Autumn 2017 coats. In my last post I mentioned that longer length coats were more prominent this season. However coats are an investment and I had a couple of emails from readers saying they didn’t want to buy something that could be a passing trend. So, today I’m looking at all kinds of coats for autumn 2017. I’ve focused specifically on day coats though because we’ll be going full steam into partywear before you know it. In the meantime, there should be something here for everyone.

I confess that I’m partly doing this as a thinking out loud exercise. I have a lot of coats – you need them in the frozen north. Some might say too many (Mr MC I’m looking at you). So I’m trying to cull some but maybe add a couple of updated ones for this season too. I just need to work out where I have a gap.

Classic winter coats

I’m beginning with classic cuts in neutral colours – the workhorses of the coating world.

Autumn 2017 coats

Grey Double Faced Coat – double faced coats are always chic and have a thrown on, insouciant air about them. I always think they look best when they have a hood to display the revers to their best advantage – and of course how useful is a hood in winter! This is a wool mix so it should be hard wearing and it is also available in camel and navy.

Grey city coat – I bought this last year and it is a slightly updated version of the crombie style coat. It is a little looser than the classic cut which gives a nod to the cocoon trend. This means that it works really well with jeans as well as smarter work wear. It is also available in black, navy, camel, forest green, pink and red.

Grey cocoon coat – going deeper into cocoon territory, these looser styles make sense when you remember the trend for trouser suits. They are easy to slip on over a jacket, just as we used to in the 90s. I love that layered look and of course for weekends there is a huge trend for layering too. Wear a hoodie underneath or a tweed jacket or… go the Parisian way and add a light down quilt. This is also available in dark green or mustard.

Navy collarless coat – can I just say that I love this Scandi style coat, it is so pared down and elegant. Lovely quality with a contrasting lining that will flash as you walk if you wear it open. Utterly timeless, it is also available in classic black or a deep claret.

Camel boyfriend coat – I don’t know if you remember that I was invited down to Jaeger last autumn to choose a coat – any coat. This is the one I wanted but I was steered by the PR team towards something more eye-catching. Of course when I saw the Instagram feed, every other blogger had stood their ground and chosen this style in either camel or navy. You see the shade of camel is uplifting rather than drab and the sheen of the wool is unsurpassable. Sadly, now that Edinburgh Woollen Mill has acquired the brand, I don’t see a bright future for it but there are some left which they seem to be clearing. It is reduced by £100 at the moment and something keeps telling me I should get one while I can.

Classic Pea Coats

The mainstay of every Parisian wardrobe, the pea coat looks effortless with jeans or leather trousers. Mine needed replacing this year because I had literally worn it out. Can you guess which of these I chose before I tell you?

Autumn 2017 coats

Boxy pea coat – this is a great price if you think you will need to layer up. The boxy shape has plenty of room underneath and it’s a great entry point price if you’re trying a pea coat for the first time. Currently on offer, it is also available in dark grey, light grey, camel and olive.

Slimline pea coat – this one is a slimmer, leaner cut which is the style that Parisian fashion editors go for.

Olive pea coat with statement pockets – this one is an investment but you can see the quality in the detail of the deep cuffs, statement pockets and luxurious collar. It would last you for years.

Captain’s coat – pea coats of course reference Dutch navy uniforms (although they were adopted by the British navy very quickly too). Why be a sailor when you can promote yourself to captain? This covers off the pea coat and the military look in one. It is fitted at the waist so it works as well with dresses as it does with jeans.

Authentic style pea coat – this is for anyone who loves authenticity because the fabric is a herringbone style which matches the tightly woven fabric that the military uniforms were made from. Pea comes from the Dutch word “pije” which apparently refers to the rough fabric. This is utterly chic and would secure an approving glance from anyone in the fashion cognoscenti. If you have cash to splash, there is an even more luxurious twill pea coat here.

Which one did I buy? The captain’s coat. It drew me across the store like a magnet and when I tried it, I just had to have it. For me it is a great multi-tasking coat because I’m finding the tailored waist means it works really well with midi skirts and dresses as well as both wide and slim cut trousers. In an ideal world I would have a classic pea coat too but that would put a strain on my dressing room… and my marriage!

Classic Biker Jackets

Now these never go out of style but they are particularly relevant with the new silhouette which works so well with a nipped in waist. I have two, this navy leather biker jacket which was an investment but I’m happy with it. My black one however is still the faux leather one I bought a few years ago. I have never found one that is as flattering but with Christmas in mind (or rather the January sales) I’m hoping to find a leather one to replace it.

Autumn 2017 coats

Best of the classic faux leather bikers – this is the current version of the one I have. I find the quality of the faux leather to be really good, especially when you consider the price. When I bought it, I wasn’t sure whether a biker jacket was really me. It has been a great way to play around and work out how to wear it without gambling with a high spend. Because it is such a style secret, it is nearly always sold out but they do restock regularly and there are some more sizes here.

Clean lines faux leather biker – go along with the trend for everything red this season and add to it with a jacket – currently on offer but stock is low.

Simple luxury leather biker – one of my friends has this and I admire it every time I see it. I think it is because of the tailored silhouette, slightly longer body and minimal padding or hardware. She has a high level career in retail but often wears it with dresses for the office. It adds a louche elegance but somehow it always looks smart rather than dressed down. Stock is low everywhere so I suspect that once these have sold through, they won’t be repeated. Available in black, tan and navy. More stock here although I have actually just tried to place an order and the site doesn’t seem to be working.

