H&M has quietly launched H&M A/W25 Chapter 1 on site today, and it’s exactly what my week needed. The recent and rapid reduction in the number of daylight hours we’re experiencing – and a reduction in the number of hours it’s socially acceptable to spend in beer gardens – had me mourning the loss of summer. But thanks to H&M, only temporarily.
Autumn is every fashion editors’ favourite time to shop, and just when I needed a little something to remind me of that spark, the H&M A/W25 Chapter 1 preview landed in my inbox. As expected, the collection ticks every fall-dressing box. Knitwear? Check. Oversized blazers? You bet. Faux leather trousers, statement gold jewellery and boho-inspired cami tops that are just perfect for party season? Yes. And it’s all on site today.
Yes, I’ve ditched feeling sad about the loss of summer – instead feeling a “back-to-school” buzz induced by a affordable, playfully-nostalgic drop from our favourite Scandi high-street brand. As for the collection’s inspiration? The first (of two) H&M AW25 chapters continues the blending of eras which was started by H&M in their SS25 collection – where influences from the not-so-distant past and reworked into fresh and forward-thinking forms.
The collection updates the glamorous spirit of 70s by merging it with the rebellious streak of the 90s. Silhouettes and moods pay homage, in particular, to the UK – where flashes of Brit Pop and London subculture are twisted with heritage patterns and prints.
I’m particularly keen on the heavy presence of chocolate brown throughout this collection, not least because all-chocolate outfits are the shortcut to chic this season. Brown, in all its hues, has been one of the biggest colour trends of the year so far (Pantone named “Mocha Mousse” their colour of the year, if you cast your mind back to last December) – but chocolate brown more specifically was seen all over the autumn/winter 2025 runways.
Michael Kors showcased chocolate wool coats atop all-brown tailored ensembles, while The Row blended beige and brown, Róhe dropped sell-out chocolate brown suiting and Victoria Beckham styled a chocolate brown leather jacket as a mini dress. Within H&M’s A/W25 Chapter 1, you’ll find chocolate brown plaid trousers styled with sporty zip-up jackets, knitted dresses and boxy brown jackets. My favourite chocolate brown piece? A structured blazer, cut with oversized lapels and statement shoulders. It’s a need.
I also spotted the presence of tomato red in H&M’s mainline AW collection – the eagle-eyed among you will spot a tomato red, quarter-zip sweater styled with a 1970s-inspired tomato leather-look midi skirt. It’s another shade lifted straight from the catwalks: Miuccia Prada featured the punchy shade across tailoring for autumn/winter 2025 at tailoring for autumn/winter 2025, while Louis Vuitton also reintroduced tomato across its AW25 line.
Lastly? Note the heavy focus on faux fur accessories, where oversized keychains, a seriously fluffy cross-body bag and a fabulous pair of mules have all been included to add welcome texture to your fall capsule wardrobe. Essentials, perhaps not, but mighty additions to collection? For sure.
Of course, the H&M AW25 collection is set to sell out pretty sharpish, so if you want in, it’s worth acting fast. Scroll down to discover our full edit of favourite picks from the collection, or head to hm.com on from today, September 12, to browse the lot.
Ahead, shop all of my favourite pieces from H&M A/W25 Chapter 1.
After something else? Discover GLAMOUR’s guide to H&M Studio Pre Fall 2025 – or cast your mind back to H&M X Anamika Khanna, H&M X Magda Butrym and H&M X Rokh.
