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The 6 autumn pieces I'd buy in a heartbeat from Cos, Massimo, M&S, Zara and John Lewis, from £65
Good Housekeeping style director Melanie Rickey reveals her top six super chic autumn fashion buys
The start of a new fashion season is always thrilling - there's so much to see and love. But if years of editing and buying clothes has taught me one thing, it's this: impulse and trend-led buys rarely become everyday staples.
The secret to making a properly great fashion purchase is to interrogate everything you think you want with a series of questions. What would you wear it with? Is it similar to something you already have? What do you have that genuinely needs updating? Do you really, like really, love it? Is it made from good-quality fabric? Is it worth the money and, finally, is it worth your wardrobe space? If the answer to all of these is yes, you’re good to go.
The everyday style mood for autumn is sporty, elegant, modern and chic. The colours we’ve loved over summer – particularly red, but also brown and burgundy – are going nowhere, while dark denim, barrel-shaped trousers, slimline elegant shoes and sporty-inspired knits are the bricks you can use to build your everyday style. What’s new this season is asymmetric hemlines, the rise of the car coat and sporty details added to classic shapes.
I adore designer clothes so my strategy here is to look closely at the brands I love - mine are Prada and Chanel - and work backwards. That’s exactly what I’ve done here and found the gold for you: beautiful pieces in quality fabrics that feel exciting, are worth the money, will stay the distance in your wardrobe, and, most importantly, you won’t tire of wearing day in, day out for years to come.
6 Autumn Pieces I'd Buy in a Heartbeat
I'm a sucker for a good quality silk shirt that comes in under £100. On the rare occasion Zara creates them, they are worth a look, and take my advice - if you like it and think you'll wear it a lot, buy it. They never hang around for long.
The navy silk shirt I bought from Zara five years ago is still going strong, and looks as good as the day I bought it, though a few buttons have needed to be sewn back on.
This one in cream with red stripes will layer well under knits, a blazer, or can be worn on warmer autumn days on its own with jeans or trousers. Zara has also created a gorgeous red silk collarless shirt for consideration, also at £89.99. Final note: you can find similar silk shirts at Joseph for £475.
M&S' generously cut pure silk asymmetric skirt has plenty of swish, while the rich burgundy shade means you can wear it with a matching item, or paired with a black, brown, grey or olive green knits.
At £120, it’s truly excellent value: you could easily pay upwards of £500 for a similar designer style. I expect this to sell quickly.
I've been coveting Prada's new season red ballerina pumps for weeks, but at £750 they are out of my budget. Enter Massimo Dutti, the store that has fast become the next best thing to lovers of designer clothes - and their red suede ballerinas.
The first drop of these sold out in a matter of days, but now they are back. If you want a peep of red on your feet this season, Massimo Dutti's elegant ballet pumps in lipstick red are the way to go.
The Umbra jeans by Cos are my first denim purchase in years. The brand describes them as the "new icon" of their denim collection, and I agree. Made from 12oz rinsed denim, they have a high-waist, five-pocket design and curved, tapered legs that fall to the ankle, and it's clear the Cos design team have put a lot of thought into them.
They fit well and are both chic and comfortable. I've found them easy to style with knits, silky shirts, T-shirts, and classic cotton shirts, and they work a treat with ballerina flats, trainers and ankle boots. Highly recommend.
If you're looking to update your outerwear, the classic car coat is making a grand return to style. Simply cut with a boxy shape that falls to just above the knee, with its clean almost 1960s inspired silhouette it's an easy shape to sling on over your autumn outfits, and will work as well with trousers and knits as it does over a dress, or skirt and jumper.
This falls into basic but brilliant territory. Autumn style is all about layering, and it doesn't get easier than with this open-necked easy, cashmere knit from M&S, which comes in four further colours including icy blue and soft grey.
It's the kind of soft staple I know I'll wear hundreds of times through an autumn and winter, and so will you. It can be worn under a blazer, and layered over a shirt, a camisole or a T-shirt, and styled with jeans, tailored trousers or a midi skirt for workday style, or with joggers on the weekend.
The bomber jacket gets a tailored update
Barrel leg trousers get a cord update for winter
The Princess of Wales looks chic in tartan
Cosy and colourful jumpers are a must-have
