The In-Between Edit

ledge guide·6 min·edition nº 02, The renaissance of making·

Styling ideas for the weeks between summer and autumn.

When summer hasn't quite said goodbye but autumn is sending its first signals, that particular stretch of the fashion calendar begins: mornings suddenly call for a jacket, by midday even the blazer is too much. Sandals sit next to loafers, the summer dress hangs beside knitwear.

Welcome to the In-Between Season.

The fashion questions now are: what can be combined differently? Which pieces suddenly work in a new context? And which special piece might add something, rather than simply being more?

The best styling trick for these weeks is layering instead of clearing out. First one extra layer. Later, closed shoes and a jacket or coat. Because a new season doesn't necessarily need a new wardrobe. Sometimes new (styling) ideas are enough.

THE SEASON STRETCHERS // Summer pieces that simply carry on

Now selected summer pieces get a second season. The airy dress suddenly works on cooler days too, with a cardigan, blazer or fine knit. Under sleeveless dresses, tops, T-shirts, roll necks or fine long sleeves extend the wearing time, with loafers, boots or trainers instead of sandals.

Summer piece no. 1: the lingerie dress

The Piece: The long lace dress is exactly where fashion is right now anyway: lingerie dressing and lace hold their ground trend-wise, and are already reappearing in the first Spring/Summer 2027 collections. Find out more >>>

The Brand: What began with Simone Wild's idea for the perfect velvet sock has grown, since 2017, into a full collection. Everything is made in Germany, with a focus on materials with character such as velvet and mesh, and a very distinct, recognisable aesthetic.

WEAR IT NOW // Slip dress + sandals

WEAR IT LATER // Slip dress + knit (see KNIT HAPPENS) + boots

Summer piece no. 2: the tank top

The Piece: The summer classic tank top (also by Simone Wild) works in autumn too. And in bright red it stretches the warm season a little further, at least to the eye. Find out more >>>

WEAR IT NOW // Tank + shirt + denim

WEAR IT LATER // Tank + cardigan or blazer

Summer piece no. 3: the maxi skirt

The maxi skirt moves from off-the-shoulder top and sandals to knit and loafers, and eventually to boots and a coat.

The Piece: The set of off-the-shoulder blouse and sculptural maxi skirt combines two statement pieces that also work on their own. Find out more >>>

The Brand: Artila Dokle lives and designs in London. Production happens in a small studio in Albania, in close collaboration with people from her personal circle. The Burnes debut collection is made from deadstock materials: pared back in colour (white), precise in cut.

WEAR IT NOW // Maxi skirt + off-the-shoulder top or stole + loafers

WEAR IT LATER // Maxi skirt + long sleeve or roll neck + boots + coat

THE BRIDGING PIECES // The pieces that bridge the seasons

Some pieces seem made for this in-between season: blazers and shirts are warm enough for the morning but not yet too heavy for the afternoon.

Bridging piece no. 1: the blazer

The blazer takes on a new role now. In summer it was part of a look. In early autumn it replaces the jacket. Open over a tank top or dress, or combined with knitwear as a proper autumn/winter outfit. Perfect.

Black Structure Blazer by Mon Col Anvers

The Piece: The striking texture of the fabric and the clean cut shape a slim silhouette, while the lining gives it a fluid drape. Find out more >>>

The Brand: Every design at Mon Col Anvers, from Antwerp, comes from Eva Juchtmans personally, from the garments to her iconic collars. She designs, chooses the fabrics and works with a pattern cutter who develops the patterns.

One garment. Four seasons. Repeat.

August: over a tank top and shorts
September: over a summer dress
October: with a T-shirt, skirt and loafers
November: with knit, denim, coat and boots
Spring 2027: shirt, blazer, jeans

Bridging piece no. 2: the shirt

The classic shirt is one of these season-bridgers too: open as a light jacket, under knitwear, or solo with a skirt or trousers.

One shirt, many ideas.

August: shirt open over a tank and shorts
September: with denim and loafers
November: under knit and a coat
Spring: solo again
Summer 2027: sleeves up, shorts on.

The Piece: The Blue Shirt is a styling wonder: cut oversized and adjustable via ties at the shoulders and waist. Wear it loose, define the waist, open over a top, closed under a jumper: one piece, many styles. Find out more >>>

The Brand: The shirt's versatility is no styling accident but part of the story of the Berlin brand by Sophia Brandis and Marlene Engel: ties change silhouettes, and on some pieces the sleeves come off.

THE LAYER PLAYERS // More look with one extra layer

This season, layering is less a functional hack than a styling tool. A top over a shirt, a cardigan over a dress or an open shirt over a tank change familiar pieces without the look having to be rethought entirely.

The principle is simple: add, don't replace. And it works surprisingly often (and well!). Especially exciting: when different materials meet, fine silk with knit, cotton with wool, sheer fabrics with denser qualities.

The Piece: The dress by Pla Original is one such candidate. Oversized, cotton, strong enough to carry a look on its own. Find out more >>>

The Brand: Behind Pla Original is Irene Peukes, who designed footwear for Camper for many years and now runs Pla from Mallorca. For the cotton in her dresses and blouses she travels to Guatemala herself.

WEAR IT NOW // Maxi dress + heels or ballet flats

WEAR IT LATER // Maxi dress + long sleeve + cardigan

KNIT HAPPENS // The all-time favourite between-seasons material

On the first cool mornings, knitwear finally feels right again. Not the thick winter jumper yet, but light sweaters and cardigans that can be pulled over summer pieces. It's the contrast that makes the look interesting: knit with bare legs, a cardigan with a slip dress, a sweater with a flowing maxi skirt. Summer and autumn get to share the same pieces, plus one extra.

Knit piece no. 1: the sweater

Mariela Sweater in Sunset by Rafaela Knitwear

The Piece: The Mariela Sweater can be pulled over (almost!) everything we've worn all summer. Find out more >>>

The Brand: Rafaela founder Clara Navarro dyes every yarn herself and makes her made-to-order knitwear pieces on manual knitting machines in her studio near Barcelona. Piece by piece, real handwork, with small differences that make each one unique.

Knit piece no. 2: the cardigan

The Piece: The cardigan in baby alpaca and mulberry silk also comes from Clara's Spanish studio and is the perfect knitwear piece for any time of year. Find out more >>>

Knit piece no. 3: the polo-neck sweater

The Piece: Wonderfully clean in black and white, this knitted jumper works from casual to business. Find out more >>>

The Brand: REH founder Eliza Helmerich designs two lines from Berlin: hand-thrown stoneware ceramics, made in a family workshop in Saxony, and baby alpaca knitwear, produced in Arequipa, Peru.

WEAR IT NOW // Sweater + summer skirt + sandals

WEAR IT LATER // Sweater + cigarette trousers + blazer + boots + coat

THE KEEPERS // Pieces with no expiry date

The best pieces in the wardrobe cross seasons. A shirt, a well-cut blazer, a special skirt or a cardigan don't work for just three months but over and over, depending on what we combine them with. And that is exactly what makes a keeper: plenty of styling options, and the desire to wear the piece again and again.

And perhaps that is the up-to-date definition of a "must-have": something that gets to stay.

The keeper no. 1: the white shirt

The Piece: At first glance a classic. At second glance, not quite. Two cotton qualities, deadstock details and buttons made from recycled river shell. Details like these often decide whether a basic becomes a favourite. Find out more >>>