Get Your Winter Coat Now Before Everyone Else

whether you’re dragging your heels from the beach back to the city or singing merrily into your sweater drawer, the change of season is upon us, and with it a return to reality dressing. Top of the agenda? Coats.

Autumn's outerwear instructions are seriously exciting: will you switch between trench styles, rendered in leather, or opt for heritage tweeds? Catching the eye, too, are ever-practical puffer down jackets (styled now with sharp tailoring) as well as tartan and check patterns served now in
a kaleidoscope of colours. But if we’re talking investment buys there’s no doubt it’s a toss-up between The Row’s uber luxurious belted cashmere number or Victoria Beckham’s heavyweight jacquard chenille leopard print style, both modern heirlooms. The hardest part? Deciding which one to give precious wardrobe space to.

Kick off your autumn look with the first important purchase of the season with Vogue's checklist of the 6 best winter coats trends to shop and be seen in this autumn.

Trend: Softly Belted

MSGM

Ribbed-sleeve wool-blend coat, £875 at Matchesfashion.com.

Investing in a super sumptuous belted coat was the overriding memo from the autumn/winter 2018 runways. The key takeaways: it should be cinched, oversized enough to hunker down under, and ankle-grazing in length. The Row has the monopoly on exquisite cashmere and wool styles (with price tags to match) and its exemplars are serious investments that will take you through this autumn and beyond. Elsewhere Victoria Beckham, Hermès, Jacquemus, and Gabriela Hearst have styles that will look equally elegant teamed with this season’s slouch boots.

Zara

Katharine Hamnett

Satin padded coat, £650

Burberry

Alpaca and wool-blend coat, £2,690