The Style Guru: Statement Coats

Thanks to global warming, a good coat is always a necessity.  It’s certainly the time of year for a coat in Ireland (Where I’m from!). Whether you need a coat to go with everything in your wardrobe or just something to shelter you from the floods, I give you ways to wear your winter coats.

Get inspired by your old box of Crayola this winter. I always aim to wear bright colours come rain or shine.  A coat in a bright colour that contrasts with the majority of your winter outfits will get you noticed for all the right reasons.  Wear it on days when you want to bring a little excitement to a dreary day.  It’s probably best to avoid colours that clash with other colours, like red or pink.  Purple, yellow and blue go with most colours.  If you wear a lot of blue you could go for an orange jacket to sport the colour pop trend.

Channel your inner Little Red Riding Hood with a cape coat. This style is comfortable, and effortlessly stylish. This trend may seem challenging to pull off, but cape coats in the neutral colors featured below are perfect for everyday wear.  You can wear a cape coat day or night.  Depending on your height and dress size you can wear them with maxi skirts for a boho look or wear them with a tight skirt or chinos for balance. Cape coats are super voluminous, so be careful you don’t hide your figure completely.

Fur coats or faux fur coats are worth the investment if they suit you.  They will protect you from the snow storms and keep you in the height of fashion thrown on over anything.  Wear them with killer heels, ball gowns or a just a pair of jeans.  If you find they swamp your figure too much, opt for a fur body-warmer instead.

Petite girls need something fitted or cropped if it’s loose.  Go for a short or a ¾ length style to avoid drowning in it.  Wear ankle boots if your coat comes to the knee to maximize your length.  Cropped jackets can be great for day wear.  You could choose a fitted style coat if its ¾ length.  Shift coats are ideal for smaller girls too. If you’re tall you can get away with trench coats.  They are great for covering up whatever you’re wearing underneath.

If you are curvy, you want to find a coat which will be structured and create a silhouette. A double breasted coat is ideal, as it is both shaped and tasteful – why not try a fashionable military style coat? It will provide a good structure. If you have a bigger bust, the last thing you want to do is to overstretch the front of the coat, so ensure that it fits you well and that it is single breasted to avoid too much fabric on your chest area.