Autumn always tricks me a bit. I’ll tell myself it’s “still warm,” and then I step outside in the morning and immediately want sleeves. Not a coat. Just… something. That’s usually when I start reaching for dresses for the autumn again, because they’re easy, they’re comfortable, and I don’t have to overthink it.
And honestly, I don’t want to overthink it. If I’m wearing a dress, I want it to feel like I can move through my day normally — coffee, errands, a quick stop somewhere, maybe lunch — without fussing with it every two minutes.
The trick is styling. Not piling on layers. Just choosing the pieces that make the whole look feel a little more “cooler days” without losing the relaxed Martha’s vibe.
A soft, flowy dress with a hat + a structured bag
This is where the Elizabeth Kaftan fits so nicely. It’s flowy, it’s comfortable, and it already has that easy shape you want in autumn — especially when the weather can’t decide what it’s doing.
What changes the whole outfit is pairing it with the Martha’s Pearl Sun Hat and the Jackie O Basket Bag. The hat softens everything (and it’s also practical with dealing with the Aussie sun here), while the basket bag gives the outfit a bit of structure so it doesn’t feel too floaty.
This is one of those looks that feels “done” without being done-up. If I’m leaving the house and I want to look like I tried (even if I didn’t), this combo works.
Keeping it simple with a market bag that makes the outfit feel real
The Farrah Kaftan with the French Market Basket Bag is the kind of outfit I wear when I want ease, but I still want it to feel like an outfit.
The market bag does a lot here. It adds texture, it adds that casual “I’m just out for the day” energy, and it keeps the look grounded. Autumn styling doesn’t always need heavier pieces — sometimes it’s just adding something that makes the dress feel less like a summer throw-on and more like something intentional.
I like this look for daytime. Walks, quick errands, anything where you’re in and out, and the weather keeps shifting. It’s not precious. It’s wearable.
A floral maxi that still works when the air gets cooler
The Elara Floral Botanical Maxi Dress in pink is such a good reminder that autumn doesn’t mean “pack away colour.” The length helps — it feels a little more covered — and the print still feels soft without being overly sweet.
Styled with the Palm Tree Hat and Noosa Slides, it’s relaxed, but not messy. The slides keep it casual (and comfortable, which matters more than people admit). The hat gives it that finished touch, even if the rest is simple.
If the day turns cooler later, this is also the easiest dress to add a cardigan to. Nothing fights. It just works.
Where to start if you’re building autumn outfits
If you’re shopping with dresses for the autumn in mind, I always think it helps to look at dresses and accessories at the same time — not separately. Outfits come from pairings, not single items.
You can browse our full dresses collection here, and our accessories collection here — and it’s genuinely easier to picture outfits when you flick between the two.
A quick note before you overthink it
Autumn dressing doesn’t have to be a big reset. I don’t treat it that way. I just start styling the same pieces differently.
A kaftan with a structured bag.
A simple dress with a market basket.
A maxi dress that still feels light, but more covered.
That’s usually enough. And on most days, “enough” is exactly what I want.
