7 Affordable Autumn Trends the High Street Can't Seem to Keep in Stock

It's a bit of a running joke among my friends and family that I have expensive taste. Whenever I'm shopping with my mum or browsing the rails with my best friend, they always chuckle whenever I pick something up, only to place it coyly back down after reading its price tag. Still, I consider this innate attraction to premium-looking pieces to be a gift, not a curse, as it also helps me hunt down the most expensive-looking pieces on the high street, which, in my experience, are always the first to sell out.

Excuse the humble brag, but I can go into any affordable store and find items that look like luxury. How? It's taken over a decade of analysing, but the main factors that come into play are colour, fabrication and silhouette across both trend-led and timeless buys.

Which pieces caught my eye on my most-recent shopping trip this past weekend? Unsurprisingly, the high street has begun gearing its product toward autumn, with knitwear, coats and boots commanding most of my attention. So today, I thought I'd share my findings by running through trends I'm most excited about buying on the high street this autumn. Keep scrolling to add these affordable yet elevated autumn trends to your wardrobe this season.

1. Striped Knits

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(Image credit: @symphonyofsilk)

Style Notes: Stripes might be considered more of a wardrobe staple than a trend, but the sheer amount of Breton knitwear out there right now signifies that it's a major look for autumn/winter 2022. Handily, the high street has a jumper to suit every sensibility and budget. 

2. Slouchy Suiting 

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(Image credit: @_jessicaskye)

Style Notes: The tailoring trend is proving even stronger as we head into autumn, with the high street serving up looser silhouettes especially well. 

3. Sling Bags

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(Image credit: @astyleedit)

Style Notes: Although micro top-handle bags might be sweeping the designer collections of Jacquemus and Balenciaga, on the high street, things are taking a more practical turn with hands-free sling bags becoming the most coveted. COS and Arket have styles that feel very The Row, but naturally, come in at a fraction of the price. 

4. Leather Trousers

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(Image credit: @chloepierreldn)

Style Notes: Whether you opt for real or faux, there's no denying that leather trousers always look sleek. Especially when worn with a simple black tank top, as it turns out. 

5. Robe Coats

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(Image credit: @francescasaffari)

Style Notes: Although robe coats are widely considered to be pretty classic in terms of outerwear, they have taken a back seat to puffer coats over the past few seasons. For 2022, however, I have a feeling everyone is going to be swathing themselves in this silhouette. 

6. Knitted Co-Ords

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(Image credit: @sasha.mei)

Style Notes: Last year, I practically lived in a knitted trouser co-ord that I snapped up on sale in Mango. This year, I plan on doing the same, only this time around, I'm looking to knitted skirt sets to achieve that rich-girl aesthetic. 

7. Cowboy Boots

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(Image credit: @astyleedit)

Style Notes: Of all the boots that are starting to come through, it's clear that buyers are backing cowboy boots in a big way. It's unsurprising, really, seeing as everyone from Celine to Isabel Marant made them an integral part of their autumn/winter 2022 collections. Don't worry—there are plenty of affordable options on the high street, too. 

Next Up: The 9 New-In Pieces I'm Adding to My Wish List This Week

Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.