FASHION / AW26–27

DRESS FOR THE JOB.
STILL DRESS LIKE YOU.

The AW26/27 Interview Edit

What you wear to an interview still matters. But the old formula of a safe blazer, neutral trousers and sensible shoes is starting to feel dated. For AW26/27, the better question isn't how to look ‘professional’ — it's how to look right for the room without dressing like someone else.

Woman waiting with her bag in a modern lobby before an interview

EDITOR’S NOTE

“You don’t need to dress like you already work there.
You need to look like you belong there — as yourself.”

01 /

CORPORATE

Finance · Banking · Law · Insurance

Corporate dressing does not have to mean disappearing into a navy suit. AW26/27 brings sharper proportions, stronger styling and more personality back into tailoring.

LOOK 01

THE SKIRT SUIT, REWRITTEN

Woman in a sharp charcoal skirt suit with an asymmetric pencil skirt and statement brooch
Woman in a burgundy strong-shoulder blazer and light-lilac asymmetric skirt with a delicate silver brooch

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

NEW-ERA LADYLIKE

The classic skirt suit returns with sharper proportions and a less traditional attitude.

ASYMMETRIC PENCIL SKIRT

The pencil skirt is back, but the asymmetric line makes it feel contemporary rather than conservative.

STRONG SHOULDER

Defined shoulders bring authority and structure without relying on an oversized trouser suit.

STATEMENT BROOCH

Brooches return as a deliberate styling detail and give traditional tailoring more personality.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Keep the silhouette clean and the accessories controlled. One directional detail is enough to make a conservative outfit feel current.

LOOK 02

THE NEW WAIST

Woman in a dropped-waist tonal brown dress with an oxblood layer and accessories
Woman in a fitted burgundy shirt jumpsuit with a dropped waist, patterned silk tie, oversized black work bag and silver cap-toe pumps

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

DROPPED WAIST

A lowered waist reshapes both the tonal dress and the burgundy shirt-jumpsuit, giving each a distinctly new proportion.

SHIRTING, EXTENDED

Long collars, geometric seams and elongated lines move familiar shirting into a sharper one-piece silhouette.

BROWN + BURGUNDY

Espresso, chocolate and burgundy replace predictable black while remaining polished enough for a formal environment.

CONTROLLED DETAIL

An oxblood layer, patterned tie or silver-capped shoe adds depth without crowding the silhouette.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Avoid evening fabrics and excessive decoration. The impact should come from silhouette and colour, not glamour.

LOOK 03

LE SMOKING, 2026

Woman in a sculpted black tuxedo jacket, white column skirt and jewelled shoes
Woman in a deep aubergine tuxedo with matching wide-leg trousers and a pale butter-yellow silk blouse

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

LE SMOKING

Tuxedo dressing returns as a strong alternative to the conventional business suit.

SHAPED OR ELONGATED

A defined waist or a clean long line gives tuxedo tailoring presence without relying on oversized proportions.

SKIRT OR WIDE TROUSER

A narrow column skirt and a fluid wide trouser offer two distinct ways to extend the tailored line.

REFINED FINISH

Jewelled shoes or a pale silk blouse introduce decoration without distracting from the tailoring.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Keep the palette restrained and let one sculptural silhouette and one refined accessory carry the fashion message.

02 /

CREATIVE

Fashion · Design · Architecture · Advertising

In a creative industry, playing it safe can say as much as taking a risk. The point isn’t to wear every trend at once — it’s to show that you know what is happening in fashion, and know exactly which parts belong to you.

LOOK 01

PRINT INTELLIGENCE

Woman in expressive checked tailoring with animal-print shoes in a creative studio
Woman in window-check tailoring, pinstriped wide-leg trousers, burgundy tote and leopard-print pumps

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

BOLD CHECKS

Checks return with more scale, contrast and attitude. Here, classic tailoring becomes less corporate and more visually expressive.

PATTERN PLAY

Traditional menswear references are deliberately disrupted rather than worn by the rules.

RELAXED TAILORING

The proportions feel borrowed and slightly undone, creating a more contemporary alternative to the conventional fitted interview suit.

ANIMAL-PRINT FOOTWEAR

Animal print is used only at the shoe — a small, controlled interruption that makes an otherwise serious outfit feel much more fashion-aware.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Let one print lead. The rest of the outfit should support it rather than compete with it.

Knowing the rules is useful. Knowing when to break one is better.

