It’s time to start looking ahead to autumn, which means packing away summer essentials like swimwear and sandals and digging out – or purchasing – pieces that’ll last throughout the new season. Nothing looks as polished as a well-tailored suit, and this chocolate brown style from Cos, comprised of wide-leg pleated trousers and a double-breasted blazer, is the perfect example. (Add Miu Miu’s patent penny loafers for peak smart appeal.) If you’re looking to invest in vintage, visit the pre-loved bag offering that has just dropped at Matches, launched in partnership with the resale specialist, Sellier, and features hero styles from Chanel and Hermès.
Speaking of autumn investments – The Row’s signature Margaux bag is back in stock (and flying out of the warehouse!) at Net-a-Porter. The brand’s minimalist tote is a bestseller, beloved for its timeless silhouette. Knitwear, too, is another important investment for autumn: we’ve got our eye on Vince’s cornflower-blue turtleneck, which pairs well with Acne Studios’s floor-sweeping denim maxi skirt and Gianvito Rossi’s eyelet-adorned ballet flats.
Dresses are top of mind for team Vogue right now, with Molly Goddard’s racer green shirred taffeta midi and Free People’s Dylan midi among our favourites. Boots and practical bags are other priorities in Vogue House: Staud’s suede Wally knee-highs and Loewe’s Puzzle tote are smart buys for the new season.
Now, for a moment of party planning. The post-summer calendar invites are starting to roll in, leading guests to consider the age-old question: what to wear? Whether there’s a soirée around the corner or you’ve still got some months to go, there’s no harm in getting ahead. Visit 16Arlington for showstopper party dresses, D’Accori for the ultimate party platforms, & Other Stories for stellar high street outfit options (hello, sequin maxi skirt) and Completedworks for bejewelled finishing touches.
Tie-dye doesn’t have to be the reserve of the summer months: just take Joseph’s knitted midi-dress, which gives the bohemian print an autumnal twist in shades of black, grey and white. Arket has also delivered in the monochrome stakes this season with a leather racer jacket – a deadringer for the styles seen on the runways of Miu Miu, Diesel and Dior. In need of a colourful counterpoint? Reach for Jil Sander’s teal-hued Cannolo bag.
A nice-top-and-jeans top is one of those wardrobe heroes that genuinely lives up to the hype, and 16Arlington may have just delivered the best iteration we’ve seen this season, in the form of a long-sleeved sequinned top. Tuck into wide-leg jeans, slip on some slingbacks, grab an oversized clutch and you’re good to go. Kendall Jenner’s recent Carrie-inspired ensemble, meanwhile, has us lusting after grey minidresses, and Staud’s roll-neck ribbed dress will look great with biker boots on cooler summer days.
The slip dress is here to stay, and Mango just upped the ante with its directional asymmetric style, which can be levelled-up for weddings with pointed kitten heels then dressed-down with an oversized knit. Clearly this week is a battle of the high-street buys, because H&M has also dropped a runway-ready hourglass blazer – a refreshing alternative from the more shapeless silhouettes that have dominated recent seasons.
The motocross trend extends far beyond leather jackets: why not supercharge your long-sleeve top selection with a racing jersey? We recommend looking for the real deal on secondhand sites such as Etsy and Ebay. Elsewhere, print-lovers will be happy to hear that dark florals is a key aesthetic for autumn/winter 2023, and Monki’s mesh maxi skirt delivers on the brooding blooms.
The humble rugby top has been given the high-fashion treatment this season, with countless designers offering up their own spin on the sporty staple. We love the knitted polish of Wales Bonner’s block-coloured iteration. When it comes to transeasonal heroes, you also can’t go wrong with a boxy blazer and Camille & Marc’s tailoring is worth paying attention to.
As we head into August, we’re not quite ready to let go of summer – the key is blending your beachside buys with autumn-ready separates. Take Missoni’s embellished tank top (the epitome of holiday vibes), which will become city-ready when styled with Jigsaw’s wide-leg tailored trousers and slip-on mules: Filippa K X Swedish Hasbeen’s clogs will do the job nicely.
