New season, new coat. If you’ve stumbled across this gallery, it’s probably because you’re already thinking ahead to autumn/winter. We don’t blame you we spot two drops of rain and start dreaming of ankle boots, fluffy knitwear and cosy outwear. Let’s face it, September is hella unpredictable – you’ll be eyeing up those extra layers before you know it.
The best winter coats provide the perfect finishing touch to every outfit. So they need to tick A LOT of boxes: versatile, warm (obvs), practical but pretty, and easy to dress up or down. Not much to ask for then…
When it comes to shopping for your autumn/winter outerwear, you can go one of two ways. Either you opt for the investment piece, such as Off-White’s chic camel coat or Burberry’s timeless trench, or go trend-led all the way – this season we’re all over animal-print, leather and vinyl (a good one for the vegans out there). If you really can’t decide which style works best, why not buy more than one? You totally can, since our edit of the best winter coats (there are 50, FYI) starts from just £20.
What is the best coat to buy now?
Hellloooo, a trench, obvs. This lightweight number is not only chic AF (street stylers love ’em), it’s ultra-practical when it comes to layering. Buy one now to make floral summer dresses go the distance, then get creative with cosy underpinnings once the weather cools down.
How much should a winter coat cost?
Look, if there’s one thing you should be spending more money on in your wardrobe, it’s a decent coat. Just like jeans, your outerwear is supposed to last: it shouldn’t sag, fade or fall out of favour (too soon). If you buy the right one, that is.
Can’t afford something super spenny? At least pick something you’re likely to wear a lot, something that will work with 70% of the items in your wardrobe and you won’t go off within a few months. Alas, if that means bypassing the leopard-print puffer for a navy wrap coat, so be it.
To make things just a little easier, we’ve chosen coats within a huge range of price points. Seriously, this edit starts from as a little as £20 (the piece in question is a cute little fur-trimmed number from Topshop, if you’re curious).
What is the warmest winter coat?
Anything padded or down-filled, hands down, will be the warmest winter coat. However, if you go for something in 100% wool with a bit of weight, you’ll be staying cosy – trust us.
What is the most stylish winter coat?
So, obvs puffers and bombers can look fly AF, but in terms of the most stylish? We reckon anything tailored or wool will stand the test of time. And timeless always = elegant.
H&M
A trench coat is hands down the smartest purchase you can make right now.
GILLIAN TRENCH COAT, HUSH
We love this khaki version from Hush. The fact it’s oversized and sans belt makes it feel a bit more relaxed.
H&M
A leather biker is also a great transitional piece. This H&M version looks like a vintage find!
FISHTAIL PARKA, ARKET
The fishtail parka has been a vibe since Oasis’ ’90s heyday. It’s also super practical, obvs, but mostly we like it because it’s cool. Go on, add a bucket hat for good measure.
SUZIE LEO JACKET
AllSaints has gone and refreshed the classic military jacket in a fierce leopard print.
CANDACE REVERSIBLE JACKET, WEEKDAY
Everyone needs a bomber in their wardrobe. Despite its streetwear aesthetic, this jacket can add an edge to girly outfits like floral midi dresses and pleated skirts. What’s more, this Weekday number is reversible, which means you get double the wears in one: technical nylon or cosy borg.
DROPPED TAILORED COAT, TOPSHOP
The dropped-shoulders and ’80s-inspired cocoon silhouette of this Topshop coat is incred.
& OTHER STORIES
Our obsession with the shacket (that’s a shirt/jacket hybrid sitch btw) is real. This wool-blend number is dyed in an elegant powder blue and finished with tort buttons.
TWIST TRACK JACKET, MARTINE ROSE AT SSENSE
Track jackets are ideal for wearing whilst heading to and from the gym, or for off-duty streetwear looks. Martine Rose’s has an asymmetric zip and ’80s-inspired graphic prints.
SAKS POTTS
Saks Potts has just dropped a new version of its cult fur-trimmed Foxy coat. The Charlot is a little more ladylike (more mid-century than hardcore ’70s, especially in this baby pink hue).
BURBERRY
We couldn’t do a round up on coats without including the OG trench by Burberry. Going strong since 1918, this timeless piece will honestly never date.
ZIMBRA PADDED JACKET, WEEKDAY
If your kinda style errs more on the sporty side, then go for this Weekday parka, which is all kinds of technical/streetwear cool. Made from waterproof shell, it’s padded for warmth and cinches at the waist with a drawstring fastening.
& OTHER STORIES
If you hadn’t heard already, leather is a big trend for 2020. You’ll be seeing a lot more oversized blazers cut from the tough stuff next season. P.S How amazing is this head-to-toe look!?
REMAIN BIRGER CHRISTENSEN
A little easier to style is the leather trench. Last year we fell in love with REMAIN Birger Christensen’s belted burgundy coat and now its back in this seam foam green.
OFFWHITE
We reckon a camel coat is a key pillar of the staple wardrobe. Virgil Abloh has really nailed the ladylike vibes with this single breasted style.
