We know which trends will be big. Here's how to style your autumn barefoot shoes

Women's autumn shoes – stylish and functional

Following the trends is demanding enough, and at this time of year the weather joins in too. Cold mornings alternate with warmer afternoons, sunny days with damp and rainy ones. Autumn barefoot shoes therefore have to handle more than fashion – they have to handle whatever the sky is doing. And barefoot shoes bring an extra advantage: a wide toe box and a flexible sole, so all your toes have room and your foot can move freely and naturally.

A warm autumn in barefoot ballet flats

Indian summer calls for light barefoot ballet flats, and on the warmest days open styles work just as well. This kind of shoe looks beautiful with the season's tea skirts – an A-line cut ending just above the ankle, so only the foot itself is on show.

The delicacy of ballet flats also comes through with dresses, blouses and skirts in lace or sheer fabrics. They finish off chic pieces with flowing sashes, ruffles and ruched details, or satin dresses with a négligé feel. Against all of these, barefoot ballerinas read soft and feminine.

They're just as good, though, with Bermuda shorts and capri trousers, both making a big comeback this season. Add an oversized shirt and you have one of the most stylish outfits of the autumn.

Barefoot loafers – a classic for work and the city

Stylish barefoot loafers for women work with cropped trousers and with wide-leg ones alike. Leather styles will see you through almost every smart outfit. Or pair them with wide jeans and a blazer for an easy, relaxed look for everyday wear and the office.

For something more formal, choose a well-cut blazer, belted if you want to define the waist. Wide tailored trousers or smart jeans finish it off. Loafers are also a given in preppy styling, which is having another moment this autumn – think timeless polo jumpers and knits, pleated skirts and cigarette trousers.

Versatile shoes for every day

Autumn is also when versatile barefoot low shoes and lace-ups come into their own. Their strength is exactly that adaptability – many of them carry both a casual and a smarter outfit. They work with a blazer, a trench coat and a leather jacket. If you like the idea, go confidently for menswear styling, with a grey or dark blazer and a tie.

Trainers, a hundred ways

Women's barefoot trainers deserve a chapter of their own – with these you can build a different look every time. They stopped being purely sportswear a long time ago; it all depends on what you wear them with. With a dress and an oversized blazer, they'll happily come along to a meeting or an evening drink.

They finish off sporty outfits perfectly, of course. Right now the jackets to have are technical, almost outdoorsy ones, and jackets with a high funnel collar. Combine a piece like that with a slim cigarette skirt and trainers, and the whole outfit suddenly reads completely differently.

Higher cut, flat sole

For damper, rainier days we recommend warmer barefoot ankle boots for women, ideally with a waterproof membrane that copes better with wet weather. A sudden shower won't catch you out, and you still get to feel stylish and comfortable.

Higher styles work well with the season's biggest hit: checks. Trousers, a skirt, a tartan blazer, a scarf or a wrap – you'll turn heads on the street and at work either way. Choose your check in earthy, blue or green tones, or go for contrast, blue with red for instance.

Iconic and versatile Chelsea boots

We can't skip the timeless women's barefoot Chelsea boots either. A genuine icon of fashion footwear, with a relaxed unisex silhouette and elastic side panels that make them easy to pull on. They're remarkably versatile: wear them on show, or let them disappear under long wide-leg trousers. They also suit a classic trench coat or a warmer bouclé blazer. And they're a perfect fit for aviator styling, which designers have put back in the spotlight – reach for a substantial leather jacket with a shearling collar.

Autumn's trending colours

This autumn's palette is fairly broad, but you can always rely on the earthy tones the season is known for – chocolate, brown, mahogany and brick through to caramel, mustard and camel. Women's shoes in browns, or in beige and cream, work beautifully alongside them.

The most sophisticated shade on that scale is still burgundy. It isn't a neutral, but it is remarkably versatile: it lifts an outfit without taking it over.

If you want something spicier, go for reds – as a whole piece or as an accent, from classic blood red to warmer but still vivid spice tones. Magenta and soft pink are having a moment too.

If you prefer softer colours, the refined pairing of white with cream may be for you. It gives you a monochrome outfit with light accents – cohesive, but definitely not dull.