Every member of the shopping team has their own idiosyncrasies when it comes to personal style. Shopping director Naomi, for example, loves a vintage boilersuit, while senior shopping writer Alice has long been considered a savant in all things jewellery. Shopping producer Mia, meanwhile, has a soft spot for an elevated basic, be it a pair of cargo trousers or polished ballet pumps. One thing we can all agree on, however, is our love of high-street stalwart Cos.
It hasn’t always been this way, of course. When Cos first arrived in the UK in 2007, the Swedish retailer was better known for its minimalist art-teacher aesthetic: block-coloured trapeze dresses, car coats and loose shirting. (Admirable in its championing of wardrobe classics, certainly, but not necessarily a top contender when it came to directional design.) Almost two decades later, things look different. Cos has retained its dedication to time-tested basics, but with a creative flair and polish that sets its collections apart. Its autumn/winter 2026 collection is a case in point.
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This season, Cos has leant into the preppy 2.0 aesthetic that proliferated the autumn/winter runways, which was, in many ways, less a trend than a styling movement. This comes in the form of menswear-inspired shirting, wool V-neck jumpers, roll-necks in paintbox brights and smart accessories – all of which can be layered and colour-clashed to suit your mood. Great news for those looking to invest in pieces that will offer longevity far beyond this season.
Elsewhere, there’s a professorial feel to the jumbo cords, round-toe loafers and boxy blazers – though you might want to throw a leather jacket into the mix (see: the funnel-neck iteration below) to ward off any mothball undertones.
Scroll down to shop these and more Shopping-approved heroes from the Cos new-in winter collection.
