As the year draws to a close, and once you’ve climbed the mountain of admin that is Christmas, it’s the perfect time of year for taking stock of your wardrobe, as well as what you’ve bought this year. Does that coat or that pair of boots still give you a frisson as you slip them on? Or are you already sensing they might be fleeting (or, rather, you might be moving on next season without a second thought).
As you can probably already tell, you ideally still want to get that illicit zing from a garment or accessory that proves to you, time and time again, that it was a sound investment that will keep paying dividends. It can be hard to get it right, right? As every fashion editor will admit, impulse buys happen, enticing you as you scroll or stroll past a particularly tantalising store window. But in 2026, the aim is for less impulse, more intention.
Don’t worry, Fashion’s Digest has got your back on this one. We decided to ask a clutch of fashionable women-in-the-know—from buyers to influencers to stylists—what cult investment buys they made in 2025, particularly ones they bought with the express purpose of wearing them into 2026.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
At Net-a-Porter, customer searches can be an illuminating source of information, telling us the volume of traffic received by a particular item (the logic being that searching will often lead to buying). Toteme’s fringed wool-blend bouclé jacket saw increased searches over the past six months, which is entirely unsurprising. It’s the brand’s cult scarf jacket, now available in colour variations beyond the black with ecru topstitching. If you’re looking ahead to 2026, my advice would be to invest either in the camel or black as opposed to its signature black-and-white. It’s still classic Toteme, but with a subtle twist—one that will keep things interesting next spring.
Toteme
Draped Fringed Wool-Blend Bouclé Jacket
Customer searches have increased over the past six months for this jacket, which is now on sale for £486.
The Row, meanwhile, is always going to be a sound investment, with a level of quality that combines with its ability to create the “cult” with its eyes closed, that means it won’t go off the boil any time soon.
At Net-a-Porter, searches for one of its bags—the suede Bindle—increased by 600% over the last six months. At £890, it actually has a lower price point than most of its handbags, which easily stretch into four figures, but its soft cut also picks up on this year’s trend for squashy bags that don’t prioritise structure. The Bindle is particularly versatile—it could be a wedding-guest accessory with chocolate-brown tailoring but, equally, a great day bag for running around town.
The Row
Bindle Small Suede Shoulder Bag
The Bindle’s soft cut lends itself to multiple occasions and outfits, meaning it’s more likely to go the distance in your wardrobe.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Another handbag that has more than proved its worth is Chloé’s Paddington. The 20 year-old bag, reissued under creative director Chemena Kamali, has seen increased customer searches of 319% over the past six months, with fans including Alexa Chung, who appeared on the brand’s catwalk modelling the bag in March 2025.
Chloé
Paddington Leather Tote
Chloé’s bag is already a proven investment buy, coming back after two decades to once again steal the spotlight on the catwalk (and among the crowds outside, naturally).
Other investment buys have practicality at their core. For digital creator Louisa Hatt, it’s been a purchase from a high-street stalwart. “I finally found black trousers from COS, with the right cut, weight and length, and they’re set to become a real workhorse in my wardrobe next year.”
COS
Relaxed Twill Wide-Leg Trousers
Pleated and perfectly-formed, COS makes the best trousers on the high street. Period.
Stylish Monikh Dale also prioritised trousers, specifically corduroy slacks by The Row. “I’ve never tried on a trouser that fits so well, so I bought them in both colours. After two years of my body changing pretty drastically through pregnancy, I wanted to gift myself a pair that not only fit, but complimented my new body. Traditionally a fabric like this would be a key texture for the holiday season, but these are so light I see myself wearing them into spring too—and yes, with flip flops.”
According to Dale, these corduroy trousers have a lightweight fabrication which means you can wear them well into spring.
But back to bags, which, according to chief buying officer at Mytheresa, Tiffany Hsu, says is the definition of a cult investment buy as it “transcends seasonal trends”. Her pick? Miu Miu’s Aventure leather tote, which, she says, “embodies this longevity through its refined structure, neutral palette and versatility. Miu Miu continues to deliver bags that feel current today and enduring tomorrow, striking the right balance between practicality and quiet luxury.”
Miu Miu
Aventure Medium Leather Tote Bag
A refined classic—one that will never fall out of fashion—Miu Miu’s tote might be one of its quieter styles but that’s a good thing, trust us.
Perhaps you’re sorted when it comes to accessories, in which case she has another suggestion—a leather bomber jacket. “I currently have my eye on one from Saint Laurent,” says Hsu.
Saint Laurent
Leather Bomber Jacket
Saint Laurent’s leather bomber isn’t just a jacket but a sacred—yes, sacred—wardrobe staple.