Deep, rich and autumnal, plum red is an easy way to bring colour into your wardrobe without straying too far from your comfort zone. Think shades of merlot, burgundy and oxblood rather than bright scarlet.

“This has to be a contender for one of the best day-to-night colours,” says Kit Swann, MR PORTER’s Fashion Editor. “It’s important to keep the plum shade as the focus colour of the outfit, then offset the richness of the tone with something lighter through simple layering techniques.”

A western-inspired shirt by Caruso layered over a white T-shirt to dress it down, for instance. A Canali cashmere-blend half-zip sweater with a grey blazer. Or a cotton-corduroy overshirt over light-wash denim.

Also known as International Klein Blue, it’s a vivid hue named after the artist Yves Klein, who got the idea to create his own colour while lying on a beach in Nice, looking up at the sky. You certainly don’t have to be in the French Riviera to enjoy this jolt of colour. Its saturated, almost electric quality makes it best used as an accent – a fine-gauge sweater, polo shirt or scarf – rather than head to toe. Temper it with off-white or cream shades for a look that feels fresh and considered.

Butter yellow may have made its name as a spring and summer shade, but its softness translates surprisingly well into autumn. The trick is to treat it less like a pastel and more like a neutral colour: think a buttery knit worn beneath a brown jacket or a paired with dark green trousers. It offers a subtle way to brighten an otherwise earthy palette without losing its sophistication.

“It might feel a little retro, but yellow is a perfect way to lift any browns in an outfit,” Swann says. “Perhaps through the pop of a yellow shoe against darker trousers, or a yellow T-shirt under a jacket; it feels playful yet elevated against more ‘serious’ layers.”

Speaking of brown, it has long been the unsung hero of autumn dressing, but it deserves top billing this season. From rich espresso and chocolate to softer tobacco and chestnut, the colour brings warmth and depth to everything.

From suede jackets to wool tailoring and corduroy trousers, brown is also a great way to add texture or a tactile feel to your look. Try different shades together – say, a light brown jacket with darker trousers – for a tonal approach that takes the guesswork out of styling.

“Military wear has been gaining more and more momentum as each season passes, with olives, khakis and other green tones showing no signs of slowing down,” Swann says.

This season, look beyond utility trousers and field jackets: the shades work just as well across tailoring, knitwear and outerwear. Olive looks particularly sophisticated alongside grey, navy and off-white. Try Stone Island’s ribbed sweater over vintage-wash jeans or Mr P.’s Harrington jacket with pleated trousers.