FROM the ‘Manager’ to the ‘Peter Pan’, coats are no longer about just about keeping you warm – they reveal a lot about your personality, too.
With the country feeling the chill again, we’re reaching for our winter jackets. But what does your coat style say about you?
Here, Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend gives her verdict on the current jacket trends, while psychologist Emma Kenny reveals the true meaning behind your choice of winter warmers.
DRYROBE
The Comfort-seeker
Rita Ora
THE infamous towelling-lined robe has migrated from posh Hampstead and can now be seen on hipsters all over the country.
Whether sported on a winter walk or shopping in Waitrose, the Dryrobe – originally designed for open-water swimmers and costing a whopping £160 – has become a uniform for trendseekers who have never stepped foot in cold water.
EMMA SAYS: “You might not have plunged into a freezing lake, but your Dryrobe suggests you’re desperate for the world to think you might do.
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“Your coat is less about utility and more about turning the dog walk into a portable duvet experience.
Deep down, you’re a comfort seeker, always chasing warmth – both literally and metaphorically.
“You value practicality and want people to think you’re outdoorsy, even if your idea of ‘wild’ is a flat white at the park cafe.”
OVERSIZED
The Wannabe Wag
Abbey Clancy
WEARING a floor-sweeping, slightly sodden coat with Eighties-style shoulder pads and large lapels with of-the-minute trainers and oversized sunglasses, you’re dressing for the job you want – and that’s to be a WAG.
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These oversized-coat wearers are likely to be hanging out on the corners of posh gated communities, taking pictures, all for the ’gram.
EMMA SAYS: “Your oversized coat says you’re all about the aesthetic.
“You’re effortlessly cool, or at least, that’s what you want everyone to think.
“While your drowning-in-fabric look may confuse the less stylish, you know it’s all part of the brand.
But beneath the layers, you’re someone who craves admiration.
“You’re a trendsetter who is always on point and you really don’t care less what the haters say, or think.”
BRIGHT
The Yummy Mummy
Amanda Holden
IT’S NOT easy finding brightly coloured winter warmers in the sea of grey and black on the high street at the moment.
But those who do are ready to make a bold statement.
EMMA SAYS: “Your coat is vibrant, pristine, just like you. You’re someone who can juggle a million things at once but still look picture perfect.
“You know how to make an impression, whether on the school run or out for mimosas with the girls.
“Stylish and unflappable, you’re the proof that mums can have it all, and look fabulous while doing it.”
FAUX FUR
The Glamour Girl
Rihanna
COSY, elegant and opulent, a faux fur coat screams confidence and luxury.
It is often made even sexier with a barely-there brown or black pair of tights and a dress – and you’ll be wearing your coat hanging off your shoulder for the ultimate seductive look.
This week alone, Google searches for “brown fur coat” are up 378 per cent – it’s a huge hit this season, and the ultimate glamour statement.
EMMA SAYS: “Your faux fur coat screams unapologetic drama.
You’re someone who loves to turn heads and make an entrance – whether it’s strutting into a cocktail bar or picking up the kids from school.
“Beneath the diva exterior, you’re fiercely loyal and protective of the people you love.
But you are bold, ambitious, and unafraid to own the room. Life’s a stage, and you are most certainly the star of the show!”
THE DUFFLE
The Peter Pan
Alexa Chung
IF you’re not a child or Paddington Bear, the duffle coat signifies that you have no desire to grow up.
These coats were everywhere in the Noughties – with Alexa Chung and Taylor Swift huge advocates for the look. This year, they’re creeping back.
EMMA SAYS: “Your duffle coat is a beacon of whimsy and nostalgia.
“You’re someone who refuses to grow up, and frankly, why should you?
“You’re playful, fun-loving, and full of childlike wonder, often the one bringing light-hearted energy to every situation.”
SHEARLING
The Wise Owl
Michelle Keegan
KNOWN as “The Motty”, after late footie commentator John Motson, shearling coats are durable but cuddly underneath.
They are warm, super-chic and can be dressed up or down. Wearers, in my experience, will hold the door open for others and with a cheeky wink.
EMMA SAYS: “Our sheepskin coat is a statement, part wide-boy, part pub philosopher. People come to you for advice, even if they don’t always take it.
“You exude charisma, and are the life of the party. People love or loathe your larger-than-life personality.”
PUFFER
The Manager
AJ Odudu
WHETHER at your own team’s match or giving your child’s Sunday league coach a glare of scrutiny, the puffer coat gives you clout, or so you think.
You wouldn’t wear one with a fancy outfit, so you’re less concerned with fashion and more with the practicalities of staying warm and dry. Whatever the context, you mean business.
EMMA SAYS: “If your coat could talk, it’d be shouting instructions from the sidelines. You’re determined.
“Your puffer is your armour, projecting authority and the belief with the right strategy, anything is possible.”
BARBOUR
The Posh Farmer
Dua Lipa
THE waxed jacket is on trend this season, thanks to a rise in “countrycore” and the Disney+ series, Rivals, set in the Eighties Cotswolds.
This toffs’ coat has taken over Instagram, with the wearer usually staging some sort of idyllic scene of them skipping along a beach.
EMMA SAYS: “Your jacket screams effortless sophistication, or that’s what you’re aiming for.
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You’re aspirational, drawn to a countryside aesthetic that makes you look posh.
Even if your jacket’s only encounter with mud was an accidental splash from a puddle.”