The autumn edit — five pieces I'm wearing on rotation

Autumn is the easiest season to dress badly. Layers compound. Textures clash. The weather refuses to commit. Every year, I revisit a tiny set of pieces that quietly carry me from September to November — five items that together make about thirty outfits.

1. A long, lean wool coat

Camel, charcoal, or a soft olive — anything that doesn't shout. I want a coat that closes neatly over a knit and skims the calf. It's the silhouette doing the heavy lifting, not the colour.

2. The "wrong" tailored trouser

I wear trousers that are slightly too fluid, slightly too long. They drape like a 70s film, but cut close at the waist. They make a t-shirt feel like a look.

3. A breton, but better

I'm tired of bretons that are quite right. Look for heavier cotton, a wider neckline, and a stripe that sits a little proud of the body.

4. Loafers with weight

A chunkier sole grounds tailoring; a polished toe lifts denim. Mine are scuffed, not pristine — that's the point.

5. One excellent scarf

Silk-cashmere if you can. Tied loosely. It's the smallest decision with the biggest payoff.

The wardrobe I trust most is the one I think about least.

If even three of these are already in your closet, you're closer to a working capsule than you think. Edit before you add.