With the changing of the clocks autumn is well and truly upon us. While the weather seems to be holding out for the moment, we all know that now is the best time to invest in your new winter coat, before the cold properly hits and all the good ones sell out. Read on for my pick of the bunch...
The Chequered One
Tartan, check, plaid; call it what you will, it's always going to be in. This season Boden's the one for me. The standout blue and brown heritage check of its Boden Icons collection Spitalfields coat (£399) is irresistible and its artfully over-sized shape, in luxurious mohair from a British mill that dates back to the 1900s, is sure to keep you cosy all season.
The Neutral One
No winter wardrobe is complete without a good dose of neutrals and a chic coat in a goes-with-anything shade is guaranteed to see you through many a winter in style. I was lucky enough to pick up an utterly bargainous Ralph Lauren camel number in TK Maxx a couple of years ago, but if you have the cash to splash head to Jigsaw for what surely must be the ultimate purchase. The loose silhouette of their antique pink Luxury Wrap Coat (£350), carefully crafted in wool and cashmere, just oozes class and sophistication; there's something terribly Audrey Hepburn in Paris about it all. Snap it up before it goes. www.jigsaw-online.com
The Pink One
After last year's pastel pink sell out success, Marks & Spencer has once again come up trumps, hitting the sartorial nail on the head with a veritable smorgasbord of candy-coloured coats. With this season's catwalks drawing inspiration from the geek chic of Margot Tenenbaum (see Prada), the classic, boxy double-breasted style of this M&S Collection coat (£120) isn't going anywhere fast, plus with a bit of cashmere in it, it's a little bit of luxury without the luxurious price tag. Also available in cornflower blue, mint green, or black and grey if you aren't feeling too adventurous... www.marksandspencer.com
The Sheepskin One
Peckham's finest Del Boy has become something of an unlikely style icon, with classic sheepskin coats ten a penny this season. While there are a great number of affordable faux options on the high street if you're budgeting, you can't beat the real deal and nowhere does it better than sheepskin afficionados Celtic & Co. (www.celticandco.com). Based on the Cornish coast, the British brand has a host of stylish options, but my favourite is their Classic Sheepskin Jacket (£695) - a seriously cosy affair just begging to be taken on winter walks.
The Peacoat
And last but not least, possibly my favourite of all; the classic, the timeless, the unfailingly smart peacoat. Unsurprisingly, I find it's the preppy American brands that produce the goods on this front (still dreaming of a particularly chic peacoat/boot/bobble hat combo I spied in New York last winter); for an inexpensive high street option head to Gap, but I'm saving my pennies for J.Crew's offering. Perfectly cut with dazzling golden buttons, the wool-blend [i]Stadium Cloth Peacoat[/b] (£298) is available in regular length, tall or petite and in a whopping 10 colours. If electric red or turquoise aren't up your street, follow my lead with the sleek and chi navy blue, a timeless investment piece. www.jcrew.com
Love Laurel x
