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The best men’s coats for autumn and winter: 48 favourites for £200 or less

From a puffer made of old fishing nets to a trench worthy of Bogart, these are the coats worth braving the cold for • The best men’s shirts for every occasion No one remembers the suit Humphrey Bogart wore at the end of Casablanca, but everyone remembers the trench. The same goes for you this winter: from November to March, your coat is your first impression, so it’s worth getting right. That doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune: the coats in this list cost £200 or less. The trick to choosing the best coat for you is buying something you’ll still be happy to wear in five years. If you’re f

From the overblown to the ordinary? Met Gala 2027 to celebrate ‘poetics of everyday’

Event regarded as Oscars of fashion industry replaces John Galliano retrospective with homage to the ‘extra ordinary’ A few months after the planned John Galliano Met Gala retrospective was cancelled amid a backlash focused on the designer’s past, a more commonplace theme has been announced: “extraORDINARY: fashion and the poetics of the everyday.” It has left some commentators speculating that celebrities might replace the couture “omelette dresses” and four-part red-carpet performances with jeans and a nice top. While the dress code for the next Met Gala, which will be held on 3 May 2027, is

‘Minimal look, maximal politics’: why the black T-shirt signals modern power

The look – worn by Abdul El-Sayed, Andy Burnham and Volodymyr Zelenskyy – radiates authority and no-nonsense masculinity, say fashion experts For years the black T-shirt was consigned to the clothing category of plain basics. A hidden layer rather than the main event. But modern politics has pushed it to the frontlines as a sartorial shortcut to signal power. The progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who this week became the first Muslim elected to the US Senate in history, made a tight black T-shirt his signature look throughout his year-long campaign. Styling it with jeans and friendship brac

Martine Rose appointed creative director at Balenciaga

Fashion house move marks breakthrough in white, male-dominated industry For the first time in its 109-year history, the fashion house Balenciaga is to be led by a woman, with the British designer Martine Rose appointed as creative director of the brand. Her appointment at Balenciaga marks a breakthrough in the white, male-dominated fashion industry. Rose is only the second Black woman to lead a major European house. Her appointment follows Grace Wales Bonner, who in 2025 was announced as the men’s creative director at Hermès. Continue reading...

Prince, the pope, and autumn 2026: purple is hot this season

Spotted on Balenciaga, Celine and Valentino catwalks, purple is having a moment. If you really want to stand out, wear it with red The colour purple has links to royalty, the Catholic church, Prince, Gordon Brown’s ties and Barney the dinosaur and it now has a new association – autumn 2026. It has been deemed fashion’s favourite colour having been spotted on autumn/winter catwalks, with Balenciaga, Celine and Valentino showcasing all-purple designs. Continue reading...

Less is more: what to wear with lace

For a subtle take on lacy pieces, contrast with wardrobe staples such as chunky brogues and cosy jumpers Continue reading...

M&S takes on John Lewis in Christmas ad battle with topless ‘shredded Santa’

James Norton and Lucy Punch star as a youthful Mr and Mrs Claus in lively ad about shared moments as well as shopping For years the “Christmas advert moment” has belonged to one brand. John Lewis’s syrupy commercials featuring piano ballads and tearjerker storylines have given the 160-year-old department store a cultural head start in the dash for festive profits. This year, however, there’s one high-street rival with a sackful of tricks to make up the ground. Marks & Spencer has brought out the big guns – in the form of a topless Santa, played by the small-screen heart-throb James Norton.

‘A true icon of the hair industry’: celebrity hairstylist John Frieda dies aged 75

Businessman styled stars such as Twiggy, Madonna and Joanna Lumley and created popular hair care line Frizz Ease John Frieda, the celebrity hairstylist who launched his own bestselling hair product range, has died aged 75. In an Instagram post, his salon wrote: “It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that our dear John passed away peacefully … surrounded by his family. Continue reading...

