The New UNIQLO : C FW26 collection by Clare Waight Keller Just Dropped - And It Looks So Expensive

UNIQLO : C’s fluffy cashmere is worth buying if you want a light, textural autumn knit that feels special without becoming occasion-only, as cashmere so often does. The V-neck is 100% cashmere and perfectly relaxed - lean into the timeless beige with a pop of trending chocolate brown for an easy tonal look. Something to watch out for:  it does need dry cleaning and, like all cashmere, can lightly shed.

Fancy something smarter than jeans? These are the trousers you want for instant polish. Two front tucks build the volume, the high waist keeps Uniqlo's aptly named Volume Trousers deliberate rather than slouchy, and two-way stretch stops the shape feeling rigid. In the dark grey, they're a bit more casual than black tailoring so perfect for a day in the office, and drinks right after. 

If wide trousers tend to swallow your shirts, start here. The shorter oversized shape means less fabric at the waist, while cotton and a neat stand collar keep it crisp. The off-white is slightly sheer, so this is one where the base layer deserves some thought - otherwise stick to the blue. 

Of all the tailoring, this brown checked wool-blend blazer feels the most designer. The relaxed shape keeps it nice and modern, while the neck fastening changes the silhouette without requiring a second jacket. Blush pink underneath softens the brown beautifully.

If cashmere feels too precious for every day, this oversized cotton crew gives you the same rich colour story with easier energy. Burgundy looks particularly good with chocolate brown and soft yellow. A cleaner trouser underneath lets the knit do the slouching without the whole outfit losing shape.

Uniqlo cashmere is some of the best on the high street, but in Clare Waight Keller's hands? Impossibly good. This autumm, the UNIQLO:C Fluffy 100% Cashmere Vest is hands down the cashmere piece we’d choose. The compact high neck gives you drama Side note to consider: it is dry clean only so get extra longevity by wearing layered over a shirt.

Hello to one of this season's most sought-after knitwear shapes. Most half-zips default to sporty. This one feels smarter, thanks to the stand collar and seam pockets sitting flush. Grey works beneath relaxed tailoring as easily as it does with denim, which gives it far more range than the average sweatshirt. You're going to wear it with everything.

For something a little more uplifting, you can't go wrong with the UNIQLO:C Milano Ribbed Full Zip Cardigan in high impact red. The pop of red theory has been doing the rounds for a while now - whereby adding a hit of the colour instantly adds energy to any look - and when accompanied with a crisp white zip, it goes one step further. Use to bring energy to darker trousers, or creating a simple (but very effective) uniform with your favourite blue jeans.

This is the layer we’d reach for when wide trousers need something shorter above them. The padded brown corduroy gilet fixes the proportion without adding another formal jacket, while the texture gives a plain knit more to work with. It is useful warmth with a better silhouette.

This wool-blend Harrington takes a familiar jacket and adds the details that make elevate UNIQLO:C beyond the high street brand's usual offering: corduroy inside the collar, a checked lining and an adjustable hem to boot. The oversized cut suits knitwear underneath, while straighter trousers keep the proportions from tipping too far oversized.

This UNIQLO:C stand collar cotton dress is for mornings when you want to look considered without needing to pull together too many elements. A stand collar and utility-inspired chest pockets give an otherwise relaxed shape extra definition, while the matching belt changes the silhouette. Loose with flats it feels easy; belted with high leg boots shifts it smarter without needing much else.

Uniqlo wouldn't usually spring to mind on the footwear front, but there's no ignoring just how perfect these are. The UNIQLO:C boots are worth buying if you want an everyday heel rather than a pair that only comes out for dinner. The just-right five-centimetre heel gives enough lift to sharpen a dress or wide trouser without feeling impractical, while an inside zip keeps them nice and practical too, perfect for pulling over the thick winter socks heading our way shortly. The upper is non-leather, which is worth knowing before you buy but you'd never know when it comes to look and comfort.

The long belt is where UNIQLO:C’s attention to detail is easiest to see. Vegetable-tanned leather - tanned in Tuscany, no less - with a metal tip and loop that make a plain trouser-and-knit combination feel more finished. It's unisex too.

Too cold for a cardigan, but too warm for a jacket? This hybrid knitted jacket is the menswear piece we’d start with. Its 88% wool blend is thicker through the front and lighter through the sleeves and back, giving structure without stiffness. Navy over a dark roll-neck is simple, elegant and easy to repeat.

A relaxed shirt is much more useful when it does not demand a lengthy ironing negotiation. This soft khaki version has dropped shoulders and a straight hem that work well untucked. The wrinkle-resistant finish still needs reshaping and hang-drying after washing.

The easiest way to style barrel-leg jeans for autumn is to keep the top shorter or neatly tucked and your shoes visible, so the curved leg looks deliberate. Uniqlo: C’s new black pair keeps the silhouette doing the talking.

If you’re wearing the barrel jeans or wide sweats, this is the top to pair with them: the regular fit stays neat while everything below goes fuller. It’s a 30% wool blend rather than pure merino, so think textured layer rather than your warmest jumper. 

A cuffed jogger pulls an outfit towards loungewear. These wide sweats do the opposite: the straight, generous leg behaves more like a casual trouser. They are also officially listed as unisex, and in grey with the knitted jacket they make a weekend outfit that still looks considered.

The oversized hoodie is unusually restrained around the details, with a contoured hood, no trailing drawstrings and sleek pockets. Black is the easiest version to wear beneath a coat, and the roomy shape makes most sense under an equally relaxed outer layer rather than anything closely fitted.

The wine-coloured check makes this padded shirt jacket a useful break from another plain dark coat. Brushed cotton flannel brings texture while padding and side pockets keep it practical. Over an ecru T-shirt and black jeans, the colour becomes the main event.

This cashmere-blend HEATTECH roll-neck is the less obvious buy we’d add alongside the statement pieces. It contains 9% cashmere and is a fine, stretchy base layer rather than a substantial jumper. Slip the navy beneath the grey knit jacket when you want warmth without bulk.