The winter wardrobe staple is here to make a dramatic statement as floor-sweeping coats top the style stakes for AW20, says Amy Norbury
It’s the cornerstone of any winter wardrobe, the piece which comes out day after day, night after night, doing all the heavy lifting of keeping us shielded from the cold when temperatures plummet, while being a style statement in its own right.
The winter coat is a true sartorial hero; an investment piece which, quite rightly, should be impervious to the whims of any fleeting fashion moments, and something which should see you from season to season, for years to come.
So if the time has come for a refresh of your winter outerwear, it pays to opt for quality and choose a timeless style which will work for a plethora of occasions and over a multitude of outfits.
That’s not to say you should opt for boring; this season’s investment coats, after all, show that your outerwear should be anything but.
For 2022, the overriding theme when it comes to coats is cosseted; silhouettes are oversized and longline, while fabrics are thick and cosy – these are coats which are serious about keeping you wrapped up in style.
There’s a real ladylike vibe, too, to many of the fashion set’s choices; floor-sweeping numbers with cinched-in waists offer glamour in abundance, while heritage checks in heavy wool are always a firm favourite for effortless elegance.
An oversized cocoon-shape or belted wool number will stand up in the style stakes for pretty much all occasions, so if it’s a case of one-coat-fits-all, you won’t go far wrong with this as your choice.
If budget allows, however, and you have the option of adding a more casual choice to your outerwear arsenal, longline puffer coats are back in the spotlight as the epitome of off-duty cool, while the ubiquitous teddy bear coat toes the line between relaxed and stylish nicely.
