The coat is the entire outfit

I’m here to make the case for funnelling some of your hard earned dollars toward a long coat. Maybe it’s the witchy, dark magic of Fourth Wing effect, but I feel like a real vampy badass when my coat is nearly hitting the floor. 

Aside from the fact it’s warm and practical, I’m one of those women that feels like the coat is the entire outfit. A great topper can change the game and change my mood, so let’s take a gander through some of the options. Don’t worry boys, I’ve got a few for you too.

For the cool girls, this Reformation coat is a stunner with it’s nipped waist and in a few different colour options. Oversized is still on trend, yes, so I’d even opt for this men’s long belted wool overcoat in black for an everyday coat that will get a lot of love.

Teddy coats aren’t my thing, but I can’t hate on this bouclé coat in a rich taupe. Very snazzy and would look so chic with an all black outfit underneath.

For my business baddies, I’d try either this Topshop wool blend in grey pinstripe or this navy blue double breasted overcoat. 

Olivia Pope style-lovers, rejoice! You’ll nail the part in this Zara cream wool blend coat.

Some of you are big Previously Loved shoppers, and I definitely support all of your consignment shopping. While you may have to search a bit more thoroughly, you can stumble upon luxurious and high quality coats like this amazing black wrap coat via VSP (check sizing!), find a delicious pop of colour with this MSGM coat, or go all out drama with this floor length Dries Van Noten, the stuff of Jane Austen’s dreams.

Don’t worry, sporty spice: I haven’t forgotten you. Go for a tried and true classic, a Lululemon long parka. I’ve never been into any of their coats, but I feel like they finally got it right with this one. 

For the best value, try the Zara longline hooded down coat in khaki. I find their coats and sweaters are very long lasting - but none of that fast fashion BS, alright? We wear our duds for a while!

If you’re in the pacific northwest or another rainy part of the world, I cannot recommend the Stutterheim Long Moseback raincoat enough! I basically wear it from January to March.

For my big spenders in cold climates, Canada Goose is still a go to brand. The longest coat is the Mystique parka but man, it has gone up by about $1000 since I bought mine in 2013. Whew. Still, it’s the best and longest lasting winter coat I’ve ever purchased and I wear it to this day. The brand does have another long parka, the Marlow, that is belted and more, say, fashionable.

Okay, gentlemen…here are my picks for you:

For the city boy who may have some office duty, try the Viedma Wool-blend car coat from Banana Republic. The brown herringbone is dazzling, and they have a tall or regular option. On the more wallet friendly end, ASOS has a wool look jacket that is nice and long and would look slick over your work attire.

For a more casual but no less sturdy look, I’m pretty into all of Mango’s coats at the moment. In particular, they have this recycled wool coat with a hood, and some really well tailored knee-length wool overcoats…price is nice too.

Puffer jackets on men, in my opinion, are tricky, and I’d suggest avoiding the long coat trend here and going for a touch of bum cover. My absolutely favourite puffer for men is the Patagonia Jackson Glacier Parka and I’d buy it for all of the men in my life if I could. It has the warmth you need without making you look like the Michelin Man, and is half the price of the Canada Goose options. And Patagonia is made to last - you’ll have this one forever.