LOOK 02

THE NEW CAPRI

Woman in cropped tailoring, layered statement shirt and oxblood accessories
Woman in a chocolate-brown jacket, cream turtleneck, tailored taupe capri trousers and oxblood accessories

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

CAPRI REVIVAL

The cropped trouser returns as an important alternative to both full-length tailoring and predictable wide-leg trousers.

CROPPED PROPORTIONS

Exposing the ankle changes the entire silhouette and gives tailoring a lighter, sharper attitude.

STRONG TOP LAYER

A statement shirt or cropped jacket can provide structure and visual interest without another conventional suit.

COLOUR INTERRUPTION

Unexpected colour combinations make the outfit feel considered rather than coordinated.

PERSONALITY ACCESSORIES

Shoes, jewellery or one unusual accessory can reveal personal taste without turning the outfit into costume.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Keep the trouser tailored rather than tight and choose one strong colour relationship instead of several competing statements.

Professional doesn’t have to mean predictable.

LOOK 03

FUTURE CRAFT

Woman in sculptural cropped tailoring, reflective culottes and jewelled footwear
Woman in a sculptural cropped jacket, metallic tailored culottes and jewelled heels

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

TAILORED CULOTTES

A longer tailored short or culotte breaks away from the expected trouser silhouette while keeping the precision of traditional tailoring.

FUTURISTIC FABRICS

Technical, metallic and subtly reflective surfaces introduce the season’s fascination with materials that feel slightly unfamiliar.

SCULPTURAL SILHOUETTES

Volume is treated architecturally — concentrated in one part of the outfit instead of everywhere at once.

JEWELLED FOOTWEAR

Decorative footwear becomes the finishing detail rather than an afterthought.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

If the material is unusual, simplify the silhouette around it. If the silhouette is dramatic, keep the accessories controlled.

Creative dressing should reveal an eye — not an effort to impress.

03 /

DIGITAL

E-Commerce · Marketing · Tech · Start-ups

Digital work has changed the office — and the clothes that belong in it. The strongest interview looks here sit somewhere between precision and experimentation: current without being trend-heavy, professional without looking corporate by default.

LOOK 01

ELECTRIC AUTHORITY

Woman in a saturated electric-blue suit with a sculpted waist and elongated silhouette
Woman in an electric-blue sculpted blazer, wide charcoal trousers and matching blue heels

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

ELECTRIC BLUE

After seasons dominated by restrained neutrals and chocolate brown, saturated electric blue becomes one of AW26/27’s strongest colour statements.

SCULPTURAL TAILORING

Tailoring becomes more architectural, with shaped waists and controlled structure replacing the endless oversized blazer.

WAIST DEFINITION

The waist returns as an important part of the silhouette, creating a sharper alternative to loose head-to-toe tailoring.

CONTRASTED LINE

A narrow lower line or wide charcoal trouser keeps the saturated colour sophisticated rather than loud.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

When the colour is this strong, everything else can become quieter. Keep the accessories minimal and allow the silhouette and colour to carry the look.

Blue doesn’t whisper. It doesn’t need to shout either.

LOOK 02

COLOUR THEORY

Woman in a precise navy peplum top, royal-purple trousers and pale-yellow accessory
Woman in charcoal full-length tailoring, a royal-purple turtleneck and oxblood accessories

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

SHAPED TAILORING

A defined peplum or disciplined charcoal jacket restores shape after years of oversized silhouettes.

ROYAL PURPLE

Rich purple is used as an intentional fashion colour rather than an accent, giving traditional tailoring a much more contemporary identity.

COLOUR CONTRAST

Purple works with navy and pale yellow or with charcoal and oxblood — two controlled, less predictable combinations.

FULL-LENGTH TAILORING

A long straight trouser creates a completely different proportion from the cropped and capri silhouettes seen elsewhere in the article.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Keep the shapes precise. Multiple colours can still feel professional when the silhouette remains disciplined.

Professional colour doesn’t have to stop at navy.

LOOK 03

THE FOUNDATIONAL LAYER

Woman in a turquoise knit layered over a white shirt with a pleated midi skirt and metallic accessories
Runway-inspired model in a graphite knit, sculpted suede waistcoat, turquoise asymmetric skirt and oxblood boots

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

UNEXPECTED LAYERING

AW26/27 styling increasingly treats familiar wardrobe pieces as building blocks rather than finished outfits.

TURQUOISE

A saturated turquoise knit or skirt brings unexpected brightness to autumn dressing and a more digital energy.

BASE LAYER, REWORKED

Exposed shirting or a sculpted suede waistcoat turns the foundation into an intentional part of the composition.

