Game for gamine

In fashion terms, this is an interregnum, an in-between time. It’s mid-August, mid-season, summer drawing to a close, but autumn not yet here. It’s a time when unpredictable weather creates clothing dilemmas. The sales are almost over, the winter collections are beginnign to dominate the shop floors, but there’s still a holiday feeling in the air. So what to wear? The easy way out in such a period of transition is often the most simple; clean-cut trousers with an easygoing top, a boyish jacket to sharpen up the look or a dramatic coat to hide everything and brave whatever the elements unleash. Oversized coats here are bold like Marni’s cotton twill floral and Dries Van Noten’s Prince of Wales check, while a crisp white shirt goes with everything.

Defy the season with these ensembles photographed in Salthill, Galway, some of which have that “borrowed-from-the-boyfriend” attitude.

Though many of these clothes are expensive, it’s a look that’s easy enough to copy in more affordable ways from the high street. Atterley Road, for example, has a slim-fit tailored wool jacket for £180 (€207) on atterleyroad.com. Zara has a Moschino lookalike houndstooth carcoat for €129, a cotton trench for €99.95 and white oversize shirts for €39.95. A longline white linen shirt from M&S is just €40 while Next has an off-white cable knit for €52 and jacquard jeans for €38.