What to look for in Winter Coats

Winter coats don't change much in style from year to year, but if you want to treat yourself this year you might want to splash out for a shearling. They're out there for men and women.

If you want to wear your coat for a few seasons, and be trendy and warm, a wool or wool blend coat is probably your best bet for warmth. They are really not too expensive for the amount of wear you can get out of them. Go for clean, simple styling - classic looks. Avoid gimmicky trimmings, as they will date a coat.

Wraps and double-breasted coats have the benefit of extra warmth because of the double layer of cloth in front. A collar that can stay up on cold windy days will be very welcome. Buy a coat large enough to layer over jackets and heavy sweaters. Shrug your arms to make sure you have a roomy fit; if not, go for the next size up. Fully lined coats hang better, and the lining protects the material from wear and tear.

Shearling Coats

A shearling (pronounced sher-ling) is a high quality leather or suede coat which is lined with thick lambswool. They're still the in thing for outerwear this winter - especially with the resurgence of fur trim on collars, cuffs, and hems. They're very warm (and quite quite expensive).

Picture from "Harper's BAZAAR".
This example sells for a little over $2000. (Click on the picture to get a full-size image.)