With the sun daring to grace us with its presence for the first time in what feels like at least a decade, autumn/winter fashion trends might just be the last thing on your mind right now.
Alas, the fashion world is nothing if not ahead of its time, and having wrapped a season of AW26 runways on Tuesday with Paris Fashion Week officially closing the show, those with a vested interest in all things sartorial forecasting can't help but look beyond the imminent fair weather to see what lies beyond on the fashion landscape.
Luckily, for those of us lacking in the patience department when it comes to wardrobe endeavours, there's no reason we can't dip a toe into the world of autumn/winter fashion trends right now and perfect the styling of them by the time they explode in popularity come September. After all, if you like them enough, is six months really long enough?
No one truly shops a new wardrobe every season, and we're all for wise buys and ditching fashion frivolity – so we say autumn/shmautumn… These AW26 trends are ready whenever you are.
It was impossible to ignore the resurgence of red splashed all over the autumn/winter 2026 runways (sending solidarity to my fellow fair-skinned girlies with frequently flushed cheeks who couldn't think of a less flattering colour to be trending), but a more detail-oriented analysis actually took the trend one step further. Offering up a tangibly three-dimensional experience, it seems that come autumn we'll all be wearing pretty severe shards of the shade, with explosive red textures in the form of fringing, fluff and even tasselled leather adorning models head-to-toe at the likes of Erdem, Bottega Veneta, Simone Rocha and Loewe.
Spotted at: (L-R) Erdem, Bottega Veneta, Loewe
While spring/summer is traditionally seen as the softer, more traditionally ‘feminine’ season when it comes to fashion, autumn/winter gets something of a harsher reputation with the assumption that deeper hues and heavier fabrics automatically = severe. Flipping the script for AW26, Simone Rocha, Erdem, Zimmermann and Sandy Liang are leaning into their softer side, with the use of bows and ribbons throughout their collections providing an unusually fun and frivolous take on winter dressing and proving that you needn't wait for December's festivities to play around with your look.
Spotted at: (L-R) Sandy Liang, Erdem, Simone Rocha, and Karoline Vitto.
Unlike Milan and Paris, the British capital has female creativity at the forefront. Join us in celebrating the minds who make things happen ahead of its AW26 season.
The type of trend that anti-rule-followers love, this season saw many designers (we're talking Chanel, Prada, Zimmermann, Toga, Cecilie Bahnsen, and Marni, to name a few) lean into ‘more is more’. More pieces, more accessories, more layers. The only thing that they want less of is rules. In fact, it seems, there are none. Leg warmers over tights? Bulky knitwear tucked into slinky, sheer skirts? Underwear worn over your outerwear? Running vests paired with delicately embroidered mini skirts? Heavy-duty gloves and sunglasses? Cheat code: pick ten of your favourite pieces from your wardrobe and just put them all on. Don't think twice, don't second-guess, and more importantly, do not, under any circumstances, do a Coco Chanel and “before you leave the house look in the mirror and take one thing off”.
Spotted at: (L-R) Zimmermann, Cecilie Bahnsen & Prada
.jpg)
Sheer dresses have been big news on the fashion scene for as long as I can remember (and I've been compiling these trend reports for almost fifteen years), but this season I noticed something a little different about the big reveal. Rather than opting for clean, clear, unobstructed views of the model's lingerie – or lack thereof – as many have in previous years, for autumn/winter 2026, things were a little more concealed. With a delicate veil of embroidery adding interest and dimension to the trend, we spotted intricately detailed sheer fabrication at the likes of Dior, Fendi, Saint Laurent, Gabriela Hearst and Cecilie Bahnsen.
Spotted at: (L-R) Christian Dior, Fendi, Gabriela Hearst & Christian Siriano.
.jpg)
Sometimes, the best action is off the catwalks.
We've all been privy to the rise of ‘stick of butter’ dressing over recent seasons, but for AW26, everyone from Bottega Veneta and Loewe to Chloé, Chanel and Proenza Schouler has dialled things down a notch and gone for a more muted tone. Margarine, if you will. Or lard? Have you ever been less tempted? Luckily, the shade speaks for itself, and may actually be our favourite take on the now-ubiquitous colour trend dominating our wardrobes. Worn with white, it's a really easy one to trial early as we move into spring, before introducing complementary soft olives, burnt oranges, and deep burgundys to the palette come autumn.
