What are the six biggest autumn trends to wear right now?

Officially it’s still summer but it would be foolish to ignore the end-of-season sales winding down and the pre-autumn collections arriving in the shops. From leaves changing colour to the chilly crisp air, there’s a lot to love about autumn – especially when it comes to fashion. Saying goodbye to sunshine and holidays is never easy, but you can find comfort in the fact there are so many fresh and beautiful trends to try this autumn.

If you’ve been paying attention to the autumn-winter fashion shows and street-style stars, you’ll have noticed a few things: red is the colour breathing life into autumn, sock boots are non-negotiable and belts are best worn over coats and cardigans.

While the list goes on, we’re not saying you should pull out your heavy layers and bulky coats immediately. Instead embrace the approaching trends now and style them up with your personal twist. Then you’ll be ready for the first signs of a cool change in the weather.

Here are six of the coming season’s trends to tick off and try now, while still enjoying the last of summer.

Old-fashioned grandeur back in vogue for autumn/winter

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Knit wit 

While a cosy coat is always an autumnal must-have, there’s a new layer stealing the fashion limelight: the cardigan. Suddenly, granny’s favourite knitwear has been transformed into a sophisticated layer thanks to Prada and Victoria Beckham. Neither as formal as a jacket nor as sloppy as an oversized sweater, cardigans work perfectly as a transitional item as they are a warm enough layer as we edge into autumn. Whether worn preppy, grungy or sophisticated, the knitted cardigan is boundlessly adaptable, and for the first time in many seasons, covetable.

Sock it to me

Statement hosiery is making a comeback, while the sock boot is the new must-have footwear. This hybrid of a sock and ankle boot is identifiable by its sock-like, clingy appearance. It first emerged a couple of seasons ago on the catwalks of Vetements and Dior before emerging in myriad colours at Balenciaga. Surprisingly flattering, they give an illusion of slim ankles due to their fitted, long silhouette and they keep ankles cosy while slipping under cropped hems and midi skirts.

Red hot 

Spring’s pretty pink has evolved into a statement-making bold red. Fire engine, crimson, cherry, scarlet, tomato – no matter the name, the colour to covet this season is bright red. The bright and not-in-the-least-bit bashful colour featured heavily in the autumn collections of Givenchy, while many more designers, such as Prada and Proenza Schouler, also joined the ranks of fashion’s red army. Whether worn tonally head to toe or interspersed with accessories and knits, there’s an entry point for every lady in red this season.

Check mate

While we’ve become familiar with the concept of tonal dressing when it comes to colour, it ha s now evolved into all-embracing check tonal prints, from the Off-White autumn show, where models wore top-to-toe checks in granite grey, to Mulberry, where beige tweeds and tartans got the all-over treatment. While this might be too much for some, one thing to take away is that heritage checks in all guises are big news for autumn.

Velvet touch

Velvet no longer conjures up images of dark, romantic gothic clothes, instead coming in a shocking array of bright hues and innovate prints. From fuchsia and blood orange at Peter Pilotto to embellished at Mary Katrantzou, this season’s velvet is light, bright and lithe. Touted to be mixed for day, the plush fabric adds a little bit of luxury to the everyday wardrobe. Think velvet, mannish tailored blazers with jeans or a rich jewel-coloured skirt with a T-shirt – it’s all about the new context for fabrics that are typically associated with formal evening wear being worn in a new light.

Craftwork 

A trend normally reserved for balmy summer nights, the spirit of folklore and heritage craft resonates through designers’ collections for autumn. Folkloric details at Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Erdem gave a rich colour and print story with beautiful fabrics that look like they have been woven from tapestries and featuring embroidered florals. If there’s one item to invest in now that will take you from summer into autumn, it’s an ethereal dress: wear now with leather sandals and heavy black accessories come winter.