‘Jeans and a nice top’ is a failsafe outfit formula. It's the most common reply to the question “what are you wearing tonight?” delivered with high frequency in the girls' group chat. But the look can start to feel, well, a little tired after a few wears. Not to mention, you rapidly run through all the nice tops in your wardrobe.
That's where these seven new-season top and jacket trends come into their own, revamping your outfit from the waist up to update your denim with a fresh feel. Praise be! There's no need to ditch your favourite jeans or fork out on an entire new ‘fit. Instead, the smallest swap or simple addition can take your look from blah, basic and boring to feeling brand new and bang on trend.
Below, find our round-up of our favourite autumn/winter top and jacket trends that we guarantee will work perfectly with all your jeans for a cool girl-approved ensemble.
A flannel shirt
All forms of check print are big news this autumn/winter (we're talking tartan, argyle, plaid and more), and the easiest way to tap into the trend is by tying a flannel shirt around your waist. Borrow your boyfriend's / brother's / dad's and knot the sleeves at the tops of your jeans to add a grunge touch to any outfit. Every fashion girlie on our FYP is doing it.
A scarf-detail top
From neck-tie details to faux-shoulder robing additions, tops are now coming with their own built-in accessories. Consider this the evolution of the scarf coat. Look for knitted designs spanning tops, cardigans and jumpers, all of which will look great with your jeans.
An asymmetric lace-trim top
Lace was a big trend on the autumn/winter 2025 runways (see Chloé, McQueen, Fendi, Alberta Feretti and more). IRL, it was Zara's lace-trim satin camisole top that quickly went viral, with many other iterations following suit across the high street. The delicate romantic hem peeking out beneath everything from chunky knit jumpers to structured jackets elevates even the simplest of jeans outfits.
A dress
This Y2K trend is back, bby! Okay, okay, we know – it's not technically a top. But when you wear a dress over jeans, it does kind of become one?
A brown suede jacket
Suede is officially *the* fabric of AW25, and soft-touch jackets in every shade of brown have officially become not just a want, but a need. Throwing one on with your jeans is the quickest way to look instantly pulled together. Even if you layer it over a sweatshirt!
A rugby top
Striped polo shirts had a real moment in the summer, but the look is definitely still in, especially in long-sleeved iterations. Style your rugby shirt with turn-up jeans and loafers to lean into the preppy feel.
A denim jacket
Double denim is always in, but the current trending combo is jeans and a denim jacket (which you likely already have hanging in your wardrobe), worn like a shirt. AKA: buttoned all the way up. Add a thin knit roll neck underneath and a longline coat over the top when it gets really cold. P.S. Dark indigo washes will get you extra style points.
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!
