By your friendly neighbourhood over-40 fashion experimenter and serial micro-trend survivor
Another Season, Another Set of “Must-Haves”
If you’re anything like me, the phrase “Autumn/Winter runway trends” makes you both giddy and slightly nauseous. Giddy, because who doesn’t like a bit of glossy escapism? Nauseous, because your wardrobe (and your bank account) still hasn’t recovered from that last “essential” micro-bag purchase.
But 2025’s autumn/winter collections are actually giving us something refreshingly…wearable. And better yet, many of these trends are already living quietly in the back of your wardrobe. Before you click “add to basket”, let’s take a look at what’s coming down the runways and how to translate it to your everyday style – sustainably, sanely, and with a dash of wit.
1. The Big Picture: What Designers Showed
Soft armour – Think oversized coats with sculptural shoulders, but in felted wool or buttery faux-leather instead of hard tailoring. Victoria Beckham, Loewe and The Row all gave us outerwear that’s dramatic yet protective. Translation: that camel coat you’ve had since 2018 is suddenly on-trend again.
Luxe layers of texture – Bouclé, mohair, brushed alpaca, velvet. A tactile playground. Good news: if you still have that chunky knit you bought during lockdown, it’s a star player now.
Deep jewel tones + icy neutrals – Designers paired garnet and sapphire with winter white and silver grey. If your wardrobe is mostly black (guilty!), adding one jewel-tone scarf instantly says “A/W 25/26”.
80s redux…grown up – Less neon leg warmers, more sculpted blazers, cinched waists and midi lengths. Basically, the parts of the 80s you wish you’d worn the first time.
Soft tailoring for day – Slouchy suits, wide trousers, fluid blazers. Translation: your workwear can double as weekend wear.
2. The High Street Edit: What’s Already Filtering Down
Because let’s be honest: I love a bit of runway fantasy, but my life involves staff meetings, school runs and the odd supermarket dash. Luckily, high-street brands are already picking up these cues:
- Mango & Arket are full of brushed wool coats in grey and camel with those sculpted shoulders.
- Zara has gone mad for mohair-blend jumpers in jewel tones.
- Marks & Spencer is doing surprisingly chic velvet midi skirts (wear with boots, not trainers, unless you want to relive your 2007 Myspace era).
- H&M Conscious and Cos have sustainable wide-leg trousers and slouchy blazers in recycled blends.
Pro tip: shop these pieces in-store if you can. Fabrics matter, and sometimes a £49 coat looks £400…or vice versa.
3. Shop Your Wardrobe First (Seriously)
Here’s where the sustainability spin comes in. Before you buy anything, play stylist with what you already own:
- Pull out your “boring” basics (black trousers, camel coat, plain jumpers). These are suddenly the backbone of A/W 25/26.
- Check your texture library: anything woolly, bouclé, velvet, satin? Bring it forward.
- Accessories update everything: a jewel-tone scarf, a silver belt, a structured bag. Small swaps = big trend energy.
- DIY tailoring: if you have a blazer that’s a little too boxy, add a belt to fake the cinched-waist look.
I once dug out a velvet blazer from 2003 (back when I thought velvet = instant sophistication). Paired it with straight jeans, a silk shirt, and ankle boots – suddenly I looked less “student union open mic” and more “quiet luxury”. Lesson learned: old pieces can look very now.
4. Trend by Trend: My take
A. Oversized Coats (“Soft Armour”)
- Runway look: floor-sweeping coats with statement collars.
- Wardrobe version: your existing camel or black coat. Belt it, or layer a thin quilted liner under it for extra volume.
- Buy new only if: you genuinely lack a good winter coat. Opt for recycled wool or preloved.
B. Jewel Tones with Icy Neutrals
- Runway look: Garnet suits with silver boots.
- Wardrobe version: one jewel-tone accessory + your usual neutrals.
- My tip: I still own a teal cashmere scarf from 2012. Every winter it looks “fresh” just because teal keeps coming back.
