The right coat will make everything better. It will keep you warm, obviously, but it is so much more than that. It is a comfort blanket for your soul on days when the cold dark troubled world out there feels like a lot. It is your trusty, hard-working winter sidekick, faithful through rain or shine despite the fact that you sling it on a peg without a backward glance the minute you get home.
But, just as importantly, it should have personality. Before you’ve said a word, your coat should announce that someone interesting just walked into the room.
You want a coat that you will love for a good many winters, not just one, so do not concern yourself with quick-change trends, but only in underlying shifts of the tectonic plates of style. The key news is that the puffer coat, which has become a uniform everywhere – from pavements to coastal paths, commuter trains to clubs – is being replaced by a smarter, more structured coat.
Smart need not mean staid. A longline tailored coat not only gives an elegant line to whatever you throw it over, but instant poise and presence. A cosy, fluffy coat greets you like a hug and a smile in the morning, and exudes cheerful vibes to all you meet. A boxy, hip-length jacket is versatile across the colder seasons and radiates dynamic energy, even if you are two coffees short of it yourself.
Alfred Wainwright (OG hiker – look him up kids) said: “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.” Likewise, there’s no such thing as a bad winter, once you find a great coat.
Makeup: Sophie Higginson. Hair: Sandra Hahnel. Fashion assistant: Sam Deaman. Photographer’s assistant: Kiera Simpson. Makeup assistant: Sha Li
