Our We Try Before You Buy series aims to take the stress out of shopping and eliminate the number of Post Office visits you make each month to return failed online orders. We test new-season buys and styling ideas so you don’t have to, and this month our editors have chosen a selection of looks from the latest Autograph collection, showcasing how they’ll be styling the edit’s hero pieces this autumn.
“This look is all about the coat. I mean how could it not be?”
In Three Words
THE COLLECTION
pREMIUM
eLEVATED
timeless
Although M&S has a few elevated in-house brands, our favourite —and its most premium—has to be Autograph. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, it’s elegant, considered and always on point, meaning its seasonal edits always hit, and almost always sell out. For autumn/winter 2025, the collection is as good as ever: sumptuous wool coats, playful two-pieces in unexpected fabrics, textures and prints, as well as a selection of footwear and accessories that ooze the effortlessly chic aesthetic we’ve come to expect.
In true Who What Wear fashion, we’re kick-starting the new season with our much-loved franchise, We Try Before You Buy, where we ask our editors to style their favourite items from our favourite brands. Here, see which pieces Imani, Rebecca and Natalie have their eyes on for the coming months, and how they’ll be wearing them.
the
statement
coat
“Admittedly, I’m a person who is attracted to attention-seeking styles. Whilst I think it’s very chic to be pared-back and classic, I can’t help but be drawn to more extroverted pieces. I’m also a sucker for trends, but I still make sure every purchase is a considered one. This look is all about the coat. I mean, how could it not be? Statement pieces are essential for me because they enable a look to appear well thought-out and stylish, without much effort elsewhere.”
“As faux fur is about to be huge this season, I couldn’t resist this shaggy, cream '70s-style number. Although this texture is trending, it doesn’t mean my love of it will be fleeting. There’s still a timelessness to items like this; they can make a big impact time and time again. Here, I’ve paired it with a fine black polo neck, this incredible black patent leather skirt and creamy slingbacks, which add to the ‘70s vibe, but in a considered, contemporary way.”
SHOP THE LOOK
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M&S Long Hair Faux Fur Coat
£179.00
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£225.00
M&S Leather Patent Crackle Circle Skirt
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£95.00
M&S Pure Cashmere Roll Neck Jumper
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£89.00
M&S Hair On Leather Animal Print Shoulder Bag
LOOK 01 / 06
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£100.00
M&S Alpaca Rich Crew Neck Jumper
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£90.00
M&S Satin Pleated Maxi Wrap Skirt
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£100.00
M&S Leather Top Handle Shoulder Tote
SHOP THE LOOK
“What I love most about this look is the colour combination and mix of textures; the bronze pleated skirt shimmers in the light and is a warm-toned alternative to your obvious metallic choices of gold and silver. Although a contrasting hue, it really complements this sky-blue jumper and feels like the perfect balance between dressed-up and pared-back, meaning there’s no question that I can wear this outfit for almost any occasion with a change of shoes and jewellery.”
“I would describe my style as cute, cool and playful—I definitely follow trends to a degree, but I’m always looking for timeless pieces that can be worn in multiple ways. After a summer of pretty minidresses and capri pants paired with Y2K-inspired tops, I’m yearning for those cosy, easy-to-style and even easier-to-wear items that feel appropriate for autumn. A midi skirt paired with an oversized knit is such a fail-safe around this time of year.”
“A midi skirt paired with an oversized knit is such a fail-safe around this time of year”
LOOK 02 / 06
touch
bronze
A
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£56.00
M&S Denim Fitted Shirt
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£60.00
M&S High Waisted Extreme Flare Jeans
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£130.00
M&S Suede Tote Bag
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“Whilst jeans and a denim shirt can be worn oversized and perhaps ripped or aged to have a more casual-cool effect, here we have a fitted, slimline button-down with bootleg jeans that echoes recent Western trends, and is, in my humble opinion, decidedly elegant”.
“Double denim may go in and out of favour, but for me, it will always be a timeless combination. As a fairly classic, minimalist dresser who seeks comfortable and considered pieces that can be worn in multiple ways, two-piece sets really appeal to me. They’re the key to effortless dressing (in the sense that you literally don’t need to think too much about styling), and when the pieces are worn separately, they can work with a multitude of other items in your capsule wardrobe. I’m really drawn to the ‘90s; there’s something about the sleek, streamlined silhouettes that feels so chic”.
