The Dotique AW26 Trend Report: Why This Is the Season of Highland Romance

When we began buying for Autumn/Winter 2026, we set out with four clear trends in mind.

We didn’t want the season to feel like a collection of unrelated deliveries from different brands. We wanted to build four complete stories that would give our customers new ideas while still working with the clothes already in their wardrobes.

Those stories became Highland Romance, Modern Bohemia, Quiet Power and Colour After Dark.

They guided the colours, textures, shapes and individual pieces we selected at each buying appointment. As we moved between brands, we looked for different interpretations of those four ideas: the oversized knit that would work with a checked mini skirt, the romantic blouse to soften a country jacket, the perfect clean-cut trouser or the bright jumper capable of transforming a pair of jeans.

We bought most strongly into Highland Romance. It is the defining direction of AW26 at Dotique and the story that connects more of our new collections than any other.

The result isn’t four sets of outfits that must be worn separately. It is one carefully considered Dotique wardrobe, seen through four different moods.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Illum neque eaque, autem sit soluta, voluptatum libero magnam tempore ullam at harum vel, ad reprehenderit, nemo veniam quas in voluptas hic. Lorem ipsum dolor, sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Natus id officia omnis suscipit aut architecto repellat a quia eaque reiciendis blanditiis perferendis hic, nihil, mollitia. Iste velit aperiam, numquam dolorem.

Highland Romance is not simply another name for country style.

It borrows the checks, tweed, corduroy, quilting and earthy colours we associate with heritage dressing, then changes the proportions and adds something unexpected.

The skirts are shorter. The knitwear is bigger. Blouses have bows, frills, puffed sleeves and embroidery. Faux fur sits beside practical waxed cotton, while traditional country motifs appear on denim, sherpa and standout outerwear.

It feels a little romantic, a little rebellious and far less sensible than classic country dressing.

One of the most important silhouettes in the trend is the mini skirt, particularly when it is checked, textured or embroidered.

The Tiny Big Sister Embroidered Check Skirt is one of the pieces that best explains the whole look. The traditional green check places it firmly in the Highland story, but its shorter shape and embroidery make it feel playful rather than predictable.

We would wear it with one of the big, slouchy Noella knits — either the Noella N-Marthy Knit in Ivory and Brown or the oversized Noella N-Laiana Cardigan in Sand Melange — then add tights and boots as the weather turns.

The HV Society Calista Navy Skirt gives the idea a neater, more polished direction, while the Part Two Corinne Dark Navy Check Skirt is an easy way to try the silhouette without feeling overly dressed.

If a mini skirt doesn’t feel like you, the Nobody’s Child Otto Navy Check Maxi Skirt carries the same story in a longer shape. Wear it with a substantial knit rather than something fitted to keep the proportions relaxed.

The knitwear is what makes Highland Romance wearable.

Rather than neat jumpers sitting politely beneath coats, AW26 is about knits with presence: oversized cardigans, marled textures, chunky stitches, scarves built into necklines and patterns inspired by the countryside.

The oversized Noella pieces are central to this. Their scale balances the shorter skirts and romantic blouses in the collection, creating the slightly undone proportion that makes the trend feel current.

The Noella N-Laiana Cardigan feels generous and enveloping. Wear it buttoned over a mini skirt, open over a blouse or with cords and boots when you want something simpler.

The Noella N-Marthy Knit brings together ivory and brown — one of the most important colour combinations in the trend — while the Part Two Channa Jumper in Medium Brown offers a beautifully substantial take on the season’s love of earthy colour.

Then there are the knits that bring a little wit to the story. The Tiny Big Sister Geese Sweater, Diamond Geese Sherpa Vest and Barbour Helen Jumper celebrate the countryside without taking it too seriously.

Checks are fundamental to Highland Romance, but this season they are not confined to one sensible blazer.

The Tiny Big Sister Embroidered Check Blouse combines heritage check with puffed sleeves and floral embroidery. Wear it with the matching mini skirt for the full look, or break it up with brown coated trousers or dark denim.

