M&S autumn is here! These are the 16 statement coats, pointy slingbacks and fluffy knits we're buying today - from £36

Today is the day to shop if you want to own a piece from Marks and Spencer's new autumn collection. We've spotted plenty to excite anyone looking for a chic wardrobe update. If you need a new coat, a fluffy knit, beautifully low-heeled yet sexy shoes or an everyday autumn jacket with an elevated twist, you’re in for a treat.

At the autumn showcase, the fashion team made one thing absolutely clear: M&S is back. And it is! Back from its hacking incident that closed the website all summer. Back with a collection that focuses on value, quality and refinement that’s designed to last. And back with a sharp understanding of what women want from style now, balanced with what women can afford.

Its recent higher-but-still-affordably-priced Autograph collection was an excellent taste of what was to come – namely, a collection of well-thought-through style staples with a luxurious twist.

While the top price point across all the collections is £350 for a leather coat, you can also find bags for £30, alpaca-blend knits for £50, kick-flared jeans for £48 and an amazing pair of lace-up front pointy slingback for £40 that look worth ten times that.

Women’s fashion director Maddy Evans calls the approach ‘good, better, best’, a system that ensures the new collection delivers something stylish for everyone.

So, where should you start? As always, it's with M&S outerwear. Jackets are precisely cut and cropped, some with swing, others neat and chic, my favourite is the cow print trucker jacket, which is chic, utilitarian and above all, fun.

The coats shine, some quite literally – and they’ll sell out fast. We love the faux leather mock croc trench (£90) featured in the new TV and print campaign, the fluffy alpaca-blend knits in olive, burnished brown and burgundy – the season’s richest shades.

If you have a soft spot for pretty cardigans, there's a fluffy short sleeved cardi with a satin bow tie in both black and white for £36. There are two checked jumpers with more than a nod towards the Burberry plaid, one at £36, the other £55.

One word of warning: do watch out for polyester blends, which aren’t recyclable – choose carefully from M&S and your autumn wardrobe refresh will feel as good for the planet as it does for your long-term personal style.

We’ve handpicked standout pieces from M&S’s new autumn collection: a smart, stylish and desirable edit that doesn’t come with a hefty price tag, and all of them are fully stocked at the time of writing.

Shop our GH edit of the best of the M&S autumn collection now…