“Here we have a fitted, slimline button-down with bootleg jeans that echoes the late- ‘90s Western trend”
LOOK 03 / 06
DENIM
double
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£199.00
M&S Wool Blend Collarless Longline Coat
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£90.00
M&S Wool Blend Mini Skirt
COMING SOON
£120.00
M&S Button Up Cashmere Cardigan
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£80.00
M&S Suede Bowler Bag £80
SHOP THE LOOK
I’ve paired it with a taupe cashmere cardigan (potentially the softest I’ve ever felt), a white T-shirt layered underneath and these fantastic knee-high boots. There’s only a short period in spring and autumn where we can wear bare legs with a coat, and you best believe I’ll be making the most of it!”
“Brown had a major moment last autumn, and it’s not going anywhere for A/W 25. It’s so rich and elegant; it’s one of my favourite hues to colour-drench and wear from head to toe. This Autograph set—the wool coat with matching miniskirt—is something I just know will sell out quickly because it looks (and feels) so much more expensive than it is.”
“ Brown had a major moment last autumn, and it’s not going anywhere for A/W 25.”
LOOK 04 / 06
chocolate
sweet
like
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£95.00
M&S Pure Silk Organza Utility Shirt
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£65.00
M&S Wool Blend Pleated Mini Skirt
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£95.00
M&S Pure Cashmere Roll Neck Jumper
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“Along with this pleated mini, it feels very in line with the viral officewear-inspired “corporatecore” trend, but in a way that feels more timeless and grown-up. A special mention must be made of these boots. Knee-high with a lace-up detail and patent-leather, they feel almost military-inspired when worn with the pleated mini. I’d say they’re one of M&S’s standout footwear designs of the season.”
“Sheer fabrics are huge right now. Whilst spring and summer saw a series of see-through skirts, I’m incorporating the trend with semi-sheer shirts this season, starting with this one in the same bold sky-blue hue I opted for in the last look. This material is great for layering, and the texture adds dimension, making the outfit feel expensive and almost designer-looking. In the evening, I’d wear this solo on top with just a black bra underneath, but for daytime, I’ve paired it with a polo-neck knit which feels so chic.”
LOOK 05 / 06
sheer
delight
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£250.00
M&S Leather Harrington Jacket
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£90.00
M&S Organza Pleated Maxi Skirt
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£100.00
M&S Leather Top Handle Shoulder Tote
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“A little more contemporary and therefore just a tad cooler, a good bomber is a staple. We often see them in nylon or even satin, but a leather style like this is my preference; it’s just more elevated and polished. Here, I’ve gone head-to-toe black with this pleated skirt, ensuring to show a flash of white with the collar of the T-Shirt below.”
“Move over, little black dress, there’s a new fashion acronym in town. I’m making a case for the Little Black Jacket (LBJ, if you please), which I think is one of the most vitalitems in an autumn capsule wardrobe. Whilst this could include a variety of styles and silhouettes—leather, denim, boucle or blazers—the bomber is my favourite.”
“I’m making a case for the Little Black Jacket, which I think is one of the most vital items in an AUTUMN CAPSULE wardrobe.”
LOOK 06 / 06
jacket
black
the little
“Sheer FABRICS are trending, and this season I’m wearing the look with semi-sheer shirts.”
Rebecca Rhys-Evans
Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolaki
NATALIE MUNRO
Rebecca Rhys-Evans
Imani-Nia Francis-Tsolaki
NATALIE MUNRO
coat
statement
the
3 Editors, 6 Looks—Everything We’re Wearing on Repeat From the Latest Autograph Collection
Sponsor Content Created with M&S
M&S Autograph AW25
WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY:
WE TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
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£80.00
M&S Leather Bowler Bag
A
s a brand, Marks and Spencer needs no introduction. It has served the UK high street as a place of dependability—offering quality fashion, beauty and lifestyle buys—for as long as any of us can remember. Whilst it has
always been consistent, in recent years, there’s no doubt that its women’s collections have become more compelling and fashion-forward than ever.
A staple in the Who What Wear UK office and a favourite amongst our audience, Marks and Spencer—or M&S, as it’s affectionately known—is a go-to for capsule-wardrobe staples and stylish accessories, as well as those stand-out hero pieces. In recent years, M&S' enduring appeal with style-focussed women has grown season after season. Its service flexes around you and your needs—offering a click & collect service as well as an on-site store locator. And adding to its style credentials, it has collaborated with countless celebrities and style icons, cementing its place as the high-street hero we see today.