WINTER COATS (UPDATED)

WHAT TYPES OF WINTER COATS ARE THERE TO CHOOSE FROM?

There are so many to choose from, the issue is which one do you like and which

one matches where you live and the aesthetic you want for yourself.

The most important question to answer yourself is the climate you live in,

there is no point in buying really heavy coats when you live in a hot

tropical climate that never gets cold enough for those heavy coats.

Or the opposite, if you buy thin trendy coats when you live

in a climate that snows in winter or goes to temperatures down to

3-4 degrees, that won't keep you warm.

WHAT FABRICS ARE THEY MADE FROM?

Fabric matters the most when we are talking about keeping you warm or

protected from constant rain. As a fashion coat you can wear a thin trendy layer,

but when it comes to storming the weather, you will need a very durable

wool or canvas fabric that has been waterproofed or waxed, which

means that water will run straight off it if your umbrella isn't

protecting you enough or if the rain is torrential.

As for the fashion pieces, always go for the best fabric you can afford

like wool, canvas or thick cotton. It is extremely difficult to totally

avoid synthetics, I myself have plenty of clothes that are

synthetic only because the style I want isn't offered

in natural fibers any longer. It is increasingly difficult to find good

quality fabrics but when you do, do not hesitate to buy them,

they will last way longer than any synthetic garment you will buy

and will feel and look so much better on you.

LENGTH:

Now this one is up for debate. There is a lot of discussion on the classic

length of around the knee-length or even down to the ankle, but preference

plays a bigger factor here and your lifestyle. If you are only going from

your home to pick up the kids and to the grocery store, I doubt you

need such an elegant coat, unless that is what you really love

and feel comfortable wearing. For me, as a tall woman, I prefer shorter

coats as I do not need the length to make me look taller, I just am.

But short coats defeat the purpose of protecting you from

the elements or giving you an elegant look.

The best thing to do is to have one of each if you can, a shorter one

for more casual settings, and a long one for more formal occasions

if you ever go to them. If not, skip the really long coats all together.

THICKNESS:

I think I may have touched on the thickness when I mentioned the weather.

thickness depends on how cold the weather is, where you are going,

and what time of day or night it is. Generally, the later on in the

day you go somewhere, the thicker the coat as you do not have the

sun to warm you up, if there is any sun about. And more towards Spring

and Autumn you could wear lighter, thinner fabrics as the weather

eases up.

COLOUR:

Once again, this one is based on preference and your colour palette.

If you love neutrals and dark colours, go for camel, navy or black as they

are timeless and you will have them for years or decades to come.

If you want a pop of colour, go for red, leopard, sage green or

any other colour you love, but make sure to tone the rest of your

outfit down so there is only one pop of colour in your whole

outfit. White is my favourite but gets dirty very easily.

If you love white, maybe try a blazer instead to get a feel for how

it is to maintain such a light colour.

STYLE:

Style preference comes down to your overall wardrobe and which of the

categories you fit in:

• Modern

• Classic

• Preppy

• Trendy

• Eclectic

• Traditional (or cultural)

• Any other one you are in.

Try to suit your style to the coat you want to wear. Will it be a classic straight

cut, be a full-on A-line style, cropped, double-breasted, single-breasted,

will it have a belt or not, will it be thick or thin.

CLASSICS VS MODERN:

This is something I have a really easy solution to buy a modern classic coat and you

will not need to update or upgrade it for years. A modern classic isn't boring,

nor is it trendy, it sits in between where it should be.

LINING:

Try to find a coat with as natural fibres as possible and of the same colour

inside the coat as the outside of it. Avoid loud logos as much as possible

as they will date very easily and you will not be able to wear this item

for as long as you want to. Timeless pieces are way to go when you

intend to spend good money on something you want to keep and wear

for a long time.

TIP: If you do not like, or are bored of the fabric belt that came with your coat (if it did)

take it off and put a real leather belt to give it a new look. You can use the same

colour (black on black), or you can add a different colour (brown on black),

or you can use it as your pop of colour (red on black), and so on.

---

Thank you for coming along with me in the journey called life.

The Style Secrets.