Babe, wake up. It's sweater weather! Autumn is here, and Lidiya Zhang shares her best advice one dressing practical for the weather while still looking stylish.

By Lidiya Zhang | Sep 11 2026

Ah, autumn in Dublin! We all know the feeling: when the sky looks suspiciously blue at 9 am, you leave the house without a jacket, and by 11 am you’re fighting for your life against sideways rain. But no fear; if there’s one thing I’ve learnt from dressing for Irish weather, it’s that we can stay fashionable and warm at the same time. Here are some of my tips – thank me later!

Before anything else, always try secondhand. Vinted’s image search is genuinely one of my favourite inventions because you can find almost anything you’ve been eyeing with the press of a button. And if you are buying new, remember to ask about student discounts. We are students. We are broke. It is our civic duty to simultaneously spend too much money while stressing about not having enough.

A good raincoat can make or break an autumn outfit, especially when you’re walking across campus with absolutely nowhere to hide. I’ve been loving the look of Damson Madder and Peabody coats, especially if you want something that feels a little more interesting than just the classic black puffer. Trench coats are another great option. They make the basic jeans-and-jumper outfit look much more intentional, all while giving you enough coverage to survive an unexpected shower. Look for a hood, adjustable cuffs and, most importantly, actual waterproofing (trust me on this if nothing else). Cute is great, but cute and soaking wet is not to be found in second-hand shops or on reselling apps.

Between rain, puddles, cobblestones and the daily 10,000-step campus journey, waterproof shoes are an absolute necessity. Hiking-inspired boots are great because they tend to have the grip you need without looking like you’re about to climb Mount Everest. UGGs also have certain boot collections that are leaning towards the soft and casual, if that’s more your vibe!

And the eternal autumn dilemma: going-out outfits! It’s tough trying to look your hottest and stay warm at the same time. Sometimes you simply have to accept that you’re going to be cold. An off-the-shoulder sweater with jeans is one of my favourite compromises because you still get that slightly dressed-up silhouette without completely sacrificing warmth – but that also might mean that you will be absolutely sweating in the club. Alas, compromises...

Alternatively, layer a cute going-out top underneath your coat and let the coat do the hard work until you reach the venue. The key is silhouette: if your outer layer is oversized, try something more fitted underneath, or vice versa! Layers are your best friend. Irish autumn weather changes approximately every six minutes, so we must learn how to build outfits that can adapt. A long-sleeve base layer, jumper, waterproof coat and scarf means you can remove pieces when the sun randomly decides to appear.

At this point, I hope I have taught you that dressing for Dublin weather doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Invest in pieces that work with the weather, experiment with silhouettes, thrift whenever you can, and accept that sometimes, the wind will humble you regardless. Stay dry, fashion people! Or at least pretend to!