At Celine’s most recent menswear show, which took place earlier this summer on a searingly hot day in Paris, the models weren’t just impeccably dressed, but impeccably accessorised. From a fuchsia cummerbund to a straw hat folded into a blazer pocket, it was the intentional details that stirred those watching. Ramya Giangola, a brand strategist and curator, posted later on Instagram: “Such amazing energy in the room: the music the layers the STYLING all the little touches the “bits and bobs” that make each look so unique and expressive.[SIC]”
I agree. The clothes were great, but it was the way they were put together—ingeniously and sometimes in never-before-seen combinations—that really gave each outfit a personality, taking the look beyond “chic” or “beautiful” to something truly individual. This attitude of styling and substance was also seen on the streets, where the temperatures forced show-goers to get creative with the outfits they’d packed for Paris. Keep reading for six inspired styling tips you can try out now ahead of the new season.
6 Fashion-Person-Inspired Styling Tips for Autumn 2026
1. A Contract Cummerbund
Style Notes: Endrit Nurcaj, a visual project manager based in Lausanne, Switzerland, was struck by a moment of styling inspiration after a day of menswear shows in Paris. “Woke up with an urgent need to recreate [SIC] this look from @celine by Michael Rider,” read the caption of a selfie where he’d paired a crew-neck jumper and chinos with a fuchsia sash around his middle, a remarkably accurate homage to a look that had just walked.
This kind of high-fashion cummerbund also appeared at the womenswear shows back in spring. Toga fashioned its multi-layered versions out of partially buttoned cardigans, lashing two around the body to create a kind of knitted corset (just more comfortable). If you’ve been knotting squares of silk around your hips this summer, a cummerbund requires a similar amount of effort (i.e. minimal). Either seek out elongated scarves made of a lightweight material, bunch them slightly and tie at the centre of your back, or simply raid your knitwear drawer.
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2. Overlaid Layering
Style Notes: Prada’s runway showed the standard number of looks (60), with one significant twist: each model was layered in three ‘fits, meaning every time they disappeared backstage, they simply removed a garment before walking again. It was a witty take not just on layering but on making the most of your clothes. Miuccia Prada’s suggestion of how to accomplish day-to-night dressing was a major talking point in Milan, proving that it’s not what you’re wearing but how you wear it that sometimes makes a difference. This kind of “stacking” is also easier than ever this autumn courtesy of jackets, tees and even skirts that are pre-layered for your convenience.
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3. Perfect Colour Paletting
Style Notes: For a novel styling cue, focus less on the clothes and more on the colour palettes. This was easy at the menswear shows, where shades came in clever trios. My favourites were lilac, tomato and violet at Auralee; and ecru, charcoal and Granny Smith apple at Prada. Bottega Veneta’s autumn/winter 2026 womenswear collection, meanwhile, contained the simple yet effective combination of white, yellow and black. Three seems to be the magic number when it comes to forming your palette, and at least one of those can be neutral. Zoey Deutch, for example, recently opted for purple, red and white: a selection that would make a sharp and perhaps surprising cocktail ahead of autumn, as long as each piece is kept relatively pared-back to let the colours take centre stage.
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4. Kitchen-Sink Accessorising
Style Notes: It used to be earrings or a necklace but never, ever both. Now, it’s earrings, a necklace, a brooch and whatever other accessory you fancy adding into the (organised) chaos of your outfit. At Chanel, models wearing glitzy skirt suits were adorned with all of the above, the overall picture a delightful riposte to the less-is-more school of thought. Tessa Thompson, meanwhile, was seen accessorising a red crew-neck jumper and burgundy patent skirt with a fish-shaped pin, a woven leather belt and a pair of hardware-enhanced pumps, all from Tory Burch, demonstrating quite decisively that a kitchen-sink approach to accessorising is replacing a minimalist (read: everyday hoops and a single bangle) mood.
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5. Neck and Neck
Style Notes: Naomi Osaka won the trophy for best fashion game at Wimbledon (by a landslide). But in the stands of Centre Court, the competition was neck and neck between Emma Corrin, Michaela Coel and Cynthia Erivo, all of whom arrived sporting ties. Dapper and delightfully non-traditional—these are fashion ties, not a sign of corporate conformity—they finished their looks in a way no other accessory could. Sense and Sensibility’s George MacKay wore his tie (a striking red against the peacock-blue of his shirt) to Paris Fashion Week, where street-stylers trying to stave off the sweat tied little cotton bandanas around their necks. The final inspiration came from Dior: nothing more and nothing less than a loop of ribbon that closed the collar of one model’s starched white shirt. Either head to your nearest haberdashery for a roll of something colourful, or see what ties—patterned or plain—are hanging in your local charity shop.
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6. Underwear on Top
Style Notes: Blame it on the blistering temperatures, but the humble bra has emerged—quite literally—as the best way to keep your cool. Rosalía’s interpretation was to style a black lace number with a modern prom dress; its stiff tutu skirt fanning out from the hips to create a no-go zone around her person (clever). At Couture, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson wore her bra with Chanel, allowing her unbuttoned pink shirt to pick up as much breeze as possible in the scorching city air. This isn’t a styling trick for autumn office days, but you’d be surprised how a hint of bra, whether glimpsed through sheer material or styled over a fine-gauge sweater, can add interest (nay daring) to an outfit.
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