I’ve worked in the fashion industry as a stylist and editor for close to a decade, so I’d say by now I’m pretty confident in spotting a great wardrobe buy when I see one. Over the years, I’ve seen trends and cult items come and go, experimenting with some along the way. No doubt they were fun while they lasted, but these days, I’m much more about elevated pieces that I know will stand the test of time, whether that means pinpointing the most expensive-looking high-street finds or saving up for luxury pieces I truly love. Each season I curate my ultimate wish list of classic items worth investing in and share it with you here. So, as autumn dawns, keep scrolling to see my classic picks for the months (and years) ahead.
I have to say I think autumn is my favourite season of all. Not swelteringly hot, not finger-numbingly cold. It’s also the season in which classic wardrobe pieces really shine. After a summer of flouncing in pretty dresses and experimenting with brights, I take so much comfort in returning to a neutral colour palette of browns, greys, creams and blacks— it’s much more me. Not only do these tonal shades reflect the feel of the season (those crisp leaves are already falling!) But they also make your wardrobe work harder, since they all go together and can be layered up pretty effortlessly.
Then there’s the capsule wardrobe pieces that really come into their own in autumn. Blazers, knits, jeans, trench coats, boots…. These are buys you can wear at any age and carry through to most other seasons as well. So it’s often in autumn that I end up investing the most in key buys, because I have faith that it’s for something versatile, and totally worth it.
This year, I’m especially taken by all the gorgeous camel coats around. It’s a classic I don’t yet own that has been on my wish list for a long time, and Totême’s version (pictured above) may just have me taking the plunge. If it’s not that, then it will certainly be Arket’s long down puffer coat which is back after selling out three years in a row, and still holds the crown as the chicest practical coat on the market. Reformation’s cashmere has always been some of my favourite sustainable knitwear and their new collection is full of beautiful pieces you’ll probably wear with most outfits this season. On the high street, everyone in the industry is talking about how great H&M’s autumn collection, and as they consciously lean into timeless style our ‘saved’ folders continue to grow daily— their black knee-high leather boots in particular are perfect in every way.
Keep scrolling, then, to see my key buys—the best of the best—for autumn. Of course, I won’t be buying all of this myself, but rest assured even just one of these items will add value to your new season wardrobe.
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