I need to go out, I’d add on this trench (find a similar one here*), with this bag* (ad - gifted)

WORKING FROM HOME - FILMING DAY

Necklace* / shirt (similar*) / jeans* (similar*) / loafers* (similar*)

STATEMENT NECKLACE + SILKY SHIRT + SCULPTURAL JEANS + LOAFERS. A filming day still usually consists of me being in the confines of my home, but it usually involves a little more glam and being on camera; I’ve learnt to lean into my ‘True Autumn’ colour palette. Put me in a black shirt in front of a camera, and I look like I might be about to pass out. Stick me in something brown, navy or cream, and I actually look like I’m awake. So it’s less about fit and formulas here and more about the actual colour I’m wearing near my face. Shirts are helpful, too, as I can snuggle the microphone into the v-neck when we film. So not only is this outfit functional, it’s flattering to the ol’ complexion, too.

And for when I left the house, I’d add my vintage suede jacket (find a similar one here*), wrap a jumper* around my neck and use my St Agni bag*.

DAYTIME WORK MEETINGS & EVENTS

Earrings* / knitted vest* / jeans* (ad - gifted) / belt* (ad - gifted) / coat* / flats* (similar*) / bag*

DAINTY EARRINGS + KNITTED VEST + TURN-UP JEANS + BELT + CAR COAT + ANIMAL PRINT FLATS + WOVEN LEATHER BAG. I’m a homebody and will pick being at home, over leaving it, pretty much any day of the week. BUT I do love how my weekly trips to London give me an excuse to really ‘go there’ style-wise. I never want to waste the opportunity wearing something I could easily crack out at the weekends or a day working-from-home, I want to dial it up a bit, just a little. So I’ll add the belt! A funkier style of denim! The more polished coat! There are only three boxes the outfit must tick:

• It needs to be an outfit that doesn’t show sweat patches (here I’ve gone for a knitted vest, over a jumper, to reduce overall perspiration).

• Nine times out of 10, I’ll take my laptop to London, so I need a bag that can fit it in (which means nine times out of 10, I’m taking this one with me).

• My shoes need to be comfortable as it will easily be an over 10K step day. If weather allows I’ll walk between meetings and events where possible.

WEEKEND

Earrings* / jumper* (similar*) / cords (similar here* and here*) / loafers* (similar*)

POLISHED EARRINGS + CHUNKY JUMPER + CORD TROUSERS + LOAFERS. I bought a pair of cords last year and welp, that changed the game when it came to my weekend uniform. Of course this outfit works with jeans too (and that will be a swap I make often!), but I love the texture and added boost of colour the cords give. The base is ultimately quite simple, so I rely a lot at the weekends on a big massive earring and a shoe that isn’t a trainer. However if we’re walking a serious distance, or it’s cold and rainy outside then I’ll reach for the only trainers I own, my trusty Converse…

And if it was chiller I’d throw on my leather jacket* and my Converse*.

That’s it, in less than an hour I’ve made a uniform for (hopefully!) every occasion that will crop up over the next three months. I find it best to take a mirror selfie of each outfit and save them into a seperate ‘UNIFORMS’ folder on my phone so they are easy to find and refer back to when you need them. Look at you - SO organised!