Are we ready for 2026? Ready as we’ll ever be, right? We’ve got this, team. Time to turn the page and kick things forward, with the help of a few key pieces to nudge mind, body and soul into the onwards and upwards.
Making your wardrobe a little more 2026 is a surprisingly effective strategy for activating fresh-start mode. Read on for your new-year primer: the cosiest moon boots, the sleekest hair pins, and where to get a quarter-zip – high fashion’s latest obsession – on a post-Christmas budget.
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Feel cosy, look polished in a button-through sleeveless knit
Chunky rib waistcoat
£85 at Albaray £85 at M&SFinding it hard to haul yourself out of sofa mode and into something a little more “front of house”? Let me explain exactly why you need a button-through sleeveless knit. It looks just “fashion” enough to be intentional, but you can throw it over a regular T-shirt and trousers. The temperature control has a psychological impact: having fewer layers on your arms feels a bit fresher, less soporific, than being swaddled in a big knit. The horn-effect buttons add a dressy touch and make the shape versatile: you can wear this open as a sleeveless jacket over a shirt dress, for instance.
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The personality scarf
Notgrove neckerchief
£64 at Gather & SeeThe scarf has had a renaissance in fashion over the past couple of years. Scarf-coats and cute triangle scarves have turned a piece that was once an afterthought hanging on a hook in the hall into an outfit-maker. This is a great find from Gather & See, which is a brilliant online store that brings together affordable, sustainable independent brands. The pull-through detail is handy for easy, sleek styling.
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This will be the year of the quarter-zip
Soufflé yarn half-zip jumper
£39.90 at UniqloAllow me to introduce fashion’s most unlikely new obsession: the quarter-zip sweater, sometimes known as a half-zip. The knit that your chemistry teacher wore to parents’ evening has become a style superstar: Jonathan Bailey wore a Dior-brand one in the front row of Jonathan Anderson’s first mega show for the house, and Matthieu Blazy just opened a Chanel show with one. Uniqlo has a note-perfect, wallet-friendly version.
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Boots that will make you pray for a cold snap
Ski collection ankle boots
£89.99 at ZaraLook, I know they’re cool again – I just bought my teen daughter a new pair for Christmas – but I just can’t take Uggs seriously. However, I do love a cosy boot. These are delightfully over-the-top, the boot equivalent of a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream, but the hiking laces give them just enough gravity. Apres-ski chic for end-of-Dry-Jan drinks.
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Are you looking for trousers in the wrong places?
Elevation trousers
£110 at VuoriSome of the best smart trousers around these days are in stores where you might think to look for leggings or sweatpants. They’re often called “travel trousers” because they’re cool and comfortable enough to wear on a long journey, but because they don’t crease or sag, you arrive looking smart. You don’t have to be travelling to appreciate them: they’re great for regular days when you need to get dressed at 7am and look presentable at 7pm. Vuori, home of chic Californian modern activewear, has nailed it with its Elevation trousers, which have a hook-and-eye fastening and front pleat to bring sophistication without any need to get out the iron.
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Beg, steal or borrow a plaid shirt
Taylor flannel shirt
£49.49 at AligneThis is not, in all honesty, a shopping suggestion so much as a suggestion to root around in your wardrobe – or your partner’s, or your dad’s – for a checked flannel shirt. These are going to be a Thing this year. This is not just a jeans-and-boots casual outdoorsy vibe: on the fashion circuit recently I’ve seen plaid shirts tied around the waist to break up an all-black tailored outfit, or tucked into pencil skirts. Charity shops are also a good source here, but if you’re in the market for a new purchase, this beauty by Aligne has a clever button and loop at the back that pulls it into a waisted shape, for days when that works better than boxy.
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The French-Girl hairpin
Eyelet resin hair pins
£20 at AnthropologieGen Z love a claw clip. And they look fabulous if you have great mermaid ropes of hair to work with, but if your hair is on the weedy side (hi!), a bulky clip will only accentuate that. A classic hair pin – with two wiggly prongs to secure into a basic twisted updo – has an appealingly Parisian vibe and will keep your updo up without kirby grips giving you a headache.
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An elegant high-street find that looks v posh
Belt-detail merino sweater
£119 at CosThis is the sort of interesting-but-understated piece that will make people admire your “effortless” style. Enough said. I just can’t decide between the steel blue and the charcoal grey.
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Slippers that you can answer the door in
Borg ballet slippers
£40 at the White CompanyIf you have elevated your pyjama game, why let the side down by pairing your fancy PJs with an old pair of socks? I am a fan of leather ballet shoes, the straight-up kind you get from dance-wear brands, which are my go-to indoor shoe for most of the year. But maybe January calls for something a bit toastier? These are a delight.
For more, read our guide to the best slippers
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A January birthday gift idea
January birthstone chain necklace
£90 at Monica VinaderBirthstones are a charming gift idea. If you have a January birthday to shop for but are feeling a little out of inspiration post-Christmas, then consider a garnet, the deep red January stone that symbolises passion, protection and prosperity. Monica Vinader jewellery is beautifully made, and gorgeously packaged: a real treat.
