How to embrace autumn's biggest trend: The grown-up way to wear the 'back to school' look with loafers, cardigans and pleats

Updated: 10:16 EDT, 11 September 2026 Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn moreIt feels like it’s been the longest, hottest summer since the age of the dinosaurs.But September has come a-knocking, bringing with it some autumnal weather and the sudden panic that many of us are heading back to school and work… even if it’s only the work of getting properly dressed in the morning.I am sending the children back to school and a few new pieces of uniform and some shoes that fit seem to have made them slightly more enthusiastic about the prospect.It got me thinking: perhaps we grown-ups could also feel a bit more optimistic about the end of summer if we got ourselves some new ‘uniform’ to return to work in?The big name designers seem to agree with me. Perhaps a few of them are also negotiating the end of summer with some reluctant youngsters, because the new season collections are borrowing heavily from the school- uniform playbook, reworking the traditional back-to-school list: loafers, cardigans, checks, blazers and pleats.So consider this your Autumn ’26 Fashion Syllabus: five pieces to bring a little preppy polish to your wardrobe that will see you through from the first day back to the end of term.Here are my back-to-school wardrobe rules...Rule one: The cardigan must be argyleCardigans are back, with one condition: it has to be an Argyle pattern – diamond shapes with a diagonal check line overlaying. Wear it buttoned up with a pair of trousers or over a crisp white or pale blue shirt – it has just enough of that school-uniform nostalgia without looking like that Britney Spears video! Take your style tips from the AW26 catwalks, where Argyle was worn on Argyle: a collared sweater with an additional cardigan draped over shoulders or around the waist. Get the look from Boden for £169. Just the thought of this is making me excited to put my summer wardrobe away and welcome in the wind and rain.Rule two: The pleated skirt must fall below the kneeWhen it comes to pleated skirts, there’s a fine line between preppy and schoolgirl, and that line is found below the knee. It’s a simple rule: below-knee length is what keeps you appropriate. Longer than a midi but shorter than a maxi is chic. I’ll wear mine with loafers and a fine-knit jumper now, then boots and a chunky sweater when the temperature drops. This plaid kilt from Brora, £149, is almost indistinguishable from the one I wore throughout my school years (I wonder if I can take an inch off the length by rolling it over at the top. Old habits…)Rule three: Your blazer must be oversizedRemember your first year at secondary school where your parents were hoping to get a couple of years use out of the most expensive item on the uniform list? That’s your inspiration. It should feel roomy, with enough volume to layer underneath, like H&M’s double-breasted design, £129. Don’t be tempted by a neat business style that nips in at the waist, even if you think it’s more flattering.Rule four: Loafers only, and they must be black or brownPut your flip-flops away – it’s time to smarten up your act. The good news is that, once again, flat shoes are dominating, and top of the footwear pecking order for autumn is a loafer in leather or suede. Black or brown are preferable. No chunky soles, no fussy detail, simplicity is the rule; a style of shoe you may not have worn since your school days but is now entirely acceptable for grown-ups. In fact, it’s become so popular that, whatever your budget, there’s a suitable pair. GH Bass created the iconic Penny Loafer back in 1936 – available at John Lewis, £180, and in half sizes, too.Rule five: Checks are allowed everywhereThe most popular print this autumn is back with a vengeance. While we’re familiar with checks on coats and blazers (such as this fabulous design from Anthropologie, £148), this season they are no longer confined to outerwear. Skirts, trousers, shirts … anything goes, even bags and shoes. This Bimba y Lola dress, with its fitted waist and frill-hem skirt is a worthwhile investment at £235. A timeless trend that never gets old. SHOP: I’m a fashion editor and this is everything I’ve added to my wish list this autumn – and how to style them… from just £8READ MORE: Think pencil skirts are dated? The controversial style is back for autumn – here's how to wear it