Transitional Dressing: Wear Now, Wear Later (Ad)

This post is sponsored by JD Williams, a brand I’m delighted to be working with again. I can’t remember a summer as changeable as this one. I’ve lost count of the number of times I got caught in a rain shower, or felt the need to shed a layer by lunchtime because it suddenly got hot. Transitional dressing came early this year. But now it feels like autumn proper is almost upon us. I love this time of year, looking ahead to the new season. JD Williams invited me to create an outfit that I can wear now and wear later; hard-working wardrobe additions to suit all weathers. Ian and I are going to Amsterdam for a few days at the start of October. This has also influenced my choices; I’ll probably take mix and match clothes in two or three colours.

Navy is generally easier to co-ordinate and often more flattering than black, so it’s always a smart choice. I saw this navy sunray pleated skirt on my friend Catherine, (Not Dressed As Lamb), and loved how she styled it (with animal print and white sneakers). Inspired by this, I tried it with these leopard-print pull-on shoes. They’re incredibly lightweight and made for all-day walking. I love them and know they’ll be absolutely perfect for Amsterdam as well as with everything else I currently wear trainers with. The skirt is comfortable and easy to wear; it doesn’t crease and it simply pulls on. It’s also a true maxi length on me, which at 5 ft 9, isn’t always the case.

The simple navy cotton crew neck is a wardrobe staple that looks great with slim jeans as well as with this skirt. It’s a relaxed fit so I’ll be able to wear a tee or cami underneath when it’s cooler. I have a multitude of scarves that will go with this outfit too.

This suedette navy biker jacket makes transitional dressing easy. I’ll throw it over dresses, jeans, cropped trousers, prints and plains. The works. It comes in several other colours too including aubergine, (which I almost got instead). I love it dressed down but it’d give an evening dress and strappy heels a touch of laid back insouciance for cocktails/Christmas parties.

And the navy leather hobo bag is the perfect finishing touch for a daytime outfit. It’s large enough to fit all the essentials as well as my camera. It has three separate sections which make it easy to navigate.