It’s widely acknowledged (by me, and the handful of friends who have listened to me droning on about it since the first signs of summer) that autumn is the superior season when it comes to dressing. Gone are the slip skirts and boring tank tops. In their place, we welcome the return of knitwear and knee-high boots.
If you’re in need of a little inspiration for your autumn wardrobe or simply want to escape into a world of well-dressed fictional characters, we’ve got you covered. From ’90s cult classics and preppy back-to-school crew-necks to -core layered long sleeves, here are just a few suggestions to get you started on those September outfits.
Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s wedding week from hell might not sound like autumn wardrobe inspo on paper, but once you look past the marital tension, this stylish film is full of aesthetic inspiration. Expect camel coats, roll-necks and Jil Sander-esque ensembles that will leave you questioning how much R Patz’s fictional museum curator is actually earning.
(2003)
Bertolucci’s Parisian fever dream is a masterclass in rich kid ennui and autumnal layering. Eva Green slinks around in slip dresses and oversized cardigans, inspiring audiences everywhere to pick up the beret and the kohl eyeliner as soon as the temperature drops.
Watch Sarah Michelle Gellar scheme her way through Manhattan in an exceptional wardrobe of preppy plaid, crisp white shirts and statement sunglasses. For the more morally upright, Reese Witherspoon provides ample knitwear inspiration in pastel twin sets.
For anyone whose autumn wardrobe leans more ’90s grunge than glam, Empire Records is essential viewing. Flannel shirts, band tees layered under cardigans and Liv Tyler’s record-store uniform make this a must-watch for September inspiration.
A film I come back to year after year for its crisp collars, camel coats and incredibly endearing and aspirational portrayal of the university experience (no fresher’s wristbands or Sourz shots in sight). In , Julia Roberts is the teacher we all wished we had, armed with rousing speeches about art and academia (and a beret never far from frame).
One for the spooky girls out there. Whether harking back to the technicolour original or Luca Guadagnino’s 2018 reboot, eerie take on post-Soviet balletcore always leads to a Vinted scroll for leotards and vintage dancewear. I’m personally quite a fan of the original when it comes to autumn styling specifically. See: Tilda Swinton’s sensible knits, Dakota Johnson’s “50 shades of grey” tracksuit set and Mia Goth’s incredible Chloé-esque coats, all of which occupy a sizeable space in my mind.
I can tell you very little about the plot of this film, which involves a lot of time slips as I’m sure you know. But what I can tell you is that I’d like to own any of Gwyneth Paltrow’s outfits in either timeline. Greyscale slouchy knits and monochrome Calvin Klein coats make this the chicest autumn inspo of all time, despite Gwyneth’s over-plucked eyebrows. I guess you can’t have everything.
Perhaps a controversial one – or perhaps completely expected – but as we welcome the return of a certain American-style preppiness, respect must be paid to one of its forefathers: . A film that has aged like fine wine, the plaid shirts, puffer jackets and beaten-up Converse make for an inspiringly autumnal wardrobe rooted in yearning and Noughties nostalgia.
The Last Days of Disco (1998)
Unsurprisingly for a film in which Chloë Sevigny lurks in the corner of Studio 54 and waxes lyrical about Scrooge McDuck, The Last Days of Disco is full of great fashion moments. Whether you’re a fan of the loafers and long skirt ensemble or simply looking for some little black dress inspiration, this ’90s classic has you covered.
A classic for a reason, nothing scratches an autumnal itch like a rewatch. With Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman performing various ill-advised spells and swishing around in floaty skirts and big knits, this is the American take on the frazzled English woman aesthetic, albeit with much better hair. With a sequel on the way, there’s no time like the present to revisit this classic.
(1996)
If is a cosy trip to New England, takes us on a much more sinister trip back to late ’90s Los Angeles. Preppy school uniform gets spliced with layered miniskirts, crucifixes and chokers for a vibe that girls everywhere love to replicate for Halloween. The entire cast looks like any of 2025’s top sellers on Depop.
Wardrobe aside for a moment, Cher remains an eternal source of inspiration for coining legendary life mottos such as “Mom, I am a rich man.” However, the combination of her kitschy, polka-dot dresses and Winona Ryder’s precocious teen wardrobe and general ennui in makes the film an endlessly inspiring choice for an autumn rebrand.
