Brunch in autumn is a strange dress code. It is too early for anything that looks like evening, too social for the jumper you slept in, and the weather changes twice before you have finished your coffee.
The answer we keep coming back to is a midi dress with a proper shoe. A dress does the work in one piece, a midi length handles a cold terrace, and the shoe decides whether the whole thing reads relaxed or put together. Here are four we built this month, each from three different shops.
The draped midi with a burgundy derby
A draped Massimo Dutti midi with a suede derby from Castañer in burgundy and a fine gold chain bracelet from Polène. The derby is the point: it keeps a soft dress grounded and it copes with wet cobbles. Shop the Cowl Midi, Oxblood Derby look, €495.
The brown column with leather trainers
A fluid brown midi with an asymmetric neckline, worn with brown leather trainers from COS and black marble drop earrings from Polène. Trainers under a dress is the easiest way to make it a daytime outfit. Shop the Brown Column, Suede Trainer look, €449.
The cocoa drape with square toe flats
The same draped midi in cocoa, this time with square toe flats from COS and gold hoops from Polène. Flat, sharp shoes keep it clean for a long lunch. Shop the Cocoa Drape, Square Toe look, €409.
The wool mini for a colder morning
A long sleeved wool mini dress from COS, a leather wedge mule from Massimo Dutti and a Polène bag in ebony. The one to reach for when the terrace is out and the table is inside. Shop the Wool Mini, Petal Bag look.
How we build them
Every look on MISE is one outfit from three different shops, with one link to buy the whole thing. We choose the dress first, then the shoe, then one piece of jewellery or a bag, and we stop there. More autumn brunch outfits are in Women's Brunch Outfits.