As much care should be taken in choosing a coat or jacket as what goes into picking the right shoes or handbag for an outfit, because your outerwear serves to be just as much of an accessory as anything else. Would you wear a cashmere coat into the wilderness? Throw a light athletic jacket over your evening gown? Fortunately, coats for women come in as many styles as there are outfits with and occasions for which to wear them. Lighter coats and jackets also serve as part of the outfit itself in layering, and the right selection can turn an otherwise bland pairing of bottom and top into a smart outfit.
Suit jackets make a terrific fashion choice, when either paired with matching or simply coordinating items to make a snappy ensemble. These combinations can often take a busy career woman from day to evening, from the office to after-work cocktails with clients or friends. For more casual and relaxed settings, lighter styles such as denim, military-style jackets by Bench, and waterproof zip-front varieties by Regatta, can still help you to be fashionable and coordinated at the weekend or on holiday.
Few materials go from urban glam to country chic as do leather and suede, and the addition of a leather coat or a suede blazer to her wardrobe would serve any woman well. These pieces are versatile, classic, and not to mention warm, available in neutral shades that would coordinate well with many outfits for several occasions. In fitted short jackets, belted pieces, and outerwear coats, leather and suede are a must-have season after season.
One doesn’t have to sacrifice warmth for fashion, as many types of coats now come in attractive styles and colours. The trenchcoat, the parka, and the peacoat, all of which were once either unattractively bulky or bland, have now been revamped and reinvented for all occasions. New fabrics and fillings have taken the bulk out of the parka, and brands such as Hooch and Bench have transformed this coat from that dreaded winter ritual into a vital accessory during those cold months. The peacoat, once itchy and scratchy, is now a sharp addition to any wardrobe, coming in soft wools and other more enjoyable materials. And the trenchcoat, once associated exclusively with comics, the military, and private investigators, is now a fashionable long coat option, coming in a variety of fabrics and vibrant colours.
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