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Breeze through the season in these popular winter coats
Perhaps, like many of us, you’ve had the
same black coat for years. It works with your office wear, keeps
you toasty on weekend Starbucks runs and looks great with your little
black dress. But this year’s crop of gorgeous coats will have
you pushing that old coat to the back of the closet.
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Shearling Coat. Model: Sunanda Patel. Photographer:
Navdeep Kathuria |
From fur trimmed trenches, mod-inspired
pea coats to funky-n-fun shearlings, you’ll be in paradise
with options to express your every mood. The old lament, “I
have nothing to wear,” is truly a thing of the past!
For their 2006 fall collections, designers reinvented
classics and threw in some fresh, surprising new twists.
Trench:
The standard tan trench is redone, and the new take on the classic
is oh-so-chic. Now you can find trenches in shimmery colors –
check out Chanel’s new line – that’ll take you
far away from boring beige. The trench looks great with just about
any outfit, especially straight skirts and flats à la Audrey
Hepburn.
Shearling:
Shearling coats shed all vestiges of farm frump and are perhaps
the biggest Cinderella story of the season. From Oscar de la Renta
to Ralph Lauren, the fashion world has gone crazy for this cozy
style. Shearlings naturally pair well with jeans and any outfit
that needs a little dressed down funk. The right shearling coat
can even go with a little black dress.
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| Fur:
The absolute biggest thing this fall is fur. Long, short or shrug,
from the easily affordable faux pieces at any mall, to the ones
that can cost as much as a Bentley, there’s always a fur to
fit your budget and personal style. Even better, there aren’t
many rules for how to wear it – just buy what you love and
what flatters your figure.
Wool/Cashmere:
For wool or cashmere single and double-breasted coats, options abound
in cut, color and mood. The biggest trends for this sturdy fabric
are the military and Napoleon-inspired pieces, accented with big
brass buttons or rich, stately embroidery. Another great way to
dress up this versatile material is with eye-catching closures (toggles,
cord loops, etc.) made with precious stones or covered in exotic
skins.
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Wool
Coat |
Down Coat. Model: Sunanda Patel. Photographer: Navdeep Kathuria |
Down:
It’s easier than ever to find quilted down coats to accentuate
your figure. Look for cuts with quilted seaming that draw attention
to your waist with vertical rather than horizontal lines. Be sure
to look at the piece on the hanger from a few feet away –
if you can’t easily make out a curvy, feminine outline, keep
shopping. Many down coats come with hoods, some of which detach.
The hood is a great place to incorporate the fur or embellishment
trend.
Leather/ Suede:
The key to wearing leather and suede is to make fit your first priority.
Go for sleek tailored cuts that accentuate your waist and neck.
Keep suede from looking drab with luxe embellishments and feminine
accessories.
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| Fall Chic: Tips & Tricks
- For an ultra sleek look that will make you appear taller
and trimmer, try a monochromatic color scheme in a neutral
palette. Camels, caramels and browns are great shades to try.
- Never store your coats in plastic bags
from the dry cleaner–they trap in chemicals and don’t
allow clothing to breathe. A cotton garment bag is the best
thing to preserve the life and quality of the piece. Throw
in some cedar chips to keep bugs away. Moth balls are a big
no-no–they contain harmful chemicals.
- Fancy gloves are making a huge comeback.
Opera length (reaching the upper arm) or eight-button (elbow)
length look great with the new short sleeve coats.
- For saris and lehengas, wear ankle length
coats or a pashmina wrap. Pair salwaar and churidhar suits
with coats that match the length of the tunic.
- In general, skirts need a coat that matches
the length of your hemline. Waist length jackets can work
for pencil skirts and ankle length can work for straight skirts
that hit above the knee or at your calf.
- Your handbag should incorporate the style
of your coat and shoes. Match-matchy is not necessary, but
the themes should work together.
- When wearing animal prints, stick to matching
prints and wear a maximum of one or two pieces per outfit.
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Sasha Tong is a New York and Hawaii-based freelance writer and image consultant. She specializes in fashion, etiquette, and gemstone and wine connoisseurship.
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