I'm a Londoner, and I'm Refreshing My Capsule Wardrobe Ahead of 2026—These 10 Pieces Made the Cut
The new year brings the perfect opportunity to refresh your capsule wardrobe. And if you're a Londoner, these are the 10 staples I know will be everywhere in 2026.
Building the ultimate capsule wardrobe is no small feat, especially in London. With its biting winters and (occasionally) scorching summers, it’s hard to find pieces that can be worn throughout the year. Because if you’re like me and can never get enough sleep, sorting through an ungodly amount of clothes to create a look can feel like hard work.
Which is why, ahead of 2026, I’m editing my clothes and accessories into a pared-back collection set to be on rotation for the next nine months. However, I must say, as I filter through my clothes and shoes, I can't help but feel that creating a functional edit that caters to these two extremes whilst capturing what it means to be a "city girl", isn't easy.
London dressing, to me, feels far more dynamic than other major cities. With an individualistic undercurrent, Londoners balance an innate nonchalance with classic pieces and a spirited undoneness with an edgy sophistication, which means each piece of my new wardrobe needs to fit the memo.
Naturally, the question of vibe for next year has been on my mind for a while. AtBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK, as it’s our job to live and breathe trends, and there's a whole range of aesthetics we predict will take precedence in your wardrobe in the coming months. From structured Napoleon-era jackets to the folky medieval-maiden-style maxis and Victoriana footwear with a witchy twist, for us, spring/summer 2026 is shaping up to be a year of maximalism where truly anything goes.
However, whilst one or two of these pieces can launch your capsule into the 2026 mood, it’s those simple staples—the ones we may consider mundane—that are the hidden gems of our wardrobe, and ultimately, the pieces that let the trending items shine. Now, am I saying you should throw everything away and start from scratch? Never! However, if your tried-and-true tailored trousers have seen better days (like mine), or if you want to go for a little something different this year, this list is a great place to start.
A London-Ready Capsule Wardrobe to See You Through to Spring
1. Tapered Trousers
Style Notes: Whilst tailored trousers never date thanks to their innate timelessness, tapered trousers (and ultra-wide tailoring) have garnered more traction lately. Designers, including Carolina Herrera and Stella McCartney, focused on ultra-wide-leg iterations at their autumn/winter 2025 runway shows. This shape perfectly encapsulates the more laid-back, cool-girl nature of 2026 dressing. In spring, I’m planning on wearing mine like Monikh Dale (pictured above): with a layered tee and suede bag.
Shop Tapered Trousers:
These have been all over my feed lately.
In a dusty olive shade, this barrel-leg shape would pair nicely with loafers and a cosy cashmere knit.
With a mid-rise waist, this flannel Toteme pair will still work when the weather warms up.
2. Pleated Maxi Skirts
Style Notes: With nostalgic styles having a moment, Wholesale Replica Bag of a long list is the pleated maxi skirt. Since Proenza Schouler and Timo Weiland made the elegant '50s silhouette cool again in the 2010s, there’s been little noise on the pleated skirt front. But now, with the rise of loose tailoring in tandem with a revived affection for heritage plaid, pleated skirts have suddenly started trending. An offshoot of Miu Miu’s preppy re-birth, longer maxis balance sophistication with edge to create looks that feel effortlessly undone. With a brushed-mohair striped jumper or a waisted knit, it's impossible for this elegant silhouette not to look chic in 2026.
Shop Pleated Maxi Skirts:
The subtle sheen makes this skirt look far more expensive than it is.
Pair this dusky beige skirt with loafers and a cashmere knit this winter.
With an A-line cut, the subtle pleats lend this Reformation skirt a '50s vibe.
3. Funnel-Neck Cape Coats
Style Notes: Call me a snob, but as someone dialled into ever-changing outerwear trends, very few styles can combat the most frigid temperatures whilst also lending a subtle sophistication to every look it touches. However, the cape coat balances both with ease. Finished with an on-trend funnel neck, this style nods to traditional Victorian silhouettes whilst lending a modern edge. From jeans to maxi skirts, regardless of age, the most fashionable people on my feed are gravitating towards this style for an IYKYK energy to their looks.
Shop Funnel-Neck Cape Coats:
With a detachable belt, this H&M coat looks far more expensive than its £40 price tag.
In a plush wool blend, this coat will keep you toasty all winter.
With a sculptural, asymmetric cut and concealed button closures, this coat is so London.
