You know what I always think looks really chic? When someone is dressed timelessly, but with just one element that brings the outfit bang up to date. A look that is 90% personal style, 10% zeitgeist. That is such a good formula.
Being head-to-toe in new trends is not cool these days. It can look a little overeager, and your clothes end up wearing you rather than the other way around. But a look that plays it completely classic can feel a little safe.
What works is when you see someone who has hit the sweet spot: clothes that radiate personality and confidence, but with a little something extra that lets the world know they are alive to the current moment. That is the person in the room I want to go and chat to.
So, most of your new autumn look is simple: you do you. All you need is one or two updates. Like swapping your loafers for a lace-up. Swapping your oversized blazer for a more fitted silhouette. Try a different pair of glasses. It could be as simple as a coloured sock, or a string of beads added to your necklace stack. Or a no-shopping-required styling update: a low ponytail is the new slicked-back bun. The point isn’t to change your look, just to make it shine. All you need is a fresh idea or two – and we’ve got 52 for you right here.
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Women’s wardrobe updates for autumn
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A funnel-collar jacket (with a formal twist)
These technical-looking jackets are set to be what the quilted jacket was to 2025, ie, spotted in every train carriage for the foreseeable. They work well with slimline black trousers and kitten heels to offset the sportiness.
& Other Stories jacket
£119 at Asos £119 at & Other Stories***
The barely there silky blouse
A romantic blouse is perfect for those evenings when all you want to wear is jeans and a nice top.
Anthropologie satin blouse
£98 at Next £98 at Anthropologie***
Focus on the collar
It’s the centre of attention this season. Aim for layering with pops of colour – eg, a red rollneck under a blue shirt, under a navy jumper. Or double up on a polo shirt. Sounds weird. Looks good.
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Cool pyjamas
If a long-sleeved PJ set leaves you hot and restricted, then these cotton trousers paired with a vest are the perfect jewel-coloured alternative.
Chelsea Peers stripe pyjama set
£58 at John Lewis £58 at Chelsea Peers***
Embrace the high-low
A parka with a pretty slip dress, a smart wool coat with tracksuit bottoms … sometimes combinations that sound wrong on paper look best in real life.
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A funnel-neck dress
The season’s favourite neckline as seen on a chic midi dress – this would look great with a blazer and knee-high boots.
Nobody’s Child jersey dress
£79 at Nobody’s Child***
A chunky cardie
If your body temperature is set to changeable and you need an easy layer to throw on and off, opt for a chunky cardigan. Finisterre’s Mora crewneck is made of 100% fine merino wool, so it is naturally breathable.
Finisterre cardigan
£135 at Finisterre***
Flowery underwear
New season, new pants. These ditsy floral designs are fun, colourful and will jazz up the most boring bra.
Stripe & Stare knickers, four pack
£50 at Stripe & Stare***
Sky-blue knitwear
Make this two-tone blue melange jumper a new cosy favourite. The fresh shade is cheering and will still work with all your neutrals.
Cos cashmere jumper
£249 at Cos***
Opt for barrel-leg leather
Leather trousers can be intimidating, but a barrel-leg shape makes them a bit more casual, which in turn makes them a tad easier to wear.
M&S faux leather trousers
£36 at M&S***
The 1990s jean
British shirting powerhouse With Nothing Underneath has pivoted to denim. I love this Crawford high-waisted straight-leg style. It hits your ankle in just the right place to wear with flat shoes.
With Nothing Underneath jeans
£150 at With Nothing Underneath***
A prom-style corsage
Matthieu Blazy’s clever design details at Chanel are beginning to influence the high street. Get ahead of the curve by pinning a fabric flower corsage to your favourite blazer or dress.
Flower corsage
From £26.95 at V V Rouleaux***
Chic ballet flats
If it still feels a bit early to be rummaging around in your sock drawer, put the idea of boots on the backburner and swap your summer slides for a leather pump. The almond cut of this pair is particularly flattering.
Next flat shoes
£46 at Next***
Ditch the Labubu
Bag charms are getting a bit more grownup. Think sleek and silver rather than novelty. This design is based on a meditative mandala.
Bag charm
£39 at Liffner***
Mix up your glasses
A fresh pair of spectacles is an easy way to update your look. The autumn colourway is less harsh than black, and the aviator shape is a classic.
