I rarely write about trends these days, not because I have a problem with trends per se, but because I find them harder and harder to reconcile with my attempt to buy fewer items and be less influenced by big business. I am still interested in trends, though, and in particular the bigger shifts in mood, silhouette and palette that go beyond one season.

That’s partly why I decided to write about this autumn’s colours, as most of them are very classic. This shade selection combined with the quiet luxury trend (on which I also have THOUGHTS, but that’s for another time) means that if you happen to be on the market for a (more) timeless coat or knit, this is a good time to look around. The other reason is that the colour trends for this autumn/winter are very clear, so if you want that trendy item – and there is no shame in that – there are actually some pretty straightforward options I can recommend.

Very red. There is a pretty broad consensus in the fashion world that red is the colour of the season, but I wonder how much of an impact it will actually make, beyond magazines and the holiday season. Many people have grown remarkably attached to their neutrals and while I see influencers talking about red in their trend reports, I don’t really see them wearing the colour that much. Personally, I am happy to welcome it back, as I like wearing red and find head-to-toe red an easy way to create impact without in fact wearing anything crazy on the item level. I also feel rather smug, as I was head of the curve here and already bought a red coat, a red sweater, red trousers and a red skirt last year, plus I have an old red Sezane silk shirt that comes in handy in this new world order. Of course, it is easier to go for an accessory rather than a full-on red look, but I have to admit that purely from the trend perspective, it does not have the same freshness (then again, if your budget stretches to this Bottega bag… I understand). If you do combine your colours, I suggest not going for red and black or red and white; beiges, tans, browns and greys, as well as my perennial favourite combo – red and pale blue – seem like better options. Tone-wise we started off with an orangey, saffron red, but this season there is a lot of classic neutral red and blue-based red around as well. As long as it is unapologetically red, I would not worry too much about the exact shade. You can also mix different reds, including red and burgundy, another emerging colour of the season (it may in fact merit a separate entry, but my resources are limited, so just mix what I am saying about red and brown). If the first new Gucci show is anything to go by, cherry red will be big for spring, so the colour is not going anywhere.

Shades of grey. Now, here is a colour that I think WILL be everywhere in real life. Grey is a natural progression of the neutrals megatrend and it is possibly the quietest of the quiet luxury shades. It is great for work and combines easily with other neutrals and black. It also goes well with denim, which is perhaps even more important these days. In terms of specific tones, some outlets have singled out slate or dove grey, but in reality, you see everything from heather to graphite. And these days, COS is as big an authority on the correct shades of grey as Vogue. Speaking of COS, I will mention grey’s more flamboyant sister, silver. While largely ignored by trend reports based on catwalk coverage, there are some retailers who have gone big on silver and I think COS has done it very well. If grey alone is too boring for you, check out COS’s silver skirt or cowboy boots and you will have all the excitement you need. Me, I will be capitalising on my earlier investments and wearing a grey pinstripe maxi skirt with grey Adidas Gazelles. I just need this boring Uniqlo sweater to complete the look. If you want an immensely sensible grey buy, I recommend this Massimo Dutti blazer that you can wear until you retire, while also being very on point right now.

Chocolate brown. I am overall quite happy with the colours this autumn, but I am absolutely obsessed with dark, edible-looking browns. This is another trend that has emerged very organically, what with all those neutral capsule wardrobes that need to evolve somehow, but not too far from the original concept. It also works perfectly with the cozy knit and pleated pants/midi slip skirt formula and looks great for accessories. I feel the market has been slower to respond to the demand for brown than it has been for grey, but I expect there will be more chocolatey items around as we move towards autumn proper (things have already improved since I wrote this text, as I have spent more than a week trying to remember to take a cover photo). The perfectly on trend DeMellier New York bag is already sold out in brown, as are these Massimo Dutti ballerinas in many places. A word of caution: while there is nothing nicer than a gorgeous cashmere knit in chestnut or a macchiato-coloured silk shirt, brown can be tricky if the shade and fabric aren’t 100% right. Even in expensive materials it sometimes looks flat and frumpy, so choose wisely. You are not wedded to chocolate only, of course, but I feel the darker side of the coffee-cacao spectrum is where it’s at this season. I am still pining for this Aerin bag (brown suede is having a particularly intense moment) and these Olive trousers that are sold out, so I may invest in Gucci loafers as consolation. A cheaper option is to update your latte makeup with some deeper tones. A brownish lip colour is fast becoming impossible to ignore (I still stand by my Glossier Pony, but there are many other options) and I got myself Victoria Beckham’s EyeWear in Pecan. And you can always go for the hot cocoa nails for a quick fix.