Relaxed cropped biker -I confess I have never tried this and must do so next time I go to see Hush and look through their rails. It is fabled because of the high rise panelled back which gives a flattering profile. It is available in black and grey and sells out every season.

Winter cherry biker with gold hardware – it’s hard to find a leather jacket with gold hardware if you prefer warmer tones. This is amazing quality and it is also available in black, navy and pink.

Statement coats

Now this is mostly a personal exercise because I am attracted to statement coats like a magpie so it is probably where my ‘too many’ problem lies. At least one has to go because I have ordered one of these to try…

Autumn 2017 coats

Fitted pink coat – I have a pink coat. I don’t wear it very often but I tend to bring it out in the depth of winter and people always comment on how cheery it is. It also works well at Christmas parties over black outfits. This is a really lovely cut and it also comes in a beautiful pale blue which is just so ‘Jackie O.’

Longline red coat – ahh red, the colour of the season! We’ve already talked about this and how a longer line coat works well with a midi length or wide trousers. It’s a very elegant look and this is a great price.

Luxury faux fur coat – now I’m not a big fan of faux fur, I’m aware of the environmental issues that surround its production and disposal so I veer away from anything that is a faux fur trend such as rainbow stripes. However this is definitely a classic that you would wear repeatedly. The quality is incredible and I stood and watched people in store a couple of weeks ago. Everyone who came through the door made a beeline for it so that they could stroke it. Whether this would cause a problem for you when you were out and about I don’t know – I can imagine you would end up like the pied piper with a line of small children chasing after you. Stunning is all I can say.

Oxblood coat – I’ve included this because some of the deep reds that are around can be harsh on the complexion. This one is slightly lighter and warmer so it gives you a lift, especially if you wear it with a lipstick in a similar shade.

Luxury parka – finally a more practical number. I had to get rid of my parka because there came a point when all five of us had one in navy and it was causing arguments when we tried to go out. I’ve seen this though and it is the queen of parkas. It has a removable faux fur lining and trim which are fantastic quality so it’s like wearing a hug. It’s also available in khaki with a blue fur trim.

And the one I have ordered is… the bright red one – no surprise there.

An alternative to coats

I know a lot of midlife women avoid coats because fluctuating body temperatures mean you often end up carrying them instead. The way around this is by layering which is why ponchos are so popular with women of a certain age. It’s hard to make a poncho look stylish though. Hope recently lent me a sample of their new wrap to show you. I wasn’t sure about it when I saw it online but as is so often the case with these things, when I tried it yesterday I really liked it. Mr MC and I popped out of the office for lunch so that we could talk over a project (and eat low calorie cake). I was wearing one of my usual work combos of leather leggings with a long white tux shirt and kitten heel boots.

This wrap is a few leagues above anything else I’ve seen. It is made in Italy from 100% boiled wool and it has a great weight to it. You really do feel as though you are wearing a soft blanket and it makes a nice change after years of flimsy cashmere ponchos that never quite lived up to their promise when you wore them.

Hope fringed wrap; IdLF at Uniqlo long tux shirt (sold out); Leather leggings; Kitten heel boots (past season); Red bag – still being road tested for the Midlifechic Boutique

This gives you an idea of how soft and luxurious it is.

And of course there are lots of different ways of draping it. I can’t help thinking how amazing it would be to take on a plane journey in the winter, especially if you were travelling between climates -it would be great during the flight and you could just roll it up when you didn’t need it.

Hope fringed wrap

Midlife lately

I am hoping to finish work early today because we have a black tie event to go to and I haven’t thought about what I’m wearing – although I suspect I will choose an old favourite. I think I told you that Mr MC and a friend have taken over the vice president and president’s roles at our district Chamber of Commerce and are hoping to breathe new life into it. Tonight is the President’s dinner which isn’t one that I usually look forward to. However they have twisted the arms of quite a few of our old primary school playground parent buddies and they have all bought tables so it could be a fun reunion. We will either be a reinvigorated bunch because we no longer have young children who sap our energy or… we will be as exhausted as ever because we have teens who sap our energy. I’ll let you know! Have a fun weekend whatever you are doing.

Disclosure: thank you to Hope for the loan of the beautiful wrap. Autumn 2017 coats is not a sponsored post.

Offers

Baukjen are celebrating their birthday and you can get 20% off here with code BDAY17 for this weekend only

John Lewis have launched their autumn event which includes lots of offers on home, fashion and toys

House of Fraser have 20% off in their home event here

Recent posts you may have missed

An autumn capsule wardrobe

Side stripe trousers and a midlife wedding

Leather leggings for women over 40

Midlife health and fitness

A cornucopia of recent outfits

Launching the Midlifechic Boutique

On children growing away – how a stair carpet floored me

How many pairs of shoes do you actually need? 

The relaunch of iconic label Issa

What to buy from Hush’s Autumn collection

A guide to AW17 –  the shapes and colours to look out for

Back to work – a desk to dinner project

Inès de La Fressange at Uniqlo – exclusive launch with Midlifechic

A family holiday in Kalkan – and what mattered most