SKIRT MOVEMENT

Pleats and asymmetric construction create two kinds of movement while keeping the midi line professional.

FUTURE + TACTILE

Silver accessories sharpen one look; suede and oxblood ground the other. Both add interest without theatre.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Use one unexpected layer and one futuristic detail. The rest should remain familiar enough to feel intentional rather than experimental for its own sake.

The familiar becomes interesting when you change the way it is put together.

04 /

PEOPLE

Healthcare · Education · Social

Some jobs ask you to look authoritative. Others ask you to look approachable first. In healthcare, education and social professions, the strongest interview clothes often sit somewhere between the two — considered enough to show professionalism, relaxed enough to still feel human.

AW26/27 offers an interesting alternative to rigid office dressing: softer structure, movement, tactile layers and romantic details that feel personal rather than decorative.

LOOK 01

SOFT AUTHORITY

Mature woman in a deep plum cape knit, long olive skirt and polished loafers
Mature woman in an ivory asymmetric cape jacket, cinnamon tailored trousers and olive ankle boots

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

THE CAPE, TWO WAYS

A deep-plum knit and an ivory cape jacket both create presence without the rigidity of a conventional blazer.

SOFT TAILORING

A long olive skirt or cinnamon trousers gives the softness a clean, professional line.

AUTUMN COLOUR

Plum, olive, cinnamon and ivory bring heritage richness into cleaner, more contemporary combinations.

PRACTICAL FOOTWEAR

Polished loafers and low ankle boots keep both looks grounded for professions built around real movement.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Keep the layers clean and the palette controlled. A cape can feel directional without becoming theatrical when everything underneath it remains simple.

Authority doesn’t always need sharp shoulders.

LOOK 02

ROMANCE, CONTROLLED

Woman in a fluid sage midi dress with one sculptural ruffle and oxblood boots
Woman in a peach sculptural-ruffle blouse, ink-navy midi skirt and cherry slingback shoes

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

THE RETURN OF ROMANCE

Ruffles, draping and historically romantic details return strongly for AW26/27, but the new interpretation is less delicate and more deliberate.

The point is not decoration for decoration’s sake. It is movement and personality.

SCULPTURAL RUFFLES

One asymmetric ruffle — on a dress or blouse — creates a focal point without turning professional dressing into occasion wear.

FLUID MIDI

A controlled midi dress or skirt creates movement and presence without relying on oversized tailoring.

SOFT COLOUR, DARK GROUND

Sage or peach stays approachable; oxblood, ink navy and cherry prevent either palette from becoming overly sweet.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Choose one romantic element rather than several. Keep the neckline, length and accessories restrained so that the ruffle reads as considered design rather than occasion dressing.

Soft doesn’t mean uncertain.

LOOK 03

HERITAGE, REWORKED

Woman at a work table in a scarf-integrated coat, striped knit and substantial flat boots
Woman in an asymmetric checked scarf coat, ivory pointelle knit, charcoal trousers and cherry lace-up boots

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

SCARF COAT

Scarf-integrated coats and wrapped outerwear continue the season’s interest in clothing that feels layered without requiring complicated styling.

The scarf becomes part of the silhouette rather than an accessory added afterwards.

HERITAGE DRESSING

AW26/27 revisits familiar heritage references — practical coats, stripes, substantial footwear and traditional fabrics — but combines them in less literal ways.

FAMILIAR KNIT

A striped or pointelle knit introduces an everyday element beneath the directional outerwear and keeps it accessible.

TACTILE LAYERING

Texture becomes increasingly important in AW26/27 dressing.

Soft wool, knitwear and heavier outerwear create visual interest without relying on print or bright colour.

FUNCTIONAL FOOTWEAR

Substantial flat or lace-up boots suit professions built around movement and make practicality part of the aesthetic.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Keep heritage references modern by avoiding too many traditional elements at once. One strong coat, a simple stripe and clean dark separates are enough.

Practical can still have a point of view.

05 /

SERVICES

Retail · Hospitality · Food · Beauty · Customer Service

Not every interview calls for a new wardrobe.

For many customer-facing jobs, looking current has less to do with dressing formally and more to do with looking considered, approachable and ready for the role.

The easiest way to get there?

Start with clothes you already own — then change one thing.

A better pair of jeans. A current knit. A dress with a slightly different proportion.

AW26/27 is full of exactly these kinds of updates: familiar pieces that suddenly feel new again.

ONE NEW THING.
THE REST, YOU ALREADY OWN.

