Changing rooms still feel like a real novelty after months of online-only shopping, so to celebrate the arrival of autumn collections, our editors headed into stores to be able to give you our honest reviews. This month, we’ve been to the high street, tried new-in handbags and tested buzzy collaborations—and this time we’ve assembled eight autumn outfits from pieces we admired the most from the A/W 21 collections.
Our team has tried so many cult items, from Bottega boots to Christopher Kane’s statement tees, and have each tried different aesthetics for autumn. You’ll find something grunge, something '70s and something with a back-to-school spirit. So whatever styling camp you’re in this autumn, we think you’ll find an outfit idea or two to try. We visited the personal shopping suites at Browns Fashion and MATCHESFASHION.COM, and because we are not just about new-in pieces, we also went to the rental platform Hurr’s space in Selfridges. Renting doesn’t have to be just for wedding guest outfits—we love the idea of borrowing a fabulous coat for a week or two.
Keep scrolling to see the eight outfit ideas we really love for autumn, assembled from some of the strongest collections around.
EMMA SPEDDING, EDITOR
I'll be honest—I don't know what happened to me at Browns. This is a very un-me outfit, but I'm into it. I love balancing the splashes of Billie Eilish green with a classic trench coat, making it feel less out-there.
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This Prada nylon blazer is actually from the men's department, and I love the oversized boxy fit. These Burberry loafers are also a wow autumn item for me and would look great with jeans or with midi dresses.
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HANNAH ALMASSI, EDITOR IN CHIEF
"One of my favourite films for fashion inspiration is Eyes of Laura Mars. So whenever that '70s suiting look comes back into fashion, I'll always go full throttle for it. The outfit centres around the dagger-collared orange-and-brown cardigan from Rejina Pyo, which I have been obsessed with for months. It'll look good with jeans, but I'd much rather dress it up in a totally retro way."
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"Blame it on the back-to-school mood I find myself in, but I'm into this bookish 'dark academia' idea of pinafore dresses layered over prim shirts. It's simple but effective and very easy to re-create with what's already in your wardrobe. Although, I wouldn't say no to either of these things hopping into my closet…"
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REMI AFOLABI, VIDEO CONTENT CREATOR
"Kermit green is here to stay for me this autumn. I styled this stunning Bottega knit shirt with this bold blue Stella skirt for a striking take on the colour-block trend. I also paired this combo with the highly coveted Bottega boots for a kick of contrast to the feminine flare of the skirt. The light Totême leather jacket thrown on top is perfect for the days that don’t require too many layers."
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"I couldn’t help but obsess over Sacai’s unique take on the high-waist midi skirt. (As you can probably tell, I do love a midi.) From the utility-style pockets to the crisp pleated details, I’m all over this khaki nylon number. Again, I paired them with chunky boots for the ultimate utility-style combo."
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JOY MONTGOMERY, SHOPPING EDITOR
"Despite not usually being a big dress wearer, there's something about this season's prairie dress style that has piqued my interest. With its statement frills and dramatic sweeping skirt, it's a dream for those who enjoy a little retro styling. I'll be wearing this with my vintage loafers now then swapping in knee-high brown boots when winter arrives."
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"I love the texture that the homespun trend has brought to the autumn collections, a season usually dominated by minimalist silhouettes and neutral colourways. Quilting is one style that Sea NY has really got on board with and executed beautifully. This skirt is the perfect foil for my fave past-season Ganni logo tee and the high-low appeal is very Scandi. Just add chunky boots and a shearling coat for the colder months."
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Next up, see our guide to the key trends for autumn 2021.
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