How can I "Autumnify" my summer dresses?

[FishfingersAreOK]

Am just taking a greater interest in what I wear now the DCs are no longer at the toddler/mucky age and I am in a mentally more positive place.

Bought some lovely White Stuff cotton dresses over the summer - their typical fare - empire line, printed cotton, short sleeved, just about the knee.

I do need to go and update a whole heap of my wardrobe - but cannot afford too much at once. Is there a way to make my summer dresses stretch for a few more weeks or so into the colder days? I can just chuck my denim jacket over the top for a bit of warmth...but did that today and a friend said "Oh you look lovely and summery on such a dull day". She was being lovely - but can I make them more "Autumn" anyway?

Sorry if am being style dunce - but after years of just jeans/Tshirts/cardigans I am struggling to find any fashion sense...

I have the same issue - I bought a couple of Mantaray dresses which I wanted to get some more wear out of over the Autumn months. I was planning on teaming my dresses with tights, boots and a cardigan, which I'm hoping will work OK as both dresses are fairly muted colour wise.

Cardigans over the top, tights and boots. My work wardrobe is now adaptable for all seasons.

Just go into somewhere cheap like h&m/primark/select and get 2 or 3 winter dresses. 3 pairs or thick tights and dolly shoes, 2 nice scarfs (charity shops are really good for this) and your sorted for autumn and winter rest of the days you can wear jeans lol.

I love autumn winter dresses so more flattering then summer I find, especially now plum and cream is back.

what I do (which is probably wrong) thin long sleeved t-shirts with scoop/deep v neckline underneath (looks odd if the top underneath is too high), and either thick tights or leggings with boots. A scarf also helps. Big thick, oversized cardies also are good.

Black or brown tights, knee boots, nice grey jumper or cardis

I was going to say cardigans and/or scarves in darker colours...but I type too slowly.

Leather flats

Dark trenchcoats

Fab, thank you- so not impossible though. With the cardigans - what kind of shape should I do please?

Big, chunky, long?
Slim fitting?
Long boyfriendy?
Cropped/shruggy because of the empire line to the dress?

I warned you I was suffering from Style-crappitiss

Am liking the darker coloured scarf thing - and may need to make my first every trip to Primarni for a few top up bits....any autumn dress suggestions Dragon? Please

I'm planning on wearing my 2 long boyfriend cardigans.

Not at the same time though .

HeatTech tops from Uniqlo are great for layering under a short-sleeved dress.

Cardis - I think long or short can look good.