23.09.2023

Transeasonal dressing is all about making intelligent choices with your wardrobe, so we’ve picked our new-season essentials to get the balance just right

Autumn doesn’t technically start until 23 September but, when it comes to fashion and retail, the season seems to begin much, much earlier (and don’t think we haven’t noticed all the pumpkin-scented knick-knacks and festive biscuit tins in the shops).

This means bye-bye bikinis and short-sleeved T-shirts and hello cosy knitwear, scarves and coats. But the turn of the seasons isn’t all that straightforward. Just as children returned to school at the start of September, we saw an unprecedented heatwave in England, with scorching 30-degree temperatures rivalling Portugal and the south of Spain. Now, rain has set in for the foreseeable future, but temperatures are still settling in the early 20s.

This results in something of a sartorial conundrum. How does one maintain a refined and professional wardrobe in the coming weeks when temperatures fluctuate so drastically? Especially when you throw in over air-conditioned trains and stuffy offices for good measure.

Transeasonal dressing is all about making intelligent choices with your wardrobe to navigate the changing seasons. Flexibility and clever layering are key. As is choosing innovative fabrics with optimum performance. In the long run, it’s about buying less and getting more out of your clothing throughout the year

The concept of transeasonal dressing usually surfaces around this time of year due to the temperamental and changeable nature of the weather. So, while it may seem like something of a buzzword, there’s definitely an art to getting the balance just right.

At Thomas Pink, our clothing is designed to last, with quality, high performing fabrics that adapt to the season. Our shirts and accessories are made for the modern wardrobe, meaning they can take you from workday to weekend with ease; whatever the weather. But choosing just the right pieces is key, so here’s our pick of the best new-season essentials that will take you from autumn through to winter and beyond.

It’s always a bit depressing once the sun starts setting early and our morning commutes take place in pitch darkness. But plummeting temperatures and wintry weather are also a good excuse to get cosy with new-season knits. Knitwear has come a long way, sartorially speaking, since your granny’s moth-eaten cardigan, with designer brands creating elegant oversized sweaters, statement scarves and faux fur hats. Exuding the kind of “quiet luxury” made (in)famous by the Roy clan on Succession, our knitted merino wool bomber is a versatile jacket that’s available in a variety of block colours but free from any gaudy branding. The superior merino wool fabric provides optimum insulation and breathability, and you can wear it over your 9-5 outfit or a dressed-down weekend look.

Similarly snuggly yet lightweight is our knitted merino wool zipper gilet, which is made from Australian merino wool and is a surprisingly chic and easy way to add an extra layer on a chilly day, either worn underneath a suit jacket à la Kendall Roy or slung over a shirt and jeans combo. Our roll neck sweater can also subvert a traditionally “smart” ensemble while providing ample insulation. Uber slouchy roll necks reigned supreme on the Paris catwalk earlier this year, and stylish celebs – from Chris Pine to Jay-Z – prove time and time again that turtlenecks worn under tailored pieces are a match made in fashion heaven.

Autumn is, naturally, a time when people look to invest in a brand-new coat. But even these most practical of staples need to do more than just keep out the chill, and wearing a heavy-duty coat when the weather isn’t quite cold enough can be a bit of a hassle. Thomas Pink’s autumnal coats are just the ticket. Our Italian-made unlined modern mac is a contemporary spin on a British classic. The durable cotton-blend fabric is water resistant with a smooth, sophisticated finish. It’s lightweight yet warm and can be worn loosely or fitted over both formal and casual ensembles. Similarly, our new Chore jacket is a must-have at this time of year with its flattering, boxy silhouette and eminent versatility.

Tailored garments are an essential part of a capsule wardrobe; reliable pieces that you can turn to for important meetings, or days when you just feel like dressing up, winter weddings and festive dos. But you don’t want your suits to be too stuffy or tight, especially in chilly temperatures that require more layers. Step forward our innovative Classic Fit wool silk unstructured jacket, made from a luxurious wool-silk blend fabric woven in Yorkshire. The modern “unstructured” fit creates a relaxed yet refined silhouette, and the matching pleated trousers are equally effortless to wear.

A shirt is the foundation of your wardrobe. And while ours are (generally speaking) designed to suit all occasions – whatever the weather – we have also introduced some new season heroes for 2023. Our new naturally dyed collection comes in an array of autumnal colours and are embroidered with our famous fox logo. The blended fabric, meanwhile, offers the durability of cotton with the comfort and breathability of linen for those in-between days when the weather can’t seem to make up its mind. Indeed, we may think of linen as purely a summer fabric, but at Thomas Pink we have pioneered a heavier-gauge linen material, woven in Italy, that provides optimum breathability, durability and comfort. Available in a poppy sky-blue shade, the Classic Fit smart casual winter linen shirt is a modern autumn essential. Pure, quality cotton is ideal for autumn, and our Tailored Fit formal cotton poplin shirt is designed to hold a beautiful depth of colour. Proof that the autumn-winter season needn’t be drab.