If you’re anything like the GRAZIA fashion team, you stash most of your summer clothes when the weather starts to cool (as in literally pack then store them so editing your winter looks is simpler).

But conventional wardrobe wisdom no longer applies to clothes we’d previously have called beach gear, especially given the mercury rarely drops to Baltic levels in many parts of Australia. (Although most of us complain like it does, right?)

We asked the long-time creative director of Tigerlily, Amelia Mather, who practically wears laid-back resort wear 365 days a year, to shares her best tips for styling your best beach pieces now there’s a chill in the air. In a nutshell: no pre-season stash whirlwind required (although a little extra cupboard space probably will be).

“Resort-wear to me represents leisure time, gauzy fabrics, light and lived-in textures that instantly transport you to that incredible far away warm destination,” Mather told us.

“Autumn arriving doesn’t mean you need to relegate your summer pieces. There are definitely ways to transition them.”


Tigerlily’s creative director of over a decade Amelia Mathers
Credit: Alice Mahran

TIP 1: Layer a linen tee under a strappy beach dresses

“When the weather starts to shift and the mornings get cooler I love to transition my strappy summer dresses by adding some light breathable layers,” says Mather. “Tees are the best for this. I have some Tigerlily linen blend ones and I also love the pure linen Jac & Jack tees – they have great colours and are so luxe to wear.

“At the office, we love a ‘90s cupro bias Tigerlily slip – it’s become an all-year-round staple, best layered over our Barton crop tee. It’s so simple and can be worn with any footwear like a leather sandal or even ankle boots and a jacket if needed.”


Tigerlily, Vimala Dress, $150. 
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Jac+Jack, Columbia Tee, $120. 
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Gianvito Rossi, Leopard-print calf hair ankle boots, $1295. 
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TIP 2: have a good selection of options to wear under gauzy beach pieces

“Evoke castaway textures long into autumn by layering over slips,” says Mather. “I also love to wear my sheer gauzy tunics over rigid tapered jeans. I have several pairs of RE/DONE vintage levis re-worked, which I wear with a leather ankle tie sandal – I have a collection of Rhondini handmade ones from St Tropez and they’re all I wear. Sometimes I like to belt in resort wear when there are volumes of fabric to contend with.”


Tigerlily, Shaivas Shirt Dress, $140. 
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Re/done, Crawford jeans, now $256. 
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Ancient Greek Sandals, Kariatida Sandal, $511. 
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Zimmermann, Kali Hibiscus Tie Dress, now $450. 
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Tip 3: Wear a sheer kaftan or tunic over denim with a bikini top or camisole

“I wear bikini tops all year round,” says Mathers. “We have so many versatile swim tops in the collection to wear under sheer or low-back silhouettes that aren’t necessarily bra-friendly.

“I’m wearing the Sierra Bianca scoop shape in olive terry at the moment and our new Paradis swim in the shirred crop is amazing, as it’s part bikini and part top. You can wear it with denim and a beach shirt open or even a kimono.”


Tigerlily, Paradis Shirred Bikini Top in Indigo, $130. 
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Albus Lumen, Luna hooded cotton-voile coverup, $340. 
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Tigerlily, Sierra Bianca Bikini Top, $110. 
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Tip 4: Throw a leather jacket over lightweight pieces

“To dress up my beach clothes all year round, I simply throw on a heavy leather biker jacket. I have the most incredible one that I picked up in Austin, Texas. The brand is Understated Leather, which is made by an Aussie girl who now lives there. It’s substantial and has statement proportions and buckles, perfect worn over all my resort wear pieces and toughens any look for a night out.”


Understated Leather, Extreme Bell Sleeve MC Jacket, $500. 
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Tip 5: Layer multipurpose textiles and use sarongs as scarves

“I collect textiles – some would say I am a textile hoarder,” says Mather. “I have hundreds of scarves and bits of cloth I’ve collected over the years from my travels and through my vintage and antique dealers. They’re a must when travelling.

“They’re always in fashion to me, some seasons more than others but a classic neck scarf, head scarf, sarong, the shawl can completely transform an outfit from day to night, beach to beach-club, yoga to dinner, whatever. At the moment, I’m wearing the alchemy scarf/sarong around my neck.”


Tigerlily, Alchemy Scarf, $60. 
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Tile image: Mimi Elashiry for Tigerlily, as published on GRAZIA