Three women wearing Ralph Lauren autumn coats.

Women’s Autumn Wardrobe Essentials

A versatile wardrobe is the key to nailing autumn’s many style trends, whether you’re opting for a high-society preppy look (think traditional tartans, butter-soft leathers, and upmarket tweeds), or are looking to channel your inner country music star with razzle-dazzle cowgirl tassels, wide-leg trousers, and vachetta leather boots featuring Western-inspired cutouts. Since the brand’s inception, Ralph Lauren has helped set a timeless precedent for women’s fashion, especially when it comes to fall’s sumptuous textures and rich, earthy colour palettes.

Read on for Ralph’s autumn wardrobe essentials (and to score plenty of autumn fashion tips).

Three women wearing Ralph Lauren autumn coats and layered outfits.

Autumn Fashion Basics

As the scorching days of summer draw to a close and the cooler days of autumn start to take hold, revamping your wardrobe means acclimatising to a whole new season (and a different set of weather patterns). The key to fall dressing is layering your garments so you can build a nice amount of body warmth without relying on heavy-duty coats and winter-style jackets.

During autumn, the basic clothing fabrics you choose can make or break your comfort level, so stick with breathable cottons when it comes to your foundation layers, before building with warmer materials like cashmere, wool, and leather. We love teaming Mid-Rise Skinny Jeans with a Ruffle-Trim Shirt and a Burnished Leather Moto Jacket, before accessorising with Pony Suede Penny Loafers and a too-cute Emerie Satchel bag.

Woman sitting wearing a leather jacket, white shirt, and dark jeans.
Woman wearing a brown leather jacket, flat cap, and tweed trousers.
Woman sitting wearing a in a black coat, beige trousers, and knee-high boots.
Woman standing in a white V-neck sweater and beige trousers.

Essentials for Your Autumn Wardrobe

If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to autumn outfits, we recommend shopping the essentials before splashing out on statement pieces. Build your seasonal wardrobe with t-shirts, trousers, skirts, and blouses, before moving onto knitwear and lighter weight jackets.

Choose garments that can easily transition between day and night, and can be dressed up or down with a few simple tweaks. Ralph Lauren’s designer accessories can radically change an outfit from casual to formal (think jewellery, handbags, belts, and heels).

Woman standing in a black coat, white collared shirt, black trousers, and black boots.

Footwear and Accessories to Complete your Outfit

The best autumn footwear should keep your feet snug and dry, whether you’re pounding the city pavements, attending an outdoor polo match, or climbing the ladder of the corporate world. Coordinated accessories create a put-together look that will only enhance your appearance (think shoulder bags, très chic hats, leather belts, and wool-blend scarves).

When the weather takes a turn, slip on our Preslie Rubber Rain Boots with a Water-Resistant Car Coat, or unite Coraline Shearling-Trim Suede Booties with a Ribbon-Trim Fedora.

Ralph’s Adrienne Leather Pumps boast a pointy-toe silhouette that’s suited to the boardroom (marry with a Jersey Long-Sleeve Dress and a Logo Reversible Belt).

Woman in a burgundy velvet top and brown hat
Model wearing a denim skirt, white socks, and loafers, styled with a plaid cape.

Casual Wear:
How to style casual autumn outfits

Autumn layering is easy if you focus on your base layers and then slowly build a visual story. The key is to play around with accessories that feature striking colours and textural patterns, like our Naiomi Glasses Unisex Trainers or our concho Metal-Accent Belt.

We love teaming an all-black outfit with fabulous fringing, as seen on our Waxed Leather Jacket, Trim Suede Boots, and Polo ID Shoulder Bag. Alternatively, dress up an all-denim outfit with a Silk Twill Scarf featuring Ralph’s cursive font and paisley repetition.

Woman sitting wearing a brown blazer and denim dungarees.
Woman in a tan fringed jacket, white shirt, and sunglasses.
Woman in a brown coat, denim shirt, and jeans with a green tote.
Woman in a red varsity jacket and velvet trousers.

Formal Attire:
How to dress up your autumn wardrobe

Formal occasions ask that you ditch the sneakers and comfy jeans and roll out the black-tie apparel. Renowned for his eveningwear, Ralph’s glittering gowns and cocktail frocks will make you feel like an A-list celebrity with their opulent fabrics and flattering cuts.

Our Top Picks for the Party Season:

Our Top Picks for the Party Season:

Woman in a navy evening gown holding a black handbag.
Shimmy the night away in a Double-Faced Satin Dress
Woman sitting in a navy evening dress.
Turn heads in a Crinkled Satin Gown
Woman standing in a black sweater and satin skirt holding a red clutch.
Or channel Old Hollywood in a slinky Satin Midi Slip, the colour of Liz Taylor’s Bulgari emeralds.

Autumn Accessories

Scarves are one of autumn’s most practical accessories because they can instantly lift a lacklustre outfit and are easy to transport in a shoulder bag or satchel.

Meanwhile, gold-toned jewellery adds much needed twinkle to the season’s earthy colour palettes (think Ralph’s Leaves & Crystal Earrings and Pave Diamond Stirrup Bangle).

Blue plaid scarf draped over a wooden chest with a pinecone.
Black leather crossbody bag with gold accents.

Layering and Styling your Outfits

Layering is great way to generate multiple outfits with interchangeable garments. Combine colours, textures, patterns, and shapes, and play around with various fabrics.

Woman in a brown coat, purple sweater, and wide trousers with a blue bag.

Autumn Layering Essentials

On the colder days of autumn, select coats that are stuffed with fill-power duck down and sweaters made from cosy fabrics. We recommend cashmere, mohair, and snug wool-blends for their unbeatable warmth and sumptuous softness.

Denim and chambray are perfect autumnal jacket materials because they protect the skin from drizzle and wind while being lighter in weight than quilted coats. And when you’re looking for water-resistant fabric that helps shield from the rain, nothing beats a made-made textile like polyester or nylon.

Two women in puffer outfits, one in tan knitwear and the other in a green tracksuit.

Autumn Essentials Recap

Since the 1970s, Ralph Lauren has been setting a fierce style precedent with his cable knit sweaters, preppy plaid scarves, luxe leather riding boots, and iconic logoed polo shirts. This autumn, build a versatile wardrobe that serves workdays and weekends by investing in a range of must-have staples, as well as gorgeous sweaters and coats.

Learn the art of layering. Shop our Autumn Essentials collection today.

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