Spotted at: (L-R) Bottega Veneta, Chloé and Proenza Schouler
Fans of full-on fluff rejoiced on many occasions during the most recent runway shows, as it seems very few designers could resist the urge to send at least one model out resembling an incredibly chic fuzzy duster. From Erdem and Bottega - who both opted for outerwear iterations – to Prabal Gurung – who showcased some incredible fluffed-up eveningwear in New York – these were among some of the most visually impactful looks of the season. Moving beautifully, and seeming like the perfect companion for a mid-afternoon nap when the back-to-back shows got too much, we'll be seeing various takes on this trend all over the high street the minute the sun hats sell out.
Spotted at: (L-R) Erdem, Bottega Veneta, Prabal Gurung
It'll come as no surprise that a month-long run of autumn/winter catwalks showcased a lot of excellent tailoring, but there was one silhouette that just wouldn't seem to quit. And for good reason. Oversized double-breasted blazers were everywhere, with the look even spilling over into the outerwear space at Balenciaga and Acne Studios, who showed a sort of one-and-done ensemble consisting of nothing but a long, double-breasted coat in a heavily exaggerated fit. A great way to showcase statement accessories, it's one of the easiest looks to reach for with maximum impact.
Spotted at: (L-R) Bottega Veneta, Balenciaga & Acne Studios.
Pleats are a really underrated design detail. Adding volume, texture and movement to a piece, their intricacy lends a softness to a look while rarely leaning too far into sentimentality or whimsy. One of the few design details that feels forever contemporary, this season saw everyone from Dior to Erdem and Tory Burch going full throttle with head-to-toe designs made entirely from pleated fabrics. Crucially, they all also featured an element of waist cinching, whether that be via a belt or draped fabric, adding an impactful horizontal line to break up all that vertical action.
Spotted at: (L-R) Christian Dior, Erdem & Tory Burch
When it came to spotting accessories on the runway over the last few weeks, you'd struggle to overlook the plethora of zesty florals taking centre stage. In fact, you'd be forgiven for thinking momentarily that we were seeing spring collections, so rife were the blooms. With giant, soft lemon flowers adorning the ears of models at Toga, lime green beaded blooms on the feet at Prada and ornate lily pads taking over, well, everywhere at Dior, it's a pretty safe bet to get ahead of the trend with this one and invest in some zingy florals by spring.
Spotted at: (L-R) Toga, Prada & Christian Dior
I can almost feel my fellow millennials shuddering, but I'm here to alert you to the fact that the rumours are true. The peplum has returned. It's been making a quiet comeback over recent seasons, but by the time autumn/winter 2026 hits, there's going to be no avoiding it. But for those looking for a clear-cut distinction between the peplum of our mid-teens and the peplum of our early-thirties, it all comes down to the pairing piece. Where they once formed a crucial component of our jeans-and-a-nice-top looks, their pairing piece now comes in the form of a matching trouser or skirt, giving off a more put-together, considered aesthetic.
Spotted at: (L-R) Stella McCartney, Richard Quinn & Christian Dior
Another win for the cosy girls, the runways were something of a teddy bear's picnic for autumn/winter 2026 as almost everyone paid tribute to the fuzzy brown coat. Whether wool, shearling or faux fur, you couldn't miss them. From Stella McCartney and Saint Laurent to Bottega, Loewe, Balenciaga and Gabriela Hearst, there's no doubting the outerwear that'll be reigning supreme come September. And while most iterations were maxi, there were a number finishing at the top of the thigh, providing an option for those who aren't into the coat being the full look. Keeping the outfit tonal à la Stella is a great way to ensure it feels intentional and elevated, rather than a layer thrown over last-minute.
Spotted at: (L-R) Stella McCartney, Saint Laurent & Loewe
Another defining Y2K fashion trend that's back for round two, the handkerchief hem – a stalwart of the boho fashion era that dominated the mid-00s – was spotted on several runways over the last few weeks, not least at Proenza Schouler, Gabriela Hearst and Chanel. Mostly reserved for dresses - as opposed to the midi skirts and halterneck tops of yesteryear – they were often elevated via fabrication, whether that be fringing, embroidered lace accents or patchwork silk. Worn with bold, chunky footwear, they're kept contemporary and fresh, so you'd be wise to leave the strappy Grecian sandals at home on this occasion.
Spotted at: (L-R) Proenza Schouler, Gabriela Hearst, Chanel & Karoline Vitto.
.jpg)
Whether you're sitting front row or scrolling updates on your sofa.
.jpg)
For more from freelance Fashion Editor Charlie Teather, follow her on Instagram @charlieteather.