Black. It feels a bit lazy to put black on the trendy colours list, but sometimes it’s justified. Black is back in a big way and in particular for coats, suits and jackets. If you have engaged with any type of fashion content in the last weeks, you have surely been told to get a long black coat. And you know what, if you do not have a black coat and you would like to have one, I tend to agree, get one now. It is possibly the easiest way to look chic in winter and it is giving ‘Olsen twins ignoring global media’ – you have to be a stronger woman than I to resist that vibe. I have already gone full Olsen with this La Collection number; it is gorgeous, but there will be many more affordable options around  (by H&M and Mango, for example). There are also many sharp jackets and suits around in black. If you want them to look current, go for a strong shoulder or a nipped waist or both. In addition to brown, I am obsessed (I do not use this word lightly) with this COS jacket that I should have bought immediately, instead of waiting until it’s sold out everywhere. For longevity, I would perhaps go for something more traditional, a moderately strong shoulder combined with a slightly fitted waist – for most people, this is a good look.

Dark blue. I debated whether to include this, as it’s not as clear a trend as the ones above, but in the end decided to go for it – mostly because it works with the classic theme of the post and because navy never gets enough attention. If you are into quiet luxury, this is your colour, one that conveys the actual meaning of the phrase, rather than the conspicuous display of supposedly discreet Bruno Cucinelli shoes.* It is very old school French, but also very The Row. It also works very well with black and brown: navy trousers with a simple dark brown cashmere sweater and a chocolate suede bag seems like the perfect autumn outfit to me. As you have surely noted, I have not called this part of the post ‘navy’, though. There is a fair amount of other darker blues around, too, from cobalt to indigo. These aren’t usually my shades, but they can look stunning for the evening, especially in silk.

Banana milk yellow. This is perhaps the only true trend colour on the list, there is really no way one could qualify this pale, creamy yellow as a classic. It has been around for a while already, though, and is a proper trend for this autumn. If you want to look current (you obviously don’t have to), you must be very particular with the exact shade of yellow. We have come a long way since mustard and you definitely don’t want bright or primary yellow. I would also steer clear of the very pale varieties that can sometimes look like somewhat soiled white. Imagine the colour of a banana milkshake and aim for that. Personally, I am a fan and think it looks particularly lovely with lighter denim and greys. It can also look nice with blue and brown, but you need to be careful with the shades here. If you are brave, go head to toe, as seen at COS, Tove and Uniqlo C. It is a more playful version of last year’s head-to-toe ivory, which you can still absolutely do, but for the mood we are trying to convey here, it is perhaps too loud a luxury.

Extras. If you feel that this list is too boring, you are right. So for the more adventurous among you, let me mention a couple of smaller trends that are less visible, but still around and could potentially alleviate your boredom. There is a fair bit of light blue happening, often in rather frosty tones. As a cooler type of blonde, I am not mad about it. There are also shades of lighter greens – sage, pistachio, mint, olive oil. I am a particular fan of these green Adidas Gazelles. And there is a bit of lilac here and there, for example & Other Stories has an entire mini collection in a dusky version of lavender. I must admit that I do not think Barbie pink is an actual trend, regardless of many people wearing it to a particular premiere. I have no problem with this and encourage everyone to see the movie, it’s just that my feelings about this specific pink this season AS A TREND can be summed up by this scene. There are some other kinds of pink that look interesting, though, like this rosewood shade by Sezane. And finally, although it’s not a colour, I wanted to mention plaid – it is lurking around and to me, it is a welcome addition to any autumn wardrobe.

This feels like enough colours for one season. Let me know if you like any of these or are going entirely off trend-piste.

*Yes, I know I just said something very similar about grey, and while true overall, grey is too trendy this season to be properly quiet luxury. It will pass, though.