Duchess Sophie's espresso-brown roll neck, khaki jeans and knee-highs prove you can't beat earthy neutrals for chilly yet sunny days
Blue jeans and jewel tones are beautiful in autumn, but the Duchess of Edinburgh made a strong case for keeping things even simpler
There's no denying that brown is the must-have colour for autumn 2026 and even though the Duchess of Edinburgh loves styling bright shades, some of my favourite outfits she wears are far more neutral. This includes an off-duty look from 2022 when Sophie attended the National Shire Horse Show wearing head-to-toe earthy tones.
Four years later this style is more on trend than ever and the Duchess started out with a cold weather staple - a chunky jumper. Hers had a ribbed roll-neck and a matching ribbed hemline which accentuated the cosy feel. Instead of tucking it into her jeans, the King's sister-in-law left it draped over the top and this is a chic approach when you've got a thicker or longer jumper.
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Crafted from soft and breathable first-shear lambswool, this roll neck jumper comes in a huge range of different colours, though this one is most similar to Sophie's 2022 knit. It's ribbed at the lower hem, cuffs and neckline and has a medium-to-long hemline so you can leave it loose and draped over trousers or skirts.
Currently on sale in this khaki shade, these jeans are available in petite, regular and tall lengths. They're designed to sculpt and have a lot of stretch to create a streamlined but comfy silhouette. They're high-rise and you can tuck in jumpers or blouses if you want, or style them with more oversized, flowy items.
These brown block-heel boots are an elegant option to pair with midi dresses and skirts throughout the colder months. They feature an elasticated panel which makes them easy to pull on and off and they're made from soft suede.
Chocolate tones are everywhere for autumn/winter 2026 and this knit is a lovely alternative to Sophie's lighter brown sweater. It's got a cosy, oversized silhouette and is long-line with splits at the sides for shaping. The trims are ribbed and it also comes in pale grey.
Corduroy is a cosy alternative to denim for the colder months and these trousers are selling fast in this deep khaki green tone. They're straight-leg, high-waisted and have added stretch in the fabric for comfort. Style with a chunky roll neck jumper to achieve a Sophie-esque look.
Made from faux suede, these tall boots have a sturdy block heel that's practical for the daytime as well as evenings. They have Next's Forever Comfort® padding and the chisel toe brings a contemporary feel. There's a zip at the side and a cushioned footbed inside.
It's also even easier than arranging the perfect French tuck and Duchess Sophie was wearing skinny jeans so the contrast between the fitted denim and loose knit was perfect. Going for more streamlined jeans, trousers or skirts with oversized sweaters and vice versa helps to balance out your frame.
The Duchess's jeans were a soft khaki-brown tone that complemented the richer chocolate colour of her jumper. Earthy greens and chocolate are big autumn/winter fashion colour trends but they're so timeless that you know they'll never really go out of style and can be paired with a huge range of other items.
Sophie chose to stick to the pared-back theme at the horse show and styled her jeans and jumper with dark brown flat knee-high boots.
These look like they could be the Reginas by British clothing brand Fairfax & Favor and even though I'm not a huge fan of skinny jeans, their shape does work best for tucking into tall boots like this.
However, you could still achieve this with straight-leg designs and on really cold days you can even wear wide-leg jeans or trousers over the top. Duchess Sophie's footwear was suede and the key to making an all neutral outfit feel a bit more multi-dimensional and interesting is incorporating different textures.
The soft boots, smooth denim and knitted jumper all added definition in their own ways and corduroy and leather would have a similar effect. The Duchess layered a camel mid-length coat over the top and left it open in the March sunshine, though it was clearly still chilly - rather like the autumn weather we're experiencing now.
Although I love incorporating pops of colour into my seasonal outfits, Sophie's outfit is a reminder that sticking with neutrals can be just as stunning. It's also just a lot simpler and you can mix and match different pieces together with ease.
Earthy, warm-toned greens and browns still feel autumnal and tie in with trends, though you can also wear them in sunny weather and throughout winter and into spring without them looking out of place. We often still see the Duchess and other royals like the Princess of Wales reaching for variations on this 2022 outfit, especially when they're outdoors, as green and brown tie in with the colours around them and give their style more of a countryside feel.
