How to wear your maxi dresses through the fall
Just because the temperatures are starting to cool down doesn’t mean you have to shove your summer dresses into the back of your closet.
While the season for mini dresses and skirts may be—sadly—drawing to a close, we firmly believe you can wear your long summer dresses until the snow comes (and even then, with the right boots). The secret? Accessories and layering.
Of course, all-in-one dresses are appropriate for every season, but maxi dresses are particularly chic options that streamline getting dressed for autumnal transitional weather. They work well as the base for other fall wardrobe basics, such as a lightweight jumper or an over-the-knee boot, and they are fuss-free too.
To get more life out of your maxi dresses, here’s how to wear them on chillier days.
When it comes to styling summer clothes for fall, layering is the name of the game. One of the many ways you can layer a maxi dress for fall is to style it with a cozy, chunky sweater. The sweater will provide the needed warmth to make it through a chilly autumnal day and add the perfect fall vibes to your outfit. Fall is all about sweater weather for a reason! The cherry on top of this fall-ready look is using a belt to cinch your sweater at the waist: this will give you a more defined silhouette and add some visual interest to the overall look.
Fat Face
FatFace Maeve Natural Cable Knitted Sparkle Jumper
£65.00
FatFace
-33%
DUSK
High Neck Button Shoulder Jumper Pink
£20.00
£30.00
Roman
-31%
Fat Face
FatFace Dark Natural Archive Textile Knitted Cable Jumper
£43.00
£62.00
FatFace
Roman
Nordic Print Button Detail V-Neck Jumper Grey
£40.00
Roman
BA&SH
Brody suede buckle belt - Brown
£155.00
FARFETCH
-40%
Victoria Beckham
Croc-effect leather belt Black
£174.00
£290.00
Mytheresa
Déhanche
Hollyhock leather belt - Black
£220.00
FARFETCH
-52%
AllSaints
Cow Leather Eden Leather Buckle Waist Belt, Size: XS Black
£52.00
£109.00
AllSaints
Tip #2: Layering with a jacket or blazer
Fall is synonymous with sweater weather, but in many temperate countries, it’s that time of the year when outright cold mornings are followed by balmy afternoons, making getting ready for the day much more difficult. Warmer fall days call for other types of layers—like a blazer or a jacket that you can take on or off as needed and even wear draped over your shoulders. A monochromatic black look composed of a blazer, a sleek maxi dress, leather flats, and statement accessories will take you from desk to drinks with ease, while a leather jacket can be styled with a brightly-hued, long summer dress for casual days out.
-16%
TruClothing
Womens Tailored Brown Dogtooth Wool Blend Tweed Blazer - Size 20 UK
£94.99
£112.99
Secret Sales
-50%
Ganni
Black Heavy Cotton Tailoring Blazer - Size 34 Organic
£212.50
£425.00
GANNI
-60%
AllSaints
Wool/Polyester Mimmie Double Breasted Blazer, Size: UK 16/US 12 Black
£119.20
£299.00
AllSaints
-40%
Norma Kamali
Faux leather-trimmed velvet jacket Black
£198.00
£330.00
Mytheresa
-15%
Infinity Leather
Womens Black Shearling Sheepskin Aviator Jacket-Kiev - Size 24 UK
£304.99
£359.99
Secret Sales
AllSaints
Leather Clay Funnel Neck Suede Cropped Jacket, Size: L Brown
£479.00
AllSaints
-15%
Infinity Leather
Womens Oversized MA-1 Bomber Jacket - Black Nappa Leather - Size 12 UK
£119.99
£140.39
Secret Sales
Tip #3: Knee-high boots
Knee-high boots are a quintessential fall staple which comes in handy when styling a long summer dress: the added coverage of a tall boot—with some tall socks to match—will keep your lower half warm, and even allow you to get away with wearing light and sheer materials well into September. Cowboy boots are still a trending style along with biker boots: the former being more slim and ironic, and the latter being chunkier and edgier. The other boot styles to check out for Fall 2024 are square-toed, slouchy, and micro-heeled boots.
-50%
Alexandre Vauthier
Faux leather knee-high boots Black
£492.00
£985.00
Mytheresa
Charles & Keith
Sasky Knee High Flat Boots Black
£105.00
Charles & Keith
-47%
Dune London
Womens Ladies TRUSTI Casual Knee-High Boots - Black Leather (archived) - Size UK 4
£84.98
£159.99
Secret Sales
Charles & Keith
Faux Suede Fold-Over Back-Tie Thigh-High Boots Black
£99.00
Charles & Keith
Tip #4: Lightweight trench coat
Nothing screams transitional weather like a good ol’ trench coat, and it just so happens that trench coats pair extremely well with summer maxi dresses. Classic trench coats by Burberry have been an integral part of the preppy fashion canon for decades now, making them investment pieces and bonafide staples for spring and fall alike. A floor-length summer dress can be styled with a long trench coat, sleek heels, and statement jewellery for an elegant evening out, while a flowy floral print dress will look great with a trench coat for casual Fridays at the office or Saturday morning brunch.
-44%
AllSaints
Leather Reed Leather Trench, Size: L Black
£391.20
£699.00
AllSaints
-15%
Infinity Leather
Womens Gothic Full Length Edwardian Coat - Atlanta - Black - Size 22 UK
£219.99
£257.39
Secret Sales
-35%
Frenken
Shine Oversized Coat Black
£490.00
£759.00
Labels
AllSaints
Lyocell/Modal Linnie Relaxed Fit Trench Coat, Size: XS Brown
£299.00
AllSaints
Tip #5: Accessories to wear with your summer maxi dresses
Maxi dresses can serve as a blank slate for your accessories. When styling an “off-season” maxi dress for fall it is especially important to use your choice of accessories to lean into more season-appropriate vibes. Leather and suede belts, shoes, or bags are all great ways to achieve the right balance between summery and autumnal pieces. Statement jewellery is always a must, and knitwear like chunky socks, gloves, and hats will also infuse some warmth into your look.
Ganni
Grey Oversized Wool Rib Knit Beanie
£95.00
GANNI
Goldbergh
Cher faux fur hat Black
£190.00
Mytheresa
Ganni
Black Oversized Wool Rib Knit Beanie
£95.00
GANNI
Acne Studios
Studios Cream Ribbed Beanie White
£55.00
HEWI
Ganni
Purple Oversized Wool Rib Knit Beanie
£95.00
GANNI
-30%
Sandro
Bucket hat in alpaca and mohair Beige
£97.30
£139.00
Sandro
Polo Ralph Lauren
cable-knit beanie - Blue
£90.00
FARFETCH
Acne Studios
Pansy wool beanie Black
£150.00
Mytheresa
AllSaints
Polyester Aude Ruffle Maxi Skirt, Size: UK 14/US 10 Pink
£199.00
AllSaints
-23%
Roman
Tiered Tropical Print Midi Dress Green
£50.00
£65.00
Roman
-60%
AllSaints
Womens Linen Skylar Long Sleeve Maxi Dress, Size: UK 16/US 12 White
£103.20
£259.00
AllSaints
Roman
Sequin Chiffon Wrap Maxi Dress Blue
£100.00
Roman
AllSaints
Polyester Arlea Tulle Maxi Skirt, Size: UK 16/US 12 Black
£199.00
AllSaints
-44%
Fat Face
FatFace Marlowe Ivory Gathered Sleeve Printed Maxi Dress White
£50.00
£89.00
FatFace
-30%
Rotate
Embellished mesh maxi dress Black
£224.00
£320.00
Mytheresa
Original text: Kayla Kuefler and Zeinab Saidoun
Updated text and content: Emma Trimboli