A Coat For 2011

Working in retail means that I'm one of the first to see the summer collections be shipped off to make way for an abundance of autumnal mittens, scarves and slipper boots. Because summer seems so sparse in England, and I'm continually waiting for that one searingly hot week that never comes around, I tend to linger in wardrobe limbo; a perpetual autumn/spring hybrid. I leave the mittens and thirteen tog duvet far behind with the Christmas tree lights, but I never fully embrace the summer season either. By the time I finally feel ready to purchase summer dresses and the dreaded bikini, I'm greeted with an influx of woolly hats and faux fur snoods. As this problem seems to continually curse me, I've decided that I'm evidently not a 'summer person' and am therefore going to commit myself to making the upcoming season 'work for me'. Where better to start than with the eternal key piece of the cold season; the coat?

I have all the proof I need to know that the ultimate winter wardrobe satisfaction comes from finding the right coat to carry you through (ideally) both autumn and winter. Just over a year ago, I found my perfect coat in my much loved Topshop trench with padded shoulders. It goes with everything. It makes every outfit look infinitely more stylish. It's warm, but light enough to fling over summer dresses when the evenings (and the days, to be fair) turn breezy. All in all, it has served me very well. But this year, it's time for a bit of refreshment. The catalyst for this notion was namely created at the Burberry Prorsum show, which launched with Jourdan Dunn sauntering down the runway in a vibrant orange, wool coat. Then there were the  retro 1960's styles at Bottega Veneta and the elegant 1940's looks seen at Miu Miu. Consequently, my mind is now strongly focussed on finding the perfect coat and, as every die-hard fashionista knows, August is the time to nab the best before everyone else does. I've given you a selection of my favourites from both the high end and the high street below, but I'm personally holding out for a Burberry-esque orange cocoon from M&S. It's not available yet, but watch this space....

High Street

Dorothy Perkins & Topshop

Both Topshop

Topshop & Mango

High End

Burberry Prorsum & Burberry Brit

Stella McCartney & Miu Miu

Bottega Veneta & Burberry Prorsum

What coat have you got your eye on this season? Will you be buying now, or saving till later?

P.S

This week has been so busy, but so unexpectedly good. A lovely weekend back up north with friends from uni was topped off with the news that LOOK magazine chose me to be in their top 20 for the Look Show blog competition. I was a sweaty mess in the middle of Manchester, overloaded with luggage and searching for my hotel when my phone starting buzzing with Twitter alerts. To be honest, I'd tried (and failed) to push it to the back of my mind because I really didn't think I'd make it through and I didn't want to be glued to Twitter all day, so it wasn't until I finally collapsed onto the hotel bed that I found I'd made it onto the list. I couldn't believe it and it's put the biggest smile on my face all week (even when I returned home to find I was going to be living in my caravan indefinitely). I can't believe that I'm now one huge step closer to the front row of the Look Show. The only downside to the competition is the waiting and the anticipation. My mind is buzzing with ideas for how I'd keep you guys updated about everything related to the show, what I'd wear and the potential to meet some of my favourite bloggers who also made it onto the list. I don't think I can put it into words again just how much I want to be there and be a part of this incredible opportunity, so I'm crossing everything that can be crossed that Tuesday brings good news. Just to have got this far has been brilliant. I've come across some great blogs, not only from the other finalists, but from the people who've left lovely comments on my entry post  and Twitter. Thank you so much. It means the world to me and I appreciate it all! Lovey dovey soppiness over, I'm off to put up my sofa-come-bed-come-storage-come-wardrobe. Oh, the joys of playing gypsy queen....

The Big Blue Coat

I usually veer away from bold colours or complicated prints, mainly because I don't feel that confident at styling them. As the fashion mags say, I'm definitely part of the 'minimal camp'. However, this blue coat caught my attention straight away. Staying true to the success of the bright and voluminous proportions from SS11, Raf Simons has got me coveting a winter wardrobe already. Maybe 2011 will be the year I turn 'bright brave'.

