Six trends to know, and 24 pieces I’d buy in a heartbeat this autumn from Zara, M&S and John Lewis, from £26

The question I'm asked more than any other as Good Housekeeping’s Style Director is this: "What are the trends?"

And it's a good one. Fashion moves fast, and most of us don't have the time or the inclination to keep up with it all.

It's also a controversial one, because trends fuel overconsumption and make us feel like we can't keep up.

At their best, though - and this is the good news - trends are helpful.

Knowing the current themes, moods, colours and styles gives us insight and inspiration. The biggest advantage, though, is a practical one: it makes choosing a new item easier and ultimately allows you to make better shopping decisions.

Those are exactly the trends I'm talking about here.

In this edit I've chosen the six trends that I believe define autumn 2026: checks, chocolate brown, dark denim, red, fluffy textures and utility styling.

Familiar, yes, but each of them has been given tweaks and updates for this season, meaning though they are "on trend", none represent a fleeting fashion moment that will end up in landfill in a few months time.

To help you shop them, I've selected four items for each trend, 24 buys in total starting at £30. Every piece is useful, chic, sleek and choosing just one will raise the bar of your style and make getting dressed easier and more exciting.

Some, like John Lewis's red baguette bag, Nobody's Child's chocolate brown boyfriend coat and M&S's Prada-inspired argyle short-sleeved knit, will make a fashion statement.

Others, like M&S' 'Mom' cropped dark denim jeans, Ro&Zo's fluffy shearling waistcoat and Uniqlo's rainproof khaki jacket, will become the backbone of your wardrobe for years to come.

Think of this edit as a shortcut through the noise and a way to avoid the endless scroll of retail websites.

Next time someone asks me “What are the autumn trends?” I’ll send them straight here.