Technicolour Dream Coats

Coat: Katherine Hooker (old)  Trousers: Stella McCartney (old) Shoes: Kurt Geiger Photos: Lottie Anderson

As the evenings are getting cooler and the season is changing to my favourite one, Autumn, I’m dreaming of coats.  Having lived in London, New York, or Amsterdam for most of my adult working life, I can tell you that BLACK is the colour of winter coats.  I might have bought a dark grey or camel coloured coat here and there, but mostly my coat-quest has been about scouring stores and websites to find the season’s perfect black coat… good quality luxurious fabric, the right weight, excellent stylish lapels, the right length, and most importantly, one that works as well open as closed.

However, a few years ago, I did something crazy.  I bought a Katherine Hooker raspberry-coloured windowpane plaid coat with fuschia satin lining, on a whim.  I went to buy a blue coat, but Katherine herself talked me into buying this one instead. Well.  Friends and strangers gushed about this coat.  Men who never took much note of what I wore to work would always remark on it.  Last year, I bought a (fairly inexpensive) cheery sky blue coat, and a month later, happened to also find a faux fur collar/lapel thingy in the same colour.  Ladies, wearing the two together was life-changing. Friends’ children (little boys, who never notice such things) remember me as “the lady with the glamorous coat”. Shop assistants always ask me where I got it. Women on the street compliment me and are surprised where I got it (Marks and Spencer for the coat, and Topshop for the faux fur trim, for the record).

 Coat: M&S  Faux fur stole: Topshop (old) Shoes: Kurt Geiger (old) Bag: Fendi (old) Rings: Pomellato Photos: Lottie Anderson

The moral of the story is this: I am done with buying more black coats!  Not only is an actual colour so much flattering next to your skin and hair as you age, but either matching or clashing it with your existing wardrobe also gets you some major Style points.  This Autumn and Winter, the stores are awash with colourful coats, so think about what bright colours you are naturally drawn to, and go get one!  It changes everything.

Here are a few I found that I love:

• Tibi sky blue paneled coat
• Paul and Joe Colourblock Coat
• Marks and Spencer in nearly every colour Coat!
• Ted Baker Mid Pink Coat
• J Crew Neon Red Stadium Cocoon Coat
• Marc Jacobs Lavender Coat
• Rochas Pale Turquoise Coat (which looks a little bathrobe-y but I love to pieces)
• Moschino Yellow bow-detail coat

I am completely crazy about the Moschino one, but unfortunately, my blonde hair looks terrible with yellow, so one of you has to get it so I can live vicariously.

Do you have a bright coat yet?