As we edge closer to winter in Australia, the temptation is there to retreat into the safety of a single great coat and call it a day. But if recent runways are any indication, the next evolution of cool-weather dressing isn’t about one hero piece — it’s about what happens underneath. In other words, layering is back.

While clean lines and 90s minimalism will always have its place (and we have Ryan Murphy's Love Story and our renewed obsession with Carolyn Bessette to thank for that), designers are reintroducing styling that feels a little more intentional. At Miu Miu, the trend has taken shape across several seasons by way of doubled-up collars and polos layered over crisp shirting.

Meanwhile, Loewe leaned into slightly rumpled cottons and pieces that felt pulled from a personal wardrobe, stacked beneath outerwear in a way that suggested instinct rather than instruction.

Elsewhere, the conversation around layering has expanded beyond shirting entirely. At Bottega Veneta, silk collars peered from beneath precise tailoring, with soft sweaters draped over shoulders diffusing sharper silhouettes. The message across the board is that clothes, and how we wear them, should look and feel lived in.

For an Australian winter, this runway directive feels especially relevant. Our cold season rarely demands heavy insulation; instead, it calls for adaptability. Layering allows you to build warmth without bulk — a fine merino turtleneck as a base, a striped shirt layered over the top, perhaps a lightweight knit slung around the shoulders, all finished with a coat. As the day shifts from crisp morning to sunny afternoon, pieces can be shed, rearranged, re-buttoned.

As we move towards the cooler months, think of your wardrobe not as standalone pieces but as building blocks. Shop the pieces we're layering — plus a few styles that come pre-layered — below.

ST AGNI Organic Cotton Layered Long Sleeve Top 

UNIQLO 100% Australian Merino Polo Sweater

POLO RALPH LAUREN Classic Fit Cotton Oxford Shirt

ROHÉ Checked Cotton-Poplin Shirt

THE ROW Latoya cotton midi dress

ASSEMBLY LABEL Charlie Rib Tank

FRIENDS WITH FRANK Devon Shirt and Devon Scarf

FLORE FLORE Dinah Turtleneck and Jill T-Shirt

MONCLER Eucalyptus hooded cropped shell down jacket

MATTEAU Flannel Shirt

CAMILLA AND MARC Leona Knit V Neck Sweater