While I wouldn’t exactly say that I wait around all year for the arrival of winter, I do get excited that it’s the start of coat season. The crispness we enjoyed in the fall air is turning into a harsher nip, but the silver lining is the opportunity it presents to envelope ourselves in big boots and even bigger coats.
As we switch our mindsets from alfresco to hibernation mode, it’s time consider investing in sensible outerwear to see us through to spring, and given just how many coats are on the market right now, it’s tricky to know which are actually worth spending our money on. There are, of course, the timeless classics that come around every year (and we tried and tested the very best and gave our reviews here), but if you’re looking for something that will do a little more than just keep you warm, we’ve got that covered too.
Just as with anything else in fashion, new trends come around as quickly as dated ones fall out of favor, and coats are no exception. In the last few months, we’ve shelved our denim jackets, trench coats, and quilted car coats in favor of something buzzier (and far better suited to inclement weather), so it’s time to start shopping around for something to fill the gap. Here, discover a new batch of coat trends that will no doubt come to define the season. In fact, some of them already are.
Scarf coats are easily the most season-defining item we’ve talked about already for winter 2023. Thanks to viral styles from Toteme, the trend has catapulted to worldwide fame, and given that it’s impossible not to look chic and put-together in one of these matching scarf-and-coat sets, we’d recommend it for anyone and everyone.
Gray is the new black, at least when it comes to winter outerwear. Charcoal gray is bubbling up as the new It neutral, and the color couldn’t be better in the form of a great wool coat. The addition of a lighter neutral adds a nice dimension to winter looks that can often come across feeling drab.
Just because the weather is turning from crisp to cold doesn’t mean that leather outerwear is slowing down. In fact, fashion people are reaching for leather coats more than ever right now, especially those with sleek, long hems and double-breasted silhouettes for an ultra-tailored effect.
It appears that the wax jackets featured on Prada’s spring 2024 runway have already begun to influence our outerwear choices, and we still have months to go before we’ll start to see them become available. Despite it, versions are appearing at retailers such as J.Crew and Free People, which have jumped at the opportunity to reintroduce us to the preppy staple.
Faux shearling will always have a place in our coat lineup, and for winter 2023, that means fuzzy statement coats that take a more minimalist approach with collarless silhouettes and muted neutral hues.
If looking wealthy is your goal this season, might I suggest opting for a collarless coat? Whether it’s a wool version or a tweed one, the streamlined shape looks ultra polished and, if you ask me, downright “rich.”
