The Autumn/Winter 2026 fashion trends have hit the shops and after a long hot summer, we are more than ready (and a little relieved) to update our wardrobes. For dressmakers who want to refresh their look without re-inventing it, there are plenty of wearable garments, colours, prints and textures which are easy to recreate at home.
Here at Fabrics Galore London, we’ve interpreted the AW26 fashion trends as accessible projects for amateur dressmakers who want to start their autumn sewing and make beautiful, stylish clothes which will look totally current.
The A/W 2026 Colour Trends
The basic colour palette has evolved. Whereas last year it was all chocolate brown and burgundy as the safe backdrop palette to add a pop of colour to (usually bright red), this year, we can add khaki or olive green to the mix.
Pops of colour now include burnt orange, bright pinks (fuchsia and bubblegum) and slightly darker reds in ketchup shades. A 2 tone colour trend has replaced top to toe single colour
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Merlot paired with chocolate is still a popular combination.
- Add at least one khaki or olive-green garment such as trousers or a jacket to your wardrobe.
- Add surprising pops of colour like cherry red, orange, or a bold pink.
- For those unwilling to leave pastels behind, sky blue and cream is a popular combination and pairs well with all the base colours of merlot, brown and dark green.
- If you want to radically update your look, go for “Quality Street” purple as worn by the Princess of Wales at the recent red-carpet premiere of the new Tom Cruise film, Digger.
- Pantone’s colour of the year, “Cloud Dancer” white, featured as a useful palate cleanser to offset all the rich autumnal shades.
Fabrics Galore London’s colour suggestions:
Use these colour combinations when planning your Autumn fabric buys:
- Merlot or Burgundy with chocolate brown and cream.
- Deep Green with tan or camel and black.
- Stone and ecru with bronze or metallic for evenings.
- Bright accent pieces in cherry red, or fuchsia pink with neutrals.
Cotton Needlecord in Blackberry and Boiled Wool in Cream
Whichever bright pop of colour you choose to inject, they work especially well in a layering piece like a cardigan under a trench coat - draped over shoulders or around the waist.
- Pops of Cherry Red Shoes or a handbag works well with chocolate brown, grey and black; or be very bold by pairing it with Quality Street Purple.
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Combine Rich Palettes: Caramel, Khaki Green and Rust.
- Khaki Green or Moss Green is a fresh neutral, perfect for pairing with grey and chocolate brown and a great alternative to blue jeans for Autumn/Winter.
Brushed Cotton Panama in Moss and Cotton Twill in Khaki
The A/W 2026 Print Trends
Checks/Tartan and Plaid
The tartan punk revival of last year becomes more grown-up and sophisticated in AW2026 as many designers showcased heritage and country or equestrian looks using checks, tartan and plaid as the dominant way to reference this trend. In fact, plaid in various forms replaces the ubiquitous polka dots of summer.
Tartan and check feature on more floaty items for early autumn transitional dressing and on skirts, kilts and trousers for later in the season. A heavy wool check coat or a plaid cape in burgundy and black is a great way to interpret this trend for winter.
Animal Prints
Animal Print Dressmaking Fabric
No, leopard has not gone away, but equally popular are animal prints like zebra and new for 2026, a delightful deer or "Bambi print" is emerging as a major animal print trend.
Florals
Florals are at opposite ends of the floral spectrum with the ditsy florals of summer paired with faux fur or bouclé at one end, and opulent 3-dimensional florals on jacquard or tapestry at the statement end. A key look was “polished folk’ which features bold florals and lots of embroidery.
Fabrics Galore London’s print suggestions:
Move away from polka dots towards slightly more grown-up styles in checks and plaid referencing Marks & Spencer’s must-have item for their Autumn Winter collection, a long plaid skirt - perfect for now with sandals and then layered up for cooler weather with boots.
- Boden has also injected plaid print across their AW collection - shirt dresses, wool pinafores, trousers, skirts, coats and even waistcoats.
Merchant & Mills Miller Waistcoat pattern and Pure Wool Check in Lavender, Orange and Navy
- Embrace animal prints beyond leopard as we have moved on to snakeskin, zebra and cow prints. Pair them with basics or neutrals like white, caramel, grey or black and let the print do the talking.
A zebra handbag seems like a great idea
The A/W 2026 Fabrics and Textures
The minimalist quiet luxury trend is officially over and there is a tendency for more is more. Add tassels, fringing, embroidery, feathers, beads and sequins to existing pieces to embrace this trend,
- Texture is a key feature of A/W 26 as silky garments in satin or crepe are paired with cosy fabrics like faux fur and bouclé.
- Florals appear on jacquard, embroidered and tapestry fabrics for maximum opulence.
