Welcome to The Great Try-On. With autumn well and truly in the air, we seized the opportunity to try on some of the best new-in pieces from some of your favourite brands, documenting the process along the way. We believe the best way to shop online is to see an item IRL and read candid reviews, so we hope that this leads you to your most successful purchases of the year.
It’s no secret to anyone who knows me that autumn is my favourite season. From those crisp morning walks to cosy evenings in with a hot chocolate, I love the cold-weather seasons. As someone who doesn’t do well in the warmer weather and just overall finds it much easier to dress when the temperature drops, I had been counting down the days until my favourite high-street stores started to stock those new autumnal pieces. So, with it getting much chillier here in the UK and rainy days that seem like they’re here to stay, the time has finally come.
In the summer, I tend to stick to very basic items that you can’t go wrong with. Think plain white vest tops and classic black poplin skirts with simple strap sandals. However, when autumn comes around, I tend to branch out just a bit with items that are still classic enough to stay in my outfit rotations for years to come but also add a little more interest to a minimalist wardrobe. For this, & Other Stories is always my first port of call.
The perfect blend of timeless classics with a hint of on-trend statement pieces, & Other Stories is my go-to when autumn rolls around. From elevated takes on the classic knitted jumper to cool new denim silhouettes to try, there were so many new bits on the site that piqued my interest. Therefore, I knew that I’d have to take a trip into the store to narrow down the items I wanted to add to my wardrobe this season.
For autumn 2024, I was looking for three things in particular. First up was non-black outerwear. As someone with what seems like a million black coats in my wardrobe, I was looking for a different shade that could be just as versatile as black to wear with both my neutral and statement items. Next up was knitwear. I’ve acquired many jumpers and cardigans over the years, but this year I was specifically looking for expensive-looking knitwear at a mid-price point to invest in for the years to come. Finally, I knew I needed to find a new pair of jeans that I could wear for any occasion. Denim is something I struggle with on the high street due to inconsistent sizing, so I was eager to try them on in person as opposed to the constant cycle I usually find myself in of buying online and returning.
I was happy that upon entering the store, there were items in these categories that immediately interested me, so I rounded them up and took them to the changing rooms to try on. I also managed to pull some shoes and accessories with each look to check the wearability of each item. Overall, I was really happy with the pieces I tried on, so if you’re looking for chic items that are the perfect mix of trendy and timelessness, I would definitely recommend visiting your local & Other Stories store to browse the new-in section.
Scroll on to see my picks from the & Other Stories’ autumn 2024 collection, read my honest reviews on the items I tried on and shop the full looks.
See My Favourite Pieces From My & Other Stories Autumn 2024 Try-On
(Image credit: Future)
My Review: The first thing on my agenda was to find a chic jacket I could wear now and then layer up as we move into the chillier months. A cropped trench is a style I never in a million years thought I’d pick up (I’m all about a classic long trench coat for autumn), but something about this particular silhouette called to me, and when I tried it on, it did not disappoint. Available in camel, black and khaki, I knew that all three colours would fit seamlessly into my wardrobe, but due to the endless number of black and brown coats I already own, I decided to try on the classic camel shade as a way to brighten up my autumn outfits. Made from 100% cotton, this breathable jacket felt lightweight enough to wear during this transitional period but is also boxy enough to be layered over a chunky knit when the temperature drops (for reference, I tried on a small and it was the perfect fit over a thick knitted jumper). I also loved that it has a storm flap at the front and back of the jacket, making it ideal for those windy, rainy days.
Toteme’s iconic scarf coat has sparked plenty of lookalikes all over the high street. I’ve bought a number of different high-street scarf jackets to emulate the look, but this chic scarf-detail wool jumper is a style I never considered before trying it on, but it’s now sitting in my online basket. The & Other Stories website states that it comes in beige, but in person, I would say this looks way more like a dusky-pink shade. At £125, this is by no means a cheap jumper, but the material feels extremely thick and way more expensive than it is. I opted for an XS.
I paired the jacket and knit with an & Other Stories best seller: the A-Line Mini Skirt, which is restocked every year. I picked this up in a UK 8 and would say it fits true to size. At 5’4″, I would say that this comes up very short (usually, I would throw on a pair of tights with a mini this small), however, it wasn’t so short that I felt out of my comfort zone, which I think says a lot for someone who lives in midi and maxi skirts. I especially loved how this mini style looked with the square-toe, knee-high boots, which were genuinely so comfortable and looked super sleek with the outfit.
