CRIKEY, that happened quickly. One second it’s shorts weather, the next it’s cocoon-yourself-and hope-for-the-best season.
If you haven’t got a line-up of coats to block out the outdoor (or indoor) chill, it’s high time you chose one. For AW22/23, versatility is key, warmth a priority — and don’t forget to treat yourself to a little luxury night-time look. Winter evenings on the town are right around the corner.
Bundle-up blankets
Rolling out of bed into (what already feels like) sub-zero temperatures is no easy feat. First solution, WFH. But the next best survival hack is to take a duvet to shield yourself on the way to work. That’s right, it’s blanket coat time again. “It’s easy winter dressing and great for overlaying any outfit,” says head of womenswear buying at Selfridges, Jeannie Lee.
Sales spiked last year after Rihanna and A$AP Rocky wore them to the Met Gala, so AW22 has plenty. Ganni’s come tough, diamond quilted and with a peaked collar, Totême’s are sleeping-bag style while Jigsaw has a vertically quilted black one with statement lapels. For versions soft on the back and bank, head to Mango, which has khaki and chocolate knee-length quilt coats, or Arket, where they come black with a chic shawl collar.
Jigsaw
Jigsaw, £365, jigsaw-online.com
Ganni
Ganni, £345, selfridges.com
Arket
Arket, £130, arket.com
Long leather trench
Nailed the biker jacket and stocked up on suede? This winter, the must-have leather comes as a trench coat — butter smooth and Burberry-style. At Reiss, the Maya trench in taupe and black is a star of their new season. “It’s handcrafted in the softest Italian leather, updated with signature details such as epaulettes, storm flaps and belted cuffs,” says Michael Woodhouse, Reiss’s head of tailoring and outerwear.
Jigsaw has raised the bar, making them in creamy leather with added shearling panels, while Massimo Dutti have injected a shot of red with their sheepskin leather style. And for those not keen on animal skins, Bershka does the classic trench in black faux leather.
Reiss
Reiss, £998, reiss.com
Massimo Dutti
Massimo Dutti, £499, massimodutti.com
Jigsaw
Jigsaw, £895, jigsaw-online.com
Overcoat to the extreme
Your choice: big and billowing, or super-structured and squeezing the waist. This season’s overcoats are all about the extremes. Nicole Kidman and Dua Lipa shut down Balenciaga’s Couture runway in July, but away from A-listers two of the best looks were jet black satin floor-length coats, which nipped at the waist and curved out over the hips.
Italian label Sportmax does a sharp tailored grey herringbone wool style in a similar shape, and high-street mainstay Mango has cinching silhouettes for cheaper. Also set to boom are all-out, maxi overcoats. Joseph’s reach the floor, and come in “raisin” shade, while at COS they are double-breasted, slouchy and swamping. Trust us, it’s a good look.
Mango
Mango, £119.99, mango.com
Sportmax
Sportmax, £1055, matchesfashion.com
COS
COS, £225, cos.com
Roaring occasionwear
Banish the drab with animal print, a mainstay on runways and the high street for decades — and for good reason. As designer Charlotte Simone says: “Animal print never goes out of style, it’s an investment piece.” Charlotte Simone’s The Edie is patterned with leopard print spots, Dries Van Noten does a fabulous calf-grazing zebra-printed jacquard coat, while Ganni has a leopard print single-breasted coat made from sustainable hemp-organic cotton. What are you waiting for?
Charlotte Simone
Charlotte Simone, £400, charlottesimone.com (drops Thurdsay 29 September)
Dries Van Noten
Dries Van Noten, £1750, driesvannoten.com
Ganni
Ganni, £345, farfetch.com
Power to the puffer
The puffer coat has always been a go-to for versatility and comfort. But lately, fans have been looking for subverted takes on the classic silhouette. Lee says “novelty puffers from Amiri and Sacai are bestsellers for us this season.” Trade in your traditional black puffer for a more sartorial take, such as Marfa Stance’s parachute-style puffer, with drawcords that cinch the coat at the neckline, waist, cuff or hem. Then there’s Seventh Stores’ Space Coats, whose oversized hoodie creates a stylish cocoon. For stand-out style, Karen Millen’s pillowy brown puffer with a waist-cinching belt is another must.
Seventh Stores
Seventh Stores, £350, seventhstores.com
Marfa Stance
Marfa Stance, £625, marfastance.com
Karen Millen
Karen Millen, £384, karenmillen.com
Gorpcore
Is it just us, or does everyone nowadays dress like they’re about to climb a mountain when they’re just off to the pub? In 2017 The Cut’s Jason Chen birthed the term “Gorpcore” for the streetwear trend that has citygoers dressed in technical gear. The aesthetic has become synonymous with stylish silhouettes and pared down logos — like Arc’teryx’s Beta AR shell coat.
Icelandic 66°North recently broke into the London scene and has kids pining for their Dyngja Down Jacket. For those wanting to serve camping chic realness, Swiss brand Mammut’s Eigerjoch Advanced coat should be the top of your list. Filled with a blend of two types of insulation, this light, technical down jacket will come in handy when trying to brave the smoking area in the cold.
Arc’teryx
Arc’teryx, £320, arcteryx.com
66°North
66°North, £395, 66north.com
Mammut
Mammut, £360, mammut.com