- Velvet is used for an elegant dressed up look.
- Wool blend coats (preferably in a check, tartan or plaid)
- Denim in mid to heavy weight fabrics.
Fabrics Galore London’s fabric suggestions:
- Wear Satin pieces for day to night outfits e.g. a cami top worn under a blazer or jacket for daytime and alone in the evening. At Fabrics Galore London, we all love an Ogden Cami in a satin.
- Elevate garments like trouser suits with plush fabrics like corduroy and velvet. Marks & Spencer showcased 80s inspired velvet tailoring at London Fashion Week.
- Make jeans or trousers in mid to heavy weight denim or cotton canvas.
- Invest in viscose for floaty skirts which can be layered with tights, boots, and a chunky knit.
The A/W 2026 Clothes and Silhouettes You will want to Sew
If you want just 4 makes which cover off most of the key AW26 trends, these are simple dressmaking projects to update your wardrobe for the new season:
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Drop-waist dresses and skirts are everywhere this season - make in a brushed cotton or flannel check or solid merlot or brown.
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Ladylike skirt suits in a check or solid wool blend.
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Modern jackets: make a funnel neck trench, peplum or blouson jacket, which looks modern paired with a pencil skirt and can also be paired with denim or wide leg trousers.
- Satin camisole or slip dress in a deep colour like merlot or moss green for evenings.
Barrel leg and wide-leg trousers are still on-trend for Autumn while kick-flare styles are new to the party.
Remember you can update your look with accessories like heritage style brooches, animal print belts and layered knits in the AW26 brights like cherry, fuchsia or burnt orange.
Fabrics Galore London’s Garment and Pattern suggestions
Drop Waist skirt and dress patterns
There is a "Roaring 20s" vibe across the high street and dropped waist dresses and skirts are everywhere. Luckily, they are easy to wear and universally flattering. Wear with T-bar shoes and add tassels for an evening outfit.
Pencil Skirt and Skirt Suit Patterns
A pencil skirt is perfect to recreate the on trend 90s aesthetic when teamed with a polo neck. Add a funnel neck jacket for a modern take.
Tucked In “Sensible Autumn Woman” Blouses and Shirts
In the new season of sharp tailoring, blouses and shirts are now tucked in after a few years of the untucked or French tuck look. The Friday Pattern Co Donny Shirt looks great tucked in.
Funnel Necks
Funnel Neck jackets have been increasingly popular for a while, and after featuring heavily at Copenhagen Fashion Week, they have now been cemented as the cool jacket for Autumn/Winter. They can be teamed with trousers, pencil skirts and more. They were seen in a lot of neutral shades for maximum wear but to be super-duper on trend, a red one would be perfect.
Puff and Pencil have managed to combine two trends in one with this latest pattern for a funnel neck coat with a trench coat influence.
Capes
Capes are a great way to channel the "Countryfile" aesthetic and look great in a classic wool check.
Trench Coats and Jackets
Burberry is turning 170 years old this year, and so it seems fitting that the trench coat is once again having a moment. This time around it seems to either be cropped into a jacket shape or extra-long for maximum drama.
The colours remain traditional - but for added trend points you could experiment with chocolate brown or khaki green for additional cosiness. The new Tilly and the Buttons Manon Jacket is perfect for this trend and would look great in our khaki twill.
Trousers: Wide Leg, Barrel
According to Vogue, trousers will be the backbone of this Autumn/Winter. A great way of introducing the colour trends such as khaki green. There are so many shapes available to us that there is something to suit everyone from slim cigarette styles to balloon shapes or barrel legs.
Barrel Leg
We cannot talk about barrel leg trousers without mentioning this incredible make from our Instagram - it had many members of Team FG reaching for both the hickory stripe and Sew Liberated Madrone Pants.
@jaynesjauntyjourney making the Sew Liberated Madrone Pants in our denim hickory stripe
Wide Leg Trousers
If you are looking for something slightly more classic, a wide leg trouser is always a good idea and can be made in such a variety of fabrics, you will have a pair for any occasion.
Peplum Jackets
The peplum silhouette features heavily and not only on smart tailored jackets teamed with pencil skirts, but also on denim jackets - the M&S version has already sold out in most sizes.
Start your AW26 Sewing with Fabrics Galore London
We hope this guide to sewing the AW26 fashion trends has inspired your next project. You can always check out our Autumn Winter collection for fabric inspiration, and our team is always happy to help you choose the perfect fabric and print for your pattern.
Authored by: Annabelle Rigg, Online and Store Manager at Fabrics Galore London
Reviewed by: Paul Johnston, Owner and Founder of Fabrics Galore London since 1992
Feature Image by Ivanka Krochak on Unsplash
