Typically, by this time of year, I, a seasoned fashion editor, would be advising you on cold-weather wardrobe staples and cosy fabrics as we edge closer to winter. But 2026 is proving to be a different beast. Yes, the days are starting with a crisp morning breeze, but the clear blue skies and surprisingly mild temperatures have made getting dressed something of a fashion conundrum. One moment, you’re reaching for your favourite chunky-knit jumper; the next you’re wondering if you’ve wildly overestimated how cold it actually is.

So rather than diving headfirst into heavy wool coats and winter-ready layers, I’m turning my attention to something far more seasonally appropriate: jackets. More specifically, fitted jackets, a trend that has been quietly taking over this year.

Be it the sharp, nipped-in waist of a peplum or the sculptural silhouette of a frog-fastening jacket, even fashion people with the most laid-back aesthetics are reconsidering their loyalties. Though tailored, these styles channel a ‘90s supermodel nonchalance with a Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy-esque elegance.

Editorialist’s fashion trends and news editor Harry Archer links this renewed appetite for fitted jackets to Bessette-Kennedy’s alma mater, Calvin Klein. “There’s been a revival of this tailoring economy, and it’s become this new fashion currency, especially when you think that the [Calvin Klein spring/summer 2027] was one of the top shows at New York Fashion Week this season, and the whole collection truly pushed the needle on fitted silhouettes.”