The big chill: winter coats to wear all season

Our fashion editor’s guide to upping the ante when it comes to outerwear this winter and beyond

Our fashion editor’s guide to upping the ante when it comes to outerwear this winter and beyond.

Words: Anish Patel

Winter is officially here, and an onslaught of outerwear garments has arrived with the frost. This season, they range from tried-and-tested classics to the statement-making. From well-insulated power puffers to frothy shearlings, read on for our guide to AW23’s biggest coat trends.

Shop now

Power puffers

Puffer jackets make stepping beyond the threshold of the front door a much less terrifying prospect when we’re in the throes of winter. Padded and oversized, they’ll swaddle-you-warm long after you’ve left the cosy confines of your bed. The clothing equivalent of a big hug, really. This season’s takes are crafted out of planet-friendly fabrics and come in a variety of styles. From longer length versions by Canada Goose to retro takes by The North Face, there’s a puff piece for everyone.

Shop now

CANADA GOOSE – Hooded funnel-neck shell-down jacket

THE NORTH FACE – 1996 Retro Nuptse brand-embroidered regular-fit shell-down jacket

ADIDAS BY STELLA MCCARNTEY - TrueNature padded regular-fit recycled-polyester hooded jacket

JAQUEMUS - La Doudoune Capullo oversized shel jacket

«
1
2
»

Alexander McQueen AW23

A trench for all seasons

We have Jennifer Lawrence to thank for our renewed interest in trench coats. The actress proved that the classic outerwear garment is all you need to look put-together with minimal effort when she stepped out in New York wearing a khaki version by The Row. This season, the style was everywhere on the runway too: from perfectly structured and belted in beige, navy and black at Alexander McQueen and Burberry, to newer takes in leather at Coperni. The takeaway? It’s time to buckle up.

Shop now

«
1
2
»

Leather the storm

Our obsession with everything Y2K continues, and this time it’s brought back new iterations of the leather jacket. Longline leather coats that skirted on Matrix territory reigned supreme, with sweeping versions at Bottega Veneta and Acne Studios. But if Neo-core isn’t your thing, there were smart blazers in slouchy fits that were designed to be thrown over just about anything: just look to the Hadid sisters for inspiration. Elsewhere, retro moto jackets and cropped bikers with shearling trims offered us alternatives to the standard fit.

Shop now

NANUSHKA – Karla cropped faux-leather jacket

GOOD AMERICAN – Notched-lapel double-breasted relaxed-fit faux-leather jacket

HOUSE OF SUNNY – The Racer branded faux-leather jacket

PRADA – Camoscio single-breasted suede jacket

«
1
2
»

Simone Rocha AW23

Big-coat energy

A sweeping minimalism may have rushed over the runway this season, but there were still statement-making and scene-stealing garments for the main characters amongst us. Think couture-like pieces worthy of a place at the MOMA, or a walk down the red carpet. Showstoppers this season include Dries Van Noten’s ornate golden overcoats, monochromatic Cruella De Vil-style faux furs at Stella McCartney and duchess silk opera coats at Simone Rocha. With party season approaching, now is the time to put on the ritz in one of these.

Shop now

«
1
2
»

Simone Rocha AW23

The classics

Ironically, quiet luxury made the loudest noise in fashion and pop culture this year. It’s a mood best marked by pared-back design, time-honoured silhouettes, and exquisite craftsmanship. So, it was only fitting that the leading style of coat for the season was the classic double-breasted overcoat. The most talked about were at MaxMara and Giorgio Armani, where they came with relaxed shoulders and in timeless shades of camel and black. Invest in one of these and you’ll reap the reward of longevity.

Shop now

HOUSE OF SUNNY – Victoria checked knitted midi dress

STELLA MCCARTNEY – Double-breasted notch-lapel wool coat

GIORGIO ARMANI – Double-breasted notched-lapel regular-fit cashmere coat

4TH & RECKLESS – Libby padded-shoulder stretch-woven coat

MAXMARA - Eccesso peak-lapel padded-shoulder wool coat

STELLA MCCARTNEY – Double-breasted notch-lapel wool coat
GIORGIO ARMANI – Double-breasted notched-lapel regular-fit cashmere coat

4TH & RECKLESS – Libby padded-shoulder stretch-woven coat

«
1
2
»

Givenchy AW23

Floor-sweeping coats

This season, ultra-long coats swept down the runway in their dozens. The most dramatic were at Saint Laurent and Ferragamo, where cocophonous versions came with jutting shoulder pads and belted waists for dramatic silhouettes. At Gucci, creative director Alessandro Michele knocked the starch out of rigid versions for a relaxed take that verged on elegant loungewear. In short: Invest in one of these if you’ll have little in the way of fuss when it comes to event season.

Shop now

«
1
2
»

Quilty pleasures

Fans of the Scandi cool-girl aesthetic will be pleased to hear that the quilted jacket is back: but not as you know it. Barbour teamed up with Ganni to create styles that came with patchwork details and oversized shearling collars. Elsewhere, Mackage fashioned up boxy iterations in khaki that tapped into the utilitarian trend. Whether worn on its own or nestled beneath an overcoat, this jacket will be one of the most indispensable wardrobe items in your outerwear arsenal when the weather drops.

Shop now

BARBOUR - Barbour x GANNI Burghley quilted recycled-polyester parka

MONCLER - Padded brand-appliquéd shell-down jacket

MACKAGE – Maia quilted recycled-polyester coat

GANNI – Quilted drawstring-waist recycled-polyamide coat

«
1
2
»

Ferragamo AW23

Hot fuzz

Alongside classic tailored overcoats and belted trenches, frothy shearling coats deserve a place in the pantheon of outwear essentials too. Sure, they tend to make more of a statement than the other bonafide classics, but they’re also designed to be durable and hard-wearing, so pick wisely and you’ll be wearing yours for years to come. This season they come in planet-friendly fibres and pastel hues.

Shop now