Duchess Sophie's chocolate-brown collarless jacket is the trending style I'll be pairing with my favourite jeans and jumpers
She wore this sleek jacket in the 90s and everything from the colour to the silhouette has made a comeback
The Duchess of Edinburgh's sense of style has definitely changed over the years but she's always loved wearing leather pieces this time of year. Her Loewe midi pinafore dress is still one of my favourite autumn items she's ever worn and in her pre-royal days Sophie stepped out in an equally gorgeous brown jacket.
She was pictured arriving at work one cold January day in 1999 wearing this collarless design and, now, 27 years later this silhouette and colour is back on trend. Collarless jackets and chocolate tones are everywhere right now and brown might not be the most exciting colour, but it's easy to incorporate into so many autumn outfit ideas.
Shop Jackets Like Sophie's
Crafted from faux suede, this utility-style jacket has a collarless neckline like Sophie's did and is lightweight yet comfy. It's got a regular fit with a flattering cinched-in waist and there's a full lining too. There are four pockets and the front has a neat button-through design.
Available in both deep brown and berry (both big autumn/winter fashion colour trends for 2026!), this faux leather jacket has a stunning scalloped detail on the front. There are also two roomy pockets and the neckline is elegant and collarless. The buttons match the rest of the jacket for a seamless look.
Expertly crafted from leather for a luxurious feel, this jacket is currently on sale and comes in several other neutral colours as well as brown. It's lined and has a sleek silver zip closure and two functional pockets at the waist. There's also a handy internal slip pocket and it would look so chic layered over a jumper dress or worn with jeans.
Complete Sophie's Style
I own this merino wool jumper in black and it's such a useful lightweight layering piece and thanks to the material, it's also warm and breathable. The roll-neck style looks great poking out of a collarless jacket like Duchess Sophie's and it's got ribbed trims.
Pointed toe boots are wonderfully leg-elongating, especially worn with trousers or jeans draped over the top. This pair from M&S are affordable and made from smooth leather, with a sleek mid-height stiletto heel. They come in standard and wide fits too.
You can't go wrong with a pair of plain black trousers and these ones are straight-leg and have a pleat for extra structure. They feature belt loops so you can accessorise them easily and they're high-waisted and have two side pockets and two welt pockets. They fasten with a zip, button and discreet hook and loop.
Back then the Duchess wore her leather jacket fastened to the top over a white polo neck jumper and a pair of tailored black trousers. The design was incredibly simple and the smooth leather and rich tone were the focal point of her entire ensemble.
It fell to just above the hip and cinched in slightly to accentuate the waist which is a flattering detail that a lot of longline pieces have this season. The top of Sophie's white jumper sat neatly above the collarless neckline and the colour highlighted the shape.
Collarless jackets feel very timeless and minimal, making them an elegant alternative to blazers or even trench coats. They're also elevated without being corporate like tailored jackets can sometimes look and the rounded neckline is a little softer.
This makes them especially gorgeous styled with dresses or skirts, though leather jackets are equally great for taking an everyday jeans and jumper outfit into something more special. Sophie could easily have worn this jacket from work in the day to an evening out with Prince Edward and she kept the rest of her outfit very pared-back.
The neutral colours of her jumper, trousers and boots all complemented each other, though chocolate brown is also fabulous with slightly bolder shades. Burgundy, burnt orange, olive and mustard are autumnal and their warm undertones go well with it.
A brown jacket like Duchess Sophie's is one of those trends that is actually incredibly versatile and it makes a softer alternative to a classic, black leather jacket. A brown suede or corduroy jacket are lovely options too and the combination of the rich colour and fabric adds cosiness, whilst leather brings slightly more of an edge.
Incorporating other textures can help to balance this and we usually see the Duchess of Edinburgh styling her leather frock with either jumpers or billowy blouses for some contrast. In the 90s she was dressing for work at her PR firm so Sophie wanted to look polished and keep warm in the January weather.
Minimalism is a huge autumn/winter fashion trend for this year too and since she's still got so many pieces from the past in her wardrobe, I can't help wondering if this brown jacket is still stored away somewhere. We might not see this exact item again but it doesn't stop us taking inspiration from her 90s look when it comes to our 2026 outfits.
