The most worn item in our cold weather wardrobe, we Brits understand the importance of a good winter jacket.
The only way to successfully brave the winter is an army of cocooning coats and the market is awash with brands striving to stop our shivering.
Our humble island rarely reaches minus weather in the double digits, which means we can get creative with our coat styles. They must be able to withstand the biting chill and mercurial cold snaps (remember the Beast from the East?), but there is room to consider trend-led creations and traditional silhouettes that transcend that very notion. But the question remains, which coat should you buy?
Throughout its fashion history, the UK has become synonymous with heritage coat styles such as the humble trench. Burberry’s signature style was unveiled in the early 1900s and is as popular today as ever – now the symbol of quintessentially British design. Barbour’s waxed jacket has a similar storied history and is now as ubiquitous right here in the capital as it is among the hunting, fishing and shooting set that was once its reserve.
Since The Cut first coined the term ‘gorpcore’, it has remained on the lips of fashion critics, riding the wave of performance wear into street style. At the four fashion capitals, you are just as likely to spot technical labels like The North Face, Arc'teryx and Patagonia swathing the style set as you are the luxury houses. And there is a lot to be said for the intrusion of genuinely warm and weatherproof styles on the agenda. The coats are characterised by oversized silhouettes, Gore-Tex or similar water-shielding materials and more pockets than you can stuff.
So, you can’t go wrong with investing in performance-ready puffers but on the flip side, office-friendly tailored coats are also worth your precious pennies. And for that, you need not remortgage. Take your cues from Scandi favourites like Cos and Arket. The aesthetic is defined by its minimalism and clean and classic cuts. This offers sophistication to any look but, given the sub-zero temperatures in these climates, they are typically made from warming wool or weatherproof fabrics. Practical and elegant.
Selecting your coat for the cold season is no easy task. It can be costly, so it is worth taking your time with your consideration. To aid in your mindful purchasing, we have selected our favourite brands to see you through the winter year after year.
See below
Best children's jackets and coats to kit them out for the colder months
Best heated jackets and coats to keep you warm this winter
Best waterproof work coats for sophisticated protection
Best wool coats for cosy and stylish winter warmth
Best parka coats for women: classic styles to get you through autumn/winter
Best waterproof coats: Unisex styles to brave the British winter
Performance brands
Rains
As you may guess from the name, Rains is an expert in weatherproof fashion. From coats to backpacks, much of the collection is crafted using the brand’s signature PU fabric which is super smooth, lightweight and, more importantly, water-repellent. Beyond that, there’s a whole host of gorpcore essentials – fleece sweaters, loungewear sets and ripstop overshirts included.
Buy now, Rains
Arc’teryx
From the mountains to the daily commute; Arc’teryx has taken the world by storm with its stylish minimalist designs built to brave all weathers. The Canadian company was founded in 1989 in North Vancouver and named after the first recorded reptile to develop feathers for flight; the Archaeopteryx Lithographica.
Due to the harsh weather conditions in which the headquarters is located, the design team test the products in real-life scenarios, aiming to create apparel that allows the wearer to focus on the situation at hand; without worrying about their clothing letting them down. Each Arc’teryx design is built with equal parts science and art, with only the most premium and cutting edge materials used in each piece.
Specialise in: Technical high-performance outerwear and equipment
Sustainability cred: Arc’teryx has pledged its commitment to working towards a circular economy and has a FairTrade certification.
Celeb fans: Kanye West, Drake, Tom Hardy, Gigi Hadid
Buy now, Arc’teryx
The North Face
This brand started out in the 60s in San Francisco by two hiking enthusiasts and focussed on mountaineering and exploration by selling climbing and backpacking equipment. By the 80s, extreme ski wear was added to the product line. Today, all of this is still available along with a broader range of apparel for the avid rock climber, hiker and trail runner. Ultimately, the label addresses the head-to-toe needs of the outdoor enthusiast.
Specialise in: Outdoor apparel and equipment, including ski and climbing gear
Sustainability cred: Improved ethical and sustainable practises over the years. Public commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.
Celeb fans: Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Emily Ratajowski
Buy now, The North Face
Uniqlo
The Japanese label has mastered the art of staple clothing with its all-weather wear.
The brand specialises in wardrobe essentials for men, women, children and babies at affordable prices.
We are particular fans of the leisurewear for when it can’t be all suits as well as the outerwear offering that includes a fold-away raincoat that you can keep in your backpack no matter the weather.
Delivery
Standard Delivery £3.95. Delivery in 2-4 working days when ordered before 6pm. Free for orders of £50 and over.
