We love summer here at Etton Taylor – the English summer ‘season’, summer weddings, long days, light evenings and the chance to wear floaty dresses, camis and fabulous prints. But when those first little hints that the seasons are changing arrive, you know we’re daydreaming about crisp autumnal days, trees turning shades of gold, red and orange and stepping into ‘cosy season’ with our wardrobe. And just because the temperatures drop and the evenings draw in, it doesn’t mean we’re planning to wave goodbye to style any time soon!
When there’s a new season on the horizon, Faye loves diving into the trend forecasts and then thinking about how they can be woven into the Etton Taylor collection. Of course, that’s with our commitment to shaping a wardrobe that’s entirely ‘you’ and not falling into fast fashion. It’s one of Faye’s favourite parts of the job – shopping and ordering the news season pieces– but it’s a big one too, to make sure she chooses pieces you’ll love for years to come.
So, what did Faye find when she started looking through the trend forecasts for autumn/winter 2026? A couple of phrases cropped up repeatedly, and they made her very happy indeed: ladylike and sophisticated! Plus, there were a couple of other trends that caught her eye too –rich combinations of texture are everywhere, while another trend has a distinctly country-house feel to it. Here are three of our favourites, along with Faye’s picks for bringing them into your wardrobe.
Modern ladylike and sophisticated
Ruffles, lace, tweed, beautifully cut jackets and elegant handbags are all in style this autumn, with a return to styles that are polished and feminine without being overly formal. The lovely thing about this trend is that so many of its ingredients are already our wardrobe classics, which makes it particularly easy to embrace without feeling as though you’re dressing for a trend.
The Callosa Tartan Jacket is a perfect example. Tartan and a beautifully tailored jacket will always have a place in an autumn wardrobe, while the shape gives it that smart, put-together look that we’re seeing so much of this season. Wear it with trousers and boots now, layer it over knitwear as the weather cools, and bring it back out next autumn too.
For a softer take on the look, the Sammi Beige Ruffle Shirt taps straight into the season’s lean towards romantic details. The ruffled neckline gives it interest without making it difficult to wear, and it’s an easy way to bring the trend into outfits you already own. Tuck it into tailored trousers or a skirt or let the ruffles peek out beneath a favourite jacket.
Then there’s the Dama Red Swing Coat. A stylish coat is one of those pieces we’ll always advocate investing in, and this one combines a timeless shape with a fabulous shot of colour. It’s elegant and feminine but has enough personality to lift even the simplest autumn outfit.
The Armela Black Cord Waistcoat and Fulgora Trouser co-ord takes the ladylike look in a slightly different direction. The waistcoat brings that tailored feel we’re seeing everywhere, while cord makes the whole look a little more relaxed and autumnal. And, of course, the joy of a co-ord is that you have three outfits rather than one: wear the pieces together, then split them up and pair each with favourites already in your wardrobe.
Finish the look with a Tempest handbag. Structured, top-handle bags are another nod to the return of polished dressing, and a beautiful bag is perhaps one of the easiest ways to give clothes you’ve owned for years a fresh new-season feel.
Mixing and matching textures
Autumn is a season when we can play with layers and texture – think soft tees, cosy knitwear, chunky boots - but this year there’s even more fun to be had with it. Velvet, tweed, silk, denim, cord and soft knits are being layered and worn together, giving even understated outfits depth and interest. It’s also a really wearable trend because you don’t necessarily need to buy lots of new items to embrace it. Have a dig in your wardrobe and see what’s already in there that can work with one or two new pieces. And here are some new pieces for inspiration!
The Belena Brown Check Coat is a brilliant starting point. The check gives you pattern as well as texture and, worn with denim, knitwear, velvet or even with something silky underneath, it becomes part of a perfect autumnal outfit.
Velvet is one of the standout fabrics for the season, making our Acro Navy Velvet Blazer an easy way to embrace the trend. We love velvet because it can go in so many directions: dressed up for dinner, worn with a blouse and tailored trousers or teamed with jeans for a clash of smart and casual textures.
The Elodie Powder Blue Ruffle Knit brings another dimension. The soft knit and feminine ruffle detail work beautifully against more structured fabrics, so try it with denim, cord or tweed rather than feeling that everything in an outfit has to match. The powder blue also gives a little lift to the deeper browns, navies and earthy shades that are everywhere at this time of year.
Heritage country style
If ever there were an autumn trend that was made for Etton Taylor, this one might be it. Tweed, heritage checks, military-inspired coats, leather accessories and fabulous fur and faux-fur trims are all part of a look that belongs somewhere between a country house weekend and a bracing walk in the countryside followed by drinks beside the fire.
Our limited-edition Union Flag Cashmere Wrap is a particularly lovely way to embrace this trend. Beautiful cashmere makes it something you’ll want to reach for whenever the temperature drops, while the Union Flag design and recycled raccoon fur trim give it oodles of character. Wear it over a cosy knit and your favourite jeans and let the wrap do all the work or add the finishing touch to a cocktail dress on a chilly black-tie evening.
Then there’s the Bariloche Corinto Khaki Military Coat, which picks up another of the season’s heritage influences. Military styling has a wonderful habit of returning year on year, which is precisely why a great military-inspired coat can be such a good wardrobe investment. The khaki keeps it easy to wear, while the detailing gives it enough personality to feel special.
Faye’s approach to buying has always been to look for clothes with personality that you’ll be excited to pull out of the wardrobe again next year, and the year after that. So, take the bits of autumn/winter 2026 that you love, mix them with the pieces you already own and make them completely your own. And if that happens to involve a fabulous new coat, a little velvet or a beautifully ruffled blouse… well, we certainly won’t argue.
