Whowhatwear iconWhowhatwearSep 8, 2026 ~7 min source read

London Calling: The It Girls Shaping Autumn/Winter 2026 Style

A quick guide to the London women setting the capital’s tone for A/W 2026—what each of them wears, how they mix pieces, and the practical trends to borrow from their looks.

London Calling: The It Girls Defining Style in the City in 2026

Share this story

Send the public story page.

Useful takeaways from this story.

Alexa Chung favors mod-inflected classics—miniskirts, cardigans, tailored coats and kitten heels—making vintage pieces feel fresh and wearable.

Adwoa Aboah blends off-duty staples (hoodies, relaxed denim) with party-ready pieces, showing how to move between daytime parenting and fashion events.

Charli XCX leans into a club-ready palette of black, grey and red with corsetry, exaggerated silhouettes and bold accessories for high-impact evening dressing.

London's fashion scene for autumn/winter 2026 is being led as much by personal style as by runway shows. Who What Wear profiles a group of London It girls whose wardrobes and street looks set clear, repeatable cues: mixing vintage with tailoring, pairing relaxed basics with statement pieces, and favouring colour palettes or archetypal silhouettes that read instantly as London.

Alexa's playbook is recognisable: 1960s-influenced shapes, neat tailoring, and thrifted touches. Look for miniskirts paired with ankle boots, cardigans layered under statement coats, and kitten heels for an understated finish. The piece-level callouts include Shetland wool single-breasted coats, wool-cashmere cardigans, ballet flats and compact shoulder bags. The takeaway: anchor trendier items with classic, pared-back staples so outfits feel both nostalgic and current.

Adwoa's wardrobe trades on contrasts. She moves easily between slubby hoodies and bomber jackets to party dresses and platforms. Key seasonal items cited are cropped shearling-trimmed jackets, relaxed straight-leg denim, loafers with socks, and pared-back baby tees. Her style demonstrates how to layer functional basics for everyday life while keeping the option of elevated, event-ready pieces close at hand.

Charli XCX: the After-Party Starter

Kate's lasting influence on London style is visible in lightweight slip dresses, skinny jeans paired with leather, and an undone hair-and-makeup approach. Her look combines bohemian slips with rock-leaning accessories and a general sense of effortlessness: pieces that look worn in but considered. This is the route to dressing that feels intimate and personal rather than trend-driven.

  • Build a compact autumn capsule: a tailored coat, a cardigan, straight-leg jeans, loafers or ankle boots, and one statement evening piece.
  • Mix textures and eras: pair vintage or mod shapes with modern accessories to avoid appearing costumey.
  • Keep a restrained palette for wearability, then add a strong accent (red, glitter, leather) for seasonal interest.

If you want to try a London-informed look this season, pick one of the It girls as a template and translate their high‑contrast choices into your everyday pieces—tailoring for structure, relaxed denim for ease, and a single dramatic element for personality.

Keep reading in the app

Open the app view to save this story, compare related coverage, and continue from the same source.

Open in app