Kicking off with King Charles’ appearance at Tolu Coker and concluding with the star-studded Burberry show, London Fashion Week took over the British capital this weekend. The autumn/winter 2026 collections saw established names like Erdem and Simone Rocha show why they’re the best in class, as well as anticipated returns by Joseph and Julian Macdonald to the line-up.
While these were technically autumn/winter shows, I’m already taking notes for spring. There’s something particularly smart about adopting key pieces from the colder-season collections now: outerwear becomes lighter layering, rich textures add depth to transitional outfits, and tailoring feels just as relevant in February as it does in October. The best autumn/winter trends aren’t restrictive; they’re adaptable, and that’s exactly why I’ll be folding them into my spring wardrobe early.
At Burberry, chief creative officer Daniel Lee made a compelling case for ruffled trenches, belted faux furs, heritage check coats and aviator bombers – proving, as ever, that outerwear is the outfit. Staged at the Old Billingsgate Fish Market against a Tower Bridge skyline set complete with street lamps, black tarmac and scaffolding, the show was a love letter to London. A front row packed with British icons – from Alexa Chung to Kate Moss – only reinforced that sense of capital-cool authority.
According to Lee, the collection honoured “going out in a particularly London way”, and that wearability defined the season more broadly. At Joseph, the modern working woman was reimagined through pencil skirts, sharp suiting and satin trousers – exactly the sort of polished staples I’ll be pairing with softer spring separates. Elsewhere, Sinéad O’Dwyer brought a British pub spirit to the runway, models clutching Corona bottles with artfully smudged make-up, while Paul Costelloe delivered countryside chic via sharp neutral tailoring in his first collection since his death last year.
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Collaborations were another marker of the season. Simone Rocha unveiled a collaboration with Adidas, defined by track tops with puff sleeves and pearls, trainers with ribbons and tiny stripe shorts teamed with ruffles. Topshop and Tolu Coker previewed an 18-piece capsule, Karoline Vitto and Pull & Bear unveiled a size-inclusive collaboration, and Charlie Constantinou saw models with 3D printed Chilly’s water bottles.
Riding the coat tails of the Wuthering Heights press tour, Bora Aksu presented tier skirts, gathered lace and velvet suiting, while Dreaming Eli made a case for corset dresses and draped Marie Antoinette-inspired gowns. As for the colour palette, designers bid farewell to butter yellow and welcomed in pale blues, purples and reds as this season’s heroes.
If London Fashion Week has reminded me of anything, it’s that the line between seasons is more fluid than ever – and that investing in bold palettes, precise tailoring and statement outerwear now means I’ll be one step ahead by the time spring fully arrives.
From heritage check to faux fur accessories and ‘sportscore’, these are my five takeaways from London Fashion Week.
Sports day
Adidas shorts defined last summer, and track tops and pants have dominated my Instagram feed this winter. Putting her seal of approval on the viral trend, Simone Rocha’s collaboration with the sportswear brand Adidas has shot to the top of fashion editor wishlists. From a red track co-ord with puffer sleeves and tiny shorts, to longline track tops with pearl and crystal embellishments, trainers with a ballet flat silhouette and ribbon laces, and ruffled windbreaker dresses, the collection put a feminine and whimsical spin on sportswear. Prepare for it to sell out in days when it launches in the autumn. In the meantime, introduce Adidas sportswear into your wardrobe for spring – be it a track top paired with a ruffled white midi skirt or a striped wide leg trouser with a puff sleeve top.
Adidas satin brown trousers
Adidas polka dot track top
Beyond butter yellow
Colour took centre stage as designers pushed bold palettes and soft contrasts down the runway. Fiery red dominated key collections, from Simone Rocha’s sporty inspirations and Erdem’s showstopping fringed dress to Richard Quinn’s rich velvet draping. In contrast, pale blue emerged as a whisper of colour across Bora Aksu’s whimsical silhouettes and Harris Reed’s ethereal constructions – including a standout floral corset dress that paired softness with sharp structure.
Purple has been slowly creeping onto the mood board in 2026 and it ruled in all shades across A/W collections. See Harris Reed’s dramatic sequin corsets and sashes, Richard Quinn’s jewel-toned eveningwear, Burberry’s deep purple trenches, Sinead Gorey’s lilac suede pieces and moody hues in Joseph’s cape coats and snakeskin-inspired suits.
& Other Stories co-ord kimono style blazer in burgundy
M&S single pleat red trousers
Heritage prints
Tartan, check and British heritage inspired both street style at London Fashion Week and A/W collections. Paul Costelloe’s collection combined 80’s-inspired silhouettes – shoulder padding, sharp tailoring and cinched in waists – with check coats and suits, while Sinead Gorey teamed argyle tights with tartan mini dresses.
Burberry closed the show with a strong focus on British heritage, reimagining its archive with oversized check trench coats, ruffle collars and rich colour palettes. Bora Aksu introduced delicate polka dots alongside checks, softening the traditional mood with the designer’s signature romantic detailing.
Barbour Dalbury tartan skirt
Topshop check cinched in blazer
Faux fur and fringing
Fringing and faux fur added a playful textured element to London Fashion Week A/W collections. Erdem stole the show with a delicately feathered white coat and a red feathered maxi dress, styled with feathered heels, while Joseph’s snow-white outerwear with shaggy fur cuffs and belted black shearling coats offered more everyday inspiration.
Even accessories came in fur – Mithridate and Sinead Gorey’s models wore faux fur and suede trapper hats, while Toga Archives flashings of faux fur cuffs and scarfs added depth to the designer’s tailoring. Annie’s Ibiza Almost Famous-style Penny Coats and Burberry’s bombers with faux fur collars were designed to be thrown over party wear come winter.
River Island faux fur trim puffer jacket
H&M fringed jumper
80’s power dressing
The spirit of 1980’s power dressing reigned at London Fashion Week. Joseph’s sharp, architectural tailoring featured exaggerated shoulders, pencil skirts and elongated silhouettes, all grounded in a soft colour palette or pinstripe. At Paul Costelloe, classic British tailoring was elevated with strong lapels, shoulder padding and structured wool suits that evoked the era’s executive polish.
Meanwhile, Richard Quinn injected high-octane glamour into power suiting, pairing voluminous shoulders with dramatic prints and couture-level flourish. Mithridate offered a contemporary twist, softening traditional masculine shapes with fluid fabrics and unexpected colour. Elsewhere, eighties-style mlitary jackets were paired with denim for a new take on ‘indie sleeze’, as seen at Sinead Gorey, Keburia and Labrum.
Stradivarius jacket with engraved buttons
Asos double breasted oversized grey blazer
Adidas unveiled a collab with this designer label at London Fashion Week