The Sofie Schnoor Kamikka Short Tweed Jacket brings a cropped, boxier proportion to traditional tweed. That shorter length makes it particularly good with barrel jeans, wider trousers and high-waisted skirts.

Outerwear pushes tartan into even more interesting territory. The Tiny Big Sister Check Hood Trench Coat has all the drama of a great autumn coat, while the Nobody’s Child Diola Brown and Green Tartan Car Coat can become the focus of an otherwise simple outfit.

Barbour grounds the story in authentic heritage, but the most exciting pieces are those that rework its familiar codes: the Tartan Reimagined Quilted Spey Wax Jacket, the Reversible Tartan Quilted Liner and the Cropped Liddesdale Jacket with Tartan Collar.

They are recognisably Barbour, but the cropped shapes, reversible styling and exaggerated tartan make them feel right for now.

Without the romance, this could simply become a collection of checks and country coats. The blouses are what soften it.

The Stella Nova Bow Blouse in Down Blue is designed to contrast with the rougher textures around it. Pale blue looks particularly beautiful with chocolate brown, burgundy and tweed, while the bow adds femininity without making the blouse feel fussy.

The Stella Nova Frill Top in Beetroot takes the same idea in a richer direction. Wear it with the Red Button Caitlina Fine Cords in Burgundy for tonal colour, or with navy to allow the beetroot shade to stand out.

For a lighter contrast, the Stella Nova Embroidery Anglaise Blouse brings crisp white cotton into the autumn wardrobe. Layer it beneath a huge cardigan or wear it with the embroidered check skirt and boots.

The idea is always the same: something soft against something substantial.

Perhaps the most exciting part of Highland Romance is the way its motifs move beyond traditional fabrics.

The Stella Nova Denim Dress with Artwork comes from the brand’s Highland Nightclubbing collection, where Scottish landscapes and country references meet a much more playful, dressed-up attitude.

Tiny Big Sister carries the idea through its Embroidered Horses Denim Jacket, matching Horse Denim Trousers and wonderfully distinctive Short Horse-Embroidered Coat.

These are not quiet background pieces. They give the trend its personality and stop the whole thing from feeling like a predictable autumn uniform.

If one colour combination captures our Highland Romance buy, it is blue and brown.

We deliberately chose soft-blue blouses and knitwear to sit against chocolate, tan, camel and corduroy. The contrast stops brown from becoming too heavy, while the warmth of brown gives blue a softer autumn feel.

The Stella Nova Bow Blouse in Down Blue was bought with exactly this combination in mind. Wear it with the Cream Winni Coated Trousers in Java Brown, the Red Button Caitlina Cords in Mud or beneath the oversized Noella N-Marthy Ivory and Brown Knit.

The Tiny Big Sister Frank Polo in Blue and Brown brings the complete palette into one piece. Pair it with dark denim and allow the colour combination to do the work.

Sophie says: If you usually wear your brown trousers or jeans with cream, try pale blue instead. It is a small change, but it makes the whole outfit feel fresher.

Texture is just as important as print.

Corduroy returns in both narrow and wide silhouettes, from the Red Button Caitlina Fine Cord Trousers in Mud to the sweeping MAC Black Palazzo Corduroy Trousers.

Faux fur adds another layer. The Rino & Pelle Lias Jacket in Coffee Roast makes a mini skirt or romantic blouse feel more luxurious, while the Micha Faux Fur Jacket in Light Blue brings an unexpected softness to all the brown, green and navy.

Add quilting, sherpa, brushed wool and coated finishes and the result is a wardrobe designed to be layered.

The trend can be bold, but it doesn’t require a head-to-toe transformation.

If you love the full look, wear the embroidered check mini skirt with an oversized Noella knit, tights, boots and one of the cropped Barbour jackets.

If you prefer something subtler, take a brown cord or coated trouser and add a pale-blue bow blouse. Wear your usual jeans with an equestrian knit. Put a tartan coat over an otherwise simple navy outfit.

The character is in the mix: short with oversized, polished with rugged, feminine with practical and traditional with something that makes you smile.

When buying Modern Bohemia, we looked for pieces that felt artistic, individual and beautifully made.

