The days are slowly getting shorter, which means autumn is just around the corner. These are the autumn style essentials to know in 2026.
If, like me, you find the sartorial shift from summer to autumn a minefield, then the easiest way to go is focusing on one essential that will serve as an immediate signpost for the new season. It might even make you feel more positive about the end of summer. From the energising graphic print to know about to the new neckline the fashion crowd are already wearing, these new styles will place your wardrobe firmly in the IYKYK autumn style camp.Â
The Zebra Print Hero
Leopard print might be a neutral as the adage goes, but for autumn/winter 2026 zebra is the new star in town. It emerged on the spring/summer 2026 catwalks of Valentino and Dolce & Gabbana, and continued at Isabel Marant and Fendi for autumn/winter 2026. Whether you embrace it as a punchy accessory or as an outré outfit, zebra brings a sparkly energy to grey days. The trick to wearing it well is to approach it with a laissez faire attitude. Wear a pair of zebra print trousers with a relaxed T-shirt or black cashmere jumper, or a zebra blouse with jeans. A little zebra goes a long way – a pony-hair belt or kitten heel will take your look up a notch with minimal effort.Â
The Funnel-Neck Jacket
The fashion crowd started popping their collars last winter, enigmatically covering half their faces, projecting a ‘don’t-look-at-me’ attitude that simultaneously demanded that we all look. Such is their popularity that funnel neck jackets are expected to become the new season’s must-have outerwear style. Their appeal is two-fold, one practical and the other more aesthetically driven. Funnel necks offer more coverage from the elements which makes sense as we head towards the cooler months. They also deliver on easy elegance; its OG fans include Audrey Hepburn and a young Gwyneth Paltrow. Choose styles in oversized, cocooning shapes for the most impact, then add a pair of sunglasses. Instant glamour achieved.Â
Danny coat, £375, Sezane
The Knee-Length Skirt
Miuccia Prada, one of the world’s most stylish women, has always been a keen appreciator of a knee-length skirt, which should tell you everything you need to know about it. Skirts that fall to the knee or just below (anything below that falls into midi terrain), have a quiet confidence and a polished versatility. There’s a bookishness to them, which makes them ripe for subverting – and it feels much fresher than the midi which has dominated over the past few years. There’s the sheer variety, which are easier to wear than you might think – just add a black T-shirt and a kitten heel. I also rather like the full-skirted, pleated version with a quarter-zip, sporty polo and loafers. For a more 90s vibe, choose one of the slinky bias-cut designs with a wedge and a chunky knit.
Chiffon slip skirt, £22.40, M&S
The Kitten Heel
I can’t lie here; the fashion girls will still be wearing their steadfast loafers this autumn through to winter – you can’t argue with that mix of practicality and versatility. For a more ladylike footwear option, the kitten heel is the perfect way of bridging comfort and polish. Gen Z has flown the flag for the flip-flop version all summer long, and now it’s time for its older sister to shine. They can endure the practicalities of the morning commute without leaving the wearer in pain, but still bring a shot of glamour. They’re also surprisingly adaptable – style them with a knee-length skirt for Prada energy, or offset relaxed jeans with a princess-like pair.Â
Amalie leather mules, £219, Soeur
The Plaid Shirt
Digital shopping platform LTK reports that searches for plaid were up 600 per cent last month, which means we’re in for an autumn of relaxed lumberjack shirts. First shooting to fame as part of 90s grunge, a plaid layer worn open over a T-shirt, or tied around the waist over a slip creates a raggedy cool. Of course, you could buy one from Cos, Matteau or With Nothing Underneath, but nothing looks better than one found in a vintage shop. Look for oversized fits rather than anything too streamlined.Â
Thick brushed shirt, £150, With Nothing Underneath
Ella Alexander is Citizen Femme’s fashion features editor. She started her career at the Evening Standard, and has since held senior editorial roles at Vogue, The Independent and Harper’s Bazaar, where she remains a contributing editor. She also writes for The Telegraph, Sunday Times Style, Service95 and CNN. She is an author, having co-written Dame Zandra Rhodes’ memoir, Iconic: My Life In Fashion In 50 Objects, published by Transworld in July 2024. Her favourite travel destination is Catania, Sicily’s second city.
We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.
Lead image courtesy of ASOS
Any Questions or Tips to add?