When I say my fellow Who What Wear editors and I are currently losing it over H&M’s new autumn collection, I’m not exaggerating. For the last couple of weeks, the high street hero has been starting to drop some seriously expensive-looking buys into its new-in section, and with every arrival a flurry of excited messages goes around our editor Slack channels. And it’s not just us that seems to be falling for this edit—these new-in pieces are flying out of stock faster than you can even click add to cart.
It’s clear the brand is focusing on the classics for autumn 2023 (which automatically gets our vote)— we’re talking cream knits, camel coats and checked blazers. But what’s impressing us most is the modern takes on these timeless designs to make them appear so much more elevated than their price tags might suggest. Oversized silhouettes, thoughtful detailing and premium fabrications are just some of the ways H&M is rivalling our favourite designer brands for autumn.
Of course, we’re always cautious when shopping on the high street, taking care to consider the quality and longevity of the more affordable pieces we do end up adding to our wardrobes. We’re also aware that it can be very easy to make high street items look great online, even when they’re not so good in person. And while there are always gems to be found, it can be easy to get carried away with the excitement of a new affordable purchase. So, taking one for the team, I decided to do a big order of what I considered to be the best (i.e. most expensive-looking) pieces from H&M’s new autumn collection. I’ve tried them all on and below I’ve reviewed them honestly, including only the styles I believe are genuinely worth the hype. For reference I’m a size 10 (somewhere between a small and a medium), and 5’2″ so I’ve popped the sizes I ordered below as well. Keep scrolling to see my verdict…
Up Next: I Just Tested H&M’s Cult Wide-Leg Trousers for Autumn—Here’s My Verdict