We didn’t want a collection of loose, summery boho shapes. Our AW26 version needed richer colour, stronger silhouettes and enough substance to work through autumn and winter. This led us to embroidery, beadwork, printed silk, lace and dresses with movement.

Munthe, NKN Nekane and Dea Kudibal became central to the story, with each bringing a different kind of artistry to the collection.

Why Munthe mattered to the buy

Munthe was one of our most exciting additions for AW26 because its pieces sit between art and clothing. The prints feel considered, the shapes are modern and there is always an element you wouldn’t find everywhere else.

We selected the Munthe Virago Printed Silk Top and matching Munthe Charming Printed Skirt because they can be worn together for the full effect or separated and worked into an existing wardrobe.

The silk top brings interest to dark jeans or wide-leg trousers, while the skirt can be grounded with an oversized knit and boots. Together they create the expressive, layered look at the heart of Modern Bohemia.

The Munthe Fortunato Top in Crème gives the story a quieter direction. It has the detail and individuality we wanted from this edit, but its neutral colour makes it incredibly easy to combine with denim, brown or black.

Munthe also creates a bridge between our trends. The printed silks belong to Modern Bohemia, while the brand’s sequins and fringe move naturally into Colour After Dark. That crossover is exactly what we wanted from the AW26 buy: special pieces that offer more than one way to wear them.

NKN Nekane is one of the brands that defines this trend for us.

The NKN Nekane Alveta Sweater combines wool with handcrafted embroidery and studs. It has all the ease of a winter jumper, but the detail makes it feel much more special.

The NKN Nekane Boru Blouse brings together flared sleeves, beadwork and embroidery, while the NKN Nekane Daria Blouse uses guipure and lace.

These are pieces that don’t need complicated styling. Wear them with dark jeans, wide-leg trousers or a simple black skirt and allow the workmanship to be the focus.

Dresses remain important, but their mood changes with the season.

Dea Kudibal’s midnight colours and intricate prints give the Modern Bohemia dress more depth. The NicoleDEA Reverie Midnight Dress is fluid and feminine, but the darker print keeps it grounded.

The ClaudiaDEA Dentelle Midnight Dress introduces gathering at the waist, while the LyciaDEA Flora Imperial Dress shows how florals can move confidently into autumn.

These aren’t dresses that need to be saved for a formal occasion. Wear them with boots and a long cardigan during the day, then add jewellery and change the footwear when you want them to feel more dressed.

The best Modern Bohemia outfits never look over-coordinated.

Pair an embroidered blouse with worn-in denim. Put a substantial knit over a flowing skirt. Wear a beautiful printed dress with boots and a coat that feels slightly tougher.

If Highland Romance is about contrast in texture and proportion, Modern Bohemia is about balancing detail with simplicity.

Quiet Power is the cleanest of our four AW26 stories, but it is not minimal for the sake of being minimal.

It is about clothes with presence: strong trousers, sharply cut jackets, crisp shirts and confident dresses. The palette is restrained — black, white, chocolate, cream, taupe and muted gold — so the shapes and textures can take the lead.

This is polished dressing without the stiffness. Nothing feels corporate and nothing relies on lots of decoration to be noticed.

The Sofie Schnoor Tomarsw Washed Black Barrel Jeans are an ideal starting point.

The barrel shape gives the outfit structure, while the washed-black denim makes them easy to wear. Pair them with the crisp Tinta Anayasi White Shirt and finish with the Haako Ivory Faux Leather Jacket.

The palette may be simple, but the contrast between crisp cotton, denim and faux leather gives the outfit real impact.

Chocolate brown continues to be one of the most useful colours in the AW26 wardrobe, but Quiet Power wears it tonally.

The Haako Chocolate Knit Top and matching Haako Chocolate Knit Trousers create a relaxed column of colour. Add the Haako Chocolate Faux Leather Jacket when you want more structure.

Wearing one shade from top to toe can actually feel easier than trying to build a complicated colour combination. The different textures prevent it from looking flat.

Quiet Power doesn’t rule out shine; it simply chooses it carefully.

