When the late-summer-to-autumn transitional period hits London, I take my outerwear very seriously. If I haven’t been organised enough to filter through and score something new in the summer sales, I dig out last year’s coats and jackets from the back of my wardrobe for a full appraisal and a dry clean. This year, however, I’m after something new. My style usually leans technical and sporty, but inspired by digital creator (she’s also my friend) Marisa Martins‘ bold but refined Instagram feed, this autumn, I want chic and timeless.
Outerwear is the final layer, the most seen (and worn) autumn/winter item that does all the heavy lifting for your looks, so I’m keen to invest in styles that tick those boxes and more. Critically, I must be able to wear it day and night. I immediately thought of H&M, because the high-street stalwart delivers so much choice and exceptional quality every season.
The more Marisa and I meet up, the more we discover that we have the same outerwear icks. We hate being cold, and our coat or jacket must be comfortable, no matter the shape or material. “I actually find it quite hard to transition because I’m a summer girl, but I have no choice,” the Businesses Of Colour co-founder explains. “I don’t own many jackets; I’m a maxi-coat girl.”
Me too, although it’s somewhat harder to find a floor-sweeping silhouette when you’re 5’11” as opposed to Marisa’s 5’6″. Where our tastes differ is in colour and styling, because Marisa is meticulous about ensuring everything in her minimalist, neutral-toned wardrobe aligns and can be worn together. I, on the other hand, love to throw a bright colour or an unexpected silhouette into the mix to subvert the classic pieces I rely on every day.
As we well know, H&M specialises in distilling the biggest trends into accessible, wear-forever styles, but for me, its biggest draw is how thoughtfully it ensures that there’s something for everyone. After setting the tone for autumn/winter 2026 with an epic runway show at London Fashion Week, Marisa and I were impressed by how clean, refined and tailored the collection’s first outerwear drop is. Wearers and admirers alike can appreciate the cuts, shapes and materials in all their glory, because they aren’t overshadowed by bold colours or textures.
Once upon a time, I lived in West London, and that’s also where the Who What Wear UK office is based, so I asked Marisa to hang out nearby so we could discover the best of H&M’s new outerwear together. We each styled two looks for an afternoon (which segued into evening pub drinks), both making a beeline for the revamped trench coat thanks to its length and funnel neck (a recurring detail throughout the drop), whilst I vowed to try at least one of the leather jackets.
Keep scrolling to discover how we put our own spin on the outerwear drop’s standout styles.
Style Notes: No wonder Marisa looks and feels so at home in the comfortable Ride Blazer. It’s the new-season version of the oversized sculptural jackets that she always comes back to, but upgraded with sharp, exaggerated shoulders and a contoured waist. “My style sometimes tends to be quite plain, so I need pieces that have nice silhouettes, details, colours and materials. This blazer’s dramatic silhouette is beautiful, and I love the fit,” she says, pinpointing precisely what sets this one apart. “It has pleats down the middle that accentuate your waist, and it looks good if you want to wear it open or buttoned.” She’d usually size up in outerwear, but wore her usual size to maintain the sharp, clean lines.
With coffee and flower shopping on the agenda, Marisa felt compelled to balance the jacket’s smartness with elements she deemed more casual but no less elevated. “The black jumper underneath had a really beautiful fit—cropped with strong shoulders—and I like the shade of the brown trousers. I think it all looked quite nice together with the pony-skin flats. I’d add heels, earrings and maybe change the knit underneath to dress it up, or add layers and change the shoes for more warmth.”
Style Notes: Camel trench coats are classic and timeless (and ideal for awkward in-between autumn weather), so whenever I put one on, I challenge myself to find as many ways to style this lightweight layer as possible. The goal? To maximise versatility by playing with the coat’s features, completely changing the mood and leaning into its adaptability. My previous record was four ways (open, buttoned all the way up, with and without the belt), but the Thea Trench Coat easily beats that with at least six ways to wear, thanks to the on-trend funnel neckline (open and closed) and decorative wrist cuffs (pushed up or pulled down).
I’ve never paid much attention to the idea of a capsule wardrobe, but now that my clothing collection is spreading and threatening to take over my flat, the premise of downsizing and prioritising the hardest-working styles as outfit cornerstones sounds very appealing. So, the trench coat arguably becomes the most important part of my autumn uniform, which currently comprises a jumper and a midi skirt, because it’s just so easy to throw on over the top. I’ll add and take away layers as the weather requires, and I love a little leopard print, my favourite neutral of all. The very walkable, slouchy, kitten-heel boots dress up this casual daytime look ever so slightly, in that effortlessly polished way that West Londoners do so well.
Style Notes: So far, so Marisa, when you give this evening look the once-over from the front. It’s another clean and structured black blazer that means business, but this time it’s even more elegant, paired with fluid white trousers and black accessories. The twist is when she turns around. The cropped Rohe Blazer is completely backless below the bra line, with a strap to lock in the silhouette. “I need more going-out things, and I love the back detail!” she says, adding that she’d wear it beyond the pub to dinner, on nights out with friends and generally on not-too-cold days. “I feel sexy and confident in it. The struggle would be staying warm because this blazer needs bare skin. Why have an open back if you’re not going to show it? It’s definitely an indoor jacket, or I’d put a coat on top,” she says.
A trouser girl through and through, Marisa’s winning black-and-white colour combination was intentional, and she opted for open-toe heels and silver earrings because she’s currently transitioning away from gold jewellery. “The blazer is quite cropped, and as the trousers have a slight barrel cut, the different proportions and colour contrast are quite nice,” she notes. “This jacket would still look really nice with jeans and flats, but it wouldn’t be ‘me’ to wear it with a dress or skirt.”
Style Notes: Leather is one of the biggest A/W 26 outerwear trends, and since I’ve already got the daytime styling down pat, I figured it’s the perfect time to tackle how to integrate these styles into eveningwear to maximise the investment. With so many exciting new options dropping and party season not far away, this leather jacket was an instant “yes”. Not only is it immediately more sophisticated in a rich chocolate-brown hue than traditional black, but the relaxed, oversized cut also makes it a great partner to a slinky party dress and mini bag in complementary tones, so the look doesn’t feel try-hard or out of place at the pub.
Roomy enough for extra layers, even though you could do up this jacket to showcase the funnel neckline, I preferred to leave it open, because I love how the large lapels frame your top half and the high neck peeks through over the top. I’m tall, and one of my biggest outerwear pet peeves is sleeves that are too short and leave my wrists out in the cold, but I have no such problems here. If anything, you’d deliberately push the sleeves up to reveal a flash of colour or a sparkling bracelet. I’ve left the belt dangling at the bottom, but you could also tie it to transform the silhouette again.
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