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.
-10%
Closed
Round-neck Knitwear, female, Gray, M, Light Grey Wool Crew Neck Jumper
£187.92
£208.80
Miinto
-41%
AllSaints
Womens Merino Wool Myra Cowl Neck Merino Wool Jumper, Size: XS Black
£81.90
£139.00
AllSaints
-9%
Kocca
Delicate Chic Long Sleeve Close Neck Sweatshirt White
£66.99
£73.95
Miinto
-38%
Fat Face
FatFace Harlee Blush Pink Ruffle Knitted Jumper
£35.00
£56.00
FatFace
-30%
Déhanche
Belts, female, Brown, L, Hollyhock Belt
£176.61
£252.30
Miinto
-46%
AllSaints
Leather Ceri Wide Leather Belt, Size: L/XL Black
£80.10
£149.00
AllSaints
Victoria Beckham
Dorian Belt In Black Glossed Leather - 100CM - Womens
£250.00
Victoria Beckham
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.
-64%
AllSaints
Wool/Polyester Mimmie Double Breasted Blazer, Size: UK 14/US 10 Black
£108.00
£299.00
AllSaints
-32%
AllSaints
Polyester/Wool Astra Tailored Blazer, Size: UK 4/US 0 Grey
£197.10
£289.00
AllSaints
-50%
Norma Kamali
Lame blazer Black
£147.00
£295.00
Mytheresa
Fat Face
FatFace Erin Olive Green Suede Jacket
£225.00
FatFace
-55%
AllSaints
Womens Goat Leather Balfern Belted Suede Biker Jacket, Size: UK 16/US 12 Grey
£165.60
£369.00
AllSaints
-50%
Diesel
Vegan Leather Jacket L-SUZA-R with Zip on Sleeve size Xxs
£152.34
£304.68
GLAMOOD
-37%
AllSaints
Leather Clo Pleated Leather Jacket, Size: UK 4/US 0 Black
£219.60
£349.00
AllSaints
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
-40%
AllSaints
Womens Cow Leather Avril Knee High Leather Boots, Size: UK 4/ US 7/ EU 37 Black
£180.00
£299.00
AllSaints
Charles & Keith
Yvette Metallic-Accent Knee-High Boots Black
£109.00
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.
-40%
AllSaints
Leather Reed Leather Trench, Size: M Black
£421.20
£699.00
AllSaints
-32%
Ralph Lauren
Trench Coats, female, Black, L, Double Breasted Trench Coat
£263.61
£389.76
Miinto
AllSaints
Lyocell Lizie Double Breasted Trench Coat, Size: XS Pink
£299.00
AllSaints
-40%
Sandro
Long wool and leather coat Black
£431.40
£719.00
Sandro
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.
-33%
AllSaints
Alpaca/Wool Amore Beanie Hat, Size: One Size Grey
£39.60
£59.00
AllSaints
-56%
Jacquemus
Gros Grain Hood Beige
£75.00
£170.00
Labels
Ganni
Mixed Oversized Wool Rib Knit Beanie
£125.00
GANNI
-47%
AllSaints
Polyamide/wool Star Tinsel Metallic Beanie, Size: 9x10 inch Black
£31.50
£59.00
AllSaints
Ganni
Mixed Dark Grey Fitted Wool Rib Knit Beanie
£85.00
GANNI
Acne Studios
Studios Cream Ribbed Beanie White
£55.00
HEWI
Ganni
Black Oversized Wool Rib Knit Beanie
£95.00
GANNI
-30%
Sandro
Bucket hat in alpaca and mohair Beige
£97.30
£139.00
Sandro
-55%
AllSaints
Polyester Gabby Mesh Maxi Dress, Size: UK 10/US 6 Brown
£66.60
£149.00
AllSaints
-38%
Fat Face
FatFace Erin Blue Beachwear Wrap Dress
£40.00
£65.00
FatFace
-35%
Fat Face
FatFace Puri Pink Ornamental Maxi Dress
£45.00
£69.00
FatFace
AllSaints
Polyester Arlea Tulle Maxi Skirt, Size: UK 14/US 10 Black
£199.00
AllSaints
-30%
Sandro
Knit maxi dress Red
£230.30
£329.00
Sandro
-40%
AllSaints
Viscose/Polyester Zenia Sleeveless Asymmetric Midi Dress, Size: XS Black
£119.70
£199.00
AllSaints
-75%
Samsøe & Samsøe
Maxi Empire-Style Dress GERTRUD In Floral Pattern With Puff size Xs
£38.96
£155.82
GLAMOOD
Original text: Kayla Kuefler and Zeinab Saidoun
Updated text and content: Emma Trimboli