LOOK 01

THE DARK DENIM UPDATE

Woman in a white shirt, dark indigo straight jeans and polished black loafers
South Asian woman in a powder-blue shirt, checked waistcoat, dark indigo jeans and oxblood lace-up shoes

WHAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY OWN

White or pale-blue shirt.
Polished loafers or lace-ups.
Simple everyday bag.

THE ONE UPDATE

Dark indigo jeans.

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

DARK INDIGO

Denim becomes cleaner and darker for AW26/27.

Deep indigo gives jeans a more polished appearance than faded or distressed washes and makes them much easier to move into smarter settings.

THE STRAIGHTER JEAN

The silhouette is relaxed but controlled.

Not skinny.
Not exaggeratedly baggy.
Not distressed.

A clean straight line makes denim feel intentional rather than weekend casual.

SHIRTING, AGAIN

White or pale-blue shirting remains a useful reset piece, worn with relaxed collars, pushed sleeves or a checked layer.

CHERRY DETAIL

A burgundy belt or lace-up shoe adds one small seasonal colour intervention without another statement piece.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

For an interview, choose the darkest and cleanest denim you own.

No rips.
No heavy fading.
No distressed hems.

Add a crisp shirt and polished shoes and the jeans stop reading as casual by default.

Sometimes the update is simply a better version of something you already wear.

LOOK 02

THE POLO, POLISHED

Seated woman in a burgundy striped polo knit, dark midi skirt and polished loafers
North African woman in a geometric petrol polo knit, ink-navy wrap skirt and patent Mary Jane shoes

WHAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY OWN

Dark midi skirt.
Simple loafers or low heels.
Everyday bag.

THE ONE UPDATE

A patterned long-sleeve polo knit.

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

THE POLO RETURNS

The long-sleeve polo has moved back into fashion as a smarter alternative to both the basic sweater and the sweatshirt.

Its collar gives knitwear enough structure to work particularly well in interview dressing.

SPORTING REFERENCES — WITHOUT SPORTSWEAR

AW26/27 borrows sporting details but places them in polished combinations. A stripe or geometric motif and the polo collar provide the reference; the rest remains professional.

COLOUR + PATTERN

Burgundy stripes or petrol geometry bring more personality than a neutral knit while remaining easy with navy, black or grey.

FAMILIAR + NEW

The important styling idea is contrast:

one current piece combined with completely familiar wardrobe staples.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Avoid oversized or obviously sporty polo shirts.

Choose fine knitwear with a clean collar and combine it with a structured lower half and polished footwear.

You don’t need a new wardrobe. You need one piece that changes the conversation.

LOOK 03

THE SHIRTDRESS UPDATE

Woman in a modern ink-navy midi shirtdress with simple black shoes and bag
South Asian woman in an asymmetric ink-navy shirtdress with oxblood patent T-strap shoes on a city street

WHAT YOU PROBABLY ALREADY OWN

Simple black bag.
Low black or oxblood shoes.
Neutral trench or everyday coat.

THE ONE UPDATE

A modern dark shirtdress.

AW26/27 TREND NOTES

THE SHIRTDRESS, REWORKED

The shirtdress returns through small construction changes rather than dramatic reinvention.

Asymmetric fastening, side adjustments, elongated proportions and utility-inspired details make the familiar silhouette feel current again.

INK NAVY

Very dark blue offers the practicality of black without looking quite as severe.

It works particularly well for customer-facing interviews because it feels polished without becoming corporate.

UTILITY, REFINED

AW26/27 continues to borrow from functional clothing.

The difference here is refinement: useful pockets, adjustable details and straightforward cotton construction rather than obvious workwear styling.

EASY STRUCTURE

The dress creates the silhouette alone; black shoes keep it quiet, while an oxblood T-strap adds a controlled update.

INTERVIEW ADJUSTMENT

Choose a midi length and a fabric with enough structure to hold its shape.

Keep footwear simple and avoid excessive jewellery.

The result should feel easy rather than formal.

The easiest outfit in the room can still look like the most considered one.

YOU DON’T NEED AN
“INTERVIEW WARDROBE.”

You need clothes that are clean, considered and appropriate for the job — plus enough of yourself to avoid looking like you’re wearing a costume.

A current piece can do more than an entirely new outfit.

THE TAKEAWAY

DRESS FOR THE ROOM.
DRESS FOR THE ROLE.
BUT DON’T LEAVE YOURSELF AT HOME.

SOURCES / REFERENCES