In fashion terms, it’s practically a lifetime since we stepped off our final Eurostar at the end of the autumn 2014 collections. But trends wait for no man – the clothes we saw then begin arriving in stores as early as July.

So what better time to get a fix on the biggest looks for next season? Exactly.

This autumn, clothes are hard-headed but gentle; they're practical as well as fantastical, from Celine's ribbed knits to Dolce's fairytale princess garb. The opposing poles of sport-ification (trainers are chic now, remember) and couture-like cut and finish feel more balanced, more mutual, than they have done in previous seasons. So rather than opting for one over the other, of choosing between street cool and classic elegance, this autumn you can have both.

The mood is soft and comforting, with over-sized and head-to-toe knitwear, but also brash and bright in glam rock metallics and vibrant, oscillating graffiti prints. There’s a rustic feel to folksy and homespun pieces that nod to the Arts and Crafts movement, vintage references in Sixties prints and silhouettes, and an Establishment revival of heritage tweed and felt that the Balmoral estate would be proud of.

Sportswear continues to dominate, this season spun into ever-more haute incarnations – see Marni’s cocktail hour tracksuit – but also with a retro eye on the Madchester scene in hoodies, parkas and new iterations of the bomber jackets that were so ubiquitous for spring.

Tonal and neutral pieces abound, as do fur (the real and the not real, according to your disposition) and chevron stripes – the new way to wear your horizontals.

And should all that feel too whimsical for you, tailoring takes on an exaggerated masculine fit in broad, drooping shoulders and double-breasted jackets that are reminiscent of Wall Street but not – heaven forbid – of power dressing. It may seem a disparate collection of aesthetics but they all share a common theme: ease and a certain down-to-earthiness, inspired by the girls we once were and the women we look up to.

Click the image tiles to visit each of the 12 trends or launch the gallery to see them all