Alice Catherine

Serving you some strong autumn staples that will see you safely (and warmly) through many autumn/winters to come! There’s nothing groundbreaking here, just solid pieces that make up the foundation of my wardrobe at this time of year. These are all pieces that I style year after year in various different ways, and the pieces that (for me at least) really epitomise that effortless autumnal look…

Lets start with the classic checked jacket! This particular one is vintage but these types of jackets start to become available everywhere as the last of the summer days start to roll in. A checked jacket will always be a sturdy purchase and will never go out of style (I’m pretty confident in this declaration) – I’ve been wearing various checked jackets for well over a decade and they always stand the test of time. They are typically recognised as one of those ageless/genderless pieces (as all pieces should be), and are well loved by many for a good reason…

They are practical, warm, and easily layered up with whatever you already have in your wardrobe. I would always recommend shopping vintage/second hand for this type of jacket as they are one of the easiest pieces to pick up in a vintage store without too much digging. Most vintage shops you walk into will have a whole rail stuffed full of checked jackets. My advice would be to try on as many as you can until you find something that works with your colour palette – then get it dry cleaned to bring it back to life!

Next up, the knitted gilet (knitted vest/bib/whatever you prefer to call it). I feel like this is one of those marmite pieces that people either love or completely hate. I personally love anything that makes me look like a someones Grandad from the Seventies, so  a piece of knitwear that I can layer in a dozen different ways is music to my ears (and wardrobe)…

It might not be the sexiest piece you ever invest in, but it will be the most versatile! The one I’m wearing here is from Arket and I love it because it has a the added bonus of a zip up collar detail. I’ve been layering it over oversized shirts, and I love how it looks worn over a midi dress with chunky ankle boots too. If you have certain jackets in your wardrobe that are hard to style with jumpers underneath or they end up looking too bulky – a knitted vest is a great alternative. They just add an extra layer of cosiness to any outfit, and can easily be removed if you change your mind throughout the day. I love how they look over polo necks and blouses too! It’s fun to play around with layers at this time of year & I think the magic of a great autumnal outfit is always down to a mixture of interesting textures… 

Last but not least! Stomping boots don’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon – in fact, they seem to be increasing in size as the years go by! There’s some incredibly 80’s/90’s grungey style boots that are coming through for this autumn/winter. For me, there’s definitely a limit as to how chunky I like my footwear to be…

These Miu Miu ones that I picked up last winter were definitely a strong purchase – I’ve worn them to death and they will definitely be a staple for the months ahead. They go with everything and they are so so comfortable. I find chunky boots are very flattering if they fit more tightly around the ankle. I personally don’t feel great in boots that are looser around the ankle because they tend to make my legs look shorter (not something I really want exaggerated). A solid pair of stomping boots are absolutely necessary when you live in Manchester – as stylish as they are, they definitely always feel like a practical addition to any outfit… 

Photographs taken by Catherine Booty 

Jacket – vintage, Shirt – vintage, Knitted vest c/o – Arket, Jeans – Object, Boots – Miu Miu, Bag c/o – Ateliers Auguste