Eight winter coats to keep out the cold and warm your heart
Revolutionary, I know. Given the industry’s proclivity for novelty, it’s refreshing to see a strong focus on what we, at 53 degrees North latitude, will probably wear everyday for the next eight months. With practicality the cornerstone of our sartorial decisions (horizontal rain, freezing fog, mutant hailstones), it’s important to nail the élan factor, if only to cosset our egos on those windswept platforms at 8am.
So, what’s trending coat-wise for 2014? Let’s start with the basics: the duffle. Cast off all images of Paddington Bear and ’60s university professors; the 2.0 update is both stylish and sensible. Having originated as a naval convoy coat, the scratchy Melton cloth of yore has since been replaced with more accommodating fabric blends complete with tortoiseshell toggles and rope hooks as standard. For notice-me appeal, swap out traditional navy and camel versions for pillar box red as seen at Hobbs (€380).
Trans-seasonal staples don’t get any cosier than the practical parka. Espoused by the Caribou Inuit tribes, the hooded fur-lined coat was originally made from seal skin to keep hunters warm on Arctic excursions. Today’s gabardine and nylon updates are less stalwart, more style-led but still manage to keep the elements at bay, especially those lined with goose-down. Dry clean your festival favourite for instant off-duty cred or invest in a more prodigious option (try House of Fraser or Moncler) for Aspen chic.
Speaking of muddy fields, no one quite does weather-worthy essentials like British heritage brand Hunter. From country pursuits to Glastonbury gals, Hunter’s cool-hunter status has risen exponentially over the past decade. Now under the creative directorship of Mr. Stella McCartney — i.e. Alasdair Willis, the Wellington kingpin made its London Fashion Week debut in February showcasing colourful long and short down puffas (Brown Thomas, €300-€515) that will take the damp out of any downpour.
Looking for a desk-to-dinner cover-up? Then be sure to defer to the classics. The elegantly-waisted approach, as seen at Burberry and Céline, works best with proportion-cinching belts. Try Irish designer Heidi Higgins whose ‘Deborah’ coat (€595) boasts 1940s screen siren sensibility. Think clean lines and demure tweed in uncompromising fuchsia pink.
Equestrian tailoring continues to prove its dressage credentials in the fashion ring with Peter O’Brien’s double-breasted full-skirted beauty (€495, available in navy, camel and grey) the ultimate day-to-night segue.
Fashion bravehearts looking for sartorial battle armour should check out this season’s graphic patterns. From Vivienne Westwood’s signature tartan to Comme des Garcons monochromatic boxes, the key is wearing the print oversized — like an after-thought. Take the square route to your favourite high street hotspot for a guaranteed bargain. Top tip? Soften the precision print with trending pastels as spotted at M&S (Per Una Speziale, €158). Prefer something low-key? Opt for a block neutral while keeping the borrowed-from-the-boys silhouette. Best bet? RiverIsland’s laissez-faire duster in super soft melange (€147).
If the idea of wearing a big hug appeals, a teddy bear coat is bound to give you that fuzzy feeling. Spotted at Gucci, Balmain, Marc Jacobs and Topshop Unique in incarnations from faux fur patchwork to shaggy textures and pretty pastels, the vibe is one of unstudied glamour.
Balance the bulk with pared-back separates or a floor-sweeping frock when party season calls. This monochrome RiverIsland cuddle (€200) is one reason to look forward to the mercury dropping.
Choose wisely this season. If Ken Ring gets it right, our green isle is due to be covered in a white blanket — big enough to challenge Burberry’s runway rival. Not that any self-respecting sartorialist will be taking any duvet days this winter; especially when there are so few excuses to stay inside.
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