BELTED WOOL BLEND COAT, STORIES
The wrap coat is as chic as it gets, and this navy hue will go with everything in your wardrobe. It also comes in camel, should you want to look a little more Max Mara.
H&M
Not ready to go full on into coat mode? A shacket is 100% the way to go. This faux leather number is detailed with a croc-effect imprint and a high shine patent finish.
OVERSIZED PARKA, FENTY
Rihanna’s label Fenty has some real outerwear gems to peruse, like this fierce orange parka cut to be seriously oversized. It’s alll about the drama with RiRi.
CURVE LONGLINE TRENCH COAT, ASOS
From the curve range, ASOS’ khaki green trench is cut for an elegant loose fit.
BELTED LEATHER COAT, 8 BY YOOX
This trench has a real ’70s feel with that burgundy leather and oversized lapels.
ANDERSSON BELL
Andersson Bell’s coat is basically a trench spliced with a tailored blazer. The de-constructed effect is cool AF – especially with those authentic raw-hem finishes.
SLEEVELESS COAT, 8 BY YOOX
Another great transitional option is the sleeveless coat. Wear it now with a white shirt, then switch to chunkier knits later on.
TOPSHOP
It was Miranda Priestley in The Devils Wears Prada that first brought cerulean shade to our attention. Now that Daniel Lee has brought it back big time, we call it: Bottega blue.
ASOS
It’s hard to find a bomber with a properly cropped hem that shows off your high-waist jeans, but ASOS has hit the sweet spot. This streetwear style is super warm due to its padding and extra details like the snap-fastening snow skirt and ruched cuffs.
LISOU
Remember those shaggy Mongolian cushions that were catnip to the noughties teen? This jacket is that vibe, in jacket form. The baby blue hue, too 😍.
CLAUDIE PIERLOT
We love the houndstooth weave on this Claudie Pierlot coat. Wear with Doc Martens to amp up the punky vibe.
DOUBLE-BREASTED COAT, & OTHER STORIES
If we’ve learnt anything from Kim K, it’s that an all-cream outfit spells chic like nothing else. This double-breasted coat is a good jumping off point.
FAUX FUR CROP PU COAT, TOPSHOP
We don’t know what we love more: the peachy colour, high shine fabric, faux shearling collar, or the fact it looks like a certain designer label’s version we def can’t afford.
ULLA JOHNSON
There’s something so elegant about a collarless coat.
MICHAEL LO SORDO
Yup, there’s such thing as an evening coat. This long Michael Lo Sordo robe style is made from lustrous silk-satin to create instant glam.
BODEN
We can’t decide what we like more about Boden’s Billington coat – the ’60s-inspired pea shape or the bright pink hue.
LINEN BLEND TRENCH COAT, ARKET
Yep, another trench (soz, not soz). This Arket iteration is dyed in a dusty-pink hue and woven with linen, so it’s ideal for the end of summer.
WALES BONNER
Obvs the checked weave and tort button on this jacket are amazing, but we’ve full-on fallen in love with that hourglass cut and balloon sleeves. Wales Bonner is a whizz when it comes to cutting pattern shapes.
SILK CHARMEUSE BLAZER, CUSHNIE
Cushnie just upped its blazer game with this elegant satin version (currently in the sale, FYI). We lurve the sheer chiffon sleeves.
DUNDAS
Up your sports-luxe game in this purple snake-print parka from Dundas.
UNIQLO
When the chill finally kicks in, you’ll be wanting one of these padded coats to keep you truly warm.
COLMAR ORIGINALS
If you want a puffer that’ll last you, Colmar is the king of padded outerwear.
ASOS DESIGN
With its herringbone weave and generous cuffs, this ASOS coat looks way more expensive than it is.
IRIS & INK AT THE OUTNET
Iris & Ink at The Outnet is a good place to go for quality basics (at slightly more affordable prices that its sister site Net-a-porter), like this swing mac.
ASOS
ASOS has the best selection of curve coats atm.
ASOS
ASOS’ drawstring waistband parka, made especially for curvier gals, comes in both khaki and this chic dove grey.
MANGO
Mango has upped its sustainability game this season: this coat is made from recycled wool fibres.
MATALAN
You can never go wrong with a denim jacket. This cropped baby will only get better with age.
QUILTED JACKET, CREW CLOTHING
Sometimes practical is best. Keep warm this winter in Crew Clothing’s quilted jacket.
PINKO
Blanket silhouette? Checks? Fringing? Pinko’s wrap coat ticks all of the trend boxes this season.
ASOS CURVE
Again, ASOS’s Curve designs are to die for.
FIND.
This coat became a big hit with fashion editors in winter 2019 thanks to its high shine finish and retro shape.
Hobbs X CFW
Fringing + check + wool = all the AW20 trends all rolled in to one. This Hobbs number is another one chosen in celebration of Wool Week 2020.
TED BAKER
Collarless coats are a signature of Mary-Kate and Ashley’s increased – but uber-expensive – designer label, The Row. This Ted Baker version is panelled with leather and feels part rock chic, part minimalist gal.
