The new season is just around the corner, and plenty of autumn/winter fashion trends for 2026 are already promising to be style staples. One of the standouts? Well, it’s good news for lovers of practical handbags, as the perfect weekday tote by Alex Mill is quickly becoming the season’s must-have item - and it’s been approved by none other than Gwyneth Paltrow.
The tote is quickly solidifying itself as autumn’s trendiest bag, after not only being spotted on the arm of Gwyneth when she stepped out in West Hollywood earlier this year, but also by celebrities including Tracee Ellis Ross and Julia Roberts. The roomy bag takes the classic cotton canvas finish of tote styles and elevates it with bold colours, short top handles, and a cool monogram graphic, which Gwyneth personalised (and you can too) with her initials, GPF.
Opting for a bold blue colourway, Gwyneth proved the power of a bright accessory in elevating an otherwise minimalistic, monochrome look. Tucked into the crook of her arm and resting against the leg of her black, wide-leg trousers, the bag offered a lovely contrasting colour when styled with her white, fitted cardigan and simple Mary Jane flats.
Recreate Gwyneth's look
Gwyneth's viral tote bag is surprisingly affordable at £175, with personalisation that allows you to change up the initials starting at £65. You're spoilt for choice with the colour options, with hues ranging from Gwyneth's choice of blue to bright red, or more neutral options of black, khaki and off-white.
Available in short, regular and long, these tailored trousers boast a similar wide-leg cut and fluid design. They feel relaxed yet refined and offer a stylish alternative to denim.
When it comes to knitwear, we're going to choose cashmere whenever we can. Lightweight, warm, and sumptuously soft, this Uniqlo cardigan is made from 100% cashmere and is surprisingly affordable at just under £100. The off-white shade is just one of many colour options.
Like Gwyneth's Alex Mill tote, this one boasts a beautifully structured shape that elevates its cotton fabric. With contrasting hues of pink, red and orange, it's just as bright and cheerful as her blue style.
With reviews saying these wide-leg trousers are 'comfortable' and 'easy to wear,' as well as boasting a 'very flattering silhouette,' they're a bargain buy at just £20. As well as in black, they're available in a dark green, too.
Gwyneth's look proves that you don't need to be in heels to make a smart casual look work. Her Mary Janes are an elevated and polished style without forgoing comfort, and these FitFlop flats will do the trick.
When it comes to versatile autumn outfit ideas, it doesn’t get much better than Gwyneth’s effortlessly simple look. Alongside the capsule wardrobe staple of tailored trousers, her cardigan brings in a beautifully seasonal texture that’s practical for transitional climes and flattering thanks to its fitted silhouette.
Opting for a muted colour palette not only lent Gwyneth’s outfit a refined feel but also allowed her tote bag to take centre stage, without it feeling too bold or out of place against the more understated outfit. This is a great tip when it comes to injecting the autumn/winter fashion colour trends for 2026 into everyday outfits.
While the Alex Mill tote bag is just coming to the forefront of trends, structured tote bags have been slowly making their way into the fashion spotlight this year. Over spring and summer, they developed a cleaner, square silhouette that brought a large, boxy look to the classic style. This, paired with the bolder shades that designers like Alex Mill have gone for, creates a really modern and interesting look to bags that are practical for commuting or travel, with their roomy, laptop-friendly size – a win-win.
