Suddenly, Londoners Are Swapping Basic Black Jackets for This Much Trendier Colour

September 7, 2025 / Swedan Margen /

We’re easing into September, and those easy days of leaving the house in a tank top are already fading into memory. And while there was something nice about that simplicity, I didn’t get into fashion for ease. What excites me most is the construction of an outfit—the way balance and contrast factor in once you start introducing layers. That’s why the shift from summer to autumn is a time I relish and, this year, I feel more inspired than ever. A lot of that has to do with one standout trend: the rise of the red jacket.

Far more interesting than the classic black styles I’ve been relying on until now, the red jacket has emerged as the chicest way to approach layering up for autumn 2025. With just one piece, your outfit is instantly imbued with fashion credentials, making every outfit you wear look considered, even if it is deliberately simple.

Influencer @lucywilliams02 sits down outside wearing a red jacket over a blue shirt with navy trousers.

The runways certainly agree. For yet another season, designers doubled down on red as the colour of the moment, with bold jackets appearing everywhere from Stella McCartney to Versace to Valentino. Beyond the runways, I’ve noticed Londoners embracing the look en masse. Many are swapping in red jackets for their go-to leathers—a clever interim choice until the weather truly calls for heavier outerwear.

Influencer @annabelrosendahl crosses the street wearing a red jacket with cream trousers and brown trainers.

What I love most, though, is the versatility. A red jacket does all the heavy lifting for you: Throw one over a white tee and cream trousers for a sleek, directional look, or shrug it on over an all-black ensemble to give your wardrobe staples an instant boost.