DIY socks, messy collars and cummerbunds: nine wardrobe updates from the catwalks

High fashion looks without a big budget? Follow our frugal guide to pinch the biggest autumn/winter ‘26 catwalk trends for free

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Dark mornings, darker evenings and the end of Celebrity Traitors. It’s easy to feel a bit meh at this time of year. However, without sounding too TikTok life coach, just as you are encouraged to winter-proof your morning routine (light a breakfast candle, make your favourite cup of tea) to start your day on a brighter note, the same approach could be applied to your wardrobe. An outfit you look forward to wearing to the office or an accessory update that can make a long-term favourite piece feel new again, can help put some much-needed pep in your step. That’s even when the forecast reads five days of rain in a row.

The autumn/winter 2026 collections shown on the catwalks way back in February (yes time works funny in fashion) have finally hit shop floors, and high-street brands have been quick to pay homage. But there are plenty of styling tips and tricks you can borrow for free. Here are nine to get you started … ***

In good news for those who struggle to make decisions, this season, collars come half tucked, half untucked this season. See Bottega Veneta (above), where shirt collars popped over knits and coats and Jil Sander where they half emerged over blazers. Yes, it will be annoying when someone tries to tell you your collar is only partly popped.

Love the Prada floral socks? Nearly fainted when you saw the £860 price tag? You’re not alone. DIY instead with a packet of satin ribbon rose buds and your favourite knee-highs. Haven’t picked up a needle and thread since textiles class? Don’t worry, a crash lesson on YouTube and some sheer determination will get you through it.

At Chloé, creative director Chemena Kamali tucked everything from jeans to leather trousers into over-the-knee boots in contrasting colours. Over at Celine and Bottega Veneta, tailored trousers were loosely stuffed into ankle boots. It’s one way to worry less about hems and puddles.

Still have a pile of rosettes from your sports day victories or pony club days? Pin them to a blazer or silky top a la Simone Rocha. For extra impact, try clustering them together. Top tip? Avoid sky blue unless you want to be mistaken for a Tory candidate on the election trail.

We all know how useful a white shirt is, and now, thanks to Givenchy, there’s even more mileage to it. Follow the lead of creative director, Sarah Burton, and style yours backwards. Very useful if you happen to spill tomato soup down the front of it too.

A jingly jangly necklace isn’t just for party season. At Celine, oversized versions were styled over formal coats and blazers. For affordable costume jewellery, secondhand sites and charity shops are a good bet.

Yes, by day 15 of rain, wind and cold, you will get bored of wearing your winter coat. Slow down this process by adding a pair of colourful gloves to your look. At Polo Ralph Lauren, emerald greens and marigold yellow brightened up charcoal coats and denim jackets, while leather opera gloves in cacao and teal popped up at Balenciaga. It’s similar to the great red sock trend of 2023. Easy yet surprisingly impactful.

Make your next secondhand search a cummerbund. The menswear black-tie accessory has now been reimagined by fashion brands including Kallmeyer, Dries van Noten and Valentino, the latter whose cinched top and dresses with contrasting coloured waist sashes. We’ve also seen formal cummerbunds wrapped around trench coats and striped ruby shirts which adds an unexpected edge.

Unless your daily screen time is a single digit, you will be well aware that a personality skirt is gearing up to be big in fashion. Think a leather midi skirt. An embellished pencil skirt. Or in the case of Tory Burch above, high-shine patent. This all sounds quite scary for real life, but follow Burch’s lead and pair it with something boring on top, such as a cotton sweatshirt or a cashmere jumper. For extra laid-back energy, roll up the sleeves. Main character who?

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