12 pieces, 5 looks, one rail: my Zara autumn edit

Rain on the window. Leaves on the pavement. And absolutely nothing to wear. Sound familiar? Me too. So I built five autumn looks from just twelve Zara pieces.

The point isn't buying all twelve. It's seeing how few you need when every piece works hard.

The five looks

• The smart stripe. Weekend polish, effortless. A striped knit, black trousers, pointed boots. The pointed toe lengthens the leg. Sunday lunch, sorted.
• The country classic. Heritage, but make it modern. Houndstooth culottes, belted at your waist.
• The investment coat. The coat that does everything. £219, with a faux fur collar you can take off. Worth it or skip? I say worth it.
• The cosy luxe. Soft layers, sharp finish. A faux fur jacket and long scarf on top, slim trousers below. Volume on top, slim on the bottom. Theatre night.
• The quiet luxury. Rich texture, small budget. A brushed knit in grey. Tonal texture looks richer than print.

The more looks a piece makes, the harder it works. Buy the hard workers.

Your homework

Screenshot the rail. Count which pieces turn up in the most looks. Start there. Then tell me: which look is coming home? Drop your number, 1 to 5.

Mabel x