THE COAT IS IN ORDER
Head-turner alert! Here’s how to warm up to the statement piece this winter
Manish Mishra
Warm, fuzzy and imperiously chic — the statement coat has emerged to be this autumn winter’s key essential. Realised in bold and vibrant prints and tactile textures, the knee-length wonder is undeniably this season’s hottest sartorial ticket. Take style cues from the likes of Sonam K Ahuja, Alia Bhatt and Kareena Kapoor Khan who have sported statement winter coats with elan during their travels. Going by some of the biggest fashion retail houses, artisanal embroidery and animal prints have emerged as the clear winners for the daring dresser. Floral accents and colour-blocked versions with dramatic lapels in bold hues — the options maybe many but the trick is to not look like a walking catalogue but own it with an individual
flair.
BALANCE IT OUT
If the coat is visually arresting, team it with all black essentials — maybe a turtleneck thermal layer or a pair of black thigh-high boots. Stylist Akshay Tyagi suggests, “A beige turtleneck wonderfully complements an animal print coat. One couldn’t possibly go wrong with a pair of dark grey washed jeans and matching boots. A colour blocked piece lets you have fun and I’d suggest going all out by pairing it with red boots, distressed jeans and maybe a nautical striped jumper. Alternatively, a pair of boots with acrylic heels could wreak a visually dramatic impact.”
If one’s bold and edgy to embrace unabashed maximalism, Tyagi suggests going all out with a massive animal print hoodie inside, like Ranveer Singh. Complete this look with a camel trench and a pair of silver jeans. However, he cautions that one needn’t lose one’s personality. “If you want to opt for a blazerlength coat then layer it with a fur gilet or a long dramatic scarf. A neon bum bag worn across the coat could be quite a statement. Accessories like a pair of fingerless gloves could lend gravitas to the ensemble. Perhaps you could pop your collar up or roll the coat sleeves up and let the inner layer show, a la Iris Apfel,” adds Tyagi.
ACCESSORISE IT LIKE A PRO!
Stylist Raghav Tibrewal suggests styling it either with a statement chunky belt or over a pair of knee-length boots. “Layer it over a ruffled blouse and the style gloves that come up a notch under your elbow,” he says.