Source: style.com

New Season Coats

Every season you have to say goodbye to a few well loved pieces to make way for the fresh and new things you've coveted. For me, it's time to say goodbye to my trench coat which is one of my favourite wardrobe pieces. It's not that I want to let it go either. To be honest, I'm being forced by my waistline to give it up because it just won't do up without there being those hideous taut lines telling the world it's being stretched to its limit. It is a size 6 so I don't feel too bad that it no longer fits, and though I'm going to up my spinning classes I don't think these annoying extra pounds are going to disappear any time soon. If you've experienced the cruelty of a Northern winter, you'll know that you really need a coat that you can properly do up and fit a few comfortable layers underneath, so it's aurevoir trenchy and hello new coat!

I've already pretty much decided that I'm going to buy the River Island aviator jacket anyway, but it's too much of a trend piece to be my only coat and it won't go with everything I wear. I want something with a bit more longevity, so I'm looking at getting another trench (I would probably buy the same one again if Topshop still had it!) or a military style, because they always seems to be in fashion. I blogged a while ago about this one and I've still got my eye on it, but I've also just spotted this camel lovely at ASOS.

And it's 3/4 sleeves will force me to try wearing the elbow length gloves I've been secretly dying to try.

First of all, I have to actually sell my trench coat and so I turn to you lovely readers. If you're a size 6/8 and are looking for a Topshop trench with padded shoulders you might just want mine. It's been worn with love but it's also been cared for and is as good as new.

Let me know if you're interested !

Source: asos.com

Aviator Charm

Despite aviator jackets being seen on numerous catwalks, the one version that stands out in my mind and apparently in the minds of every fashion editor, is the Burberry Prorsum show. For the majority of people they were an instant hit and immediately became the coat to have for winter. Like the clogs of last season, I really didn't like the aviators at all. I thought they looked seriously bulky and unattractive, and associated with the not so stylish British television favourite, Del Boy. I didn't buy a pair of clogs all summer and I firmly believed I wouldn't be buying an aviator jacket either. 

The other day, I went for the first day out of shopping that I've had in a long time. Going into River Island I brushed past a short, brown leather, shearling collared aviator jacket. I had to try it on, just to humour my boyfriend whose face said he thought they were equally hideous, and to confirm for myself that everyone else was crazy and that I was the only one sane enough to realise the disastrous style consequences of wearing such an item. I tried it on and did it up. I toyed with the shearling cuffs and commented that I did indeed feel like a Trotter relative. And then I walked over to the mirror and realised I was massively mistaken. This coat made me instantly 100% cooler and 200% more stylish. The cut was gorgeous - it fitted beautifully. I loved the shearling. I tried on a fake leather, black version which didn't have as much shearling adornment, and I didn't like it nearly as much. The shearling made the coat perfection.

Like the padded shoulder trench coat I bought last year, this is the kind of coat you can throw on over the most blasé outfit and it instantly makes it incredibly stylish. I kept it on as I continued to shop around the store, stealing disbelieving glances at my reflection. This coat was ridiculously, shockingly, fabulous. The price tag was £150, which is definitely worth it as it's real leather. Now I just have to wait until a certain student loan comes my way, and you just try and stop me running to River Island and bagging this beauty. I'm not in a rush to get it soon, as I'm sure they're going to be around all season, and right now it's sadly still too damn hot to wear it. It's about the only time wearing this coat would look silly.

My advice: if you've so far been against the aviator jackets, go and try one on. I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised, but I warn you - you might burn a hefty hole in your wallet.

Military Lines

This military style coat might just make my Burberry Prorsum pea coat dreams come true. I'm loving the styling at Asos at the moment. When you first get onto the website, they seem to have started to think about taking on a new look (less cheesy catalogue, more fresh and edgy) and it is looking pretty hopeful.

Asos Military Button Coat £75

Source: Style.com & asos.com