How To Buy The Perfect Winter Coat

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With colder weather creeping in, it's time to break out the big coats. Style and warmth are equally important when it comes to choosing a winter coat, but with so many options out there, where do you start?

Here are some tips to help you find that perfect coat.

Define your budget

Before you can start looking for a coat, you need to know how much you're able to or willing to spend. It's no good falling in love with a coat that costs twice what you can realistically afford. Set your budget before you go shopping and stick to it.

Investing in a really good coat is worth it. A 'proper' winter coat can last you years, or even decades, so that's something to consider.

Do you want warmth or style?

My own personal bugbear is coats that look great but aren't really that warm. I would rather buy something a little less fashionable but be cozy when I wear it. I also don't like wearing bulky clothes under a coat. I would rather the coat kept me warm and shielded from the elements while I'm outside and be able to wear a thin sweater when I get to my destination.

This dilemma is personal to you, and only you can decide if you would rather look a little less stylish in the name of keeping warm, or keep your style creds and have to either layer up or wear something thick underneath the coat. This may seem like a silly consideration, but especially if you're shopping in fast fashion stores, it's worth thinking about.

Do you want a long or short winter coat?

This will depend on your body shape and your personal preference. I am not blessed with height, so I stick to styles that don't go below my mid-thigh because anything longer makes me look even shorter.

You might have to try on a few coats and jackets before you find out what looks best on you, and also what you like. There's no point buying a coat that comes down to your mid-calf if you then find that you dislike having fabric around your legs! Walk around the changing room when you try the coat on. You're not going to be static when you're wearing it, so move around in it and see how it feels.

Waterproof or not?

It's going to rain in winter, or even snow, depending on where you live. So do you want your coat to be waterproof or not? Wool coats might seem wonderful, as might suede, but unless you're willing to get them coated in a substance that makes them waterproof you're going to get soaked. Your coat might also get ruined. So consider if you want to be waterproof, or if you're going to get the coat waterproofed after you've bought it. You can get sprays to do that yourself or a local tailor might be able to do it for you.

oOo

Let me know in the comments what kind of coats you like best.