Black Eyewear glasses
£197 at Black Eyewear***
Look for lace-ups
You heard it here first: lace-ups are the new loafer. A derby shoe is a great choice if a brogue feels a bit formal. They’re a bit chunkier, so will give you a tad more room between the sole of your shoe and the bottom of your trousers. Useful in the rain.
Tommy Hilfiger shoes
£140 at Asos £140 at Tommy Hilfiger***
Mix your metals
Love both gold and silver jewellery? There’s no need to pick a side. Break the outdated fashion rule by mixing them instead.
Gold and silver bangle
£295 at Selfridges £295 at Astley Clarke***
Chunky hoops
The red and gold two-tone effect will glimmer under candlelight. Makes cosy suppers even more enticing.
Whistles two-tone earrings
£28 at Whistles***
Dip a toe into the heel trend
After a few years of purely flat shoes, we’re starting to creep back into heel territory. If anything over about an inch and a half feels like madness, ease yourself in with a ballet-style block heel. It’s just a pump with a bit of lift. Honestly.
H&M slingback heels
£27.99 at H&M***
Chunky red socks
The British brand Aries does excellent socks (alongside sweatshirts and tees), often with a fun twist. These burgundy towelling ones will add impact to trainers and clogs.
Aries socks
£22 at Aries £19 at Slam Jam***
A clip-on AirPods pouch
This will add a little fun to your trusty shoulder bag. Clip it to the base of your handbag strap, and you will never have to rummage around for your headphones again.
Anya Hindmarch eyes earphones case
£95 at John Lewis £95 at Anya Hindmarch***
Pair sparkly socks with slingbacks
We all know how much a bright sock can enliven a boring loafer. But have you tried wearing a party sock with a basic slingback? It’s like a whole new shoe for less than a tenner. Look for glittery socks, or ones like these with tiny pearls.
M&S embellished socks
£6 at M&S***
The modern brooch
Designers including Giorgio Armani and Tory Burch championed brooches on this season’s catwalks. Add your own finishing touch with a pebble-shape version. A sculptural design feels less fusty and more fashion.
UO pebble brooch
£12 at Urban Outfitters***
A rope necklace
Take jewellery inspiration from the Celine catwalk with its shells, cord and gold trinkets. Layer this over your current necklace stack for a similar effect.
Massimo Dutti necklace
£50 at Massimo Dutti***
A bright notebook
Lean into the back-to-school feeling with fresh stationery. A vivid notebook is easier to spot at the bottom of a bag.
Smythson notebook
£75 at Smythson***
An investment buy
There’s something so versatile about a leather bomber jacket. Wear it open, closed, with wide-leg trousers, even over a glitzy party dress. It’s a splurge, yes, but we’re in this for the long haul, and it will only look better with age.
Leather bomber jacket
£449 at Arket***
Keep it loose
Comfort doesn’t have to mean casual. Ease yourself back into the idea of a waistband with a pair of relaxed wool and linen mix trousers. They look smart with a knit, too.
Comfortable trousers
£165 at the White Company***
Colour block your look
Follow Mugler and Marc Jacobs’ lead and style bold, bright colours together. Try a purple skirt with a pink top, or chartreuse with bright blue.
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Roll up, roll up
Add an extra point of interest by rolling up the cuffs of your coat so the cuffs of a shirt or long-sleeved dress peek out from underneath.
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The school trip windcheater
Lightweight and water-repellent, but with a warm fleece lining, this nostalgically 90s windbreaker will even scrunch up pretty small so you can pop it in a tote bag.
Uniqlo fleece-lined blouson
£49.90 at Uniqlo***
Wear purple
If there’s one colour to lean into now, it’s regal purple. Ease yourself in by pairing it with blacks and browns, or go full maximalist by clashing it with red and yellow.
Boden cashmere v-neck
£129 at Next £129 at Boden***
A cream sweatshirt
Torn between a sweatshirt or a chunky knit? Do you want to feel pulled together or comfy casual? This knitted sweatshirt in a gorgeous buttery shade is going to make those decisions on an autumnal morning obsolete.
Jigsaw sweatshirt
£139 at M&S £139 at Jigsaw***
Layer your LBD
Sheer is here to stay this season, and you can still make it work without flashing your underwear. Wear this LBD over a slightly shorter black slip, or style it over trousers.
