A great coat holds the power to totally transform your winter wardrobe. The first cold snap of the season has hit, and a light jacket will no longer suffice. Instead, turn to the plethora of quality coats landing daily on luxury and high-street fashion sites. From cocooning silhouettes to sleek leather designs, the best of the bunch tick two important boxes: practicality and style.
Personally, this time of year is my favourite fashion-wise, but not everyone enjoys having to wear a coat day in, day out once winter arrives. I promise I’m looking past my own bias when I say that it’s worth learning to love them; they come to define every cold-weather outfit, especially if you choose a thick, long-line style that almost covers you head-to-toe. Rather than mourn the cute look you’ve assembled underneath, no longer visible once you toss on your final layer, invest in a beautiful coat that you don’t mind wearing daily.
When you find your cosy cover-up of dreams, styling it is a different matter. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to avoid looking bulky and feeling weighed down—start with the eight easy-to-copy coat outfits below.
Style Notes: A wool coat is arguably the most sensible investment if staying warm is your priority. They can veer towards feeling formal, but you can easily get around this by slipping on some casual kicks.
The colour of this coat is perfection.
Naturally, you’ll need the matching cropped blazer, too.
Quick—grab them before they sell out (again).
Style Notes: The hype aroundscarf coats shows no signs of slowing down—if anything, it continues to grow, with more and more brands releasing their own version. I love how Anouk has balanced out the voluminous style with slim trousers and pointed heels.
Our editors have predicted this designer-looking coat will be a bestseller for & Other Stories.
You can’t go wrong with a simple tailored trouser.
Every time I spot an influencer wearing these, I want them a little bit more.
Style Notes: If you don’t already have a camel coat in your wardrobe, perhaps this polished look will inspire you. Use tonal styling to make your coat complement your outfit rather than overwhelm it.
At just £50, this coat looks incredibly polished.
We all need those easy throw-on dresses for lazy mornings.
Oh-so chic!
Style Notes: Is it just me, or does a hint of leather make an outfit feel doubly directional? Faux or real, this fabrication is key for winter. Note how Hanna’s Aligne skirt pops from beneath her soft check-print coat.
The styling here is divine.
There’s a reason you’ve been spotting Aligne’s leather pieces all over Instagram: they’re such high quality, and sustainable too.
Just one of the many pairs of M&S shoes we’re lusting after right now.
Style Notes: Cosy queens, unite. A snug teddy coat is your antidote to the cold; opt for a roomy design to leave space for a chunky jumper, then finish the look with a relaxed pair of jeans and heeled boots for a touch of polish.
How cosy does this look?
The kind of knit you’ll want to wear daily.
Arket creates some of the best jeans on the high street.
Style Notes: Maxi hemlines are big this season, and coats are being wholeheartedly included in the trend. Match the length with tailored puddle pants, preferably in a similar hue.
A quick (and stylish) way to keep the cold out.
Wear these from day to night.
If you haven’t already invested in a pair of chunky boots, consider this Chelsea-style iteration.
Style Notes: Don’t be afraid to make your coat the focus of your outfit—it is the first thing people will see. I think we can all agree that Viki’s pink-and-blue cocoon coat is the highlight of her look (although we also love those shoes).
This colour palette is stunning.
I always think indigo denim feels more expensive.
Perfect for party season and beyond.
Style Notes: Back to leather (I told you it was a core winter fabric!). A longline belted coat in buttery soft leather will keep you warm and cool at once.
This must be up there with the most beautiful coats ever made.
A basic LBD will work for the office, too.
These look really premium.
Next Up: Winter Has Arrived—6 Jumper-Dress-and-Boots Outfits That Are Chic Yet Cosy