10 Vintage Fashion Trends for Autumn 2026
From 1970s suede to fabulous 1980s statement pieces, these are the vintage finds I’d be looking out for right now.
I’m often asked what vintage should people be buying now?
After more than 30 years working in fashion, as a journalist and stylist, and with over 15 of those years running Lovely’s Vintage Emporium, I’ve seen plenty of trends come and go and come again…
And that’s part of the joy of vintage.
While the high street and now fast fashion brands are busy recreating the past, you can buy the real thing by buying vintage. You get something beautifully made, individual and unlikely to be worn by anybody else.
So, if you’re wondering what to look for right now, these are the vintage pieces I think are worth considering.
1. 1980s Fitted Jackets
If you’ve been avoiding the 1980s section of the vintage rail, it might be time to reconsider.
The decade is having a serious fashion revival, with strong shoulders, oversized silhouettes, dramatic belts and statement tailoring all returning.
But you don’t need to dress head-to-toe like it’s 1985.
A fabulous fitted vintage jacket can look incredibly modern worn with balloon shaped jeans and a simple T-shirt.
Look for: strong shoulders, beautiful buttons, jewel colours, monochrome pieces, tuxedo jackets and interesting tailoring.
Lovely’s tip: Don’t automatically remove the shoulder pads! Try the jacket on first. They’re often exactly what gives an original 1980s jacket its fabulous shape.
2. 1970s Suede Coats
If I spotted a great 1970s suede jacket at the right price today, I wouldn’t leave it behind.
Brown and tan suede is having another fashion moment.
Look for: fitted suede jackets, longer coats, waistcoats and fringed pieces, particularly in tobacco, tan, chocolate, camel and olive shades.
They’re surprisingly easy to wear too.
Try a vintage suede jacket with jeans and a white shirt, or throw one over a maxi dress and cone heel boots.
Lovely’s tip: Condition is everything with vintage suede. Check carefully for staining, dryness, damage around cuffs and collars, and any areas where the suede has become excessively worn.
3. Vintage Brooches
Yes, brooches really are back in fashion and I couldn’t be happier about it.
For years they were regarded as slightly old-fashioned, but they’re now being worn in much more playful ways.
Forget saving one for the lapel of your best coat. Pin a vintage brooch to a denim jacket, blazer, scarf, jumper, handbag or even a plain white T-shirt.
Vintage jewellery is one of my favourite ways to experiment with a trend because you don’t have to change your entire wardrobe.
Look for: sculptural gold tone metal brooches, unusual motifs, colourful stones, animals, flowers and anything with personality.
Lovely’s tip: group several brooches together for a more maximalist look. Several of my clients have bought ten or more from me and put them all over their denim jackets.
4. Romantic Vintage Blouses
Lace, ruffles, sheer fabrics and romantic detailing are all having a moment again, which makes vintage blouses particularly interesting.
Look for: pieces from the 1970s and 1980s, especially pussy bow collar blouses, high neck styles, lace trims, dramatic sleeves and detailed collars.
The secret to making them feel contemporary is contrast.
Lovely’s tip: Instead of wearing a romantic blouse with an equally romantic skirt, try one with denim, leather trousers or underneath an oversized blazer.
That clash between feminine vintage detailing and something more modern is what will make the outfit work.
5. 1970s Maxi Dresses
A genuinely fabulous 1970s maxi dress is one of those pieces I will always stop for. I’ve been buying (keeping!) and selling them for years.
Look for: Beautiful prints, dramatic sleeves, empire lines, tiered skirts and unusual colour combinations make original 1970s dresses incredibly difficult for modern reproduction brands to match.
Wear a maxi with boots and a suede jacket in autumn, heels and jewellery for a special occasion, and sandals of course for next summer.
Lovely’s tip: Don’t judge the dress fit by the vintage size label.
Vintage sizing is often two to three sizes wrong by today’s sizing, so always go by the actual measurements.
A vintage UK 16 is often a modern UK 10-12.
6. Statement Belts
Big belts are back and the 1980s did belts brilliantly – wide leather styles, huge buckles, elasticated waist belts (to fit all), gold hardware and bold decorative designs.
Lovely’s tip: If you’ve got a loose vintage dress that feels shapeless, try adding a statement belt before deciding it isn’t for you.
A belt can completely change the silhouette and they are also great at creating a tailored look over blazers and coats.
7. Quality Vintage Leather
A good vintage leather jacket or handbag is always worth investing in as high quality leather often gets better with age.
Rather than focusing too heavily on a particular decade, I would look at the quality of the leather, construction, hardware and design.
A beautifully made vintage leather bag can work just as well with today’s wardrobe as it did 30 or 40 years ago.
Lovely’s tip: Try to find ones in unusual colours such as burgundy, forest green, cherry red or swimming pool blue.
All colour trends for autumn 2026.
8. 1990s Minimalism
Not all desirable vintage has to be loud.
We can thank the TV show Love Story (the story of JFK Jr and Carolyn Bessette) for this minimalist revival.
At the opposite end of the spectrum from the 1980s bold looks revival is simple and chic 1990s fashion.
Think slip dresses with lace inserts, bias-cut skirts, understated tailoring, simple leather bags, camisoles and great denim.
These are the pieces that can quietly fit into a modern wardrobe without looking like fancy dress style vintage.
That’s also why they’re worth buying when you find good examples.
Lovely’s tip: Natural fabrics and beautifully cut simple garments are always worth a second look. When a design is very simple, fabric and cut become even more important.
9. Amazing Prints
This is less about investment and more about my personal vintage rule that if a print makes you smile then it might be one to come home with.
One of the great advantages of buying vintage is finding prints and colour combinations you simply don’t see on the high street.
Florals, geometrics, psychedelic prints, novelty patterns and animal prints can instantly make an outfit interesting.
Lovely’s tip: You don’t have to wear pattern from head to toe either but let one fabulous vintage piece do all the work and keep everything else simple.
10. The Piece You Can’t Stop Thinking About
And finally, perhaps the most important one.
Don’t buy vintage purely because somebody tells you it’s collectible.
Buy pieces you genuinely love and that live rent free in your head…
Of course there are labels, designers and eras that can command higher prices, but I’ve always believed the best vintage purchase is the piece that makes your heart swoon and that when it arrives feel fantastic when you put it on.
Vintage fashion isn’t supposed to make everybody look the same.
Quite the opposite.
Lovely’s tip: Vintage fashion is an opportunity to find something that expresses your personality rather than whatever an algorithm has decided everyone should be wearing this week.
Whether something is 20 or 70 years old, I’m looking for pieces just for you that are beautiful, wearable, interesting and just a little bit different.
Because that’s what great vintage should be.
Lynnette x
Ready to find your next vintage treasure? Browse the latest handpicked pieces at Lovely’s Vintage Emporium