2023 is fast becoming the year of the elevated basic, with even the loftiest of designer brands turning their hands to the lowliest of wardrobe basics. Take Bottega Veneta, which has created the chicest hoodie known to man – rendered in grey cashmere, of course – or JW Anderson’s new-in twisted workwear jeans, which are sure to add interest to your autumn looks.
The changeable British weather calls for easy layering and, thankfully, Toteme’s cult leather cargo jacket is back for another season, this time in a new light brown colourway. M&S Autograph is also a go-to for light layers, and the brand’s new-in cobalt knit is autumn/winter 2023-ready. Sacai, meanwhile, is taking layering to a whole new level with its wrap effect, mini-midi skirt, which is essentially a 2-for-1 deal.
The classic shirt dress has been given a high-fashion makeover this season and Norma Kamali’s floor-sweeping gown is a case in point. Keep it contemporary with biker boots and an oversized blazer. For a more colourful take on the summer dress, look to Le Linge, which has created the perfect LRD (little red dress). Throw it on with pointed kitten heels and Jacquemus’s Le Bisou Perle bag and prepare to feel very Golden Age Hollywood.
Thanks to the UK experiencing variable weather, our minds have already turned to transeasonal layers. A denim shirt is our first port of call, and Cos’s oversized iteration comes in a dreamy deep navy that feels casual, yet polished. H&M, meanwhile, has provided us with seasonless cashmere in the form of a grey, short-sleeved knit: just style with a full-skirted midi and pointed shoes for Prada autumn/winter 2023 vibes. We also have to give a call-out to the It-trainer of 2023: Onitsuka Tiger’s Mexico 66 sneaker.
The autumn runways were filled with traditionally ladylike get-ups: think cardigans, midi-skirts and prim-and-proper handbags. Recreate the look with Hades’s photo-print knit and Miu Miu’s knee-length Panama skirt. If you want to subvert your pearl-clutching look then we recommend adding a little PVC: see The Row’s kitten-heel high-shine boots.
There aren’t many fashion items that are more iconic than a Dior Bar jacket, and we just happen to have found a plaid iteration in Hardly Ever Worn It’s new-in edit. Make like Carrie Bradshaw and style this with form-fitting capri pants and ballet pumps. Jean Paul Gaultier’s Breton stripe is another worth addition to the fashion hall of fame, and the brand has reworked the motif for a new season in the form of a cheeky corsage-embellished crop top.
While we are solidly in high summer territory, we can’t help thinking about how we will transition our warm weather staples to the cooler months. First stop? A pair of suede biker boots, which will give your favourite summer dress longevity. Elsewhere, Loewe has delivered the perfect directional-yet-practical tote bag, which will be a dream for both travelling, work and weekend-ing.
As anyone who is familiar with the British weather will know, you need a good jacket to hand at all times. Conveniently, Khaite has created the perfect oversized leather iteration, which will look beyond cool with everything from floaty dresses to casual denim cut-offs. Another year-round hero is a Vivienne Westwood tartan skirt: wear now with a tank top and ballet flats, then swap-in a navy crew neck knit come autumn.
Looking for workwear with personality? Pucci’s printed silk shirt will fit the bill nicely. Just throw over a pair of tailored trousers and accessorise with loafers and aviator sunnies. Jewellery brand, Loveness Lee, is another winner when it comes to minimal-effort, maximum-impact dressing, and its pearl-and-silver necklace is most certainly worth the investment.
According to team Vogue, With Nothing Underneath makes the best shirts in the business, and it just so happens that, this week, the brand has launched a capsule collection with Free People. Style the brand’s classic striped shirt with Mango’s metallic jeans and a pair of Mulberry’s newly-launched sunnies.
Bring the summer holiday vibes back to the city with Faithfull The Brand’s sun-drenched collaboration with Monikh Dale. The striped linen co-ord is a real highlight. Elsewhere, we have Completed Works’s personality-packed earrings, which have just dropped on Matches, and Alaïa’s 2023 spin on the slouchy boho bag. We’re into it.