Addressed is a weekly column about the act of getting dressed. Anything and everything is fair game for discussion—from animal prints and vintage clothes to unpacking what it means to be a grown woman in a baby tee. Download the Vogue app, and find our Style Advice section to submit your question.
Well, it’s happened; somehow it is already November. The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting longer, and the daily weather can fluctuate from brisk to chilly at the drop of a hat. Transitional weeks like these always produce wardrobe confusion; inevitably, some days you’ll be underdressed and others you’ll be wearing too much.
Having a good transitional coat or jacket is key to surviving this time at just the right level of comfort. Crucially, they offer ways to have fun getting dressed up—unlike the freak days of winter, when wrapping up in a giant blanket on top of your coat, hat, and gloves is the only thing that sounds appealing.
A confession: I always feel like I am lacking in the jacket department. Fall comes around every year, and every morning, before I go out, there is minor drama as nothing actually works. My outerwear choices are either too warm, not warm enough, or they don’t match the look; I’m like a sartorial Goldilocks. The idea for this week’s Addressed column, though it came from a colleague, happens to be one I’m looking to answer for myself.
Now! Let’s break it all down: A good transitional jacket should be warm enough to withstand a cozy chill—let’s say around 55 degrees Fahrenheit. A great transitional jacket will allow room for layering underneath, should the temperature dip down to the mid-40s. Anything colder than that calls for a winter jacket.
There are a few classic transitional jackets that immediately come to mind. The L.L.Bean barn jacket recently went from sleepy favorite to toast of the town after Jonathan Anderson reimagined it for his spring 2023 Loewe collection. Then, of course, there is the trench coat. While these are both timeless wardrobe pieces—to use everyone’s favorite buzzwords—the ones that you add to your closet need not be. Consider a mini-length trench with a drop-waist belt like Commission’s, or take an example from Anderson’s own runway, and indulge in a barn jacket in an unexpected color or length—either cropped or extra-long. (J.Crew consistently excels at these options.)
A car coat is also perfect for in-between weather because of its clean and unfussy silhouette. A mid-length version works particularly well with skirts of all kinds, whether pencil or circle. It’s also great layered over a shorter jacket, as seen at Lemaire, where it topped off a Canadian-tuxedo combo.
Liner-style pieces that provide extra warmth for when it gets really cold can also look terrific on their own. Last year, I bought a mid-length olive green quilted version from Everlane and was surprised at how much I liked the look on its own. Rachel Comey made her own quilted liner for fall that’s equal parts retro and elegant. On the hunt for practicality, an outdoor-ready parka can also have real fashion possibilities; at Lii, designer Zane Li recontextualized it by blowing up the silhouette and adding contrasting color details. (Another good practical option is this Uniqlo puffer; size up for drama!)
Because the weather isn’t proper cold yet, this may be the time to prioritize form over function—to quote one Mr. Paul Hollywood—and indulge in novelty jackets. Think animal print, cropped, or with textural embellishments and details. The point is to put off wearing heavy winter coats as long as possible and have as much fun as you can before Mother Nature puts the kibosh on it.
It was in this spirit that I recently purchased an ever-so-slightly oversized brushed-wool jacket, inspired by versions at Prada, Tory Burch, and Kallmeyer. It goes both ways: proper and buttoned-up paired with tailored separates or pure whimsy worn with paint-splattered jeans and sneakerinas.
When it all comes down to it, surviving this phase is all about thoughtful layering and strategic shopping: Do you want a classic, a classic with a twist, or something totally bonkers? But don’t forget, dressing for practicality never has to be boring.
