Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel is perhaps most synonymous with tweed skirt suits or quilted handbags, but she had another style signature too (arguably her most accessible): tailored black trousers. Photographs of the designer in the 1920s and ’30s often found her wearing smart black pants, paired with striped tops and elevated with strands of pearls.

And while black trousers have always been a staple of women’s wardrobes, they are particularly key for autumn 2026, having been teamed with low-heel shoes on the runways at Chanel (), Victoria Beckham and others. The less-is-more choice is even making its presence felt at Venice right now, where Phoebe Waller-Bridge made a storming return to the red carpet in support of her partner, filmmaker Martin McDonagh, wearing a full Celine look that incorporated tailored black trousers, and Maggie Gyllenhaal took a turn on the jetty in a pair by The Row with similarly understated loafers. A few weeks earlier, Greta Lee wore black trousers (The Row again) for a photocall in London, and delivered a fashion moment to rival many of the looks seen on far more high-profile red carpets this year.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in Celine.

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Perhaps their renewed appeal can best be summed up by one of Chanel’s most famous quotes: “Elegance is refusal.” In an age of endless fashion photo-opps (the awards ceremonies, the film festivals, the photocalls, the multi-city global premieres…), choosing classic black trousers over a couture gown is confident – and undeniably chic.

Victoria Beckham autumn/winter 2026.

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Chanel autumn/winter 2026.

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Back in the “real” world, black trousers were a key theme on the pavements as well as the runways for the autumn season, worn with funnel-neck jackets, flats and ’90s-style shoulder bags. They’re perhaps the ultimate in versatility – a great pair of black trousers, appropriately styled, works for the office or an after-party, a school run or, yes, a red carpet. The best bit? You likely already have a pair in your wardrobe.

Greta Lee in The Row.

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