Ask many a fashion fan and you’ll find that autumn is their favourite season simply because of the clothes. Jackets and jumpers come into full force, chunky knits can be layered over dresses and the shoe rotation suddenly includes chic boots for all occasions. Yet it often takes only one piece to turn a regular outfit into a trend-led one.

Looking towards the catwalk, leather bombers are proving hugely popular – barrel leg jeans are on the rise again for autumn and sage green is the shade that’s slowly rising up the ranks, thanks to Jil Sander, Loewe and Coperni. Plus, kitten heels are the height to know right now and it’s still all about denim in each and every iteration.

But before you start thinking that these five finds may cost you a small fortune, you may be surprised to learn that none of the pieces I’ve shopped on the high street cost over £40. Think chic kitten-heels, knee-high boots, a satin sage green midi dress and a belted denim jacket that are all sure to work every time.

Don’t believe me? Just keep scrolling to see my five favourite finds in action.

Leather is always plenty popular around this time of year, yet this season one piece is proving to be even more so than usual: the bomber jacket. 

With everyone from Bottega Veneta and Acne Studios to Burberry and Maje producing their own versions, the versatile jacket is a huge trend for autumn. So, seeing an affordable faux leather option on the high street at Tu is certainly exciting. 

I’ll be wearing mine with wide-leg jeans, dresses and skirts for a laidback look, and will style over jumpers once the weather really cools down.

Chic kitten heel boots are one of Stylist’s fashion director, Lucy Reber’s favourite picks for autumn and she certainly isn’t alone. 

The tiny heel style was spotted at each of the recent fashion weeks, proving they’re much-loved by fashion’s inner circle. 

Plus, when combined with a knee-high boot length – a style spotted on the catwalks of Gucci, Fendi, Prada and many more – it instantly becomes a failsafe fashion find.

Denim really does work every time and this season’s trend proves exactly that. 

No matter whether you reach for a dark wash jean à la Miu Miu, a highly structured denim blazer brought to us by Valentino or a double denim number inspired by Alaïa, so long as you’re wearing some form of the blue cotton, you can’t go far wrong. 

This belted denim jacket immediately caught my eye as a more formal denim find that’s sure to seamlessly slot into any wardrobe.

So far this year, we’ve seen a number of key colours come through as core trends: brat green, buttermilk yellow and burgundy, to name just a few. Yet another shade is making its presence felt just in time for autumn: sage green. 

Jil Sander used it as the backdrop for its a/w 2024 look book, Coperni creased a silk dress into the colour and Loewe leant into the look with short shorts and a sheer shirt. 

Now Tu is getting ahead of the curve with this satin sage green slip dress that pairs perfectly with another key autumn staple: the trench coat.

Barrel leg jeans have long been a popular denim shape and this season is no exception. Tapered at the ankle and the waist with a large curve running down the outer leg, they’re shaped, you guessed it, like a barrel, and this pair is one of the chicest styles I’ve spotted in a while. 

In a dark-wash denim, they’ll work with a whole host of outfits, particularly a cropped jacket that really shows off the style. 

Images: courtesy of Lauren Cunningham

Shop Tu’s new-season heroes online or in selected Sainsbury’s stores.