Clothing for Switzerland visit in September and October?

During my one late September early October trip to Paris and Germany weather was comfortable to cool. Not many shorts only days with most of my German bike tour days being tights and long sleeve wind shell weather, and some rain days thrown in.

Check the Rick Steve's guide book climate data for your planned itinerary or use web resources such as:
http://www.yr.no/place/Switzerland/Lucerne/Lucerne/statistics.html
http://www.yr.no/place/Germany/Hamburg/Hamburg/statistics.html
http://www.yr.no/place/France/Île-de-France/Paris/statistics.html

And remember the Norwegian saying: There is no bad weather, only bad clothing. Wisdom for fall weather is dress in layers and a have a good wind/rain shell.

I know everyone says "layers" but it is true. Some days may still be shirtsleeves/sleeveless weather, especially in Italy, although it clearly depends where you go. In Switzerland you can run into freezing temps in the mountains. (There was snow in Muerren the day we left last year, Sept. 1!).

We are headed to Milano for EXPO and the Switzerland to Zermatt and the Berner-Oberland next week so I have to pack for warm Italian weather and whatever may hit us in the mountains over 11 days. I will take:
- one pair jeans
- one pair hiking pants (long)
- one pair washable linen-blend slacks
- a fleece pullover
- 2 shortsleeve wicking tees for hiking
- a couple of nice tee shirts for non-hiking time
- a cardigan to layer over the tees
- rain-resistant jacket with hood
- lightweight gloves because you never know....
- hiking boots and comfortable black maryjanes for in town

That's it for two weeks. I woudl pack the same for a month, although I might trade the hiking boots for regualr walkers unless my trip was hiking-intense as this one will be.

Worst days will see me in tee, fleece and jacket. Best days in linen pants and a dressy tee.

My husband will pack the male version of the above: one jeans, one hiking pant, one casual pant, a l/s button-up shirt, a couple of wicking tees, a polo, a fleece, maybe a pullover sweater.

Thank you Laurel and Edgar, for your responses to my question! I will be visiting France, September 18th to September 27th, spending most of my time in Paris and then two days in Dijon. Thereafter, I will be in Switzerland September 27th to September 30th, visiting Luzern, Olten, Zurich, Chur, St. Moritz and Tirano. Off to Italy October 1st to October 17th and visiting Lecco, La Spezia, Cinque Terre, Florence, and then Rome! I like the layered idea and that is likely what I intend to do, as I am packing very lightly, (one carry on piece of luggage only)! Any other suggestions would be appreciated!

Bring a rain jacket or something waterproof. I just spent 2 weeks in switzerland and the weather can change every 5 mins. Sunny one moment and rain the next. I took off and on my rain jacket 3 times in one day. I was doing hiking in the mountains , so the weather may be more changeable than in cities.
Also if you have any old clothes that you plan on giving to goodwill anyway, bring and wear these items then throw them out as you travel. I only travel with a carry on also.

Good advice given already - also, throw in a few colorful scarves which won't take any space & will instantly dress up your outfits for Paris or to change from day to evening at other locations.

BTW we were in Zermatt for four nights last week and it was sunny but COLD, especially in the AM. I ended up buying a merino wool "base layer" to wear under my hiking pants. This week it looks like rain in Zermatt, but the good weather followed us to Lauterbrunnen, but it is currenly a brisk 8 degrees Celsius. Layers!!! Gloves!!! Hat!!!

I just hiked from Chamonix to Zermat from August 27 to September 8. The hottest day was over 90F. The coldest night was below 30F. Yep, layers are your friend.

We were in CH last year at the end of October and it was sweater weather every day, eventually becoming sweater plus packable down jacket. And a hat.

Also plan for rain, which can be mild or cold.

I was in Switzerland last week following 5 days in Milan/lake Como. T-shorts with cardigan in the evening for Milan, but it was raining in lake Como a lot, was freezing in St. Moritz and snowing/sleet rain in Murren. Of course, it became sunny and clear when I was ready to leave the mountains...
For St. Moritz you will definitely need a wool sweater and a waterproof jacket/coat.
I packed and ended up using all of these items:
2 pairs of jeans;
1 pair of light summer pants which can be turned into capris,
1 thin cashmere sweater;
2 long sleeve T-shirts and 3 short sleeve;
1 cotton cardigan with a zipper,
1 very light down vest ( the one you pack in its own sleeve)
a water proof coat from Eddie Bauer
small wool hat and gloves which can fit in coat pockets
a travel umbrella
waterproof sneakers from Merrels
another pair of sneakers which I wore all the time
merino wool socks
scarfs I bought in Italy and used silk/cashmere blend in Switzerland all the time.

One day in Murren when it was cold, dump, foggy, raining and snowing in high elevations, I dressed up in all my layers, took an umbrella and had a wonderful time visiting waterfalls, walking in Murren, Lautenbrunnen, Wengen and even going to Manlichen but only for a 20 minutes as it was windy and snowing, LOL.

Take layers, buy scarfs in Paris or Italy, and enjoy your trip!

Buying clothes in the most expensive country in Europe? Yeah, I guess that's doable.

Just concurring with what everyone has already written. I was in France, Switzerland, and Italy last September/October, and while we were blessed with great weather most of the time, there were a few very chilly days, some rain, and it even hailed one evening in Venice. Waterproof jacket and shoes are a must, plus lots of layers so that you are prepared for diverse weather conditions.