I’m A Shopping Editor. These 6 Foolproof Tips Will Make Your Wardrobe Feel Fresh For Autumn

Six years ago, North Carolina-based content creator, Caitlin Covington, started documenting her cosy autumnal outfits on social media. It was a Clarendon filtered blur of pumpkin-spiced lattes, felt hats and cable-knit sweaters. “Christian Girl Autumn” was born. That was until last month, when she posted an emotional video on TikTok, explaining that she would be taking a step back this season (before revealing she was “just kidding”).

As a vicar’s kid growing up in the Noughties, the whole aesthetic is personally triggering for me – but it may also be a sign that the very 2020s strain of “core”-coded dressing is losing its momentum. Goblins, tomato girls, mob wives – you had your moment, but may I suggest that we return to making fashion choices based on genuine personal preference?

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images

Raimonda Kulikauskiene/Getty Images

It’s why I’m approaching autumn 2025 with nothing but pragmatism – attempting to quieten the noise of the social media machine and home in on the outfit formulas and wardrobe staples that have served me faithfully over the years. So what does this look like?

Living and working in a city like London, there are two things you know to be true: that the Tube will stay hotter than Hades until roughly mid-October, and that a torrential downpour or Arctic blast will land when you least expect it. Which is why layering should be at the heart of any successful autumn wardrobe: think oversized shirts (throw it over everything from jeans and a tee to midi-dresses), tonal pairings (a shortcut to feeling pulled-together), or personality jackets (the easiest way to add interest to basics).

Table of Contents

Toggle

Featured in this article

The personality jacket

Allsaints Rummy Cropped Wool-Blend Jacket

Jump to review

The printed shirt

Zara Check Shirt With Multipositional Scarf

Jump to review

Elsewhere, if you’re worried about getting sucked into the cookie-cutter style vortex, remember that vintage is always a good idea for adding an eclectic, worn-in charm to your autumn looks. Leather boots, in particular, benefit from a bit of gentle wear, plus you can get your hands on higher-quality styles for less on sites such as eBay and Vinted. Case in point: I recently sourced a pair of Wandler leather boots for a friend on Vinted for £50. Not too shabby.

Scroll down for more tips on nailing autumn-in-the-city style, without a pumpkin-spiced latte in sight.

Polished flats and boots give summer staples longevity

Never underestimate the versatility of a shirt

Don’t shy away from autumnal print clashing

Vintage pieces give your outfits a unique, lived-in feel

Tonal dressing is a shortcut to feeling pulled-together

Personality jackets are the ultimate outfit-makers