New looks alert

Autumn/winter is almost upon us, and with it, a plethora of new trends to embrace – and many to avoid. The Telegraph’s fashion editors share their favourites

Telegraph fashion editors on the trends to wear this season - and those to avoid

Charlie Gowans-eglinton Maximalism

Every season, sat among fashion’s most stylish women at the catwalk shows, I promise myself that next season, I will look more like them. I will invest in a navy cashmere coat, I think, perhaps some black trousers from Celine. Then the bass drops at

Miu Miu’s hip-hop soundtracked show, and I am a magpie again, lost to colour, and glitter, and fantasy. Maximalism is all about the clash, which makes it easy to cobble together with things you already own, buys from the high street, and a few designer pieces. A lemon silk dress from Ghost plus Ganni’s polka-dot silk jacket will clash beautifully, and then the fun begins – crystal earrings from Accessorize or Mango, a pearl-buckled Gucci belt, and satin shoes, affordable at Zara and Uterque, less so at Rochas and Roger Vivier. Top, Miu Miu AW17

Above right, jewelled babouche flats, £115 (uterque.com); left, earrings, £12 (accessorize.com)

Krissy Turner Red

Max Mara was my hands-down favourite AW17 catwalk show. The minimalist in me was always going to love the chic camel looks from the collection, but the first four outfits in the show are the ones that really bowled me over – they were all bright red. It’s a statement colour, but also incredibly wearable, with thick cashmere knits, corduroy skirts and luxe velvet trousers all coming in cherry hues. Red should, in theory, be a colour that works with my warm skin tone, but until now I’d been wary of making a bolder statement. While I might not dive straight in with a full red outfit à la Natasha Poly, I’ll ease in with a chunky knit paired with denim, or a red ankle boot with black kickflare jeans. It will add an accent to my navy and camel autumn staples and works with black or white accessories. Top, Max Mara AW17

Right, poplin top £26 (topshop. co.uk)

Olivia Buxton Smith A dress over trousers

A dress over trousers might not be a novel concept, thanks to Trinny and Susannah, but Tibi’s AW17 show provided me with a renewed determination to incorporate it into my own wardrobe. I intend on tackling this by thinking about which shades, textures and shapes slot together.

Amy Smilovic, Tibi’s creative director, presented a series of looks that used this technique; from the indigo velvet midi dress with an asymmetric hemline layered over satin tailored trousers in the same hue, to the semi-sheer calf-length lace frock teamed with black cigarette pants.

The tips to take? A mid-length dress over straight-leg trousers is the chicest combination, silky, semisheer fabrics are the most flattering layered over trousers, and tonal colour schemes are your friend. Top, Tibi AW17 Above right, velvet midi dress, £269 (hobbs.co.uk)

Bethan Holt The hard/soft clash (right)

Hard/soft is just the concept for the indecisive amongst us this season – and it is as easy as it sounds. Take one piece which is cosy, soft and feminine and pair it with something tailored or severe. On the catwalk at Victoria Beckham, diaphanous chiffon skirts were shown with blazers and crisp shirts, and I’d happily spend the winter months ensconced in her

Paul Nash-inspired jumper and mannish checked trouser combination.

On the high street, COS is a one-stop shop for architectural cuts and clever draping, but also look out for the silky pieces in H&M’S “Trend” offering and John Lewis’s Modern Rarity. Beckham styled her hard/ soft looks with slouchy boots or brogues, but loafers or trainers would work too. Right, Victoria Beckham AW17

Left, double-layered skirt, £129, Modern Rarity (johnlewis.com)

Kate Finnigan 70s bohemia (far right)

I’m of the opinion that once you’ve found the silhouette that suits you, stick to it. Mine is long and cinched in at the waist. That can take me from Katharine Hepburn style slacks and a blouse to floaty maxi dresses via a cropped knit and a mid-length A-line skirt. This season, thanks to Isabel Marant, it’s going to be a Kate Bush/ Stevie Nicks homage – a threequarter length chiffon or silk dress with a wild print and a waterfall hem, a big belt and over-the-knee boots. It’s always a relief when you spot your signature silhouette on the catwalk so shout out to Marant for providing my phew-i-can-still-berelevant moment for autumn. And for making me consider over-theknee boots. I’ve never worn them before and I won’t be wearing them in the style of Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, but in Marant’s context they seem practical. I want a wine red pair that play Babooshka with every step. Far right, Isabel Marant AW17 Right, over-the-knee boots, £79.99 (mango.com)

Emily Cronin An embellished cardigan

It takes a certain sort of fashion genius to turn a purely practical item into the most fanciful thing on the runway. A genius like Miuccia Prada. She followed up last season’s marabou-trimmed pyjamas (fancy-practical ensemble 1.0) with this autumn’s fuzzy, cosy, extravagantly embellished cardigans. That’s right: cardigans – the commonsensical, grannyapproved, “no need to turn the heating up” layering piece of choice – are suddenly desirable. This is a thrilling development, given that I already have a vintage black cashmere cardigan with lashings of crystal and pearl embellishment in my wardrobe, just waiting for its moment. And I’m sure that next season, there will be many. Top, Prada AW17 Left, jewelled cardigan, £49.99 (zara.com)

Sophie Warburton Updated classics

I look back through my wardrobe and wonder why I bought the shouty piece from the collection, that print or silhouette. While it might have been the must-have piece at the time, it tires quickly. So for this season I’m sticking with the classics. But before you switch off, what I have in mind won’t be the forgettable trench coat, or the boring blazer. These are classics with a point of difference – the shape has had a bit of a tweak, the buttons are more interesting than the norm, and the fabrics are unexpected. Take Joseph’s oversized peacoat (pictured), or Altuzarra’s trouser suit: The “trend” has filtered down to the high street, with Massimo Dutti’s longline camel coat, and Marks & Spencer’s blazer. Classics on the high street; what’s not to love? Top, Joseph AW17 Above left, Autograph blazer, £129 (marksandspencer.com, available in October)