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The evenings will soon be drawing in and winter coats tend to be the first thing we think about when the days get darker and weather turns colder.
We’ve been doing our homework and once again the British High Street has come up trumps with a fantastic selection of affordable cover-ups that will see you through to Christmas and beyond – from oversized capes and look-at-me furs to tailored overcoats and military parkas, we’re spoilt for choice.
Ideally a new Autumn Winter coat should be purchased in September to ensure availability of key pieces; outerwear is not replenished as much as other wardrobe essentials and with SS16 starting to hit shop floors as early as February, it pays to get in there early if you’ve got your eye on a particular piece or style.
Key developments for women are longline shapes and modern hybrids, and cosy textures provide ideal winter warmth.
For men the length is mid- to full-, collars have fur accents (sexy shearling), and slim fit double-breasted styles provide the sexy edge… just add a fine-gauge turtleneck for extra Bond appeal!
The Peter Pan of coats, the Duffle, is making a sneaky comeback… for boys and girls who don’t want to grow up… and the traditional autumnal colour palette of reds and browns reigns supreme.
Image (above right): Pocket detail coat, £60 – Next.
Here are just a few of our favourites…
It’s a wrap!
Yes cosy capes and blanket coats are back for Autumn Winter 2015, so your 2014 investment should see you through another season.
Forever practical (they are the perfect transitional piece and can be worn before it’s cold enough to have to wear a heavy coat and tights), they not only give an impressive chic silhouette when teamed with skinny jeans, dresses and boots, but they double up for the evening and provide instant vamp when worn over a formal dress. Adding to the family of easy-to-wear and comfortable cover-ups is the Winter Kimono coat, a seasonal update to this summer’s most popular trend.
Add further femininity to these unstructured garments by layering over tops with three quarter length sleeves and draw the eye to the beauty of the wrist and hands with bracelet stacks.
Image (right): Black military cape, £65. Black suede knee high boot, £99. Black PU skirt, £85. White lace insert blouse, £35 – all Wallis
Fur
Warm, fuzzy, fun or tactile; AW15 is all about the fluff factor and the statement fur trend shows no signs of slowing down. Fur by itself makes a huge statement so the ‘less is more’ rule definitely applies. Not brave enough to go full-fur; a fur-lined jacket is a great way to stay warm on cold winter days and a chic faux fur stole never goes out of fashion!
Suits you
Sleeveless tailored coats and casual sports jackets continue as popular choices for layering over knitwear and basics. Look for heavyweight fabrics that offer good drape, tailored seaming for fit, add tactile interest with textures such as faux leather and brushed surfaces, and opt for print/plain contrasts if you want to make an extra statement.
Image (right): Two-tone cashmere waistcoat £189, Linea. Grey cable knit jumper £79, Label Lab. Grey check trousers £115, Maison Scotch – all House of Fraser
Retro flavour
Fashion continues its march through the decades and Seventies soul is still capturing our imaginations (look out for sleeker silhouettes and more structured pieces) but this season also sees the influence of Eighties punk; for a chic Vivienne Westward look, mix colourful checks with soft whites and greys.
