Zara's in Autumn Mode and so am I—17 Pieces That'll Be Impossible to Find Come September

If there's one thing you should know about me, I'm a bit of a pro-Zara shopper. In my years as an editor (all 14 of them), Zara has always been a place I can turn to for affordable, current-feeling pieces that help my wardrobe adapt to a new season or set of trends. However, that doesn't mean that I shop there blindly. Actually, I probably scrutinise my Zara purchases more than any others I make—even designer ones. In truth, this is because I know that some of the pieces the brand creates can feel a little cheap, either in their design or their construction. Of course, these aren't pieces I'd ever recommend, but you can find some absolute gems from the high-street retailer—you simply need to know what to look for. And I certainly do.

I have a developed bit of a knack for being able to find the most expensive-looking, well-made pieces on the Zara site: An intuition that only comes from first-hand experience coupled with how seriously I take my job. Between locating ZW Collection pieces—the brand's more directional collection which features more premium fabrications and designer-adjacent pieces—to knowing the categories the brand does best, I'm able to pinpoint Zara's next hero items and bestsellers at a glance.

So, now that we find ourselves on the cusp of a new season, I thought it was high time I took proper stock of Zara's pre-autumn collection and identified the best shopping picks for you. In my opinion, Zara collections peak in chicness when autumn hits, and this theory is being proven right for autumn 2025.

With a slew of sleek knitwear, elevated tailoring and refined dresses and skirts, for pre-autumn, Zara is continuing to embrace elegance in a big way. In terms of colours, there is a lot of green—an offshoot from brat summer—but done so in a way that feels more everlasting than the neon shades we've seen so much of. There's also a honed focus on details—a well-chosen gold button here and a tie-neck added to a blouse there, and the entire pre-autumn collection suddenly feels much more considered than perhaps the summer edit did.

So, which Zara pre-autumn shopping do I have on my wish list? I am glad you asked! Below are the 11 items currently sitting in my basket, followed by some additional pieces that I also think are worth seeing. Scroll on to get your next-season Zara fill.

Shop Zara's Pre-Autumn Edit