4. Straight-Leg Jeans
Style Notes: Whilst the shift towards straight-legged silhouettes has been hardly subtle, if you’re unwilling to shimmy into the skinny styles currently trending, why not opt for a pair of ‘90s-coded straight-leg jeans? With a pinched waist and subtly leg-sculpting quality, everyone from Stella McCartney to Victoria Beckham replaced baggier styles with something more shapely during the off-season 2026 previews. With a vintage feel, styles like Agolde's Pinch Waist and Levi’s 501 have skyrocketed in popularity, fast becoming the go-to choice of fashion people when styling layered tees or cosy cashmere knits.
Shop Straight-Leg Jeans:
Available in seven colourways, you're sure to find a shade for you.
A fashion person's best-kept secret.
Whats better than the OG?
5. Oversized Suede Bags
Style Notes: With the resurgence of the Louis Vuitton Speedy (a Y2K classic with Paris Hilton's stamp of approval), whilst the rest of fashion is slimming down, bags are undeniably getting bigger. Our love affair with all things suede was 2025’s worst-kept secret, but suede bags before this year (outside of The Row's Margaux) tended to be far more compact. With the suede Mulberry Bayswater quietly growing in popularity, and Depop seeing surges in vintage styles by 1040% this year alone, we predict 2026 will be defined by all things big, suede and gloriously robust.
Shop Oversized Suede Bags:
Zara now offers bag personalisation, a delicate detail which tailors the item to you.
Taupe suede in a timeless shape? This is destined to be a best-seller.
When luxury and practicality align, that’s when you know you’ve found the one, and Saint Laurent's Le 5 à 7 Bea Tote is it for me.
6. Culottes
Style Notes: A warm-weather no-brainer, if you can get the styling right, Bermuda shorts never date. However, the shift to year-round wear has piqued my interest ahead of 2026. With a timeless appeal, brands such as Ganni and MM6 Maison Margiela have foreshadowed that the next 12 months will be overflowing with longline shorts. Pairing with everything from loafers to knee-high boots with ease, these shorts bring indie-sleaze cool in the most polished way—a look I’m tapping into with full force next year.
Shop Culottes:
Simple yet effective.
These have gone straight into my basket.
In a plush wool fabric and with tailored single front pleats, these culottes will stay in your London capsule for years to come.
7. "Monk" Shoes
Style Notes: Loafers will never not be chic, but as the preppy fashion aesthetic continues to capture the zeitgeist, forgotten styles like buckled "monk" shoes are fast becoming the newest way to differentiate yourself from the pack. These glorified "school shoes" might make you shudder at first glance, but they're a far cry from the clunky iterations of old. With buckles galore, these shoes feel current and are slightly fresher than the loafers which have flooded our feeds over the past 12 months.
Shop Monk Shoes:
How cool are these?!
Pair with socks and a pleated skirt this spring.
Sleek, and versatile enough for plenty of looks.
8. Hoods
Style Notes: If you're yet to invest in a warm scarf, why not try a cosy hood balaclava instead? Gaining in popularity over the last few years, a plush hood will keep you super snug and is arguably cooler and more comfortable than a clunky scarf (and definitely more refined than your favourite hoodie). Creating chic visual interest, I'll be pairing mine as Felicity Bird has (pictured above): with loose jeans and a fitted maxi coat on chiller days.
Shop Hoods:
The tortoiseshell buttons are a nice touch.
This cashmere-merino hood from Rise Fall is aBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing UK editor staple.
In a wool-cashmere blend, this chocolate-brown hood will keep you warm all winter and blend with the rest of your wardrobe with ease.
9. Gilets
Style Notes: Thanks to the rise of gorpcore (an aesthetic which sees hiking-adjacent pieces worn outside of their traditional realm), gilets have fast become the outerwear choice of the London fashion set. Before you see "finance bros" flashing in front of your eyes and shudder at the thought, the styles we're seeing now aren't restricted to the quilting (as seen on Christina Nadin above). From cosy faux fur to vibrant prints, these sleeveless jackets are a particularly functional way of vocalising self-expression through dressing (something Londoners love to do). Pairing well with jeans, trousers, skirts and leggings, the hardest part of styling a gilet is deciding which colourway to go with.
Shop Gilets:
I'd suggest sizing up if you're after a looser fit.
Pair with a knitted jumper and cup of mulled wine.
I adore this print in this colourway.
10. Thin Scarves
Style Notes: With an inherent '90s-rom-com vibe, the elongated thin scarf is the accessory trend fashionable Londoners can't get enough of. Picked up initially by Scandi women, it's a piece that simultaneously elevates cold-weather attire whilst adding an IYKYK energy to spring's most vibrant florals, weaving your outfits together with ease.
Shop Thin Scarves:
The mixed-stripe print will add a retro-inspired touch to your look.
Offset your winter neutrals with this vibrant scarf.
All of my favourite Scandi influencers own a Cloimh scarf.
