Every year, there's a moment in late summer when the first AW deliveries start arriving and I find myself unpacking boxes with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning.
This season has been no exception. Having spent months on buying trips, listening to your feedback and studying the collections, I can honestly say AW'26 is one of the most wearable, characterful seasons I've bought for in a long time.
There's nostalgia everywhere, from 80s power dressing to cosy 70s knits, but it all feels fresh, grown-up and made for real life. Here's my guide to the trends I'm most excited about, the details worth looking out for, and the pieces I think every wardrobe needs this autumn.
Liz
The Major AW26 Trends
English Heritage
I'll admit this one is close to my heart. English Heritage is all about the countryside wardrobe we know and love, reimagined for town as much as country. Think tweeds in earthy browns and mossy greens, sharply cut riding jackets, and tartans and checks in every scale imaginable. My advice is to mix them. A checked skirt under a tweed jacket, finished with a polished riding boot, looks effortlessly put together. These are the pieces you'll keep for years, and they only get better with age.
Modern Working Girl
The 80s office is back, and I couldn't be happier. Modern Working Girl takes its cue from that era's confident dressing, with Chanel styling in the form of bouclé jackets, trims and gold buttons, softened with pussy bow blouses and modern tailoring that fits beautifully without feeling stiff. It's power dressing for women who don't need to prove anything. Wear a pussy bow blouse under a cropped jacket with wide trousers and you'll feel ready for anything, whether that's a board meeting or lunch with friends.
The Good Life
If you've ever wanted to live in a cottage with a vegetable patch, this trend is for you. The Good Life has a gentle retro vibe that feels relaxed and wholesome: knitted vests layered over shirts, corduroy trousers in toffee, rust and olive, and an emphasis on natural fibres and colours. Wool, cotton and linen blends feel wonderful against the skin, and the palette of oatmeal, moss and conker brown is so easy to wear. This is dressing for comfort without ever looking scruffy.
Dark Romance
For the evenings, and for anyone with a slightly gothic streak, Dark Romance is the trend to embrace. We're seeing deep velvets and devorés that catch the light beautifully, lace layers and trims peeping out from hems and necklines, and a palette of blacks and rich colours: plum, forest green, midnight blue and garnet. It's moody, sensual and utterly glamorous. A velvet devoré dress with a lace-trimmed camisole underneath is my idea of perfect Christmas party dressing.
Faux Pas
Don't let the name fool you, there's nothing wrong about this trend! Faux Pas is all about faux leathers and fur, and the variety this season is brilliant. It runs from 80s fitted tailoring, think sharp-shouldered faux leather blazers and pencil skirts, right through to modern boho layers with faux fur gilets, shaggy collars and softly draped coats. The quality of faux materials has come on so far that they look and feel fantastic, and they're animal-friendly too.
Grown Up Prep
Sporty, smart and a little bit American, Grown Up Prep takes the college wardrobe and gives it a sophisticated edge. Baseball caps are being worn with tailored coats, sport stripes appear on cuffs, collars and trouser seams, and jerseys and relaxed looks bring an easy, weekend feel. The trick is balance: pair a striped rugby-style jersey with a smart wool trouser and loafers, or top off a camel coat with a baseball cap. It's playful but polished.
Feline Favourites
Animal print never really leaves us, but this season it's more varied than ever. Feline Favourites covers animal and cat prints, both literal and graphic, so you'll find everything from classic leopard spots to abstract, almost painterly interpretations, and new to the style species, the fawn print. The colour story swings from natural colours, the traditional tans, creams and chocolate browns, to alternative shades like grey, burgundy and even pops of blue. Animal print really is a neutral now, so wear it with confidence.
The Details
Beyond the big trends, it's often the smaller details that make a piece feel of the moment. These are the three I'm spotting across almost every collection.
Wraps and Draping
Softness is key this season. Wraps and draping appear on dresses, blouses and even knitwear, with twisted waists, cowl necks and asymmetric wrap fronts that flatter every shape. Draping adds movement and a touch of elegance, and it's wonderfully forgiving, which my customers always appreciate.
Double Layer Illusions
I love a clever garment, and double layer illusions are exactly that. These 2-in-1 garments give the look of layering without any of the bulk: a jumper with a shirt collar and cuffs built in, a dress with a slip-effect hem, or a knit that appears to have a vest over the top. They're brilliant for busy mornings and they always look considered.
Wine as a Colour
If there's one colour to invest in this season, it's wine. From deep burgundy to rich claret and soft merlot, wine appears across every trend, in velvets for Dark Romance, in tailoring for Modern Working Girl, in knits for The Good Life. It flatters almost every skin tone and pairs beautifully with navy, camel, grey and black.
Must Have Pieces
The knitted vest or tabard
The layering hero of the season. Wear it over a crisp shirt, a pussy bow blouse or even a slip dress. It works with almost every trend and adds instant interest to an outfit.
The barrel leg trouser
This curved, slightly rounded silhouette is the shape of the season. It feels modern and relaxed and looks fantastic with a chunky boot or a simple flat. Try it in corduroy or wool for autumn.
The faux leather jacket
Whether you go for a fitted 80s blazer shape or a relaxed biker, a faux leather jacket instantly toughens up softer pieces like florals and knits. A true all-rounder.
The 3/4 zip top
Straight from the Grown Up Prep trend, the 3/4 zip top is easy, sporty and looks just as good under a blazer as it does with jeans at the weekend.
The comfy cardigan
Every wardrobe needs one, and this season it's all about generous, cosy shapes in natural yarns. Wear it open over a dress or buttoned up and belted as a top.
The tailored suit
Modern tailoring is having a real moment. Look for relaxed but sharp shapes, and remember you can split the suit to wear the jacket and trousers separately for maximum value.
The perfect blouse
A pussy bow, a soft drape or a lace trim: the perfect blouse bridges day and evening like nothing else. Invest in one in wine or cream and you'll reach for it constantly.
The animal print dress
Our Feline Favourites trend in its easiest form. Throw on an animal print dress with boots and a knit for daytime, or add heels and a faux leather jacket for evening. Effortless.
