Beachwear to beat that chill in the air: Keep autumn at bay with these elegant knits

Photoshoot: Designer knitwear that looks good at the beach

Bryony wears sweater, £490 and skirt, £290, both by Marni, marni.com; hat, £980, by Chanel; sunglasses, £695, by Linda Farrow (Jackie Dixon)

The designer pre-fall collections trickle into shops in June and July, generally speaking - which makes them perfectly pitched to meet the needs of the ever-unpredictable (although generally inclement) British summertime.

For pre-fall 2014, they were rammed with thick knits, blanket-weave wools and all manner of felting, boiling and general toughening-up.

Where better to road test these than the wind-buffeted shores of Cornwall?

Photographer and stylist Jackie Dixon pitched up to surfing mecca St. Ives with a selection of pre-fall finery from the likes of Christopher Kane, Chanel and Louis Vuitton.

Her aim? Capturing a clutch of Cornish surfers post and pre-sport in high street swimwear and key designer duds for the new minted, nearly-winter season.

Here they are road testing next season, this season...

Photographic Assistance: Luke Brown

Post-production: Jam Imaging

With special thanks to Harris and all at The St Ives Surf School, and Marianna at Lord Ryans Bed & Breakfast.

stivessurfschool.co.uk

lordryans.com