Ahh, autumn. After months of nothing but sundresses and sandals, it feels good to welcome our warm-weather staples back into our wardrobes and be reunited for the new season ahead with our cosy knits, boots and of course, autumn jackets. Because even summer babies like myself find it hard to resist the pull of a good jacket. From instantly elevating jeans and a white tee to providing the perfect finishing touch to a tailored co-ord, its sartorial power should not be underestimated.
Luckily, this season, there's no shortage of fresh fashion trends to dive into – specifically in the outerwear category. Those who were quick to invest in last year's suede jacket and barn jacket trends will be pleased to hear they're sticking around for another season. Similarly, staples like leather and denim designs, which are never really ‘out,’ have been reimagined in slightly new variations.
Yep, there really is a style to suit everyone. Below, find our round-up of the nine best autumn jacket trends to know now.
Suede jacket
Is there anything more luxurious than a suede jacket? We think not. Whether you splurge on a real suede design or opt for a more purse-friendly suede-look effect, stick to neutral hues like brown, black, navy or olive green, and you can't go wrong.
Barn jacket
The beauty of a barn jacket is it works just as well in the city as it does in the country. It might actually work better, styled to contrast against chic wide-leg black trousers or a mini skirt and knee-high boots.
Denim jacket
Banish all mental images of a basic, faded-blue denim jacket from the early aughts. This season, the denim jacket is polished. Almost exclusively in a dark wash, look for embellishments and added details – like capes at Ulla Johnson and pearl adornments at Simone Rocha – to further elevate the look.
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Bomber jacket
For instant cool girl status, throw on a bomber over, well... anything. Per Khaite's AW25 show, the slouchier the better, in this case. If you want maximum style points, combine two trends in one with a suede iteration, or leather (more on that below) à la Hailey Bieber.
Faux fur-trimmed jackets
Faux fur coats were all over the AW25 runways at Gabriela Hearst, Balenciaga, Zimmermann, Valentino and more. While it's not yet quite cold enough to warrant wearing what is essentially a fluffy duvet out and about (unless you want to end up a sweaty mess), stick to faux-fur trimmings on collars, cuffs and hems for autumn, like the designs seen at Chanel.
Collarless jacket
Sorry to all your blazers, but the AW25 way to do tailoring is with a collarless jacket. Packed with preppiness, collarless button-down designs were seen at Calvin Klein, Tory Burch and Prada, more often than not paired with coordinating skirts for a back-to-work ready aesthetic.
Anorak
I know I said I was excited about autumn, but that doesn't extend to the inevitable rainy change in the weather forecast. Thankfully, the high street has followed in the designer runway's lead (see Dior, Brandon Maxwell and Coperni for reference) and catered to such circumstances with a selection of sporty anoraks that are as pretty as they are practical.
Fringe jackets
Spring's boho revival shows no signs of slowing down for autumn. Simply top your floaty maxis, waist belts and stacked wedges with a fringe jacket for all the ‘70s nostalgia. Sienna Miller, eat your heart out.
Leather jacket
Leather jackets will never go out of style; that's what makes them timeless. Whether you opt for an on-trend bomber silhouette or a more classic biker shape, the overarching trend for AW25 is for minimalist designs with limited – if any – buckles, studs or zips.
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Alexandria Dale is the Digital Fashion Writer at Cosmopolitan UK. Covering everything from the celebrity style moments worth knowing about to the latest fashion news, there’s nothing she loves more than finding a high street dupe of a must-have designer item. As well as discovering new brands, she’s passionate about sustainable fashion and establishing the trends that are actually worth investing in. Having worked in fashion journalism for six years, she has experience at both digital and print publications including Glamour and Ok!