Shop the Look:
& Other Stories
Short Trench Coat Jacket in Beige
& Other Stories
Scarf-Detail Wool Jumper
& Other Stories
A-Line Mini Skirt
& Other Stories
Square-Toe Leather Knee Boots
(Image credit: Future)
My Review: I initially tried on the brand’s Straight Jeans, but as mentioned, denim is one item I find difficult in terms of size and fit. Because I have a small waist and bigger thighs, something about the straight-leg fit wasn’t looking quite right on me (I tried on three different sizes before giving up!). I had another search around and found the Wide Baggy Jeans, which I absolutely loved. A perfect blend of casual denim with the tailored trousers I live in year-round, these mid-waist, pleated trousers are a versatile style that can be dressed up or down for any occasion. I tried on a size 36 (UK 8) and I loved the slouchier fit of this style. The denim was soft and didn’t feel rough against the skin like a lot of high-street denim does to me.
Arguably the cosiest knit I’ve ever tried on, & Other Stories’ Mohair-Blend Jumper immediately caught my eye when I entered the store. This fluffy knit is available in six beautiful colours, but for autumn 2024, I’m all about burgundy. I’m clearly not the only one, as this colour is currently sold out online, but I think the black (linked below) will work just as well with the outfit I tried on. The first thing I noted is that this is totally an item I’ll be waiting for the winter months to wear because it’s extremely warm, which I’ll be grateful for when it gets really cold. I should also mention that it sheds. A lot. I went home with many a red hair over my jeans and bag. However, this is hopefully something that will stop after a trip to the dry cleaner (this particular style is not machine-washable). This didn’t discourage me though, as I love the shape and fit of the jumper.
I finished off the look with a studded bag and chunky loafers, which really pulled it all together.
Shop the Look:
& Other Stories
Mohair-Blend Jumper
& Other Stories
Wide Baggy Jeans
& Other Stories
Chunky Leather Loafers in Black
& Other Stories
Studded Leather Clutch
(Image credit: Future)
My Review: Outerwear was definitely on my mind when I went into the store, and after hearing rave reviews from Who What Wear UK editors as well as friends and family, I knew I couldn’t leave without trying on the brand’s famous wool coat, and it lived up to the hype. There were multiple shades in-store, but I went for the cool khaki to add a point of difference to the outfit. It does look grey on camera, but I promise you this is a dark green shade in real life that looks great with the monochrome outfit I styled it with. I tried on a Size XS and was glad I did as the coat was very oversized. This, however, makes it perfect for layering on those really cold winter days. I love that you could wear it tied with the belt or without as a straight style depending on the look you’re going for. You can tell this coat is made from 100% wool—it was so warm and cosy and definitely one you’ll come to rely on over the next few months.
I threw the coat over a pair of tailored, straight-leg trousers and an asymmetric wrap shirt. I have so many white shirts in my wardrobe so I was happy to find this elevated take on the classic style. It’s more of a grown-up top than I would usually opt for, but I felt super elegant and can’t wait to see how it styles with jeans to dress them up for evening events. These items, paired with the kitten-heel boots, come together for an outfit you could easily wear into the office and then on to evening drinks with friends.
Shop the Look:
& Other Stories
Voluminous Belted Wool Coat in Dark Grey
& Other Stories
Cotton Wrap Shirt
& Other Stories
Tailored Trousers
& Other Stories
Stretch-Leather Knee Boots
& Other Stories
Large Braided Tote in Black
(Image credit: Future)
My Review: For me, the key to an expensive-looking autumn outfit is all in the knitwear. I already own several long-sleeve knits, so this short-sleeve wool-cashmere blend immediately caught my eye. Available in both cream and beige (pictured above), this sleek knit is cut in a relaxed silhouette. I opted for a size S which gave me the boxy fit I was looking for—perfect for wearing untucked over a wool maxi or front-tucked over a pair of tailored trousers like I have here. The knit felt warm, so despite the short sleeves, you could wear this even on colder days, and the material is extremely soft, which surprised me, as it initially looked quite stiff on the hanger. The only downside is the sizing. I wear a UK 6/8 on top and opted for the size S, and with the largest size being an L, I’m sceptical about how many bodies it could fit. I would also note that this T-shirt is handwash-only—something to be aware of if you’re someone who prefers to throw your clothes in the machine and go.
I paired the knit tee with & Other Stories’ best-selling Wide Press-Crease Trousers, and I was pleasantly surprised with the fit because as someone with a smaller waist and larger thighs, I usually find shopping for trousers rather difficult. A UK 8 usually fits perfectly on my waist but is too tight around my thighs, whilst a 10 fits me great on the legs but is too loose around the waist. I liked that this pair weren’t super high-rise, allowing me to fit perfectly into a 36 (UK 8). Available in eight versatile shades, these are trousers that I can easily dress up or down, whether it be for the office, casual days out or dinner dates.
For accessories, I opted for a pair of brown satin ballet flats (a huge trend for autumn 2024) and a sleek glossy bag.
Shop the Look:
& Other Stories
Cashmere-Blend Knit T-Shirt in Beige
& Other Stories
Wide Press-Crease Trousers in Dark Brown
& Other Stories
Square-Toe Ballet Flats in Brown
& Other Stories
Glossed-Leather Shoulder Bag