Susamusa sheer dress
£175 at Liberty £175 at Susamusa***
Count the ways with a silk scarf
Over the past year, we have been tying silk scarves to bags, knotting them round our necks and wearing them as belts. The next step in scarfmania? Knotted neatly around your ponytail.
Vintage Coach scarf
£65 at Rokit***
Camouflage trousers (yes, really)
What started as a bit of a Destiny’s Child/Y2K-coded sleeper trend has become an autumn must-have. This time around, make them feel more grownup with an oversized white shirt and kitten-heel boots.
Weekday ripstop trousers
£49.99 at Weekday***
A versatile T-shirt
This tee from Leset manages to strike the balance between fitted and off-duty, with its cleverly designed layered sleeves.
Leset layered T-shirt
£145 at Leset £133 at Fwrd***
A little tote for night-time
At last, a practical evening bag. No longer super-small, or awkwardly boxy, a modest-sized tote is what you should look for this season. Go for one in a luxe fabric or a bright colour.
Valesque velvet tote bag
£175 at Net-a-Porter***
The relaxed pencil skirt
The pencil skirt is back – and this time it’s more chill than corporate. Wear it with flats and a louche tucked-in shirt for work, and with an oversized slouchy jumper at the weekend.
Albaray skirt
£79 at John Lewis £79 at Albaray***
A houndstooth shirt
As our Rivals obsession grows, so, too, does the amount of houndstooth tailoring we want to wear. The cinched-in shape of this shirt puts it in the office-to-evening-wear category, and means it will also fit neatly under a blazer.
Mango fitted shirt
£49.99 at Mango***
An embellished sweater
A knit with a neck tie is an instant win for when you want to look as if you’ve made an effort without actually making an effort. Love the pearl trim, too.
Essentiel Antwerp cashmere sweater
£230 at Farfetch £230 at Essentiel Antwerp***
The pastel sports bra
Comes in a lovely punchy lilac and offers superior support for D+ cups.
Supportive sports bra
£95 at Stana***
One shirt, two looks
A multiwear shirt that can be styled loose or nipped in will be one of the most useful items in your wardrobe in the coming months.
Free People button-down
£118 at Free People***
A knitted camisole
Mixing textures always makes a look seem more expensive. With this in mind, try wearing a knitted camisole with a silky slip skirt.
Me+Em cashmere cami
£115 at Me+Em***
A bra for all sizes
If you’re over a D cup, bra choice can feel limited. This delicate-looking front-fastening plunge from Bravissimo goes up to an HH and is perfect for low-cut tops. The racer back will also take the pressure off your shoulders.
Bravissimo front-fastening bra
£39 at Bravissimo***
A cinched blazer
This is a bit of a step-change when it comes to outerwear – more 1990s-nipped-in than 1980s-oversized. Wear buttoned up with straight-leg jeans or a slip skirt.
Fitted blazer
£348 at Reformation***
Keep hair casual
Bye-bye, summer’s neat, slicked-back bun; Victoria Beckham’s autumn catwalk show featured models with dropped, messy ponytails, hastily tied as if they were walking home after a party.
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The fresh yellow jumper
This lemon sorbet shade of knitwear is everywhere. And it works particularly well with two other key trends: brown cord trousers and black leather.
Rise&Fall merino and cashmere jumper
£175 at Rise&Fall***
Gingham for autumn? Groundbreaking
Like a pumpkin spice latte, gingham is now a seasonal classic. Pivot away from apron-front dresses and try a top that will work with jeans.
House of Sunny ruffle top
£120 at Revolve £78 at House of Sunny***
A big blue bag for daytime
It’s larger than your average tote, has a spacious front pocket and long handles, and is very close to an Yves Klein blue.
Papersmiths tote bag
£25 at Papersmiths***
A hooded scarf
The great thing about bonnets is that on blustery days they keep your cheeks warm, too. Just knot and go.
Kiltane cashmere scarf
£79 at Kiltane***
Western boots
A useful boot for a rainy day when you don’t want to wear a hiking or rubber style.
John Lewis knee-high boots
£145 at John Lewis***
The go-anywhere boots
They’ll work with dresses, wide-leg trousers, denim and even culottes.
Anonymous Copenhagen leather boots
£245 at Anonymous Copenhagen***
Melanie Wilkinson is the Guardian’s styling editor
