About Coats and Jackets
Coats and jackets for the in-between days and the cold ones: a women's belted trench with storm flaps, a hooded wool zip coat, a Harrington, a suede-look stand-collar jacket, a suede-touch bomber for women, a bodywarmer and a puffer gilet. Choose by how cold it gets where you are, then by length. For layers underneath, see men's knitwear.
How to choose coats and jackets
By weather
Showers and mild days: the trench coat with detachable belt and storm flaps. Properly cold days: the hooded wool zip-up coat. Dry autumn days: the Harrington with point collar and elasticated cuffs, the suede-look jacket with stand collar, the suede-touch bomber with utility pockets. Cold but dry: the puffer gilet with full-length zip or the slim-fit bodywarmer with lightweight insulation over a knit.
By length
Trench and hooded coat cover the hip and more; Harrington, bomber and the two gilets stop at the hip, which suits trousers with a higher waist.
By closure
Zip front: Harrington, suede-look jacket, hooded coat, bomber, puffer gilet. Belt: trench. A zip-front jacket is quicker; a belted trench adjusts to the layer underneath.
Layering
Size so a half-zip or polo jumper fits underneath without pulling at the shoulders. The gilets are built to go over a knit; the trench can go over both knit and gilet.
Men's and women's
Titles say 'for Men' or 'for Women'. The trench coat, the hooded wool coat and the suede-touch bomber are women's; the Harrington, the suede-look jacket, the bodywarmer and the puffer gilet are men's.
Fabric notes
'Suede-look' and 'suede-touch' in a title mean a fabric that resembles suede, not suede itself. The hooded coat is titled wool. Lining and insulation details are on each product page.
Caring for outerwear
General guidance: brush a wool coat and hang it on a shaped hanger; wipe suede-look and suede-touch fabrics with a dry cloth; follow the care label for the trench and the gilets.
| Weather | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Showers | Trench coat | Storm flaps, belt |
| Cold | Hooded wool zip coat | Hood, wool |
| Dry autumn | Harrington / bomber | Hip length, zip |
| Cold, dry, active | Gilet / bodywarmer | Insulation without sleeves |
FAQ
Is a trench coat waterproof?
The trench here has storm flaps, which shed light rain off the shoulders; the product page states the fabric. For heavy rain, treat it as shower-resistant rather than waterproof unless the page says otherwise.
Should a coat be a size bigger than my jumper?
Take your usual coat size and check the shoulder: the coat should close over a half-zip without pulling across the back. If you will wear a gilet underneath as well, go up one size.
What goes with a Harrington jacket?
A polo or a plain T-shirt and straight trousers; loafers or clean trainers. Its point collar sits best over a collarless top.
Gilet or bodywarmer: what is the difference here?
Both are sleeveless. The puffer gilet has a stand collar and a full-length zip; the bodywarmer is slim-fit with lightweight insulation, so it goes under a coat more easily.