Express Delivery £4.95. Delivery in 1-3 working days when ordered before 6pm.
Buy now, Uniqlo
Perfect Moment
Perhaps the most recognisable skiwear going, Perfect Moment’s bold colour-blocked pieces and trademark star logo are an alpine favourite - and they boast the technical finesse to match. From a classic puffer to a snuggly duvet coat, the pistes are no match for the brand's expertly designed performance wear. Our top pick? The recent collaboration with Boss.
Buy now, Perfect Moment
Damson Madder
Best for: brightly coloured checkerboard and oversized collars
Price range: £28- £200
Size range: 6-16
Available to shop via ASOS, Urban Outfitters and Wolf & Badger – Damson Madder is the new independent clothing brand that you’ve been seeing everywhere, perhaps without even realising.
Having recently collaborated with Danish fashion royalty Amanda Djerf (who you might recognise as the sister of icon Matilda Djerf aka founder of Djerf Avenue), as well as influencers such as Hollie Mercedes and Poppy Almond, rest-assured Damson Madder is a high-quality, stylish yet affordable high street brand which has been given multiple stamps of approval across the board.
Buy now, ASOS
Moncler Grenoble
A label that’s well known for outerwear off the slopes - Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa and Drake have all been spotted wearing the mainline puffer jackets - Moncler Grenoble is the Italian house’s high-performance line that’s ideal for the mountains. With a range of coats that spans windbreakers, down-filled puffers and fully waterproof insulated designs, there’s something for every type of skier.
Buy now, Moncler Grenoble
Superdry
Assume Superdry is a Japanese brand? Nope, it was actually co-founded by London-based Julian Dunkerton and designerJames Holder (founder of skatewear brand BENCH) in Cheltenham and has been a staple apparel label since the turn of the century.
Lauded as a global lifestyle brand, Superdry has added a three-pronged attack on the more performance sport category: Run, Train and Flex – merging Americana styling with Japanese- inspired graphics – with the aim to help you reach your peak performance whether training outside, in the gym or at home.
Moisture-wicking technology in their gym tops, insulating sports jackets and technical fabrics for the perfect fit ensure that Superdry isn’t just an aesthetic but a functional brand to support your training.
Specialise in: ‘Run, Train and Flex’ categories
Sustainability cred: Their ‘Grow Future Thinking’ initiative was launched in 2020, to promote and encourage sustainable values, initiatives, and activity across Superdry.
Celeb fans: Poppy Delevingne, David Beckham, Idris Elba
Buy now, Superdry
Fashion brands
Burberry Long Kensington Heritage Trench Coat
The inventor of the trench, no round-up would be complete without an option from Burberry’s expansive repertoire of coats. An investment that you’re sure to wear year after year, the Kensington is the London-based brand’s signature. Available in short, mid-length and long, our favourite is the latter which is the most in keeping with current trends.
If the price point looks a little terrifying, you could browse the likes of Depop and eBay for a pre-loved style instead.
Buy now £1790.00, Burberry
Arket
The home of simple basics, Arket sent the fashion set berserk when it opened the doors to its market-inspired store, which sells everything from women’s and menswear to kids, travel and items for the home. You’ll never have to elbow anyone out of the way to the rails again though, because the same stock is available to shop from the peace and quiet of your own home.
Delivery
Standard Delivery £5. Delivery within 6-7 working days. Free for orders over £125.
Express Delivery £10. Delivery within 1-2 days for orders placed before 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Buy now, Arket
Sandro
Best for: Parisian chic
As we're all aware, Parisian men know how to dress. If you'd like to attempt reaching their (perhaps unattainable) level of effortless nonchalance, your first port of call should be Sandro.
From denim to outerwear, knitwear to shirting, the brand's entire collection strikes the perfect balance between sophisticated and causal. Each piece would help you fit right in on the streets of the fashion capital.
Buy now, Sandro
J. Crew
Best for: well-cut suits and classic designs
From sea to shining sea, this all-American brand (which is a favourite of the former First Lady’s) cuts a mean men’s suit. If you’re tired of the paltry offerings of drab high street tailors, J.Crew’s savvy colour palettes and flattering cuts will provide just the right antidote - and the best part is, hardly anyone else will be wearing them.
Aside from just the suits, the whole collection is full of simple designs that look way more expensive than they actually are. Offering both Tall and Slim shops, it’ll kit you out in everything from vests to pocket squares: it’s a must-see for the dapper gentleman.
Buy now, J. Crew
Free People Movement
A departure from the brand’s signature folksy look, Free People Movement is the brand’s activewear line - which now offers skiwear too. Expect bright colours, vintage appeal and a bohemian print or two. The only downside? They only offer womenswear.
