A stunning winter coat is a key investment piece as it will be one of the most frequently worn items in your wardrobe. And it will also be the first thing people will see when you enter a room, and you need to make a good first impression!
For these reasons alone, the purchase of a winter coat should not be done hastily. There are a number of factors to be considered before purchasing. The perfect coat needs to tick all the right boxes:
It needs to be practical and functional, a coat’s primary function is to keep you warm!
It must enhance your own personal style and body shape, fit and structure are paramount.
It should work with and enhance your existing wardrobe.
It needs to be multi-functional and interchangeable, it should take you from desk to disco!
A well fitted and structured coat can inject instant style and glamour to any outfit, be it jeans or an evening dress. Therefore it is important to choose the right coat that suits your body shape.
If you tend to be on the busty side (Lucky You!), it is advisable to choose single-breasted coats as they won’t pull and look stretched over the chest area. The key here is to keep any detail around the chest area to a minimum to avoid attracting further attention.
For those of us who are pear shaped, the double-breasted coat works well. The length here is also important, short coats falling at the hip will only add weight to the hip and bum area. The ideal length would be where the hem of the coat skims your thigh midway down, this helps to connect the hips and shoulders, which gives an illusion of slimmer hips and waist.
If you are on the petite side, fitted coats tend to suit best, otherwise you will swamp your already small frame. Short coats are most appropriate for petite ladies, as it will give the illusion of longer legs!
There are many different styles available:
Brocade The delicate pattern depicts an immediate sense of elegance and opulence.
Fifties The three quarter length sleeve of the fifties style allows you to be playful with accessories, particularly gloves.
Military These well cut coats in dark, rich fabrics have fantastic brass buttoning and braiding.
Classic The classic belted coat is great as it is suitable to all ages whether you’re 25 or 75!
Fur The fur coat immediately depicts a sense of old Hollywood glamour, and I must stress that I’m only a fan of the Faux variety, so hold the paint ladies!!
A few things to remember:
Make sure that you really love the coat, as you will be wearing it a lot over the Winter, and it has to make you look and feel great every time you put it on.
The quality of the coat is hugely important. When trying on, check for ease of mobility, particularly around the arm area and across the chest area. The fabric should not pull or stretch in these areas, plus seams and stitching should be sturdy and not loose!
You need to consider the fabric, is it easy to maintain, does it fit into your lifestyle? Genuine swede and leather, for example, can be notoriously difficult to maintain, plus they can be difficult to incorporate into your wardrobe and lifestyle, unless you’re a rock star or a biker. There are however lots of cheaper versions available which are easier to maintain, be careful though the cheaper versions can look,...well cheap!
A coat is a real style statement, and there is something innately sexy and stylish about a well-fitted, well-cut coat, regardless of what you are wearing underneath, your coat does the talking!
So keep warm and keep stylish,
Molly x
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