Dear Mattie:
How can I keep warm and be fashionable this season?
— Chilly in Cypress
Dear Chilly:
This season, it is very easy to keep warm and be fashionable. Many different styles of outerwear are about making personal statements and staying cosy. Gone are the days when you had to be cold to be in fashion.
The coat has become an accessory to your outfit, the finishing touch. Your outerwear makes the first impression, every time. Sometimes it is the main piece of clothing people will see. It doesn't matter what you are wearing underneath, unless of course you are taking off your coat.
Outerwear is so popular that many textures are also in fashion. From classic styling to trendy technical fabrics, there is something for all of our lifestyle needs.
The classics are back in fashion. Sophistication is the theme. The trench coat, the duffle coat, the camel singlebreasted coat, the houndstooth double-breasted coat and the navy pea coat are all in fashion. They can be worn in their traditional colours or stepped up to new modern colours.
Aubergine, charcoal, hunter green, red, cobalt blue and pink are some fantastic new colours that I am seeing in outerwear. Colour-blocking is trendy, as well as bold plaid patterns in large and small checks. There is something for everyone's mood.
There is also an exaggeration in the volume and lines of the classic silhouettes. Traditionally, coats are tailored and fall from the hip to the mid-thigh. This season, some coats are longer than usual, they are oversized, or cropped, still maintaining a structure. The silhouette of the coat is a reflection of how cold it is in the city you live. The styling can be adapted to your particular environment.
Don't worry, not every coat this season falls in the traditional category. There are many textures that are in fashion for ladies who like luxury. Although wool keeps you very warm, lined leather, shearling, mohair and faux fur are trendy options for your outerwear.
The trendiest two coats are the mohair and faux fur. Mohair coats usually come in a non-neutral colour. Faux fur either looks like fox, mink or thick shaggy mohair.
Luxury can also be found in casual sports jackets with techno fabrics that are lightweight, but still keep you warm on and off the ski hills. Many of these jackets have bright and bold colours with sheen.
Now that you have your outerwear in order, add some accessories to finish the look. I am a big fan of knit beanies. They come in every colour and variety. Buy a few, in neutral and bold colours. Woven wool scarves are also a favourite of mine. Get a couple, in a neutral colour, animal print and a bold floral arrangement.
The same goes for gloves.
Traditional leather to graphic printed fleece is the way to go. With just a few accessories, you can mix and match to make your coat a new personal statement every time.
The mantra this season is to know who you are and show it. Since it happens to be a season of great coats, and everything is on sale, why not step it up a notch and complete your ensemble with finesse.
Adieu
Mattie
Mattie is a freelance writer and fashion expert. Reach her on her Facebook page Mattie-a-la-Mode.