The I’Cona Gold Shirt, I’Cona Cream Trousers and I’Cona Light Taupe Jacket bring warmth and subtle texture into the neutral palette.

Rather than keeping metallics for evenings, wear them with cream, denim or soft tailoring during the day.

Keep the number of colours limited and concentrate on silhouette.

Try wide or barrel-leg trousers with a shorter jacket. Wear cream with soft gold, chocolate from top to toe or build a complete look around black and white.

These are the outfits that look simple at first glance, but feel completely considered when you put them on.

Colour After Dark is our answer to the idea that autumn wardrobes should become progressively darker and safer.

This trend takes electric blue, ultra violet, hot pink, red and saturated print into winter, but grounds them with denim, black, chocolate and camel.

It isn’t about wearing every colour at once. It is about choosing one shade that changes the energy of an entire outfit.

The return of strong knitwear

Knitwear is the easiest way to wear this trend because it combines the confidence of colour with a shape you already understand.

The TWNS Sanibel Boat-Neck Sweater in Electric Blue and TWNS Boulder V-Neck Jumper instantly lift dark denim, black trousers or chocolate brown.

For something warmer, the Sanibel also comes in Sunrise and Fire, while the Malia Cardigan in Fire brings the same colour into an easy layering shape.

The Oui Ultra Violet Jumper and Foil Half Jumper in Hot Pink are made for the days when a neutral knit simply isn’t the answer.

Dolcezza was essential to our Colour After Dark buy because it approaches colour through art rather than simple blocks of brightness.

We chose printed jackets, dresses, blouses and coats that use several colours together, making them surprisingly easy to style. Instead of trying to match every shade in the print, you can pick out one colour or wear the piece with a simple black, navy or denim base.

The Dolcezza 76811 Printed Woven Coat turns practical winter outerwear into the focus of the outfit, while the Dolcezza 76726 Printed Knit Jacket offers the same artistic approach in a softer, more relaxed shape.

The Dolcezza 76114 Printed Knit Dress carries colour from top to toe, but its wearable shape means the print never feels overwhelming. For a smaller introduction, the Dolcezza 76265 Woven Blouse can be worn simply with jeans or dark trousers.

This is the more artistic side of Colour After Dark: not just one bright shade, but colour layered, mixed and used with real confidence.

Colour After Dark becomes richer when print and texture are involved.

The Desigual x M. Christian Lacroix Purple Tulle Top layers saturated colour over sheer tulle, creating something that feels special without being limited to formal occasions.

Fabienne Chapot introduces pattern in a more playful way. The Henry Leopard Cardigan can be worn with jeans as easily as a plain cardigan, but brings far more personality.

Herzens uses silk to deepen the colours further. The Sakura Burgundy Multi Silk Tunic, Night Blue Multi Silk Tunic and Ella Pop Pink Silk Shirt bring movement and richness to the collection.

Choose your colour first, then keep everything around it familiar.

Electric blue works with dark denim or chocolate. Violet looks wonderful with black and charcoal. Hot pink can completely change cream, camel or navy, while deep red works beautifully with brown.

You don’t need a whole new outfit. One colourful knit or printed silk blouse can make the trousers you wear every week feel completely different.

These collections have distinct identities, but they were never intended to sit separately from one another.

A Modern Bohemia blouse can be worn under a Highland Romance coat. A Colour After Dark knit can bring life to the trousers from Quiet Power. A big Noella cardigan can soften a printed dress, while the same pair of dark jeans can work across all four trends.

The common thread is that the clothes still need to work for real life.

You may embrace Highland Romance with the full embroidered mini skirt, oversized knit and boots. Or you may simply discover that pale blue looks wonderful with brown and add one bow blouse to your usual jeans.

You might decide Quiet Power feels most like you, but still fall for an electric-blue jumper. You may love the artistry of Modern Bohemia without wanting to wear print from head to toe.

The trends are here to offer ideas, not rules.

For us, AW26 is about having the confidence to mix things differently: romantic with rugged, bright with grounded, oversized with short and polished with relaxed.

And if you only explore one new direction this season, make it Highland Romance.