STYLE AND CULTURE

HOW TO LAYER FOR AUTUMN

By Sarah Waldron, 31 August 2026

Determining what to wear this autumn hinges on one thing: layers. Layering is easy. Layering well is a slightly trickier proposition. It’s not as straightforward as adding a jacket over a jumper. One bulky shirt too many and a person runs the risk of looking like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters. On the other side of the sartorial coin, the temptation is to put a shacket on with every outfit – apt in some circumstances, but you’d be missing out on a world of styling potential. There’s an art to layering that elevates your autumn clothes and makes your ‘fits look effortless. Here are our guidelines.

#1: BUILD IN LIGHT LAYERS

You're going to want to start your layered look with light fabrics, then build up. The heaviest layer (usually an autumn jumper or coat) goes on the very top, and it’s important that every layer be on show, even if it’s just a sliver of collar or cuffs. When it comes to light autumn layering, you don’t necessarily have to go from smallest garment to largest – for example, you can style an oversized graphic tee over a long-sleeve top. Add a heavier-duty shirt, but leave it open. Your parka goes on top. The easiest way to keep it all looking put-together is to stay in the same colour family – blues, browns, beiges, or shades of grey are all safe bets.

GET THE LOOK:

01: COLLUSION Long sleeve t-shirt in white, £9.99

02: ASOS DESIGN oversized t-shirt with paraiso bubble graphic in navy, £16

03: The North Face City Triclimate parka jacket in navy, £380

04: ASOS DESIGN oversized poplin shirt in blue, £28

#2: USE DIFFERENT TEXTURES

With so many items of clothing in the mix, it’s a good idea to add a few different textures, too. An outfit made entirely of pieces in the same fabric will look relatively flat next to a counterpart with thoughtful textural elements. How textured you go is up to you: think subtleties like trousers with tonal herringbone weaves or go big with an extravagantly fluffy cardigan (or go even larger with both).

GET THE LOOK:

01: Jack & Jones Premium mac coat in beige, £80
02: ASOS DESIGN boxy regular ringer t shirt in washed beige, £24
03: Balmohk Knitted cardigan in sparrow, £38
04: ASOS DESIGN pleated wide barrel leg trousers in brown microtexture, £35

#3: COLOUR AS AN ACCENT

One of the best uses for a layer in your outfit is as a bright and bold accent. The optimal place in the running order is somewhere in the middle, so it’s part-revealed, part-concealed. If your accent is the top layer, it runs the risk of overwhelming the rest of your outfit; if it’s the base, there's a chance of it disappearing altogether. We like a colourful shirt under an autumn jacket or jumper. By popping the collar over the top or showing a cuff, you create splashes of the same colour at different points in your ‘fit – tying everything together nicely.

GET THE LOOK:

01: ASOS DESIGN long sleeved oversized denim shirt in mid wash blue, £50
02: ASOS DESIGN relaxed tapered jeans in mid blue with pleats and buckle, £40

03: Bershka Short sleeve t-shirt in white, £9.99

04: ASOS DESIGN oversized poplin shirt with chest embroidery in red, £28

#4: PLAY WITH PATTERN

Pictures: ASOS

There are some subcultures and occupations that turn layering into a fine art. Cowboys. Lumberjacks. Who occupies the top spot in the layering league? The trophy goes to skaters – maybe it's all the supersized tees and shirts, which naturally lend themselves to layering. This group is also the most adept with pattern, mixing stripes on stripes and checks on checks. You don’t have to double-dip patterns with your ‘fit – a single statement motif will do. Again, patterns sit best somewhere in the middle of the outfit parfait. But if you are working with two or more patterned pieces, make sure they have something in common to tie them together – think similar tones or graphic space.

GET THE LOOK:

01: Topman rigid baggy fit jean in raw, £45

02: Carhartt WIP michigan coat in hamilton brown, £150

03: Jack & Jones linen blend regular shirt in khaki, £25

04: Bench x Superdry & Co Oversized long sleeve top in olive navy stripe, £29