There’s a certain kind of breeze that’s crisp – with just enough bite to make your elbows fold in and force you to button up your jacket – that signals the end of summer.
It’s not a calendar date per se, or even a distinct meteorological event, but a feeling.
You’ll know it when your lightweight blazer and just-in-case cardigan become obsolete, and you find yourself carrying your umbrella around at all times. This is jacket weather, pure and simple, and it never fails to catch me with one arm still in a short sleeve.
Every September, I find myself having the same conversation with friends: how does one dress for torrential downpour and ice-cold billowing wind one minute, followed by roaring sunshine the next?
This type of petulant, fickle and frustratingly extreme weather is often simply referred to as “transitional” – but there’s a lot more to autumn/winter outerwear than lightweight shower-protection.
The right outer layer does more than keep you warm and protected against the elements. It showcases an investment in versatility, timeless style and sartorial know-how. It nods to the season without leaning too hard into theme dressing. It’s the piece that elevates a simple tee and dark wash jeans into an editorial uniform.
The good news is, 2025’s offering is strong. Designers have leaned into structure and ease in equal measure, producing silhouettes that feel modern without losing their backbone. Think: reversible woollen coats and trenches, chic collarless numbers for pairing with your favourite rollneck, and faux suede beauties for sunnier autumnal days.
Whether you're rethinking your rotation or investing in one hero layer, these are the jackets that will earn their hanger space.
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By Anthropologie Reversible Quilted Oversized Jacket
Reversible jackets are set to be the go-to favourite of the sartorial set for the transitional seasons. Two styles in one? Why not?
This ultra-luxurious option from the By Anthropologie range, one size features a woollen tartan, and the other is a quilted navy dream.
Buy now £198.00, Anthropologie
M&S Collection Faux Fur Buckle Trim Coat
Collarless and cool, I’m predicting that this ultra-contemporary look from M&S is going to be an instant sell-out. Comprising a soft faux fur exterior with gold-tone buckles, it’ll elevate any autumn/winter outfit with ease.
Buy now £75.00, M&S
Damson Madder pre-order reversible jerry crop trench coat
Few high street brands have achieved cult status quite as quickly as Damson Madder, and this brand-new reversible trench – currently available for pre-order – is a prime example of why.
Versatile and unbeatably stylish, it’s available in sizes 6-20, has a detachable collar that can be worn as a headscarf, and adjustable buttons for sleeve length. Yes please.
Buy now £145.00, Damson Madder
Gant Cotton Trench Coat
If you don’t yet have a trench coat in your autumnal outerwear collection, take this as a sign to finally take the plunge. This sleek, premium, and very British option from Gant is a top, true heritage pick.
Buy now £300.00, Gant
H&M Napped Jacket
With an oh-so 70s silhouette featuring faux suede and a drawstring hem, this jacket from H&M is almost as soft as it is stylish. Raglan sleeves give it a slightly oversized feel, and front welt pockets will keep you warm when the wind chill is high.
Buy now £39.99, H&M
Barbour Reighton hooded corduroy-trimmed waxed-cotton jacket
Nothing says Great British Autumn quite like a Barbour. The hooded Reighton silhouette is a solid seasonal choice, featuring waxed cotton with an oversized corduroy collar and signature checked lining.
Buy now £330.00, Net-A-Porter
We The Free Monique Indigo Duster
Denim dusters promise a different kind of cool. Endlessly chic and wearable with just about anything, this collared option from We The Free has a loose, lightweight fit for a flowing silhouette.
Buy now £188.00, Free People
Reformation x Kacey Musgraves Cotswolds Coat
Embrace your inner country bumpkin with the Cotswolds Coat from the Kacey Musgraves x Reformation collab. Crafted from regenerative wool and recycled cashmere with an oversized fit, it’s a tie-waist wonder that’ll look fabulous buttoned up to the top or left billowing in the wind.
Buy now £428.00, Reformation
ReNew Quilted Hooded Liner
Transitional outerwear is all about versatility, which this hooded liner from Everlane practically defines. It’s water-repellent, made from 100 per cent recycled polyester with a recycled fill, wear it solo as the mercury drops, then layer it with your favourite oversized duster coat for an insulating boost.
Buy now £220.00, Everlane
Rixo Milly Leopard Coat
Leopard print’s popularity shows no signs of waning and the look is making a play for your winter wardrobe with this knee-length coat from Rixo that takes its design cues from the 70s. The pattern has been handpainted and set on a felt fur fabric.
Buy now £485.00, Rixo
Aligne Oak Cord Collar Barn Coat
Relaxed and oversized, just as all barn jackets should be, we love this option from Aligne, cut from organic cotton. The corduroy collar is slightly different to most thanks to its subtly shirred finish, and the double-entry side patch pockets are brilliantly utilitarian.
Buy now £189.00, Aligne
& Other Stories A-line Funnel-Neck jacket
If you’re looking for a lightweight option, & Other Stories has just the range of trench coats for you. Funnel necks have been featured a lot recently on the high street, and this A-line jacket is designed with a high collar and a belt closure to tie it all together. This jacket comes in three colourways for you to choose from.
Buy now £145.00, & Other Stories
Kitri Bonnie Burgundy Vinyl Jacket
The longer iteration of this jacket from Kitri was one of our favourite winter coats but, cropped, it has all-season appeal. Whether you purchase it in the burgundy shade pictured or the classic black, it is outerwear you will reach for time and time again.
Buy now £215.00, Kitri
