Autumn Dress Outfits: How to Style a Dress with Jacket and Boots

Styling an autumn dress works best with a jacket or cardigan, tights and boots. With these three pieces, your summer dress becomes an outfit for cool autumn days.

The days get shorter, but your favourite dress should not stay in the wardrobe. Many people wonder how to wear a dress in autumn without it looking like summer. Here you will find which jackets, tights and shoes go with dresses in autumn, which colours look good now and how to build a balanced outfit layer by layer.

Autumn dress outfits: the basic formula

An autumn dress is not a separate type of dress. Almost any dress becomes an autumn dress when you combine it with the right layers. The basic formula has four building blocks:

• Dress: midi, maxi or short, plain or patterned. Florals, leopard print and checks are often seen in autumn.
• Layer on top: jacket, cardigan or coat.
• Legs: tights in black, brown or a colour from the outfit.
• Shoes: ankle boots, tall boots or boots.

If you change just one building block, the dress already looks like autumn. You will find more ideas for layering in our guide Autumn outfits for women.

Which jacket goes with a dress in autumn?

A jacket that is shorter than the hem goes well with a dress in autumn. That way the dress stays visible and the outfit has two clear layers.

• Short jacket: A jacket that ends at the hip goes with midi and maxi dresses, because enough of the dress is visible underneath.
• Denim jacket: It makes a patterned dress easy for everyday and goes with light and dark colours.
• Trench coat or coat: Worn open, they are the elegant option for cool days.
• Leather look: A leather-look jacket adds contrast to a dress with a floral print.

Which styles are worth a look for the in-between seasons is covered in our guide Transitional jackets for women. You will find a selection in the transitional jackets collection.

Cardigan over the dress

A cardigan is the easiest layer for autumn. You can wear it open, drape it over your shoulders or take it off when it gets milder at midday.

With a patterned dress, a cardigan in a calm colour taken from the dress works well, for example beige, brown or cream. With a plain dress, the cardigan can be a shade lighter or darker. A short cardigan ends at the waist, a long one reaches past the hip. You will find a selection in the cardigans collection. More on dresses with cardigans is in our guide How to style a dress with a cardigan.

Tights with a dress in autumn: which colour?

Tights connect the dress and the shoes. They turn a summer dress into an autumn look and decide how calm the outfit feels.

• Black is the simplest choice and goes with dark dresses and black boots.
• Brown looks soft with camel, beige and brown boots and brings leg and shoe into one tone.
• Burgundy or dark green make a deliberate colour accent when dress and shoes stay simple.
• Knitted tights add texture to the outfit and suit plain, single-colour dresses best.

On mild days, socks that end above the boot shaft also work. It is a relaxed alternative to tights.

Boots and ankle boots with an autumn dress

Shoes set the style. The same dress looks casual with boots and a little smarter with slim ankle boots.

Ankle boots. They go with knee-length dresses and midi dresses. With tights in the colour of the shoes, you get one continuous line.

Knee-high boots. They close the gap between hem and shaft and are a classic choice for autumn, especially with knee-length dresses.

Cowboy boots. With a floral or leopard-print dress, they add a relaxed accent. They go well with khaki, brown and beige.

Chunky-soled boots. They give a summery dress some weight at the bottom and make the outfit suitable for every day. You will find the styles in the boots collection.

Autumn colours: brown, burgundy and khaki

Muted, warm colours are often seen in autumn. Three shades are especially easy to combine:

• Brown goes with cream, beige, camel and white. Brown boots and brown tights make a calm tone-on-tone outfit.
• Burgundy goes with black, camel, grey and cream. A black jacket and black boots keep the outfit clean. You will find more ideas in our guide Styling burgundy.
• Khaki goes with brown, beige, white and black. Brown boots or cowboy boots go especially well with it.

If you want to try a new colour, keep jacket, tights and shoes in one tone and let only the dress stand out.

Three outfits with an autumn dress

Calm in brown. A dress in brown or beige, brown tights, brown ankle boots and a cream cardigan. Warm, soft and balanced.

With a pattern. A midi dress with a floral or leopard print, black tights, black boots and a short denim jacket. The pattern stays the centre of attention, everything else is calm.

In burgundy. A dress in burgundy, black tights, black boots and a camel coat worn open. The colours make a clear contrast.

When it gets colder, our guide Styling a dress in winter shows how to keep wearing the same pieces with a jumper and coat.

Matching items in the shop: dresses for women and brown clothing for women.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear a summer dress in autumn?

Yes, with tights, closed shoes and a jacket or cardigan over it. Darker colours and patterns in brown, red and green shades fit the autumn look more easily.

Which tights go with a dress in autumn?

Black goes with almost every outfit, brown with earth tones and brown boots. A colour like burgundy is a deliberate accent with simple shoes.

Which shoes go with an autumn dress?

Ankle boots, knee-high boots, cowboy boots or chunky-soled boots. Tights in the colour of the shoes keep the line calm.

Which jacket goes with a long autumn dress?

A short jacket that ends at the hip or a cardigan that is shorter than the hem. A coat works if you wear it open.

Which colours go with a dress in autumn?

Brown, burgundy, khaki, beige and camel. They combine well with cream, black and grey.

When does an autumn dress become a winter outfit?

As soon as you add a jumper, a coat and warmer tights. You can keep the dress, boots and colours.