Buy now, Free People
GANT
Price: £3.57-£621.49
For reliable fashion staples, look to Gant. The American preppy brand has forged a name for itself among the most stylish men and women for its classic and effortlessly chic aesthetic. Hence why Taylor Swift, Ryan Gosling, Ashton Kutcher and Ben Affleck are fans of the label. The garments, whether the retro varsity jackets or perfectly tailored trousers are cool, elegant and simple - you can wear them easily with each other and for every occasion. This is smart casual done correctly.
Buy now, Amazon
Everlane
- Best for: an expansive offering of wonderfully stylish and sustainable clothes
- Price range: £90-£200
- Size range: Men's - XS-XXL, Women's - XXS-XL
Creating wardrobe essentials for men and women that have the least impact on the planet is Everlane’s MO. The offering is expansive, from quality denim and the perfect T-shirt, to sleek shirting and comfy knitwear you’ll never want to take off - there’s something for everyone.
The brand has a focus on using sustainable materials, like recycled fibres and organic cotton, reducing carbon emissions to become Net-Zero by 2050 (or sooner), and enhancing livelihoods worldwide, including donating $1.4m to fund social and environmental efforts and ensuring the factories pay higher than minimum wage. It’s aiming to leave the fashion industry cleaner than when it started.
Buy now, Everlane
COS
Giving essentials a quietly Nordic cool update, COS is where the stylish minimalist shops. Silhouettes are clean cut and fancy free made with great-quality fabrics and slightly off-beat details; think asymmetric shirt cuffs and oversized colours.
COS focuses on distinctive shapes rather than loud patterns, one of the reasons it’s so perfect for officewear.
Delivery
Standard Delivery or Pickup Location £4. Delivery within 3-4 working days. Free for orders over £90.
Express Delivery £10. Delivery within 1-2 days for orders placed before 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Buy now, COS
& Other Stories
Rounding off our list of Swedish fashion champs, & Other Stories has the tailoring of COS with the coolness of Weekday and just a sprinkling of Monki playfulness.
Collections are designed in three ateliers; Paris, Stockholm and LA, giving the label an attractive global appeal. Think float midi dresses, cute playsuits and boyish boxy jackets. Don’t miss the Online Exclusives section for pieces you’ll only find in their digital shop.
Beyond apparel, there’s also a lovely jewellery selection and sizeable beauty offering featuring lightly scented soaps, hand creams and fragrances in the kind of clean, plain packaging that you see all over Instagram in #beautyshelfies. No wonder it’s beloved by millennials the country over.
Delivery
Standard Home Delivery £4. Delivery within 6-7 working days. Free for orders over £80.
Express Delivery £10. Delivery within 1-2 working days for orders placed before 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Buy now, & Other Stories
Sezane
- Best for: Parisian elegance
- Price range: £85-£100
- Size range: UK4-20
Parisian clothing label Sézane has been capturing the sartorial essence of the French capital since its inception in 2013. The brand boasts both menswear and womenswear collections with city living driving the design process. A self-proclaimed ‘love letter to Paris and those who inhabit it’, the collections are timeless, while sitting perfectly at the balance between sophisticated and casual. Each piece would fit right in on the streets of the City of Light.
The range includes denim, knitwear and shirting, the latter of which is made up of well-fitting silhouettes and oversized styles, colourblock and pinstripe designs and decidedly feminine flourishes with ruffles, embroidery and lace embellishments.
Buy now, Sezane
Aligne
Best for: versatility
Price range: £90-£400
Size range: 6-22
For easy to wear, versatile, and well-made clothes at a great price point, Aligne is the place to go, whether you’re in the market for knitwear, denim, dresses, or outerwear. The best part? The entire ethos is built around ethical practices.
Each design is made from at least 50 per cent ssustainable materials and over half of the collection as 100 per cent sustainable, while it stresses the importance of regulating the partner factories. The label ensures workplace standards and conscious methods like zero waste, waterless production, and renewable energy are used, even down to the packaging which is made using recycled fibres.
Buy now, Aligne
Monki
Best for: dopamine dressing
Price range: £5-£100
Size range: XXS-XXL
Known for trendy and wonderfully colourful pieces ranging from outerwear, knitwear and formal dresses to swimwear, Monki describes itself as the ‘antidote to boredom.’ Founded in 2006, it’s been a go-to destination for teens and young adults discovering their own sense of personal style and also serves as a brilliant option for affordable basics.
Buy now, Monki