C. Textured Knits & Velvet
- Runway look: head-to-toe mohair.
- Wardrobe version: chunky knit + velvet trousers or skirt.
- A confession: I once bought a white mohair jumper. It shed like an anxious cat. Choose darker shades or blended yarns unless you enjoy lint rollers.
D. 80s Silhouettes (But Adult)
- Runway look: sculpted blazers with midi skirts.
- Wardrobe version: belt your existing blazer, add a midi skirt and boots.
- Shopping tip: check vintage shops. Quality 80s blazers are everywhere, and you’re saving something from landfill.
E. Soft Tailoring
- Runway look: slouchy suits with trainers.
- Wardrobe version: wide trousers + soft knit + loafers.
- Sustainability hack: invest in a good tailor. Adjust old trousers to a wider hem or better drape.
5. Mixing Old and New Without Looking Like a Costume
This is the tricky bit. We’ve all tried to “do a trend” and ended up looking like a Pinterest board exploded. The secret: balance.
- One statement, everything else classic. Jewel-tone velvet skirt + simple black roll-neck. Sculptural coat + jeans + plain boots.
- Match textures, not colours. Bouclé coat + mohair scarf = elevated monochrome.
- Use accessories for trend-testing. Before buying that sapphire velvet blazer, try a jewel-tone belt or bag first.
6. Sustainability: The Quiet Revolution
Fashion media loves to say “sustainable” and then push a new haul every week. Real sustainability is:
- Buying less, but better. Invest in fabrics and fits that last.
- Preloved first. Platforms like Vinted, Depop, The Outnet or your local charity shop.
- Repair and refresh. Re-dye faded knitwear, replace buttons, swap linings.
- Capsule approach. Everything you own should work in at least three outfits.
And yes, “shopping your wardrobe” really does scratch the new-season itch. Take an afternoon, put on music, and play dress-up. Photograph combos you like. Instant lookbook.
7. How to Plan Your Autumn/Winter Wardrobe Like a Stylist
- Mood board – Save runway looks you love. Notice colours, shapes, textures rather than exact pieces.
- Wardrobe audit – What do you already have? What gaps genuinely exist?
- Prioritise outerwear & footwear – They define your look.
- One or two new pieces max – Accessories or hero items only.
- Preloved first, then high street. Check fabric content, care labels, and stitching.
8. My Fashion Mistakes (So You Don’t Have to)
Because every blog needs a cautionary tale or three:
- Micro-bags. Look adorable, hold nothing. Mine now stores hair ties.
- White mohair. (See “anxious cat” above.)
- Impulse neon. Yes, I wore a chartreuse coat once. Looked like a highlighter pen on the school run.
Moral: trends are fun, but they’re seasoning, not the main course.
9. Key Takeaways
- Autumn/Winter 2025/2026 trends = oversized coats, luxe textures, jewel tones with icy neutrals, grown-up 80s silhouettes, and soft tailoring.
- High-street brands like Zara, Mango, Arket, Cos and M&S are already translating these looks.
- Shop your wardrobe first to save money and reduce waste.
- Add small, trend-led pieces (scarves, belts, bags) instead of full outfits.
- Preloved, repaired, and capsule thinking = genuinely sustainable fashion.
10. Closing Thoughts: Make the Trend Work for You
Fashion seasons can feel like a treadmill. But the A/W 25/26 trends are surprisingly kind to those of us who’ve built a solid wardrobe over the years. With a little creativity (and maybe a lint roller), you can make these looks your own without draining your wallet or the planet.
So, before you hit “checkout” on that jewel-tone mohair maxi dress, take a deep breath. Look in your wardrobe. Remember your fashion mistakes with a smile. Then build outfits that feel like you – only fresher, warmer, and a little more runway-ready.
Tried one of these trends in your own wardrobe? Snap a pic and tag me on Instagram or Facebook, I love seeing how you style your pieces!
Take care, stay safe.
Becks Xo
My life and style over 40 