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Faux fur, funnel necks and timeless wool: the 47 best women’s coats for autumn and winter

Long, short, tailored or sporty, there’s a great jacket for everyone – here are our favourites • Jess Cartner-Morley’s November style essentials It’s November, which means your thick tights and cosiest jumpers have emerged from that box under the bed. And while winter weather brings with it a whole host of wardrobe-related challenges, few can’t be solved with the addition of an outstanding coat. A coat is the easiest way to add a stamp of your signature style to an outfit. They bring sophistication, drama, and (for some, most importantly) warmth. Elevate a simple jeans-and-tee outfit with a st

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: chocolate, mocha, cacao … whatever you call it, brown is autumn’s chicest shade

Black feels like a no-brainer for boots, handbags or coats - but if you swap it for brown, the same outfit looks more considered There are a bunch of names being thrown around for the colour fashion wants us to wear this season. Espresso. Chestnut. Cacao. Ganache. Coffee bean. Truffle. Mocha. Caramel. Hazelnut. Nobody seems terribly keen to call it brown. Brown has never been the sexiest word in the paintbox. Red is passion. Black is chic. Pink is romance. Blue is serenity. Brown is the colour of wheelie bins. Except that right now, brown – specifically the deep, glossy, edible-looking chocola

Fashion and tradition: how John Smedley is innovating in a tough market

In the final article in a series on high-end British manufacturing we look at a clothing brand that dates to the 18th century but is increasingly on-trend Making jeans again: the Hiut Denim factory in Cardigan Rolls-Royce rides high on craze for customisation Luxury leather: from wallets to cigar cases Tina is wielding a large pair of scissors with authority, slicing with immense skill and precision. With 38 years of experience, she is an important member of the 230-strong manufacturing team producing fine knitwear for the John Smedley brand. Using a chalk, a semi-circular guide and a sharp pa

Jess Cartner-Morley’s November style essentials: fancy flats, sexy knits and a Christmassy pigeon

Whether it’s a two-in-one coat or a truly delicious handbag, add some fun to getting dressed during the cold, dark months with our expert’s favourites • The best women’s shoes and boots for autumn The clocks have gone back. The mornings are cold and the evenings are dark. The world seems to be doing its level best to discourage any fashion ambition beyond the need to stay alive and warm enough to function. But clothes – even in winter – are not just about staying alive. They are about staying alive alive. Alive inside. So this month’s edit is about finding the fun in getting dressed when the w

A-listers and AI stylists: how high-street brands are staging a fashion comeback

Gap, M&S, Topshop and more are taking a leaf from luxury label playbooks to satisfy savvier generation of shoppers High street brands that boomed in the noughties before the squeeze of both sustainably minded consumers and the rise of ultra-cheap online labels are staging a comeback. This time, rather than focusing solely on trend-led affordable designs, the names familiar to any shopper are courting luxury fashion, A-list collaborations and enhanced services in an attempt to engage consumers. Continue reading...

Why M&S director Kathryn Turner is the ultimate ‘Gay Halloween’ costume idea

Product development boss at Marks & Spencer inspires niche outfits after unexpected success on social media She is not the most likely viral star. But with 310,000 followers on TikTok and 270,000 on Instagram, Marks & Spencer Food’s director of product development, Kathryn Turner, has suddenly become one of the year’s big hits on social media. Her videos take the viewer with her as she goes in-store to look at new dessert launches, including its banana, caramel and pecan pudding, or taste test its latest products, such as its cherry and chocolate cookies. Turner is part of Marks &

Basketweavers get in a twist over Alexander Skarsgård’s Wicker Husband

Why is he not made of willow? Why is he plaited and not woven? World’s basket makers have plenty of questions Hollywood heart-throbs are known for their good looks and charisma. But in a classic plot twist, the latest big-screen dreamboat causing viewers to get hot and bothered isn’t even human. Alexander Skarsgård’s Wicker Husband character in the romcom Wicker has sent the internet into a frenzy. Continue reading...

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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 • Don’t get Fashion Statement delivered to your inbox? Sign up here 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 forwar

Jess Cartner-Morley on fashion: to nail this year’s British heritage look, just study Rivals

Thanks to Jilly Cooper, tartan and tweed, waxed jackets and wellies are a style vibe right now British heritage, in fashion terms, is a country where it is permanently October. A conker-brown and pleasant land, if you will. Brand Britain in the style sense comes into its own in autumn: roaring fires, muddy lanes, damp dogs. Waxed jackets and chunky knits, tartan and tweed, jaunty scarves to banish draughts. Clothes for going on a hearty walk, but with a hip flask in your pocket. Fashion has been mining this seam since long before Brideshead Revisited made battered evening dresses and Oxford ba

The 080 Barcelona Fashion has a circular fashion

The celebration of the event, which will have lloc to the Marina Vela-Port Vell between the 20 i on the 23 d'octubre, I noted 26 desfilades and an ampli program d'activitats