Top off the season with perfect fall coats
I’ll just say it: Summer is lovely, but I absolutely love fall. For so many reasons … the comfy, humidity-free temperatures, the foliage, the invasion of pumpkinspice everything. But maybe most of all, for the coats.
Fall’s coats are like the perfect significant other. They keep you warm and cozy, but don’t smother you.
They add another layer of color or texture, and keep you feeling protected from the elements (chills, rain, etc.), but never weigh you down or leave you feeling claustrophobic. They add life to an outfit, rather than covering it all up. In short, they’re the perfect happy medium.
Here are five of my favorites this season:
A riding jacket. Don’t own a horse? Honestly, who cares? You’ll look fantastic anyway. Especially if it’s the Ashmore Riding Jacket ($598 on peruvianconnection.com). This meticulously designed and tailored, double-faced menswear plaid piece is an ultra-luxurious spin on classic riding jackets. Slide one on over jeans or leggings and tall boots, or notice that it’s fancy enough (its softness comes from baby alpaca and wool) to just toss on over a silk or cashmere dress for dinner. Giddyup.
A do-anything sporty jacket. If you aren’t addicted to Vuori yet, you probably will be soon. The brand’s Women’s Alpine Sherpa Jacket ($138 on vuoriclothing.com) is a catch-all recycled fleece. Wear on a hike, wear it to brunch. Wear it at your desk, or wear it over a skirt and look like you don’t give a damn about looking great (but look great anyways). And hey, if the day gets cold, turn up the storm flap, stick your hands in the pockets, and keep going about your day.
The work-to-weekend jacket. Yes, for work you need something respectable. And yes, you also need something a tad fun for non-work days. But you don’t necessarily need two coats. At least not if you nab the Tipped Lapel Crombie Coat in Ground Ginger ($340 on bodenusa.com). Entirely proper in form (a fitted A-line shape and classic lapels), the design only takes liberties with details like contrast stitching — which is arguably the coolest part.
Something moto. Even vegans can happily wear the faux leather Drape Front Jacket ($159 on nordstrom.com) by Blanc Noir. A little bit athleisure-ish and a whole lot of cool versatility, it’s at home with pretty much any outfit you can fit under it. (Which is most, considering the draped front and soft collar.) It also fits plenty (keys, phone, cards, etc.) in the side pockets, so it’s totally up to you whether to bring a bag along or not.
A sleek, no-brainer rain coat. Yes, I’m sorry, but it is going to rain at some point this fall. This is New England. Go for a cute, lightweight number and make sure it has a hood. The best of all possible worlds lies in a trench: It’s still style-conscious yet practical as all get-out. Make it the Iconic City Slicker ($395 on janepost.com) and you won’t go wrong all season … until it starts snowing.